Niagara Falls Blog – Travel and Tourism News

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Originally posted to the Niagara Falls Review

By COREY LAROCQUE AND KARENA WALTER, QMI AGENCY

Niagara Falls residents get their chance next week to see GO Transit’s plan to roll out train commuter train service that could see as many as eight trains a day between Niagara and Toronto’s Union Station.

“It’s still all very preliminary,” GO spokeswoman Emilia Marceta said Wednesday, at a public information session at Market Square in downtown St. Catharines. “We’re in the early stages.”

Ontario’s mass inter-city transit agency is holding a similar public information session at Club Italia on Montrose Road Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m., as part of an environmental assessment needed before GO can expand regular service into Niagara. (more…)

Posted to the Niagara Falls Review

The Niagara Parks Commission has launched a community website designed to provide easy access to information about the operations of the parks and how to do business with the commission.

The move follows recommendations in Ontario Ministry of Tourism governance and audit reviews of the NPC undertaken last year.

“The commission is committed to being as open and transparent as possible,” said acting commission chairman Archie Katzman.

“One of the ways we can do this is by providing more information to the public about our activities and the reasons behind the decisions we make. We believe this website will help us do that.”

The website will also be used to inform the community about the scheduling of commission meetings, which until recently were closed to the public.

The website can be accessed at http://community.niagaraparks.com.

Provincial transit agency studying permanent rail service to Niagara

By COREY LAROCQUE / Review Staff Writer

Niagara Falls residents get their chance next week to see GO Transits plans to roll out train commuter train service that could see as many as eight trains a day between Niagara and Toronto’s Union Station.

“It’s still all very preliminary,” GO spokeswoman Emilia Marceta said Wednesday at a public information session at Market Square in downtown St. Catharines. “We’re in the early stages.”

Ontario’s mass inter-city transit agency is holding a similar public information session at Club Italia on Montrose Road, Feb. 3, from 6 to 9 p.m., as part of an environmental assessment needed before GO can expand regular service into Niagara.

GO had a successful “excursion train” as a pilot project last summer, when it ran four trains in each direction between Niagara Falls and Toronto on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Its goal was to boost tourism between Ontario’s top two destinations and to relieve vehicle traffic on the Queen Elizabeth Way.

Posted to the Niagara Falls Review

By COREY LAROCQUE , REVIEW STAFF WRITER

Rules aimed at keeping the Niagara Parks Commission’s search for a boat-tour provider “above board” mean commissioners are to avoid contact with potential bidders -but the same rules wouldn’t disqualify a bidder who attempts to lobby members of the government agency.

“This has no consequences for anyone other than commissioners and senior staff,” said NPC general manager John Kernahan, after consulting with the “fairness commissioner,” one of three experts appointed to help the agency through a controversial bidding process that could result in a new company replacing the Maid of the Mist. (more…)

Daniel Nolan
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jan 27, 2010)

Hamilton will see 20 additional commuter trains a day, and Niagara eight trains, if a proposal to bring expanded rail service to Niagara becomes reality. (more…)

I found this article on  the “Food and Travel” blog, listing the “10 Essential Experiences in Niagara Falls, Canada.”

Niagara Falls, Canada is definitely a place that you should visit at least once in your lifetime. I’ve had the opportunity to visit twice in my lifetime (once as a child and second as an adult) and the last visit was surely better than the first, due in large part to the fact that I got to see and experience a lot more of this beautiful city. (Plus there was a whole lot more to do than the first time I went!). Though many suggest that summer is the best time to visit, I highly recommend visiting Niagara Falls in early Autumn (Sept-Oct) if possible, because the fall colors against this majestic waterfall is a true beauty to behold, and hotel prices are usually much cheaper. (more…)

Originally printed by the Review

Posted by By COREY LAROCQUE , REVIEW STAFF WRITER

Ontario has locked down Casino Niagara’s long-term future with a 15-year extension on the lease at its Falls Avenue location.

The government’s commitment could unleash up to $1 billion in private investment in the area around Clifton Hill -money investors were afraid to spend when the casino’s location was uncertain, said Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor.

Ontario Lottery and Gaming, the Crown corporation that owns the province’s casinos, reached a deal with Canadian Niagara Hotels, the company that owns the building Casino Niagara has occupied since its 1996 opening.  (more…)

• Back from hiatus and ready to tweet again. #
• Kelsey's Clifton Hill is offering free wings after 4:00 tonight. One pound of Kelsey's famous wings per customer absolutely free! #
• New event post: Patti LaBelle Live Concert http://www.cliftonhill.com/events/niagara_falls/2010/01/21/patti-labelle-live-concert/ #
• New event post: Larry King takes the stage at Fallsview in March http://bit.ly/6s6NAp #
• New event post: Amazing Kreskin http://www.cliftonhill.com/events/niagara_falls/2009/12/30/amazing-kreskin/ #
• New event post: Band From TV http://www.cliftonhill.com/events/niagara_falls/2010/01/21/band-from-tv/ #
• Boston Pizza Clifton Hill has UFC's Ultimate Fight Nigh on TV at 7:00 tonight and WWE: Smackdown at 8:00 #
• It's FRESHMAN FRIDAY @ Rumours Night Club Clifton Hill – Z101's Corey Mottley will be hosting the craziest college party every Friday. #

Originally printed by the Review
No-train idea’s a no-GO: Thomson
Posted By RAY SPITERI , REVIEW STAFF WRITER

It would be a “lousy idea” and a “disaster” for GO Transit if St. Catharines was made the commuter rail hub for all of Niagara, says Niagara Falls Tourism chairman Wayne Thomson.

GO Transit announced last fall it was studying the potential for long-coveted commuter rail service into Niagara.

GO hasn’t yet committed to expanding its service into the peninsula, but St. Catharines Mayor Brian McMullan is already causing a stir by suggesting it has big plans for his city.

GO Transit started its environmental assessment shortly after the conclusion of a summer tourism experiment that saw its trains run between Toronto, St. Catharines and Niagara Falls on weekends. (more…)