January 17, 2011
Source: The Review
Festival is a laughing matter
Local News
By JOHN LAW , REVIEW STAFF WRITER
Bigger festival = bigger laughs.
After two years as a single night event, the Niagara Falls Comedy Fest has supersized itself for its return in February. With a roster of nearly 20 comics, the event has gone back to its roots to become a three-day affair. And it will be stacked with some of Canada’s most established comedians.
Avoiding the “pretense” of big comedy festivals in Toronto and Montreal was key, says organizer Mark Matthews. The veteran Niagara Falls comic wants it to be three nights of accessible comedy, with many of the same performers you’d see in bigger festivals.
“Montreal is unobtainable for the average person to go and sit and watch a show,” he says.
“My aim was to try and take people on those shows and put them in Niagara Falls. Have people say, when they walk out, ‘I can’t believe I saw those guys for this price.’ “
(more…)
December 29, 2009
Source: CNW
Originally printed Dec. 21, 2009
Niagara Falls GO Bus service changes and improvements starting January 2
TORONTO, Dec. 21, 2009 /CNW/ – Starting Saturday, January 2, GO customers will have new weekend and holiday bus trips between Burlington and Niagara Falls. Highlights of service improvements and changes include:
– Two new westbound weekend bus trips will depart Burlington GO Station
at 11:48 a.m. and 9:48 p.m., making all stops to Niagara Falls.
– Two new eastbound weekend bus trips will depart from Niagara Falls
VIA Station at 9:45 a.m. and 7:45 p.m., making all stops to
Burlington GO Station.
– Starting on Monday, January 4, 2010, two weekday eastbound bus trips
departing from Niagara Falls VIA Station will leave five minutes
earlier at 3:15 p.m. and 4:40 p.m.
Some arrival and departures times have been adjusted to reflect typical travel times on weekday westbound trips between Stoney Creek and Niagara Falls. Times have also been adjusted on weekend westbound trips between Grimsby Park & Ride and Niagara Falls. A few weekday bus trips from Grimsby and Burlington have been cancelled. Customers should check the schedule for both of these changes. (more…)
November 17, 2009
Source: The Review
Santa parade coming Nov. 28
Santa Claus is coming to town.
The Niagara Falls Santa Claus parade will wind its way through the city’s downtown Nov. 28. It will begin on Armoury Street and travel north on Victoria Avenue to Valley Way, then east onto Queen Street.
The parade will feature bands, floats and the Jolly Old Elf himself.
Parade grand marshals will be the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games mascots -and a “secret” community torch bearer. (more…)
Source: National Post
GO Transit considers expansion to Niagara Falls
Posted: November 17, 2009, 7:40 PM by Carmen Chai
By Carmen Chai, National Post
GO Transit officials launched an environmental assessment this week to look at the possibly of expanding rail service to the Niagara Peninsula after a successful summer of weekend train service linking Niagara Falls to Toronto.
Officials say the EA will examine infrastructure upgrades, prospective building sites for new rail stations and potential improvements to the existing rail line. The assessment should wrap up in summer 2010, and a public review period should help to determine the value of the expanded railway. (more…)
October 5, 2009
Originally printed by CTV.ca
Major fire blazes for hours, guts historic Niagara store
Updated: Sun Oct. 04 2009 7:40:11 PM
ctvtoronto.ca
A once famous and now abandoned department store in Niagara Falls burned to the ground Sunday after firefighters spent over eight hours battling the stubborn flames that refused to burn out.
Rosbergs department store at Queen Street and Erie Avenue was once a community icon but had been abandoned for several years.
Seeing the fire was too much for Don Carrel, the grandson of founder Jacob Rosberg.(more…)
September 29, 2009
From the City of Niagara Falls Mayor’s Office
People Mover Stimulus Funding
Mayor Ted Salci, City of Niagara Falls and the Members of City Council were pleased to welcome the Minister of Justice and Attorney General for Canada, the Honourable Rob Nicholson, Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure for Ontario, the Honourable George Smitherman, and Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor to the Niagara Falls VIA Rail Station Monday, September 25 to receive the announcement of infrastructure stimulus funding in the amount of $25 million from the provincial government and reaffirmation from the federal government of their commitment of $25 million for their much anticipated People Mover System.
The Niagara Falls People Mover Project will allow for integration with local transit, addressing the transportation needs of its residents and visitors alike while meeting the federal and provincial government objectives of developing employment and new growth.
The People Mover System will have a significant impact on the environment by effectively challenging the congestion in the tourist core by removing cars from the roads, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transporting our visitors and residents in an efficient and effective manner. (more…)
September 25, 2009
Originally printed by MarketWire
Infrastructure Canada Government of Ontario
Sep 25, 2009 13:45 ET
Canada-Ontario Partnership to Revitalize Downtown Niagara Falls Streetscape
Investment will create jobs and stimulate the economy
NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – Sept. 25, 2009) – Residents, businesses, and tourists of Niagara Falls will benefit from nearly $2.7 million in upgrades to the Queen Street streetscape, thanks to a contribution announced today by the Honourable Rob Nicholson P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Mr. Kim Craitor, Member of Provincial Parliament for Niagara Falls, and His Worship Ted Salci, Mayor of Niagara Falls. The governments of Canada and Ontario will each invest up to $889,033 for the revitalization project through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. The City of Niagara Falls will fund the remaining project costs.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, our Government is investing in projects that get shovels in the ground to stimulate the economy and create jobs locally,” said Minister Nicholson. “Thanks to the strong relationship between the federal, provincial and municipal governments, we are working together to help Niagara Falls revitalize the Queen Street streetscape, which will greatly enhance the area and improve the economic viability of the downtown core.”
“I have been amazed at the determination and energy of the Queen Street community’s efforts to bring life, vitality and people back to this important historic neighbourhood,” said Kim Craitor MPP for Niagara Falls. “The provincial government has been proud to support the community’s innovative programming over the last two years through Trillium and Celebrate Ontario. This past summer we invested in bringing the Go Train to town. Now I am delighted that the McGuinty Government is able to help build on this success and further invest in rebuilding and revitalizing the streetscape to continue the dream of building a vibrant and economically successful and sustainable tourist attraction.” (more…)
August 21, 2009
Originally Printed by the Review
French cuisine fit for Queen Street
Posted By JOHN ROBBINS / TheReview
(This is the sixth in a seven-part series looking at the ongoing revitalization of Queen Street.)
A sweet smell wafts down Queen Street toward the Post Office.
The fragrance is almost irresistible.
If you’re caught in its midst, you may just find yourself following back to its source: Paris Crepes Bistro Cafe.
There you’ll find a husband and wife team quietly working behind the countering making authentic French meals and desserts. Read more and watch video
August 12, 2009
Originally printed by the Review
GO Niagara-Toronto ridership exceeds expectations
Mayor hoping response will be noted when GO evaluates pilot project
Posted By Corey Larocque
GO Transit’s excursion train between Niagara Falls and Toronto continues to exceed the provincial transit agency’s expectations for the summer service, though it appears to be losing more money than the rest of GO’s system.
More than 23,000 passengers have used the train to travel between Canada’s biggest city and the Honeymoon Capital, Mayor Ted Salci reported during Monday’s council meeting.
“This is more than triple what the expectations were,” Salci said, adding he hopes the response will bode well when GO officials consider whether or not to make the service permanent.
(more…)
July 29, 2009
Originally printed by the Review
Queen Street turns into theatre stage for weekend festival
Posted By ALISON LANGLEY , REVIEW STAFF WRITER
A group of nuns will make it a habit to stroll downtown Niagara Falls this weekend.
The ladies, actually actors from Gypsy Theatre’s current production of Nunsense at the Seneca, will be among a number of performers who will take to the streets on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for Theatre on the Street.
“It’s going to be a little bit of an eclectic mix,” Toni Williams, manager of the Downtown Business Improvement Association, said of the cast of characters that will converge on Queen Street for the three-day mini festival. (more…)
