Advocacy & Leadership

September 22, 2025

On September 22, Executive Director Kat Dodge delegated that:

(2:15 – 2:28) On behalf of the SCDA reflecting on the Labour Day Special Parking enforcement and requesting more notice, clear criteria and consideration of cost effective implementation for future enforcement.

June 23, 2025

On June 23, Executive Director Kat Dodge delegated on behalf of the SCDA, to City Council that:

(2:45 – 2:55) The St. Catharines Downtown Association is in favour of recommendations for a consolidated approach and technologies and strategies to improve the customer experience when visiting, shopping, living and working in the downtown.

Monday, June 9, 2025

On June 9, Executive Director Kat Dodge delegated to City Council that:

(2:59 – 3:05) The St. Catharines Downtown Association is strongly against the proposed blanket Heritage Conservation District. The St. Catharines Downtown Association supports preserving historic buildings on a voluntary, individually designated basis – using an Updated Creative Cluster Master Plan (CCMP).

Monday, March 17, 2025

On March 17, Executive Director Rachel Braithwaite delegated to City Council for the following:

(1:05 -1:10) Strongly support the potential development of 37 Ontario St. which is a unique opportunity to revitalize an underused area of downtown.

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

On March 4, Marketing & Communications Director Kat Dodge delegated to the Niagara Region Public Works Committee for the following:

(23:08 – 27:53) Reject the Recommendations to eliminate recycling collection for non-legible sources and rather maintain a separate recycling collection system for the downtown business area. We need a solution that acknowledges both the environmental and economic realities of these spaces.

Monday, September 23, 2024

On September 23, Executive Director Rachel Braithwaite delegated to St. Catharines City Council for the following:

(1:31:36 – 1:35:57) Full support for Active Master Transportation plan sharing how the DTA has been the first BIA to be Ontario-by-bike certified in Niagara, the very successful bike valet partnership with CAA Niagara, hosted many bike tours and bike-friendly events throughout the downtown. The DTA Cycling Committee has advocated for reduced speed limits downtown, improved connectivity with twelve-mile creek, secure bike lock-ups near the bus terminal, improvement to accessible transit to the Marilyn I Walker campus, safety improvements to bus terminal, and enhanced signage.

(3:58:23 – 4:03:00) In support for the 2024-2029 Economic Development and Tourism Strategy with excitement for the hotel feasibility study for downtown, commercial market analysis for downtown, retail study focus on grocery for downtown, marketing for community improvement programs, placemaking initiatives like the civic square, commercial vacancy, and trends studies, marketing campaigns to promote available commercial space – especially municipal spaces.

She also expressed a hope to see a focus on more diverse and cultural opportunities, sharing successful DTA events such as Holi which attracted 66% of its attendees from outside Niagara with some attendees that even relocated to St. Catharines as a result. And sharing the increase in cultural events happening by downtown businesses.

Monday, September 9, 2024

Rachel Braithwaite delegated at the City of St. Catharines Council in support of the proposal for the Municipal Budget to be redirected to enhancing clean-up efforts, improving the current garbage structure, improving parking lot standards, prioritizing permits for derelict and vacant buildings, advocating for more supportive housing

(41:10 – 46:54)

Thursday, September 5, 2024

Rachel Braithwaite delegated at the Niagara Regional Council in support of enhancing funding for supportive housing, and echoing affordable housing, employment, and intensification around transportation and brownfield, to explore incentives for underutilized housing stock such as second-story vacancies.

(2:16:45 – 2:35:07)