“I really like living here because of the parks and the things that you can see.”
— David Tebbutt
Our Town: St. Catharines
Saturday, December 6 at 6:30 pm on WNED-TV
Twenty-one proud “St. Catharinians” recently captured their city’s distinctive treasures for WNED’s 12th community “video scrapbook” production, Our Town: St. Catharines.
Just 12 miles from the U.S. border, this Ontario “Garden City” on the shores of Lake Ontario boasts 1,000 acres of parks, gardens and trails.
Other points of pride filmed by the volunteer videographers include a historic downtown, defining waterways and a festive tradition.
Toronto college student David Tebbutt follows the trails along a unique geological landform formed over millions of years. He films both the life and natural beauty along the Niagara Escarpment—including huge rock formations, cascading waterfalls and a slithering snake.
City dwellers, notes Tebbutt, enjoy this scenic wonder as a natural retreat. “When you escape to go the escarpment, it’s so much more peaceful and quiet,” he says.
Film/broadcasting student Jon Topping gets up close and personal with the massive ships navigating the Welland Ship Canal, wending through town on their way to Lake Erie.
As the ships pass through the local locks, “I find it amazing that they actually get the whole ship up that incredible height,” says Topping. “The locks are enormous and they (the ships) barely fit.”
The drama of their trek enthralls sight see-ers and stalls commuters – it’s all part of the daily routine in St. Catharines.
Another time-honored St. Catharines experience is documented by city councilor Peter Secord. The town’s Wine Festival, with more than 100 events each September, has become a much-anticipated homecoming celebration.
“A highlight for many is the parade,” Secord says. He captures the spirit at the 57th annual, including the sweet-treat street vendors and the top-hat-and-tails crowd dancing in the streets.
The focus, of course, are the local wines, which now enjoy an international reputation. “You recognize an Ontario wine as one that can compete with the finest wines in the world,” he says.
Our Town: St. Catharines
was made possible with support from
Videographers |
Topic |
David Tebbutt |
Escarpment |
Denyse Brochu / Jerry Smee |
Bridge Center of Niagara |
Hans Last |
Downtown St. Catharines &
St. Paul Street Area |
Rodney Loewen |
Port Dalhousie Light Houses |
Victoria Gazzellone |
Farmers Market |
Henry Banic |
12 Mile Creek |
Bryan Bell |
Port Dalhousie Waterfront |
Arlene Sawicki |
Churches |
Mitchell Buchanan |
Local Music |
Jon Topping |
Welland Ship Canal |
Marinko Jareb |
Niagara Artists Centre |
Alex Wynands |
Happy Rolph’s Bird Sanctuary & Petting Zoo |
Mark Tymczysyzn |
Decew Falls |
William Moreau |
St. Catharines Rowing |
Marsha Coppola |
Family Activities |
James Klassen |
New Skate Park & 4-Pad Arena |
Maria Grande |
Local Restaurants |
Peter Secord |
Wine Festival |
Michael Donaghue |
Montebello Park |
Don Rickers |
Ridley College |
About St. Catharines, Ontario
- Population (2006): 131,989 (city); 390,317 (metro)
- Hosted FISA World Rowing Championships (1970, 1999)
- Believed to be named after the wife of the Hon. Robert Hamilton, a prominent businessman.
- Largest private employers include: General Motors of Canada Ltd., TRW Canada Ltd. and call centers
Learn More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Catharines,_Ontario
About OUR TOWN
Since 2003, WNED has produced 11 other OUR TOWN programs, featuring:
- Ontario, Canada: Kitchener/Waterloo, Markham, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Oakville and Welland
- Western New York: Dunkirk/Fredonia, East Aurora, Ellicottville, Jamestown, Kenmore/Tonawanda and Lockport
The series adopts the concept of “a day in the life” picture books, using video instead of photographs. |
Jamestown 
