July 31, 2006
Recently a series of photos of the Brock Monument and Queenston Heights park was added to the Niagara Falls picture gallery. Click on the thumbnails below for more.
History of the Brock Monument
In 1824, the first monument memorializing British Major General Isaac Brock was erected at Queenston Heights. The white limestone tower was 65 feet (19.8m) tall. Inside this tower was a circular staircase inside the viewing area at the top of the tower. The bodies of Major General Brock and his aide de camp Lieutenant Colonel Macdonell were entombed at the base of this tower. The monument was dedicated on October 13th 1824.
On April 17th 1838, Benjamin Lett, an Irish Canadian rebel sympathetic to the Mackenzie Rebellion and a group of saboteurs set off an explosive blast at the base of Brock’s Monument causing irreparable structural damage.
The bodies of Brock and Macdonell were disinterred from the vault and reburied in the Hamilton family cemetery in Queenston.
On October 13th 1853, construction of the new Brock’s Monument was begun. It was designed by Toronto architect, William Thomas. It was completed in the autumn of 1856. The tower is 184 feet (56m) tall and inside has a 235 step circular stairway to a small twelve foot diameter observation deck/pod at the top. It was paid for from public donations.
At the beginning of the construction of the new monument, the remains of Brock and Macdonell were disinterred from the Hamilton cemetery and reburied in a vault underneath the monument.
On April 5th 1929, during a heavy gale, the outstretched arm of the statue of General Brock broke off and fell to the ground below. It broke into three large pieces weighing one thousand pounds. The arm and the entire upper portion of the statue needed replacement. Scaffolding was build around the tower to the very top to allow workers to reconstruct the statue of General Brock.
Brock’s Monument continues to stand as a sentinel atop the Niagara Escarpment at Queenston overlooking the beautiful lower Niagara River area. Access to the top observation pod is allowed.
Source: Niagara Frontier
As seen on CBC News July 21, 2006
Scientists in cloud over mistier Niagara Falls
Scientists on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border have different ideas to explain why the skyline at Niagara Falls is increasingly misty and wet.
The Niagara Parks Commission started tracking weather conditions at the tourist site 10 years ago.
In that time, the number of misty days has increased from about 30 a year to more than double that number, the commission said.
To read more of this article, please visit: CBC.ca
July 26, 2006
From Wednesday’s Globe and Mail
Not your mother’s Niagara Falls
by DEIRDRE KELLY
Niagara Falls, Ont. — When the Toronto-based Kontent Group went looking for a cool locale in which to launch Sir, its new Canadian men’s fashion magazine, CEO and creative director Michael King focused on Niagara Falls as the venue for a lavish party for 40 style-savvy guests.
“It was very clear to us 12 months ago that Niagara was on the cusp of cool,” King says. “It’s why we wanted to be there.”
Click here to read the rest of this Niagara Falls article.
July 25, 2006
THURSDAY, JULY 27 – SATURDAY, JULY 29
“BOB KEELE”
with Ted Morris & Bill McIntosh
Resourceful wit with a flair for the physical combined with a likable presence, a commanding voice, and a clever use of exaggeration. Bob`s amazing mimicry cannot be matched.
Location:
YUK YUK’S NIAGARA FALLS
at Casino Niagara
5705 Falls Avenue, Niagara Falls, ON, L2E 6T3
Click here for a local Niagara Falls Map
ShowTimes/Price:
Thursday
9:00 pm
*prices: $12
Friday
9:00 pm
*prices: $17
Saturday
8 & 10:30 pm
*prices: $17
Showtimes may change for the summer & long holiday weekends
Check with us in advance
1-877-YOU-LAFF (968-5233)
905-262-LAFF (5233)
SHOWS ARE NOT CENSORED.
DISCRETION ADVISED
*Prices Subject to Change
July 24, 2006
As found on PR Newswire
$2.9 Million Loan from Kennedy Funding Helps Niagara Falls Investor Leap into the Hotel Business
HACKENSACK, N.J., July 24 /PRNewswire/ — Investor Daniel Lee of Speed
Group, Inc. knows a great deal when he sees one. And when he saw the Falls
Plaza Hotel in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada being sold at auction, he
knew he wanted it. The 1.59-acre property includes a 113-room, 11-storey
tower hotel, a 32-room, two-storey motel, and a 403-seat restaurant.
Located on Ferry Street, the property paralleled the Niagara River. Lee’s
plan was to either re-sell the property relatively quickly, invest in some
refurbishing and cosmetic makeovers and then sell it, or complete the
makeovers and operate it himself until it sold. In any event, all Lee
needed was to locate and secure an acquisition loan to complete the deal
and set things in motion.
As it turned out, finding a lender ready, willing, and able to fund Mr.
Lee’s acquisition wasn’t an easy task. Apparently, there were contractual
issues with the seller of the hotel, and certain building structural
concerns, which needed to be addressed. Fortunately, Lee was put into
contact with Kennedy Funding through Meridian Capital Group, a leading
mortgage firm that brokered the $2.9 million loan. Emanuel Westfried, the
Meridian broker, said, “I had worked with Kennedy once before, and I knew
what they could do. For a deal like this one, taking place out of the
country, with several issues, most lenders wouldn’t have even gotten
involved. But we knew Kennedy could deal with the problems, close the deal,
and close it quickly, so we didn’t hesitate to go back to them. And they
did it.”
Kennedy Funding is a direct, private lender headquartered in
Hackensack, New Jersey. Jeffrey Wolfer, President and co-CEO, commented,
“We’ve distinguished ourselves in two distinct areas: flexibility and
speed. We saw a need in the marketplace for creative financing that could
overcome the obstacles imposed by traditional lending institutions and
conventional loan requirements. We’re known as being able to close some of
the toughest loans out there, and quickly.” The Speed Group, Inc. deal was
a case in point, he said. “There were some issues to be dealt with, but the
Niagara Falls area is a popular summer vacation destination, there will
always be a market for reasonably priced hotel rooms geared towards
families, and Lee got the property for a good price. We had no problem
making the deal.”
Daniel Lee also seemed pleased. “Kennedy Funding understood the
complications in the loan very well. They were very knowledgeable about
every aspect of the deal, in fact. There was a good synergy between
everyone involved, from beginning to end, and we’re very happy with their
professionalism — and with the hotel.”
Kennedy Funding can issue loan commitments in as little as 24 hours,
which often leads to closings in as little as five days and, in some cases
when time is critical, even quicker. Available financing ranges from $1
million to $100 million and more. The staff at Kennedy Funding is skilled
in a wide range of business sectors beyond financing, and focuses an
impressive amount of expertise, experience, and dedication on each loan
application.
While specializing in commercial real estate bridge loans, Kennedy’s
flexibility and diversity has also resulted in loans for a wide range of
enterprises, including amusement parks, high-profile golf courses, TV and
radio stations, airlines, even sports complexes. Throughout the world,
Kennedy has produced funds for conventional and unconventional projects,
often succeeding where other financial institutions cannot. Kennedy can
fund up to 75% loan-to-value for commercial land development, acquisitions,
workouts, refinancing, bankruptcies, and foreclosures.
http://www.kennedyfunding.com
SOURCE Kennedy Funding
July 12, 2006
According to TMZ staff, last Monday, Sienna Miller, her mother and James Franco spent some leisure time at one of the local casinos while visiting Niagara Falls Canada.
Sienna and James will be starring in a movie based on a twisted Niagara Falls honeymoon entitled “Camille,” which is currently in pre-production. Click here for more details on the movie.
Here is part of the original article posted by: TMZ.com
Sienna and Mom Get Coyote Ugly
Posted Jul 11th 2006 2:42PM by TMZ Staff
Sienna Miller and her mom Jo donned the latest in Hawaiian hoedown chic while partying in Niagara Falls, Canada Monday night.
The Millers danced the night away at a local casino and were joined by Sienna’s “Camille” co-star – and rumored new beau- James Franco.
While the mom and daughter duo opted for matching green floral blouses and pink cowboy hats, James kept it cool in jeans and a blazer.
Sienna may have topped Vogue Magazine’s Best Dressed list, but in this getup she has more in common with Anna Nicole than Anna Wintour.
Click here for more of the article including the picture of all three at the casino.
July 11, 2006
Recently published in Macleans Online Entertainment Section:
July 10, 2006 – 22:28
LeAnn Rimes cancels Niagara Falls, Ont. concerts to undergo leg surgery
“LOS ANGELES (AP) – LeAnn Rimes cancelled three concerts this week, including two in Niagara Falls, Ont., because she is to undergo surgery for a leg infection, her publicist said Monday.”
Please visit Macleans Magazine here to read the entire article.
July 7, 2006
Niagara Falls is one of the most exciting vacation destinations in North America. Each year, millions of people come to visit this natural wonder.
The Niagara Falls tourism industry is one of the largest in all of Canada and continues to expand at an incredible pace. There are many new developments in attractions, accommodations, restaurants, urban districts, power generation, bridge crossings, parks, etc. that have come to the city, year after year.
This Niagara Falls Blog, was created to bring visitors up to speed with the ever evolving tourism industry and hopefully help them plan a visit to the city of Niagara Falls, Canada.
We hope you enjoy your reading!
If you would like to see many different pictures of Niagara Falls, like the one above, please visit the Niagara Falls Picture Gallery for more.
Printed From the July Installment of the Business News Update
CITY OF NIAGARA FALLS – BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Tourism & Entertainment News – July 2006
Regis and Kelly showcase Niagara Falls to millions
Millions of television viewers across North America got a glimpse of the many new attractions Niagara Falls has to offer visitors when television’s ‘Live with Regis and Kelly’ daytime show visited Niagara Falls, ON recently. Hosts Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa spent the Victoria Day weekend in Niagara Falls preparing for the broadcasting of two episodes of ‘Live’ on May 22 and May 23.
The visit marked a return trip for the popular television show. ‘Live’ first ventured to Niagara Falls in 1996, when hosts Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford shot two shows at the picturesque Oakes Garden Theatre. With its breathtaking backdrop of the American and Horseshoe Falls, the theatre once again provided a stunning setting for the shooting of the two episodes this spring. More than 3,000 audience members per show braved unseasonably cool weather for an opportunity to see their stars in person and help showcase Niagara Falls to viewers across Canada and the United States.
“The City of Niagara Falls was extremely pleased and honoured to welcome back ‘Live with Regis and Kelly’ to our community,” said Niagara Falls Mayor Ted Salci. “Having such high-calibre entertainment come to our city truly illustrates what a great place Niagara Falls is and it helps us to showcase the many wonders that our city has to offer.”
Niagara Falls Director of Business Development, Serge Felicetti is excited about the exposure the show provided. “Live is one of the top-rated daytime talk shows,” he said. “It has five million viewers daily across the United States. Hopefully this will encourage people to take a trip and visit Niagara Falls. Having celebrities like Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa showcase local attractions and remind American viewers that they don’t need a passport to visit Canada, really helps us deliver the message that Niagara Falls is a great place to spend your holidays this summer.”
The interest generated by the two-day visit of ‘Live’ to Niagara Falls helped to generate extensive spin-off publicity for the City of Niagara Falls. In addition to the two one-hour episodes of ‘Live’ broadcast on ABC and CTV, several American and Canadian broadcasters ventured to Niagara to report on the events surrounding ‘Live’s’ visit to Niagara Falls. These included the popular entertainment series eTalk Daily, Entertainment Tonight Canada, news coverage from ABC and NBC affiliates in New York State, and print coverage in major Canadian and American daily newspapers. The value of media the exposure Niagara Falls received in the U.S. marketplace from the Live broadcasts is estimated to be in excess of $3 to $4 million.
Several organizations partnered with the City of Niagara Falls to bring ‘Live with Regis and Kelly’ to Niagara Falls. These included; The Niagara Parks Commission, Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort, Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Canadian Tourism Commission, Canadian Niagara Hotels, HOCO Entertainment and Resorts, and other local tourism stakeholders.
Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa showcase Niagara Falls to millions of television viewers across North America during the May 22 and May 23 episodes of ‘Live with Regis and Kelly’ which aired from the Oakes Garden Theatre in Niagara Falls, ON.
www.niagarafalls.ca
www.tvplex.go.com/buenavista/regisandkelly/
Business News is published by the City of Niagara Falls Community Services Department, Business Development
4310 Queen Street
Niagara Falls,
Ontario, Canada
L2E 6X5
Tel: (905) 356-7521 ext. 5000
Fax: (905) 357-9293
www.niagarafalls.ca
July 6, 2006
The Falls is a truly magical place. It combines the never-ending thrill of one of Mother Nature’s most amazing on-going performances, along with a candy store-like selection of fun and entertainment. And if you want action-central, look no further than the Quality Inn Clifton Hill.
The hotel is in the heart of the city, only one block away from a spectacular view of both the American and Canadian Falls. Once there, you can park your car and leave it – and all your city cares – behind.
From the Quality Inn Clifton Hill it’s an easy stroll away from the really big attractions like the Niagara SkyWheel, Casino Niagara, Maid of the Mist, Skylon Tower and if you go a bit further you can make it to the Whirlpool Jet Boat river ride or the famous Marineland.
A lot of people find they have everything they need right on Clifton Hill. It’s entertainment galore at your doorstep. You can ride a 175 ft. ferris wheel, go bowling, shoot some hoops, play pinball, race cars, do some target-shooting, or just plain relax and have a drink on the outdoor patio at Boston Pizza or Kelsey’s. If you prefer a fresh cup of coffee or ice cold cappuccino, Tim Hortons is right there with a patio perfect for people watching.
You can mingle with the famous at the Movieland Wax Museum, or see hundreds of amazing exhibits and hear incredible stories at Ripley’s Believe it or Not. You can even play a round of 18 holes at Dinosaur Park Miniature Golf.
When it’s time to eat, you will find plenty of dining options. At Clifton Hill, food is served with a heaping side order of family fun. Restaurants include Kelsey’s, Wendy’s, Boston Pizza and Tim Hortons, to name a few.
Bringing high-energy excitement to the heart of Niagara Falls, Clifton Hill offers everything a family would want in entertainment, dining and shopping.
At the end of the day, the hotel’s indoor pool, along with a giant whirlpool, provide an ideal atmosphere to relax and unwind. The outdoor pool, which also features a dragon slide, wading pool and playground area, is a favorite location for kids of all ages.
All of this on Clifton Hill, the entertainment and dining district in Niagara Falls, Canada.
Packages and Specials
Currently there are 2 different ways to get a great deal at the Quality Inn this summer:
1) Niagara Falls SkyWheel package
This packages includes:
-3 SkyWheel Passes
-2 nights at the Quality Inn
-1 Large Pizza at Boston Pizza
-20 tokens for the Great Canadian Midway
-$10 food voucher at Tim Hortons
2) Marineland Hotel Discount
This special gives you:
-20 per cent off the standard room rate at the Quality Inn.
Both are well worth consdering if you are planning a trip to the Falls.
