Niagara At Large

News from the Constituency Office of Niagara Centre NDP MPP Jeff Burch

Posted November 6^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Niagara Centre MPP Jeff Burch

WELLAND – Niagara Centre MPP Jeff Burch released the following statement regarding the Ontario government’s approval of a planning grant for the Welland Hospital:

“After months of pressure, the Ontario government has finally approved a planning grant for the Welland Hospital. This is a positive step forward for our community, but it’s only the beginning.

I will continue to push to ensure that the hospital’s renovations result in a full-service facility including after hour emergency surgical services. Welland residents deserve nothing less than full access to the healthcare services they need, close to home, in our growing and aging community.”

To read another recent post on this issue, click on – https://niagaraatlarge.com/2025/11/05/niagara-centre-mpp-jeff-burch-blasts-ford-government-for-ignoring-welland-hospital/

NIAGARA AT LARGE Encourages You To Join The Conversation By Sharing Your Views On This Post In The Space Following The Bernie Sanders Quote Below and by sharing the Niagara At Large site at www.niagaraatlarge.com with all of your friends and associates.

“A Politician Thinks Of The Next Election. A Leader Thinks Of The Next Generation.” – Bernie Sanders

Ontario’s 2025 Fall Economic Statement delivering on the province’s plan to build a more competitive, resilient and self-reliant economy

News from the Conservative Government of Ontario Premier Doug Ford

Posted November 6^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

A Brief Foreword from Niagara At Large reporter/publisher Doug Draper – Niagara At Large will have more news and commentary, including reaction from opposition parties and citizens groups, soon. Stay Tuned.

Now here is the Ford Government’s News Release on its Economic Statement – 

TORONTO — Today, Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy released the 2025 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review: A Plan to Protect Ontario, which supports the government’s plan to protect Ontario by building a more competitive, resilient and self-reliant economy by cutting red tape, investing in infrastructure, supporting workers, improving services and making life more affordable.

“With tariffs taking direct aim at Ontario workers and communities, it has never been more important for the government to deliver on its plan to protect Ontario. We continue to make historic investments in highways, transit, health care and all the other services our communities rely on, so we can build for our growing province. We are doing this all while keeping costs down for families and helping to unleash Ontario’s full economic potential,” said Minister Bethlenfalvy. Continue reading →

A Letter from Ontario Environment, Conservation and Parks Minister Todd McCarthy, Shared By St. Catharines NDP MPP Jennie Stevens

Posted November 6^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Ontario Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks Todd McCarthy

In response to a recent letter sent by St. Catharines NDP MPP Jennie Stevens to Ontario Environment, Conservation and Parks Minister Todd McCarthy, urging his ministry to be more open with and act on concerns by residents living near the abandoned General Motors site off Ontario Street in St. Catharines about toxic contamination at the site, the Minister has written her back in a November 3^rd letter saying all the recent information the ministry has indicates that toxic subtances on the  site are  contained.

“The ministry previously ensured that the property owner completed their plan to plug the storm sewer and install a sewage works that collects, stores and treats the storm water prior to discharging to the sanitary sewer. Further monitoring has confirmed that PCBs are no longer an issue in the storm sewer. The ministry routinely conducts perimeter checks and has not identified any further off-site issues,” the Environment Minister’s letter to Stevens says in part

Here is a copy of the Ontario Environment Minister’s full letter –

A Footnote by Niagara At Large reporter/publisher Doug Draper – Residents living in the vicinity and downstream from the abandoned General Motors site off Ontario Street in St. Catharines have repeatedly pressed the Ontario Environment Ministry for information about PCBs and other toxic subtances possibly migrating off the site and threatening their properties and health.

It is unacceptable, to say the least, that it took an open letter from their local provincial member of parlament – St. Catharines MPP Jennie Stevens – to Ontario’s Environment Minister to get some answers.

For a another recent post on this issue, click on – Urgent Action Required At The Former GM Site In St. Catharines To Protect Public Health And The Environment | Niagara At Large

NIAGARA AT LARGE Encourages You To Join The Conversation By Sharing Your Views On This Post In The Space Following The Bernie Sanders Quote Below and by sharing the Niagara At Large site at www.niagaraatlarge.com with all of your friends and associates.

“A Politician Thinks Of The Next Election. A Leader Thinks Of The Next Generation.” – Bernie Sanders

Here’s To Doug Ford For Cheaper, Easier-To-Get Beer, And For More Roads and Highways For Ever Cars And Trucks, Driving At Higher Rates Of Speed On Them

A Commentary by Niagara At Large reporter/publisher Doug Draper

Posted November 5^th, 2025 on Niagara At Larger

One of many speed cameras and elsewhere in Ontario broken down by vandals.

Unless I’ve missed something, I have never heard one word from Ontario Premier Doug Ford about the vandalism of speed cameras in Niagara and other regions of the province in all of the many months these cameras have been in use.

That’s rather interesting for a Premier who makes a habit of portraying himself as a law and order, get-tough-on-crime guy.

I’m sure that if I or anyone else tried  to block machinery about to saw down trees or pave over wetlands to make way for more urban sprawl, or physically stand in the pathway of way of  another pipeline being built to transport gas or oil, Ford would have the police out faster than you could say; “Where are the cops when vandals are taking a hack saw or can of spray paint to speed camera near an elementary school?” Continue reading →

“Burd, who is 110 years young, is a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, having served our country during the Second World War. He is the oldest living Canadian veteran of the war and is believed to be the sixth oldest living veteran in the world.” – Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates

News from the Constituency Office of Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates

Posted November 5^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Fort Erie resident Burdett (Burd) Sisler

QUEENS PARK — Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates (Niagara Falls) rose in the Ontario Legislature today (this November 5th, 2025) to commemorate and honour the Niagara Region and Fort Erie resident Burdett (Burd) Sisler, who has become the oldest living person in Canada at 110 years old:

“I wanted to share a special congratulations today. Recently, after the sad news of the passing of Margaret Romans, one of my constituents, Mr. Burdett Sisler of Fort Erie, became the oldest living person in Canada. But Burdett — or Burd, as we call him — is a truly incredible and special person. Continue reading →

News from the Constituency Office of Niagara Centre NDP MPP Jeff Burch

Posted November 5^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

The aging Welland Hospital has been serving people in Niagara’s south end for more than six decades.

QUEEN’S PARK – Niagara Centre MPP Jeff Burch is again calling out Premier Doug Ford and the Minister of Health for their ongoing delay in approving a planning grant needed to kick-start the process of rebuilding the outdated Welland Hospital.

“Last week, I spoke about the urgent need for rebuilding and modernizing the outdated Welland Hospital. After repeated attempts to get a clear answer, the Minister of Health still refused to say either yes or no to providing the grant” Burch stated.

Each time, the Minister deflected, speaking instead about hospitals in Lincoln and Niagara Falls, ignoring Welland, Port Colborne and Fort Erie entirely. Perhaps the Minister needs a map of Niagara. Continue reading →

“Environmental Defence is concerned by the Ontario government’s continued attempts to cast development in farms, forests, wetlands, and floodplains as a path to improving housing supply. … We can meet housing needs by building homes inside existing neighbourhoods.” – Phil Pothen, Council for the  Canada-wide citizens organization Environmental Defence

A Statement By Phil Pothen, Counsel and Ontario Environment Program Manager for the citizens group Environmental Defence

Posted November 5^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Toronto – The Ontario government’s announcement today of a proposed “Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency” is short on details. However, when released, the Bill must have a clear statutory obligation to prioritize public safety and environmental conservation over the convenience of sprawl developers.  

While Environment Minister McCarthy paid lip service to protecting the public from “floods and natural hazards”, this morning’s announcement strongly suggested that the chief task of the Agency, and of its new head, Hassan Bassit, will be to standardize Conservation Authority policies and standards to “get shovels in the ground sooner” for wasteful, McMansion-style sprawl development. Continue reading →

Join us for a free evening with Dr. Tarek Loubani at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre on Wednesday, November 5^th from 7 to 9 P.M. at the at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre on St.  Paul Street in downtown St. Catharines Ontario

By PACHRED and SJRI, Brock University

Posted November 4^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Palestinian Canadian physician Dr. Tarek Loubani

Join us in Recital Hall at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre on November 5, 2025, at 7:00 PM (Eastern Time) for Medicine on the Frontlines: Healthcare and Palestinian Statehood, an evening with Dr. Tarek Loubani.

Dr. Loubani is a Palestinian Canadian physician, an associate professor at the Schulich School of Medicine at Western University, and co-founder of GLIA, a global innovator of high-quality medical equipment operating on the principle that quality healthcare should be accessible to all. Continue reading →

Tuesday, November 4th  from 7:00-8:30 PM Eastern Time (See Details and link for registering for the event below)

An Invite To All from  Animal Justice, a citizens organization dedicated to making sure animals have a legal voice across Canada

Posted November 4th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Lives of 30 surviving beluga whales now in limbo at shuttered Marineland amusement park in Niagara Falls, Ontario

Marineland (the recently shuttered amusement park in Niagara Falls, Ontario) recently threatened to kill the 30 beluga whales still in its care unless it receives government funding. This came after Ottawa rejected the park’s shocking plan to export them to a subpar aquarium in China.

Understandably, many Canadians are asking: What can we do now to help these whales?

At this special online event on November 4 from 7:00-8:30 PM ET, you’ll hear directly from the people working with government and key stakeholders on a concrete plan for Marineland’s remaining whales and dolphins.

Join Animal Justice, Whale Sanctuary Project, and World Animal Protection Canada for a powerful discussion about what’s next, and how you can help shape a compassionate future for these animals.

November 4, 2025 | 7:00 – 8:30 PM ET. Click on here to Register Now

We’ll cover:

Continue reading →

“Niagara families need opportunity, good jobs, and a government that keeps our money right here in Ontario. Niagara’s ready to build Ontario’s biggest projects, it just needs a government with the procurement policies in place to make that happen.” – Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates

News from the Constituency Office of Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates, whose riding includes Niagara Falls, Fort Erie and Niagara-on-the-Lake

Posted November 4^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles and her party, including Niagara’s NDP MPPs Wayne Gates, Jennie Stevens and Jeff Burch, are pressing the province’s Ford government to spend every penny of our tax money on products and workers here in Ontario..

NIAGARA FALLS, Ontario — NDP MPP Wayne Gates is challenging the Ford government (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mMTb8eXUxdYfcnlQg3V_22X3VVu1nxeV/view)  to adopt Ontario First procurement rules at Queens Park, making sure public tax dollars create good local Niagara jobs and support Ontario businesses – not American companies.

“When we say Buy Ontario, Buy Local, we don’t mean sometimes. We mean every single time public dollars are spent,” said Gates.

“The province spends more than $30 billion a year on goods and projects – That money should be creating local Niagara jobs, supporting Ontario workers, and investing in Ontario businesses, not going to foreign-owned firms while our people get left behind.” Continue reading →

“This Guns For Hire, Even If We’re Just Dancing In The Dark”

A Brief Commentary by Doug Draper

Posted November 3rd, 2025 on Niagara At Large

It’s bad enough that ‘the boys of summer’ have played their last game of the year and that our team lost – I’m talkin’ about the Blue Jays losing the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers, of course – but just to add to the misery, this November 2^nd we had to turn our clocks back an hour and it starts getting dark out there at 5 p.m.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t much care for living like a mushroom. And man, as we approach the first day of winter a few weeks for now, it is just going to keep getting darker.

It’s time our politicians across this country of Canada and others put an end to this business of changing the clocks back and forth every sixth months, especially given the mounting research that shows it isn’t good for our mental and physical health.

With that, I will leave you with a song by one of my favourite artists about the trials and tribulations of “dancing in the dark.” To hear and watch it, click on the screen immediately below-

To read a A recent CBC news report on the effects of changing the clock back and forth on our health, click on  – https://www.cbc.ca/radio/whitecoat/here-s-why-sleep-experts-think-we-should-abolish-daylight-saving-time-9.6960740#:~:text=Both%20B.C.%20and%20Ontario%20have,agreeing%20to%20do%20the%20same.

NIAGARA AT LARGE Encourages You To Join The Conversation By Sharing Your Views O This Post In The Space Following The Bernie Sanders Quote Below.

“A Politician Thinks Of The Next Election. A Leader Thinks Of The Next Generation.” – Bernie Sanders

The contaminated mess that once was a General Motors plant off Ontario Street in St. Catharines. file photo by Doug Draper

“Our community needs transparency to remain a priority. The legacy of contamination at this site is severe and residents deserve to know that their government is actively working to keep them safe.”                                                    from a letter that St. Catharines NDP MPP Jennie Stevens sent this past October 27^th to Ontario’s Ford Government’s Minister for Environment, Conservation and Parks, Todd McCarthy

A Letter to the Ford Government from St. Catharines NDP MPP Jennie Stevens

Posted November 3^rd, 2025 on Niagara At Large

A Brief Introductory Comment on the  sending of  the Letter by Doug Draper at Niagara At Large – It is a disgrace that midway through the third decade of the 21^st Century and 55 years after the first Earth Day, that a letter like this one, from a provincial MPP, has to be sent to a ministry responsible for environmental protection in Ontario.

The contaminated site is located next to neighbourhoods in St. Catharines.

It is totally unacceptable that, in so many words, an elected representative has to remind this ministry what its mandate is and who it is working for and paying its salaries. Continue reading →

Agency Will Oversee Key Improvement Projects, Including A Proposed Regional Consolidation

“In the coming weeks the government plans to introduce legislation to establish the proposed agency. As part of that work, the government will soon begin consultations with the public, municipalities, stakeholders, Indigenous communities and other partners on a watershed-based consolidation of conservation authorities, including the proposed regional boundaries of each conservation authority (including the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority).”

News from the Government of Ontario

Posted November 3^rd, 2025 on Niagara At Large

The Wainfleet Bog in Niagara South is one of the many natural treasures our Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority works to protect and preserve for future generations in our Niagara region

Toronto — The Ontario government will soon introduce legislation to create the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency (OPCA) with the aim of improving the  province’s conservation authority system to help get shovels in the ground faster on homes and other local infrastructure projects, while strengthening the vital role conservation authorities play in managing watersheds and protecting communities from floods and natural hazards. Continue reading →

“The new Foyer Richelieu home is a milestone achievement for Welland and Francophones across Niagara. Made possible through the vision, dedication and support of many, this home will deliver quality care for generations to come.”                              – Frank Campion, Mayor of Welland

News from the Government of Ontario

Posted November 3^rd, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Computerized rendition of new Foyer
Richelieu Welland

WELLAND — The Ontario government is celebrating the opening of the new Foyer Richelieu Welland, a Francophone long-term care home which will add 128 modern long-term care beds to the community.

This project is part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario by creating good jobs and building for the future, while ensuring long-term care residents get the quality of care and quality of life they need and deserve. Continue reading →

Could It Portend A Bad Omen For Our Country’s Future?  Or Should It Inspire More Will To Fight & Survive & More Unity?

A Brief Comment from Doug Draper at Niagara At Large

Posted & UPDATED this November 2^nd, 2025

My mother, cheering the Blue Jays to their big win in the 1992 World Series

Of all the Toronto Blue Jays fans I ever met, few were more passionate than my mother.

As the 1992 World Series approached between the Blue Jays and Atlanta Braves, there were Blue Jays logos everywhere in my childhood home back on Willson Road in Welland. There were Blue Jay flags, coffee cups, fridge magnets, shirts, jackets and even pajamas.

And – no matter that most of the players were American – all the conversation inour old house turned to “our team.”

It seemed like every time the team scored another run, the phone would ring and it would be my mother on the other end saying; “Doug, did you see that.”

The same scenario was repeated the following year when they played in and won their second world series in a row against the Philadelphia Phillies.

So this time around, as the Blue Jays prepared to play their first World Series since then against the Los Angeles Dodgers, I could not help but think of my late mother up there somewhere in those upper bleachers in the sky, dressed in her Jays garb and cheering “our team” garb on every inning along the way.

Canadian pride on full display during World Series

And this time, even more than in the series of 1992 and 1993, the Blue Jays truly were “our team” for millions of Canadians from coast to coast as we saw this contest against an American-based rival as one more way to show our national pride, and our strength and ability to win in the wake of a punishing tariff war and threats of annexation from a U.S. president who clearly sees Canada as an enemy. Continue reading →

“It’s as much fun to scare as to be scared.”                                                     — Vincent Price, a legendary actor, well known for playing spooky characters

A Remembrance of Halloweens Past by Doug Draper

Posted on Niagara At Large on the Eve of this Halloween, October 31^st, 2025

Howells Pumpkin Farm, a Halloween favourite in the Short Hills of Thorold in Niagara. photo by Doug Draper

I imagine that like me, many of you e have childhood memories of places and people that gave you the creeps on Halloween.

I’m talking about places and people like an old abandoned house or a dark, deserted road or a grizzly old guy down the street whose front door always creaked like the lid of an unearthed coffin when he opened it or one of your grade school teachers who gave you a detention for nothing more than cheating on a math test or firing spitballs into classmates’ hair. Continue reading →

Dr. Azim Kasmani, Niagara Region’s Medical Officer of Health

“Substance use affects communities in many ways, and addressing it requires a collaborative, compassionate and proactive approach. Through Niagara’s Community Substance Use Strategy, community partners across the region are coming together to turn evidence-informed guidance into meaningful action. Through shared commitment and coordinated action, we can strengthen prevention efforts, improve community health, and support the well-being of residents across Niagara.”                                              – Dr. Azim Kasmani, Niagara Region’s Medical Officer of Health

News from Niagara’s Regional Government

Posted October 31st, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – Niagara has developed a new Community Substance Use Strategy designed to prevent and reduce the harms caused by substance use across the region.

Niagara’s Community  Substance Use Strategy [https://www.niagararegion.ca/projects/substance-use-strategy/default.aspx], shared with Regional Council at its Oct. 23 meeting, is based on provincial and national best practices and focuses on Prevention, Harm Reduction, Treatment, and Community Safety. Continue reading →

Ontario Government Rebating Provincial Portion of HST for First-Time Home Buyers of Most New Homes

News from the Constituency Office of Niagara West Ford Government MPP Sam Oosterfhoof

Posted October 30^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Niagara West Ford government MPP Sam Oosterhoff

BEAMSVILLE in the Niagara Town of Lincoln, Ontario– As part of its plan to protect Ontario, lower costs and help more families realize the dream of homeownership, the provincial government is proposing to rebate the full eight percent provincial portion of the HST for first-time home buyers on new homes valued up to $1 million.

The province’s proposal – which will be included in the 2025 Fall Economic Statement – would save first-time home buyers up to $80,000 off the cost of a new home when combined with existing provincial relief, helping lower costs for first-time home buyers and spurring the construction of more homes. 

When combined with the federal government’s proposed removal of its five percent portion of the HST – which would save up to $50,000 off the cost of a new home – total savings for first-time home buyers would equal up to $130,000. Continue reading →

Increased Reliance On Nuclear Energy Contributes To An Upcoming Surge In Cost Of Residential Electricity Generation Rates Of  29%’

A Message from the Ontario Clean Air Alliance, a not-for-profit citizens group dedicated to transitioning Ontario to a 100% renewable energy future

Posted October 30^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

There’s a spooky surprise for Ontario electricity customers coming right on the heels of Halloween. On November 1st, electricity generation costs for residential consumers in the province will surge by 29%.

According to the Ontario Energy Board, which just approved this increase, a major cause of this eye watering cost jump is a result of an increasing reliance on expensive nuclear generation.

Premier Ford knows a bad news story when it sees it. So he is going to bury much of this increase on your electricity bill by increasing the taxpayer-financed Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER) from 13.1% to 23.5%. Continue reading →

One of countless signs like this, displayed in windows and front lawns in Niagara’s south end.

“It has been 840 days since the Port Colborne and Fort Erie Urgent Care Centres lost their after-hours services, and we have yet to hear a response from this government to the community’s pleas for assistance.”  – Jeff Burch, NDP MPP for Niagara Centre

News from the Constituency Office of Niagara Centre NDP MPP Jeff Burch

Posted October 30^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Niagara Centre NDP MPP Jeff Burch

QUEEN’S PARK, Ontario – Niagara Centre MPP Jeff Burch highlighted a recent report from the Port Colborne Health Coalition, emphasizing the urgent need to restore 24/7 urgent care services in Port Colborne.

“It has been 840 days since the Port Colborne and Fort Erie Urgent Care Centres lost their after-hours services, and we have yet to hear a response from this government to the community’s pleas for assistance. Over the summer, the situation worsened with rotating closures between the two sites during peak tourist season.” Continue reading →

“On behalf of the Prostate Cancer Foundation Canada, our Board of Directors, and our Medical and Scientific Councils, we are proud to endorse this important motion calling for OHIP coverage of PSA testing. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Canadian men, and early detection through PSA testing can make the difference between life and death.”                                                                                                            – Mark Mahl, Executive Director of the Prostate Cancer Foundation Canada

News from the Constituency Office of Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates, whose Niagara Falls Riding also includes Niagara-on-the-Lake and Fort Erie

Posted October 30th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Niagara Falls Riding MPP Wayne Gates

QUEEN’S PARK, Ontario —NDP MPP Wayne Gates (Niagara Falls) is leading the call to make PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) testing free under OHIP, a measure that could save lives through early detection of prostate cancer.

At this morning’s press conference at Queen’s Park, Gates was joined by Independent MPP Bobbi Ann Brady, Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner, representatives from the Canadian Cancer Society, Prostate Cancer Foundation Canada, and Dave Flus, President of the Niagara Prostate Group, in urging the Ford government to eliminate cost barriers to this simple, potentially lifesaving test. Continue reading →

“The clothing worn by Indigenous cultures can be called regalia, but when worn by non-Indigenous people who are ‘dressing up,’ Indigenous culture is being discounted.” – Sarena Johnson (Caldwell First Nation) and Lecturer in Brock University’s Indigenous Educational Studies programs

News from Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario

Posted October 30^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

As Halloween approaches, Sarena Johnson (Caldwell First Nation) is encouraging those planning on dressing up to apply a culturally sensitive perspective before donning their costumes.

Traditional Indigenous clothing is not a “costume,” says Johnson, a Lecturer in Brock University’s Indigenous Educational Studies programs.

“The clothing worn by Indigenous cultures can be called regalia, but when worn by non-Indigenous people who are ‘dressing up,’ Indigenous culture is being discounted,” she says. Continue reading →

A Message from Doug Draper at Niagara At Large

Posted October 28^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

It has been a frustrating ten or so days since the computer systems that deliver you this independent news and commentary site suspiciously crashed just minutes after I posted a piece in support of the ‘No Kings’ rally that the New York State Civil Liberties Union was hosting as part of an October 18^th, American-wide protest against Trump’s efforts to destroy all of the pillars of freedom and democracy necessary to firm up his place as dictator.

A piece of America’s heritage destroyed to make way for garish, fake-gold ballroom for entertaining Trump’s billionaire friends.

Since then- even as Trump was tearing the whole East Wing of the White House (what used to be “the people’s house”)  down –  I have slowly but surely been working to bring the Niagara At Large site back and I think we are almost there.

So here I go with my first attempt to turn back the hands of time to the minutes before everything my hard drive and software came crashing down.

As part of sending you this test piece to see if we are finally there, here is a recent performance by Bruce Springsteen, singing a 1970 soul classic by Tyrone Davis called ‘Turn Back The Hands Of Time.’

To hear and watch Springsteen’s performance, click on the screen immediately below and crank it up –

By the way, Bruce Springsteen is about the only ‘Boss’ of America that I care to show any deference to.

• Doug Draper, Niagara At Large

NIAGARA AT LARGE Encourages You To Join The Conversation By Sharing Your Views O This Post In The Space Following The Bernie Sanders Quote Below.

“A Politician Thinks Of The Next Election. A Leader Thinks Of The Next Generation.” – Bernie Sanders

A Message To All Our Readers From Doug Draper

Sorry for the interruption, but it may take days to deal with what seems to be a serious breakdown on my side of the screens.

Catch you all later, I hope. Doug Draper

‘The power of the people is stronger than the people in power.’

Millions of People Are Expected to Join this No Kings Day of Action For Freedom and Democracy Across America

A Call-Out from the New York Civil Liberties Union

Posted on Niagara At Large on October 17^th, 2025 as a Show of Support for Our American Friends & Neighbours in Western New York and beyond

Join the NYCLU and other partner organizations as we rally together for “No Kings” national day of action to protest the Trump administration’s abuse of power to fast-tracked deportations of immigrant families without due process, to students and faculty detained for their speech.

Our peaceful movement is only getting bigger and stronger.

“NO KINGS” is more than just a slogan—it’s the foundation our nation was built upon. Born in the streets, carried by millions in chants and on posters, it echoes from city blocks to rural town squares, uniting people across this country.

Meet the NYCLU contingent on October 18th at 11am at the fountain in Niagara Square (in front of City Hall in downtown Buffalo, New York) as we stand together to send a clear message: the power of the people is stronger than the people in power.

To read the NYCLU’s online information on this rally, click on – https://www.nyclu.org/event/no-kings-day-of-action-buffalo

NIAGARA AT LARGE Encourages You To Join The Conversation By Sharing Your Views On This Post In The Space Following The Bernie Sanders Quote Below.

“A Politician Thinks Of The Next Election. A Leader Thinks Of The Next Generation.” – Bernie Sanders

The Rainbow Bridge, crossing the Canada/U.S border in Niagara Falls

 “The world is increasingly dangerous and divided, and as Canadians, we must look out for ourselves. That is why Canada’s new government is relentlessly focused on protecting our border, our country, and our way of life. We’re securing our sovereignty, combatting crime, and building safer communities. Together, we are building Canada strong.”                 –  Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada

News from Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney

Posted October 17^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney

Niagara Ontario – In a rapidly changing and more dangerous world, Canada is focused on what we can control. We are building our economy with major projects and millions more homes, we are empowering Canadians with lower costs and new opportunities to help you get ahead, and we are protecting our communities and our country.

We cannot control what other nations do, but we can control what we build – and we are building Canada strong.

To build a stronger country, we must protect our sovereignty and secure our border. 

To that end, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, today announced new measures from the upcoming Budget. To secure our border and keep our communities safe, Canada’s new government will:

Continue reading →

“The housing crisis means increases in the cost of housing, especially for renters. This means there is less money for food, which has increased considerably since the pandemic. … The housing crisis and food insecurity disproportionately affect Niagara’s vulnerable populations.”                                                        – Brock U. Adjunct Professor of Political Science Joanne Heritz

A Report from Brock University in St. Catharines, Niagara

Posted October 17^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – There are more people experiencing food insecurity in Niagara than previously thought, according to a new Niagara Community Observatory (NCO) policy brief.

The brief’s author, Brock University Adjunct Professor of Political Science Joanne Heritz, says “hunger in Niagara is more pervasive than most of us realize,” because some programs supporting those who are food insecure have previously been overlooked when collecting data.

Currently, Heritz says estimates of people requiring food assistance are mainly derived from the numbers of families and individuals accessing food banks. Continue reading →

An Invite to City of St. Catharines residents from the City

Posted October 17^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Should the park space be named after the late St. Catharines Councillor, Port Dalhousie resident and long-time community activist Carlos Garcia? The city is asking residents to vote in favour of one of three finalist names.

The City of St. Catharines is asking residents to vote for their preferred name from a list of finalists for an outdoor public space in Port Dalhousie.

Today (this October 17^th), the “Vote for your preferred name” survey opened on the City’s “Name This Space!” page for 45 Lakeport Rd., on its EngageSTC public engagement platform at engagestca.ca/name-this-space <https://www.engagestc.ca/name-this-space>.

City  esidents can vote for their preferred name in a short, one-question survey until Friday, Nov. 7 at 4:30 p.m.

The three finalist names are:

•   * Lakeside Commons
•   * Old Lock One Commons
•   * N. Carlos Garcia Commons

Continue reading →

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney

“In Canada, you should be able to wake up, get in your car, drive to work, come home, and sleep soundly at night. When laws repeatedly fail to protect those basic rights, we need new laws. Canada’s new government is taking decisive action to combat crime and build stronger communities – where Canadians can feel secure in their homes, safe in their neighbourhoods, and in control of their future.”          – Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada

News Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney

Posted October 16^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Military troops working the streets of communities in Trump’s America. Let’s hope Canada never gets to that.

(A Brief Foreword by Doug Draper at Niagara At Large – If our communities here in Canada are as crime-ridden as Prime Minister Mark Carney suggests they are in the above quote, then why not just do what Trump is doing south of the border and send armed troops out into the streets, I ask while hoping that our Prime Minister never does anything as totalitarian as that.

I am not saying that we don’t have any crime, and that includes big-money tax cheaters, phone scammers and other white collar crime, that we have to deal with here.

But I find it more than a bit disturbing to see how many more political leaders in our country are joining political leaders in the United States and other countries around the world in stoking up public fear about crime as a way, I suspect, of distracting public attention away from other issues like climate change, unemployed and the frowing wage gap, and the soaring cost of food and housing that  they should spend more time addressing.

With that, here is Prime Minister Carney’s news release.)

Canada Strong!!!

In a rapidly changing and more dangerous world, Canada is focused on what we can control. We are building our economy with major projects and millions more homes, we are empowering Canadians with lower costs and new opportunities to help you get ahead, and we are protecting our communities and our country.

We cannot control what other nations do, but we can control what we choose to build – and we are building Canada strong.

Safe, resilient communities are the backbone of a strong Canada. They attract people, families, businesses, and investment, and enable greater certainty and prosperity. Continue reading →

‘Providing a safe child-friendly space to support young victims through the judicial process.’

News from the Kristen French Child Advocacy Centre

Posted October 16^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – This past Wednesday, October 15^th, 2025  marked a significant milestone for children and youth in Niagara as dignitaries and community partners gathered to officially open the Kristen French Court Support Centre.

Left  to Right at opening ceremonies – Kim Rossi (KFCACN), Pat Chiocchio (Acting Regional Chair), Deputy Crown Attorney Todd Morris, Crown Attorney Michal Sokolski, MPP Wayne Gates, Mat Siscoe (Mayor of St. Catharines), Brian Bratt KFCACN, Joanne Macri KFCACN, MPP Jennie Stevens, MP Tony Baldinelli, MP Chris Bittle. All photos courtesy of Kristen French Child Advocacy Centre

Located just steps from the St. Catharines courthouse, this new space offers a safe, supportive environment for children involved in the judicial process. Continue reading →

‘The Region of Niagara is forging ahead with its plan to expand and extend Merritt Road between Pelham and Thorold, destroying some of Niagara region’s best wetlands and woodlands.’

An Action Alert from Liz Benneian at Biodiversity and Climate Action  Niagara (BCAN), a coalition of citizen groups and individual citizens across the Niagara region

Posted October 16^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – As part of its budgeting process, the Region of Niagara is forging ahead with its plan to expand and extend Merritt Road between Pelham and Thorold, destroying some of Niagara region’s best wetlands and woodlands.

To make matters worse, the estimated cost of this project has increased from approximately $35M in the Master Plan to $53M now.

The costs, of course, do not take into account the green infrastructure, climate mitigation, human health benefits and biodiversity preservation value of the natural capital that they are destroying.

Continue reading →

A News Release from the Constituency Office of Niagara Centre NDP MPP Jeff Burch

Posted October 16^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Niagara Centre NDP MPP Jeff Burch questioning Ford government in Ontario legislature. file photo

QUEEN’S PARK – With the Ontario Legislature set to reconvene October 20th, Niagara Centre MPP Jeff Burch is laser focused on fighting for what matters most to Niagara Residents.

After a busy summer meeting with constituents across Niagara, Burch is bringing their concerns directly to Premier Ford.

From rising unemployment and job insecurity to the future of the Welland Hospital and Port Colborne Urgent Care, low ODSP and OW rates, and the crisis in Ontario’s backlogged courts and under-resourced corrections system impacting community safety, Burch is calling on the Premier to take immediate action.

“This will be an intense session focused on creating good jobs through strong Buy Ontario initiatives that support workers and families, fighting to restore healthcare services at the Welland Hospital and Port Colborne Urgent Care Centre, and addressing community safety with critical reforms to Ontario’s courts and corrections facilities.”

NIAGARA AT LARGE Encourages You To Join The Conversation By Sharing Your Views O This Post In The Space Following The Bernie Sanders Quote Below.

“A Politician Thinks Of The Next Election. A Leader Thinks Of The Next Generation.” – Bernie Sanders

“Marineland’s threat to kill these beluga whales is horrifying, and killing this many belugas at once, in close proximity to each other, could constitute unlawful animal cruelty,”                               –  Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice

A News Release from Animal Justice Canada, a citizens organization advocating for the protection of animals

Posted October 15th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Lives of 30 surviving beluga whales now in limbo at shuttered Marineland amusement park in Niagara Falls, Ontario

NIAGARA FALLS, Ontario —Animal Justice has filed an urgent complaint with the Niagara Regional Police Service, calling on officers to investigate and take action to prevent Marineland from carrying out a threat to mass-kill all 30 surviving beluga whales.

After the federal government refused to issue export permits to send the whales to a subpar aquarium in China where they would face further exploitation, Marineland threatened to “euthanize” the belugas unless the Minister of Fisheries reversed that decision or gave the defunct facility money.

The police complaint is accompanied by a letter sent this past October 9th to Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner by numerous leading global scientists and experts in marine mammal welfare. The scientists warn that killing belugas en masse would inflict significant distress on the whales, given their intelligence, strong social bonds, and sensitivity to disturbance within their pods. Continue reading →

350.Org Calls For Urgent Action As Scientists Warn World Crosses First Climate Tipping Point, Weeks Ahead Of COP30 (United Nation Climate Change) Summit

“Future generations will inherit empty seas where magical kaleidoscopes of life once thrived. This irreversible collapse is a preview of what we’re about to lose next: rainforests, glaciers, entire species. COP30 must be the moment leaders choose to stop fossil fuels and protect what can still be saved.” – 350.Org report

News from by 360.Org, a global people’s movement pressing for action on climate change

Posted October 15th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

350.org calls for urgent action as scientists warn world crosses first climate tipping point, weeks ahead of COP30 summit

The world has officially crossed its first climate tipping point due to unchecked greenhouse gas emissions, scientists warned on Monday.

The 2025 Global Tipping Point Report produced by 160 researchers across 23 countries warns that coral reefs, vital ecosystems that support a quarter of all marine life and protect hundreds of millions of people, are now in irreversible decline due to ocean warming and acidification. It also indicates other tipping points, including the Amazon rainforest, are at severe risk. Continue reading →

News from the City of St. Catharines in Niagara, Ontario

Posted October 15^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – The City of St. Catharines is proud to announce the installation of two new commemorative crosswalks honouring Canada’s veterans. The symbolic crossings serve as a lasting tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and service of those who have defended our nation.

New Military Veterans Crosswalk in St. Catharines community of Port Dalhousie. Photo courtesy of City of St. Catharines

The crosswalks are located at:

• Church St and James St, downtown
• Main St and Ann St, Port Dalhousie

Continue reading →

A Brief News Commentary by Doug Draper

Posted October, 14, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Catherine Ens, a founding member of Niagara Action For Animals (NAFA) at one of many demonstrations she has helped organize over the years outside the gates of the Marineland amusement park in Niagara Falls, Ontario. file photo by Doug Draper

(A Brief Note from Niagara At Large – This post has been updated to include an October 13th, 2025 report that was aired on Buffalo, New York’s Channel 2 TV station, which features comments from Niagara, Ontario animal activist Catherine Ens on this issue. You can watch it by clicking on a screen at the bottom of this post.)

This past Thanksgiving weekend, on Saturday, October 11th, more than two dozen animal justice advocates rallied outsidethe gates of the shuttered Marineland amusement park in Niagara Falls, Ontario in opposition to the possibility that the park’s owners may soon euthanize 30 surviving beluga whales inside.

Passing motorists honk their horns in support as animal justice advocates rally in front of the close Marineland park in Niagara Falls, Ontario this past October 11th to save surviving beluga whales inside the gates

The current park owners and operators have raised the possibility of euthanizing the whales in the wake of Canada’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Joanne Thompson’s recent decision to block the sale of the belugas to an aquarium in China. Continue reading →

Registration Is Open Now Until Oct. 17thFor Residents To Claim Their Free Tree.

A Call-Out to St. catharines residents from the City of St. Catharines

Posted October 14^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Residents can visit stcatharines.ca to register online and reserve their free tree. A limited number of trees are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Registration closes Friday, Oct. 17 at 4 p.m. or when all available trees have been reserved. Tree pickups will take place Saturday, Oct. 25, from 8-11 a.m. at Lancaster Park. Once registered, residents will receive a confirmation email with a QR code they must present (digitally or printed) when picking up their free tree.

Trees are available to St. Catharines residents only and proof of residency, such as a driver’s licence or recent utility bill, will also be required. Limit of one tree per household. Continue reading →

“Niagara Nutrition Partners, which provides meals to tens of thousands of students daily, has faced repeated funding crises under the Ford government. Earlier this year, shortfalls forced temporary program pauses and left thousands of students without access to breakfast or snacks.”

A Statement from Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates whose riding includes Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Fort Erie, Ontario

Posted October 14th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates

NIAGARA – Ontario NDP MPP Wayne Gates (Niagara Falls) says today’s (October 10^th, 2025) announcement (https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1006596/ontario-increasing-student-nutrition-investment-to-375-million) (from the province’s Ford government) on student nutrition funding is a direct result of years of tireless advocacy from community partners, local volunteers, and families who refused to let children go hungry in classrooms, but warns that the funding remains far too low to meet the real need.

“For years, Niagara parents, educators, and community organizations have been calling for sustainable funding for student nutrition programs.

This (Ontario Ford) government is celebrating an investment that, when stretched across the entire province, amounts to only pennies per meal. Ontario students deserve better than bargain-basement funding for something as essential as a healthy breakfast.

“Niagara Nutrition Partners, which provides meals to tens of thousands of students daily, has faced repeated funding crises under the Ford government. Earlier this year, shortfalls forced temporary program pauses and left thousands of students without access to breakfast or snacks. Continue reading →

“This garden represents a $15 million investment in the health, well-being, and future of our children.”                                                      – Niagara Parks Chair Bob Gale.

Debbie Whitehouse, Chair of the Niagara Parks Foundation

“Our vision for the Children’s Garden is a safe, inclusive and vibrant outdoor classroom that will promote education, play, and physical and mental wellbeing, while cultivating a respect for the environment. By teaching children to love and appreciate nature today, we will inspire the next generation of environmental stewards and leaders that will protect our planet into the future.”                                                           – Debbie Whitehouse, Chair of the Niagara Parks Foundation

    – Niagara Parks and the Niagara Parks Foundation held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new four-acre Children’s Garden on Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Niagara Parks Chair speaks at groundbreaking ceremony

– Construction will begin in 2026, with the grand opening scheduled for summer 2028

    – For more information about the Children’s Garden, visit  ## niagaraparks.com/childrensgarden ## (https://www.niagaraparks.com/foundation/childrensgarden)

Niagara Falls, Ontario –  In celebration of the new four-acre Children’s Garden to be developed at the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens, the Niagara Parks Foundation, working in close collaboration with Niagara Parks, was pleased to host a ground-breaking ceremony on Tuesday, October 7. Continue reading →

‘You’re building hope, stability and lasting futures for generations.’

A Call-Out To All from Habitat for Humanity Niagara

Posted October 14^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

This Thanksgiving, as families gathered around their tables, we want to share a story of gratitude that your support made possible.

Back in 2017, when Habitat for Humanity Niagara was building five homes, Colleen’s mom urged her to apply to our Affordable Homeownership Program. She didn’t expect much. After years of struggling with unstable housing and the cost of raising three children, the dream of homeownership felt out of reach. Continue reading →

This Sad News Broke on CNN and other Cable Network Stations just around 6 P.M. this Saturday, October 11th, 2025

A Brief News Commentary & Tribute by Doug Draper, an unabashed Diane Keaton Fan

Posted October 11^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Diane Keaton in Annie Hall, as many might remember her.

I wasn’t going to post anything this weekend above and beyond my Happy Thanksgiving wishes to you that you can scroll down to just before this one, but I can’t help putting on just a little something about this shocking news.

I say shocking because, even though she was 79, Diane Keaton still had a youthful look and energy about her, so much so that I can’t help but think that she may have been one of the people Bob Dylan had in mind when he wrote the song ’Forever Young’. Continue reading →

A Brief Thanksgiving Message from Doug Draper at Niagara At Large

Posted October 10^th, 2025

To all of you who visit Niagara At Large at www.niagaraatlarge.com or who follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/doug.draper.180 or who may be joining us for the first time or through shares by others, thank you very much for engaging with us and for recommending our news and commentary site to your friends and associates.

The support you give Niagara At Large through your being apart of our growing readership is what keeps local, independent media alive in a world all too dominated these days by corporate chains.

We also want to wish you all a happy, warm and peaceful Canadian Thanksgiving weekend with your friends and family.

Let’s get together at Thanksgiving and at other events across our region with as many of our fellow Canadians as we can and share our thanks that, during times of darkness across the Canada/U.S. border and in so many other regions of the world, we are living in a country that may not be perfect but that continues to stand for freedom and democracy and the hope of a healthy, fulfilling life for all.

• Happy Thanksgiving, Doug Draper

This weekend, as always, show Trump how much we care for our country and oppose his efforts to crush us economically with his tariff war by not crossing the border into the United States and by enjoying the great places we have here.

Hope that you had the chance to enjoy some of the magic of that super-size Harvest Moon this past October 6th. photo taken by Doug Draper on nature trail in Mel Swart Conservation Park. Sights like this are one of the many reasons why it is good to be alive in this world. Just go out and find them.

NIAGARA AT LARGE Encourages You To Join The Conversation By Sharing Your Views On This Post In The Space Following The Bernie Sanders Quote Below.

“A Politician Thinks Of The Next Election. A Leader Thinks Of The Next Generation.” – Bernie Sanders

Has this (Doug Ford) government learned nothing?”                      – Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles

A Message from Ontario’s NDP Official Opposition Party on the fight to save our province’s Greenbelt

Posted October 10^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

QUEEN’S PARK — Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles remains focused on demanding transparency and accountability from the Ford government as the RCMP criminal investigation into the corrupt Greenbelt scheme hits the two-year mark.

“The people of Ontario are still waiting for answers,” said Stiles. “The hard work of journalists, community members, and our laser-focused team stopped Doug Ford’s corrupt plan and saved the Greenbelt — but two years later, there’s still no accountability. Continue reading →

“It’s incredibly fitting that we rename this park in honour of Jim Bradley — a man who dedicated his entire life to public service and to the people of St. Catharines.”                                                               – St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe

News from the City of St. Catharines in Niagara, Ontario

Posted October 10^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe cuts the ribbon with a little help from other friends of Jim Bradley. photo courtesy of City of St. Catharines

The City of St. Catharines honoured late community champion and Regional Chair Jim Bradley this past Wednesday, October 8th with a ribbon cutting at the renamed Grantham’s Jim Bradley Park.

New park signage marks Grantham’s Jim Bradley Park at 447 Grantham Ave., a large neighbourhood park with open space, a soccer field, playground equipment and swings.

Bradley, who passed away Sept. 26 after a brief illness, left a legacy of public service that shaped St. Catharines, Niagara, and Ontario. Continue reading →

“Our Budget will … empower Canadians by helping you get ahead, bringing down your costs, and making your life more affordable. We cannot control what other nations do. We control what we choose to build. We are building Canada Strong.”            – Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada

News from the Office of Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada

Posted October 10^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Prime Minister Mark Carney

In a rapidly changing and uncertain world, Canada’s new government is focused on what we can control. We are protecting our communities and our country.

• We are building our economy with major projects and millions more homes.
• We are empowering Canadians with lower costs and new opportunities to help you get ahead.
• We cannot control what other nations do, but we can control what we choose to build – and we are building Canada Strong.

To deliver that change, we will take bold action and make responsible choices. Budget 2025 will spend less on government operations and reduce waste, so we can invest more to grow our economy and to protect the programs that make life more affordable for you. Continue reading →

“This plan has always been about putting people first – our patients and our team members – and ensuring Niagara has the hospital system it deserves.”                                                                     – Niagara Health President and CEO Lynn Guerriero

New from Niagara Health, Niagara’s system of amalgamated hospital services

Posted October 9^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Niagara Health President and CEO Lynn Guerriero shares progress on the hospital system’s five-year Strategic Plan, Transforming Care, during a midpoint update event on Oct. 9, 2025.photo courtesy of Niagara Health

St. Catharines, Ont. – This Oct. 9th, 2025, Niagara Health shared a candid update on its five-year strategic plan, Transforming Care<https://www.niagarahealth.on.ca/files/NHStrategicPlanTransformingCare.pdf>, outlining the progress made since its launch in 2023, the challenges facing hospital care in the region and the focus moving forward as the hospital system prepares for the opening of the new South Niagara Hospital in 2028.

“Every decision, every investment, every change is about the care a person receives when they come through our doors,” says Niagara Health President and CEO Lynn Guerriero. Continue reading →

An Invite from the City of St. Catharines

Posted October 10th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

St. Catharines, Ontario – Pumpkinville will celebrate 37 years at Happy Rolph’s Animal Farm this October with another great lineup of activities for the community.

The family-friendly tradition will be held on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Happy Rolph’s Animal Farm, 650 Read Rd. in St. Catharines.

This year’s event will feature many activities, including a photobooth, pumpkin painting, visits from a special princess and hero, and a scavenger hunt. Continue reading →

An Invite to All this Thanksgiving from the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority in Niagara, Ontario

Posted October 9^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Now in its 51st year, the much-anticipated Thanksgiving Festival returns to the stunning Ball’s Falls Conservation Area. This beloved community event invites families, friends, and visitors of all ages to come together to celebrate nature, culture, heritage, and family traditions, rain or shine. 

Event Details 

• Dates: Friday, October 10 – Monday, October 13, 2025 
• Times: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily 
• Location: Ball’s Falls Conservation Area, 3292 Sixth Avenue, Lincoln, ON

Continue reading →

From John Nicol, a Niagara, Ontario native and former, award-winning St. Catharines Standard reporter & columnist now living in Spain

Posted October 9^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Jim Bradley, when he was Ontario Environment Minister through the last half of the 1980s

Modesty probably prevents you from telling the full story, but Jim Bradley (the former Niagara Regional Chair, St. Catharines Liberal MPP and Ontario Environment Minister) who passed away this September 26^th at age 80), being in the right place at the right time to enact much-needed environmental protections, had a lot to do with Murray Thomson (the late managing editor) of The Standard creating an environment beat for you, Doug, which you ran with like you were Usain Bolt.

Doug Draper made environment reporting front page news, which Bradley could hardly ignore in his constituent’s newspaper. Jim’s heart was in the right place, and he assembled a crack team of like-minded idealists at the environment ministry, but as much as I admired Jim fighting the good fight from within government, there are many people to thank for the changes, including (the late) Margherita Howe (head of the Niagara-on the Lake citizens group Operation Clean) and the gang of protesters she led. Continue reading →

We All Have A Responsibility To Make Sure These Great Animals Are Properly Cared For

A Commentary by Niagara At Large reporter/publisher Doug Draper

Posted October 8^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Captive beluga whales, on public exhibition at the Marineland amusement park in Niagara Falls, Ontario now face the threat of  euthanasia.

The final chapter in the long story about why marine mammals should never be kept in captivity for our entertainment is now playing out at what is left of the once-popular Marineland amusement park in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

The chapter opens in the wake of one killer whale (the last one held in captivity in all of Canada) and 19 beluga whales dying at the now shuttered park since 2019, and 30 surviving belugas now facing the possibility of euthanasia after Canada’s Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson recently said “no” to a plan by Mare inland’s owners to sell them to an aquarium in China. Continue reading →

An Invite to All from the Niagara District Council of Women

To Register for this October 15th Zoom Meeting, Email Irene Newton at 1niagaracouncilofwomen@gmail.com . See more details below.

Posted October 8^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Well-known economist, author and commentator Jim Stanford comes to Niagara via a zoom meeting that we are all invited to.

Niagara, Ontario – On Wednesday October 15th  at 7 p.m. the Niagara District Council of Women (NDCW) public zoom meeting will feature   Jim  Stanford, speaking on “The Future of Canadian Jobs in a Tariff-Ridden World!

Jim,  through his interviews and published articles in the print and broadcast  media and regular columns in the Toronto Star,  is the best known economist in Canada.

Although our GM CAW-related labour force has shrunk considerably  since Jim last spoke at our CAW /NDCW- sponsored  meeting several years ago, the Niagara Region work force  has broadened substantially, and many people here in Niagara and across Canada  are extremely  concerned about what the future holds . Continue reading →

“Premier (Doug) Ford sees the situation and thinks that the best we can do is point fingers: tell young people to ‘look harder.’ This is an abdication of responsibility to the next generation.”                – Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles

News from Ontario’s Official Opposition New Democratic Party

Posted October 7^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

TORONTO – Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles met with young Ontarians, experts, and community leaders for a roundtable discussion this past October 6th, aimed at addressing the province’s worsening youth unemployment crisis:

“Ontario is in the middle of a jobs crisis. Over 800,000 Ontarians are unemployed. Youth are hit hardest: youth unemployment sits around 16.5%, nearly double the provincial average. For teens, it’s over 22%—that’s nearly one in four. Continue reading →

Amina Silva, Assistant Professor of Nursing,  Brock University

“Through the project, the research team will seek to study how AI can “play a vital role in meeting diverse user needs throughout the cancer journey, from initial diagnosis through to survivorship.”                                                          – Amina Silva, Assistant Professor of Nursing,  Brock University

News from Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario

Posted October 7^th, 2025 on Niagara at Large

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime; among them, one in four will experience post-traumatic stress related to their diagnosis.

New research — funded by a Canadian Cancer Society Disruptive Innovation Grant — will explore how AI companions can provide empathetic support at scale, helping to alleviate anxiety for patients and caregivers affected by breast cancer.

Amina Silva (left), Assistant Professor of Nursing at Brock University, and Ellyn Winters-Robinson, CEO of The Lyndall Project and AskEllyn, are leading a national research project that will explore how AI companions can support breast cancer patients and their families.

Led by Amina Silva, Assistant Professor of Nursing at Brock University, and Ellyn Winters-Robinson, CEO of The Lyndall Project and AskEllyn, the national research project will bring together researchers, clinicians, patients and caregivers along with AI experts<https://gambitco.io/> to study the effectiveness of AskEllyn<https://askellyn.ai/>, the world’s first AI companion for breast cancer. Continue reading →

Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada

“Over the past two years, Jewish Canadians and Jewish communities throughout the world have faced a devastating resurgence of antisemitism – synagogues and schools are being attacked, people harassed for their faith, and efforts made to diminish or deny the horror of October 7. These crimes are a betrayal of the values that bond Canadians together, and compromise the inalienable right of all Canadians to live their lives fully with dignity and security. Canada condemns antisemitism in all its forms.”                                                                 – Prime Minister Mark Carney

From the Office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney

Posted October 7^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

“Two years ago today (October 7^th), families were preparing to observe a joyful Jewish holiday, and hundreds of young music lovers were gathering at a peaceful music festival, when the terrorist organization Hamas launched a heinous attack against Israeli civilians.

It was the deadliest attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Nearly 1,200 people were murdered, and well over 200 were taken hostage – 48 of whom remain in Hamas’ captivity. Continue reading →

‘Climate change models estimate that polar bears will become extinct in Ontario within the next 45 years.’

News from Ontario Nature, a not-for-profit citizens advocacy group dedicated to the protection and preservation of our natural heritage

Posted October 6^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Toronto , Ontario – As part of 90-day national consultations on the proposed Management Plan for Polar Bear in Canada, Ontario Nature’s new analysis  reveals the risks Bill 5 poses to the species’ survival.

These risks include the repealing of the provincial Endangered Species Act, weaker habitat definitions and ending provincial recovery strategies.

Despite committing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 37 percent by 2030 as a “critical” action to sustain polar bear populations, the Ontario government is falling far behind this target. Continue reading →

A Brief Message from Doug Draper at Niagara At Large

October 5^th, 2025

This Monday, October 6^th as the sun sets, take a little time to look up in the skies above for the first full moon of the fall season – a super-sized ‘Harvest Moon’.

This magical sight lasts right through to dusk Tuesday and is a reminder to all that this is the season when markets and road-side stands are full of food grown and harvested by our local farmers.

On this Harvest Moon, more than ever, we should all make a special effort to support our local farmers and the produce of farmers from across Ontario and Canada as Trump continues to hit us with punishing trade tariffs. Continue reading →

“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… there is no time to waste. These whales have suffered enough.”

A Statement from Niagara Falls NDP MPP Wayne Gates

Posted October 3^rd, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Lives of 30 surviving beluga whales now in limbo at shuttered Marineland amusement park in Niagara Falls, Ontario

QUEEN’S PARK – MPP Wayne Gates (Niagara Falls) released the following statement in response to the federal government’s decision to deny Marineland’s request to export 30 beluga whales:

“While I’m relieved these belugas won’t be shipped overseas to China to perform in shows, let’s be clear, this decision doesn’t actually solve the problem.

“These whales have already spent their lives in tanks, and too many have died while governments pointed fingers. They cannot wait any longer. Continue reading →

“Premier Ford has shown a pattern of constantly prioritizing his developer friends and unnecessary projects over wildlife and nature.”

A Statement fromPhil Pothen, Counsel and Ontario Environment Program Manager, and Rebecca Kolarich, Water Program Manager At Environmental Defence Canada

Posted October 3^rd, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Toronto, Ontario – Nearly 4 months after Progressive Conservative MPPs forced approval of a law that will repeal Ontario’s Endangered Species Act, the Ontario government is confirming experts’ gravest warnings about what it will mean for at-risk plants and wildlife.

The Ontario government has announced that once the law comes into force, it will cease even to recognize more than 106 different species at risk, ranging from the Eastern Mole, Eastern Musk Turtle and Cougars, to the endangered Redside Dace, and Red-headed Woodpecker. Continue reading →

(A Few Highlights from the early years in the political journey of one of Niagara’s best known and longest serving  public figures, the late Jim Bradley)

A Tribute to Jim Bradley by Doug Draper, Niagara At Large reporter/publisher and a former environment reporter with The St. Catharines Standard when it was an independent, locally-owned newspaper

Posted October 2nd, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Jim Bradley, in the 1980s, when he was Ontario’s Minister of Environment in the Liberal government of David Peterson

One of my earliest memories of Jim Bradley was of him showing up late – something he very rarely ever did during all of his 55 years in municipal and provincial office –  for an event of some significance to a good number of people in the Niagara’s northeast end.

It was 1983 and the event, hosted by Ontario’s then Conservative government and Niagara’s regional government, featured the opening of a brand new, multi-million-dollar  pipeline that would deliver drinking water from St. Catharines to the Town of Niagara-one-the-Lake where people were concerned about the safety of water they were drawing from the mouth of a Niagara River polluted at the time with toxic chemicals leaking from the Love Canal and other notorious dumpsites located on and  near the river’s American shore.

The grand opening of the pipeline was held in a remote place off Niagara Stone Road that wasn’t all that easy for many, including this reporter, to find and by the time Jim Bradley, the Liberal MPP for St. Catharines, found it, the proceedings were over and everyone in attendance was packing up to leave. Continue reading →

A Brief New Commentary by Doug Draper, with information reported by the Canadian Press and a News Release from Animal Justice Canada

Posted October 2^nd, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Canada’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Joanne Thompson

In the wake of recent news that owners and operators of the now-defunct Marineland amusement park in Niagara Falls, Ontario have been working on a plan to export its more than two dozen surviving beluga whales to an amusement park in China, Canada’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Joanne Thompson has said no to the plan.

“I could not in good conscience approve the export of these whales for further exploitation. I would welcome all export requests that align with the Fisheries Act and would expeditiously review them,” said Thompson in a statement she released this October 1^st.

In reply to that, Marineland representatives, according to a Canadian Press report, issued a statement of their own expressing disappointment. Continue reading →

“The Greatest Danger To Our Future Is Apathy.”              – Jane Goodall

A Very Sad Farewell to Jane Goodall, Posted By Doug Draper on Niagara At Large

October 1st, 2025

I have said it before and I will say it again about this great lady.

With all of the chaos, carnage and lack of principled action on the part of too many of our political leaders and other bad actors on this planet, how lucky we are – and now I am sorry to have say; how luck we  were – to have Jane Goodall among us.

The last time I saw some coverage her, there she was at the age of 90, shovel in hand, helping children somewhere in Canada plant trees.

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you,” she once said. “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”

How much better off the world would be if we all took those words to heart each and every day of our lives. If we did, I’m sure she would agree that it would be a great way to honour her.

Here is an interview CBC did with her at age 89. You can watch it by clicking on the screen immediately below –  

Rest In Peace Dear Jane Goodall

• From a life-long admirer, Doug Draper, Niagara At Large

For a story on Jane Goodall’s death, click on – Jane Goodall dies at 91, institute confirms

Here is a CBC story about her passing – https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/jane-goodall-dead-obituary-1.7648336 

NIAGARA AT LARGE Encourages You To Join The Conversation By Sharing Your Views O This Post In The Space Following The Bernie Sanders Quote Below.

“A Politician Thinks Of The Next Election. A Leader Thinks Of The Next Generation.” – Bernie Sanders

A Statement from Ontario’s NDP Official Opposition Party

Posted October 1^st, 2025 on Niagara At Large

TORONTO, Ontario – The Auditor General’s report on Greenhouse Gas emissions makes it clear that the Ford government will fail to meet the province’s 2030 greenhouse gas emission reduction target. Ontario NDP Shadow Minister for Environment, Conservation, and Parks Peter Tabuns has issued the following statement:

“The Ford government’s failure to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions will make it harder to grow food, and lead to more expensive groceries,” said Tabuns. Continue reading →

News from Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario

Posted October 1^st, 2025 on Niagara At Large

The Tower, above the Niagara Escarpment, at Brock University. file photo by Doug Draper

Niagara, Ontario – A new Brock University initiative is fuelling efforts to reduce the institution’s carbon footprint and impact on the planet.

Now underway, SPARK (sustainability, performance, adaptation, renewal and knowledge) is a three-year clean infrastructure program that supports current University needs while also advancing Brock’s commitment to build a sustainable future.

The energy retrofit will enable Brock to reduce campus greenhouse gas emissions by 83 per cent by 2028, surpassing the University’s initial target of a 75 per cent reduction by 2030 (compared to a 2013 baseline). The initiative will also cut energy usage by 60 per cent.

Continue reading →

From the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney

Posted on this National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, September 30^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

 “Reconciliation is a generational task, lived and practised every day. On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, we honour Survivors and the children who never returned home – and we reflect on the devastating legacy and the ongoing impacts of the residential school system.

Residential schools are a truth that Survivors carried when governments would not. A truth recounted more than 6,600 times before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, so governments could no longer say ‘we did not know’.

During this long and painful chapter in our history, more than 150,000 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children were separated from their families, communities, languages, and cultures. Continue reading →

The Falls will be illuminated in blue and white on Monday, September 29 at 10 p.m.

News from Ontario’s Niagara Parks Commission

Posted September 29^th, 2025 on Niagara At Large

Photo courtesy of Niagara Parks

Niagara Falls, ON   – The Niagara Falls Illumination Board, in partnership with Niagara Falls Tourism, will illuminate Niagara Falls in blue and white on Monday, September 29 at 10 p.m. to celebrate the Toronto Blue Jays winning the American League East Division Title on Sunday, September 28, advancing them directly to the Division Series. 

All special illumination requests are reviewed and approved by the Niagara Falls Illumination Board, which has financed and operated the “illumination of Niagara Falls” since 1925. 

NIAGARA AT LARGE Encourages You To Join The Conversation By Sharing Your Views O This Post In The Space Following The Bernie Sanders Quote Below.

“A Politician Thinks Of The Next Election. A Leader Thinks Of The Next Generation.” – Bernie Sanders