106-461: Ronald Eldon Sexsmith (born January 8, 1964) is a Canadian singer-songwriter from St. Catharines , Ontario. He was the songwriter of the year at the 2005 Juno Awards . He began releasing recordings of his own material in 1985 at age 21, and has since recorded seventeen albums. He was the subject of a 2010 documentary called Love Shines . Sexsmith grew up in St. Catharines and started his own band when he
212-494: A brewery, three distilleries, a tannery, a foundry, a machine, and a pump factory. There were a variety of tradesmen, three bank agencies, and eight taverns. Stage coaches offered service to other towns and villages. There were already six churches or chapels, a post office that received mail daily, a grammar school, and a weekly newspaper. St. Catharines was incorporated as a city in 1876. The city expanded when it annexed Grantham Township , Merritton , and Port Dalhousie . There
318-534: A cassette, Out of the Duff , with a singer-songwriter friend named Claudio. Side one of the cassette contained five songs written and performed by Sexsmith; side two featured Claudio. A year later, Sexsmith and his family moved to Toronto, living in an apartment in the Beaches neighbourhood. Sexsmith recorded and released the full-length cassette There's a Way , which was produced by Kurt Swinghammer . Meanwhile, he worked as
424-433: A courier and befriended Bob Wiseman , whom he met at an open stage. They became friends, and Wiseman agreed to produce and arrange Sexsmith's next release in between his tours with the band Blue Rodeo . Because of Wiseman's busy schedule, work on the album stretched out over several years. After the album Grand Opera Lane was rejected by several Canadian labels, the pair released it independently in 1991. Grand Opera Lane
530-529: A different vocalist on each song. Sexsmith was featured on vocals on the Mel Parsons song "Don't Wait" from her 2015 album Drylands . Sexsmith published a book on September 16, 2017, called Deer Life . It has been described as a "grown up fairy tale" by Sexsmith himself. It is the artist's first effort as an author. Sexsmith has two children with his former common-law partner. Their fifteen-year relationship ended in 2001. Sexsmith's wife, Colleen Hixenbaugh,
636-625: A famous composer made by the Faircloth Brothers glass firm. The foyer is finished in Art Deco style. Designed by architect Sidney Badgley , Massey Hall was completed in 1894 at a cost of CA$ 152,390.75 . Construction was financed by Massey, the founder of the Massey Manufacturing (later Massey Ferguson ) manufacturing conglomerate. The hall's debut concert was a choral performance of Handel's 'Messiah' on June 14, 1894. Ten years after
742-434: A fully stocked bar. Prior to this addition, alcohol was not permitted in the hall. The decor of Centuries includes hundreds of photos of artists who have performed there over the years (largely collecting portraits of popular music stars since the eighties), including many autographs. Centuries has a capacity of 220 people and often hosts CD releases and post-show parties for visiting artists. Roughly five years after Centuries
848-493: A land area of 96.2 km (37.1 sq mi), it had a population density of 1,422.1/km (3,683.1/sq mi) in 2021. At the census metropolitan area (CMA) level in the 2021 census, the St. Catharines - Niagara CMA had a population of 433,604 living in 179,224 of its 190,878 total private dwellings, a change of 6.8% from its 2016 population of 406,074 . With a land area of 1,397.09 km (539.42 sq mi), it had
954-475: A loading dock for equipment and deliveries. On the fourth floor, is the new 500 seat TD Music Centre. It additionally contains the Deane Cameron Recording Studio, which gets its name from the late Massey Hall CEO. Located in the basement is a bar that has another performance space as well. The new modern glass passerelles leading to the tower hangs off the side of Massey Hall and contrasts with
1060-399: A mystery. Hamilton's major profits were derived from transhipping supplies for the military and civic establishments from his Queenston enterprise, not from charitably supplying the subsistence Loyalist settlers. Hamilton lacked interest in social development and sold his business to Jesse Thompson before the turn of the 19th century. The Merritt family arrived after this time and was among
1166-522: A new edition of the Carlisle Street Parking Garage opened. It was built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards and was certified for its environmentally friendly features, including a green roof , preferred carpool and hybrid vehicle parking, greywater collection, permeable interlocking brick pavement, and several bike racks for users. A mixed-use development, the structure
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#17330846267851272-536: A new seven-story addition, two new smaller concert rooms and a new retractable seating system. The new addition is called the Allied Music Centre, located on the site of the Albert Building. It incorporates an artists' lab, studio, lounge and theatre. It was completed in 2022. In 1973, Toronto City Council designated Massey Hall a Heritage Property under the province's Ontario Heritage Act . Massey Hall
1378-459: A new spectator facility to replace the crumbling Garden City Arena Complex , built in 1938. Council voted to build a U-shaped facility, which will be home to the Niagara IceDogs, an Ontario Hockey League team, and be able to host other events, such as concerts. It would have room for 4,500 to 5,300 spectators. The goal is to keep the cost of the facility at or below $ 50 million and to build it on
1484-510: A place to pass through. The council also want to have downtown St. Catharines on the Wine Route, a driving tour of Niagara wineries and an Ontario Wine Council initiative to boost the number of visitors to the region's many wineries. The Wine Route was modified to officially redirect winery goers through the downtown starting in 2012. The first phase of two-way traffic was completed in 2009, with St. Paul and King streets being converted. The cost of
1590-616: A population density of 310.4/km (803.8/sq mi) in 2021. Since 1998, St. Catharines has had one of the highest obesity rates of any centre in Canada. A 2001 analysis by Statistics Canada showed that 57.3 percent of its residents were overweight. This has caused some elements of the media, including CTV , the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and The Globe and Mail to dub St. Catharines as Canada's "fattest" city. In 2008, new statistics were released that show that
1696-416: A religious theme. Massey also wanted to construct the building in memory of his son Charles, who loved music. Massey also did not want the music hall to make large profits. He wanted both rich and poor to attend events. Ideally, once all expenses were paid, Massey wanted tickets for a season of lectures to sell for $ 1. The building was designed with a neoclassical facade and features Moorish arches that span
1802-495: A retrospective concert at Toronto's Massey Hall . Sexsmith has collaborated with many artists. In 2002, he sang a duet with Coldplay 's Chris Martin in the song "Gold in Them Hills", which appeared as a bonus track on the album Cobblestone Runway . Sexsmith sang on "An Elephant Insect", which appears on the 2003 Shonen Knife album Heavy Songs . In 2005, he released a collection of songs recorded with drummer Don Kerr during
1908-469: A standing general-admission area during performances and enhancing the audio and lighting systems. This refurbishment allowed for more flexibility for a variety of performances. The audio enhancements included diminishing the echo effect of sound that occurs during performances by introducing sound-absorbing plaster into the space. The refurbishment also restored the mixed architectural styles of Moorish revival, Palladian revival, and Art Deco found within
2014-460: A swath of land known locally as the lower-level parking lot, behind St. Paul Street and abutting Highway 406. Council's commitment to build the facility resulted in IceDogs' owner Bill Burke promising to sign a 20-year lease with the city after he threatened to move his team if the city chose not to build a new arena. The city has made other infrastructure improvements to the downtown. In January 2012,
2120-626: A world-class event that brings over 3,000 athletes from various nations to the city. The site hosted the FISA World Rowing Championships in 1970 and in 1999 . More recently, the World Master's Rowing Championship was held at the Martindale Pond in the summer of 2010, with $ 500,000 (~$ 682,158 in 2023) in improvements to the facility such as: a weed harvester, new docking and a new timing system. There are currently talks to bring
2226-667: Is 19 kilometres (12 mi) inland from the international boundary with the United States along the Niagara River . It is the northern entrance of the Welland Canal . Residents of St. Catharines are known as St. Catharinites . St. Catharines carries the official nickname "The Garden City" due to its 1,000 acres (4 km ) of parks, gardens, and trails. St. Catharines is between the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and
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#17330846267852332-496: Is a more pop-oriented album and is dedicated to Elliott Smith and Johnny Cash . Sexsmith performed in the Toronto area in support of these albums. On May 1, 2001, Sexsmith performed "Just My Heart Talkin ' " on the BBC 's Later... with Jools Holland musical showcase, alongside R.E.M. , Orbital , India.Arie , and Clearlake . Holland backed him on piano. It was his second appearance on
2438-583: Is also a musician. She is a former member of By Divine Right , half of the duo Jack and Ginger, and the duo Colleen and Paul, with Paul Linklater. St. Catharines St. Catharines is the most populous city in Canada's Niagara Region , the eighth largest urban area in the province of Ontario . As of 2017, St. Catharines has an area of 96.13 square kilometres (37.12 sq mi) and 140,370 residents. It lies in Southern Ontario , 51 kilometres (32 mi) south of Toronto across Lake Ontario , and
2544-819: Is also home to a variety of theatre companies. These companies include Garden City Productions (formerly the Operatic Society of Grantham United Church 1956–1962), Carousel Players (in the Old Courthouse), Mirror Theatre, Essential Collectives Theatre, and the Empty Box Theatre Company. In 2015, the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre opened. In 2016, the Film House launched within the space, featuring cinema screenings with themed or genre-specific nights. The Grape and Wine Festival Parade
2650-622: Is at Port Weller. The Port Dalhousie Pier Marina and the Port Dalhousie Yacht Club are at Port Dalhousie. Massey Hall Massey Hall is a performing arts theatre in Toronto , Ontario , Canada. Opened in 1894, it is known for its outstanding acoustics and was the long-time hall of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra . An intimate theatre, it was originally designed to seat 3,500 patrons, but after extensive renovations in
2756-400: Is held annually each September. More than 100,000 people were anticipated for the 2022 event. The International Chicken Chucking Championships takes place every January in the St. Catharines neighbourhood of Port Dalhousie and attracts hundreds of participants and observers. Chicken Chucking consists of pitching or sliding frozen chickens along the ice-covered Martindale Pond and is hosted by
2862-461: Is operated by The Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall, a non-profit charitable organization. It is located at the intersection of Shuter and Victoria Streets, just east of Yonge Street, in downtown Toronto. The idea of Massey Music Hall (its original name) began with Hart Massey , who wanted to build a music hall in order to fill the need for a secular meeting place where people from Toronto and area could meet and enjoy choral music not of
2968-463: The -s . The name and the spelling were standardized as St. Catharines when the town incorporated in 1845. The Catherine after which the city is named is unclear. Common theories include Saint Catherine of Alexandria , Catherine Butler (wife of Colonel John Butler) , and Catherine Askin Hamilton (wife of Robert Hamilton ). Catharine Rodman Prendergast Merritt, wife of William Hamilton Merritt, may be
3074-482: The Blizzard of 1977 , an event which resulted in more than 150 cm of snow, wind that travelled the speed of 110 km/h, and a wind chill of approximately -45 degrees Celsius. The Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) was closed and a state of emergency was declared. The Canadian Armed Forces was involved in rescue efforts. St. Catharines' development history has resulted in a number of unique and distinct communities within
3180-511: The Juno Awards of 2021 , which was performed from a variety of venues across Canada, the surviving members of the Tragically Hip performed their 2002 single "It's a Good Life If You Don't Weaken" with Feist on lead vocals, which marked the band's first televised performance since Gord Downie 's death. On February 29, 2024, singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith staged a retrospective concert at
3286-453: The Kilt and Clover . Animal rights groups such as Niagara Action for Animals have protested the event. Proceeds from the event are donated to Community Care, a local food bank. St. Catharines was one of the cities that hosted the 2022 Canada Summer Games . More than 5,000 athletes and coaches arrived for the games, which took place from August 6 to August 21, 2022. The opening ceremony was held at
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3392-673: The Meridian Centre . The city's trail system offers over 90 kilometres (55 mi) of accessible pathways that are suitable for walking, jogging, cycling, hiking and cross-country skiing. St. Catharines entered into the Ontario Hockey Association Junior 'A' Hockey in 1943 as the St. Catharines Falcons . In 1947, they became the Teepees and were affiliated with the American Hockey League 's Buffalo Bisons . When
3498-782: The National Hockey League 's (NHL) Chicago Blackhawks made the Bisons their number one farm team, they inherited the Teepees. In the 1960s, the Jr. 'A' team went deeply into debt to the Chicago Black Hawks, but continued as a successful franchise and were named the St. Catharines Black Hawks. The Hamilton Fincups moved to St. Catharines in 1976 and played here for one year before moving back to Hamilton. The AHL St. Catharines Saints played in St. Catharines between 1982 and 1986, before being forced to re-locate to Newmarket due to protests from
3604-681: The Niagara Escarpment to the south. This climate allows wineries to flourish. As a result, the city records numerous frost-free days and frequent thaws in the winter, although it sometimes receives heavy lake-effect snow during certain wind conditions, and micro-cooling lakeside on some spring afternoons. The summer season is predominantly warm, sometimes hot and humid, with an average high temperature of 27 °C (81 °F) in July. Summer thunderstorms are commonplace but generally less prevalent and less severe than farther west in southern Ontario due to
3710-655: The Queens Kings . St. Catharines Tigers RFC was formed in 1978. Beginning in 2015, the Tigers joined the Niagara Wasps RFC and play at their field in Thorold. League1 Ontario 's St. Catharines Wolves are one of the most successful professional soccer teams in Canada, and play at Club Roma in the west-end of the city. Martindale Pond in St. Catharines' Port Dalhousie is the site of the annual Royal Canadian Henley Regatta ,
3816-453: The Toronto Symphony Orchestra , although the intention was always for Massey Hall to remain open for other purposes following renovations. Its permanent name as Roy Thomson Hall was announced in January 1982, following a donation from media mogul and philanthropist Roy Thomson . In 1994, to commemorate the hall's 100th anniversary, the basement was completely refurbished to include Centuries,
3922-630: The "people of the deer" lived in the region. The Chonnonton would grow vegetables like corn, beans, and squash while living in longhouses . In 1647 the Seneca conquered Chonnonton villages from east of the Niagara River. The Haudenosaunee then destroyed the villages in the 1650s. After these attacks and smallpox epidemics, the Chonnontons disappeared completely, with the last recorded appearance of them in 1671 by French explorers. St. Catharines falls within
4028-462: The 1940s, it now seats only up to 2,765. It has an extensive history of concerts by artists of many musical genres which continues today. Massey Hall was a gift to the people of Toronto from industrialist Hart Massey . Massey Hall was designated a National Historic Site of Canada on June 15, 1981. The hall closed in July 2018 for a two-year-long renovation including a new seven-storey addition and two smaller concert rooms. It re-opened in 2021. It
4134-464: The 2010s renovations. It had a unique two-storey oriel window. In 1933, the Massey Foundation undertook further renovations to the hall. The venue simplified its name to Massey Hall at this time. Further renovations occurred in the 1940s. Sister venue Roy Thomson Hall was known as New Massey Hall during the early planning stages. It was intended to replace Massey Hall as the primary venue for
4240-697: The Canada–U.S. border at Fort Erie . Manufacturing was the city's dominant industry, as noted by the heraldic motto, "Industry and Liberality". General Motors of Canada, Ltd. , the Canadian subsidiary of General Motors , was the city's largest employer, a distinction now held by the District School Board of Niagara . THK Rhythm Automotive, formerly TRW , operates a plant in the city, although in recent years, employment there has shifted from heavy industry and manufacturing to services. St. Catharines lies on one of
4346-484: The Canadian Rowing Hall of Fame to St. Catharines sometime in the near future. The pond is also home to the St. Catharines rowing club , Brock University rowing club, Ridley College rowing club and to the annual CSSRA Championships , which draws hundreds of high school athletes from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. The Martindale Pond or Henley, continues to hold its world-renowned status as a major rowing venue in
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4452-736: The Golden Horseshoe Division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League . The team has played since 1968 and plays all home games out of the Jack Gatecliff Arena. The team were runners up for the Sutherland Cup in 1979, 1990, 1994, 1997, 2000 and 2014, but won the cup in 2012. In 2015, the National Basketball League of Canada announced that Niagara had been awarded a new franchise to play in
4558-655: The Halifax Pop Explosion. In 2004, he performed at the RuhrTriennale in the concert series Century of Song hosted by Bill Frisell . On June 16, 2011, Sexsmith and his band performed The Kinks ' song "Misfits" with Ray Davies at the Meltdown Festival in London, England. The same year, he won a songwriter of the year Juno Award for "Whatever It Takes" and a Canadian Indy Award. The album Long Player Late Bloomer
4664-738: The IceDogs moved to the newly built Meridian Centre . Since starting out the team has won the Emms Trophy in 2010–2011 & 2018–2019. They have also won the Bobby Orr Trophy during 2011–2012 season and 2015–2016 season, qualifying for the OHL Finals. They would be beaten both times by the London Knights . The team has had numerous NHL alumni including Alex Pietrangelo , Dougie Hamilton , Vince Dunn , Ryan Strome , Akil Thomas and Mark Visentin . The current St. Catharines Falcons team plays in
4770-543: The Kinks , Rush , Kraftwerk , Lenny Kravitz , Gordon Lightfoot , Yngwie Malmsteen , Golden Earring , Bob Marley and the Wailers , Nightwish , Joe Satriani , Seventeen , Ravi Shankar , Harry Styles , and Kiss . Lightfoot played the hall over 170 times in his career, the most of any artist, including both the last show in 2018 before it was closed for renovations and the first show after it reopened in 2021. Speakers at
4876-564: The Loyalists Serjeant Jacob Dittrick and Private John Hainer as among the first settlers to come to the area in 1790. They took their Crown Patents, where Dick's Creek and 12 Mile Creek merge, which is now the city centre of St. Catharines. Historians have speculated that Dick's Creek was named after Richard Pierpoint , a Black Loyalist and former American slave, from an oral history account and events that had taken place around that time that would be consistent with him being
4982-594: The Massey Hall Restoration began in 2013 and was completed in 2017. This 16,000 sq ft (1,500 m ) project consisted of the deconstruction of the adjacent Albert Building to prepare for the foundation of the new tower that was planned to be constructed in Phase Two. The second and primary phase of the renovation was a 124,000 sq ft (11,500 m ) project with a budget of up to CA$ 113 million, including contributions of CA$ 30 million from
5088-734: The Meridian Centre. The team, named the Niagara River Lions , began play in 2015 where they reached the conference quarterfinals. The team joined the Canadian Elite Basketball League after the 2017–18 season . In 2021, the River Lions had one of their best seasons, finishing 2nd with a 10–4 record. The River Lions made it through the playoffs into the finals, where they lost 65–101 to the Edmonton Stingers . In 2024,
5194-834: The NHL Buffalo Sabres . The St. Catharines Saints served as the farm team for the Toronto Maple Leafs , and today are known as the Toronto Marlies . In 2007, the OHL 's Mississauga IceDogs relocated to St. Catharines and became the Niagara IceDogs . The IceDogs played out of the Jack Gatecliff Arena , which was renamed the Gatorade Garden City Complex (since renamed Garden City Arena Complex ). In 2014,
5300-535: The Ontario and Canadian governments. The main aspects of the second phase included a full restoration of the interior and exterior elements and the construction of the new addition. The phase was completed in 2022. However, Massey Hall reopened for performances in November 2021. The renovation of the interior of Massey Hall incorporated upgrading the technology by implementing mechanized removable seating to provide space for
5406-780: The River Lions Captured their 1st CEBL Championship with a 97-95 win over the Vancouver Bandits. The River Lions finished 14-6 led by a perfect 11-0 Home record. The city was the home of the New York–Penn League 's St. Catharines Blue Jays , the Short-season A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays , from 1986 to 1999. In 1996 the team was renamed the St. Catharines Stompers , and was subsequently sold and relocated to Queens , New York City in late 1999, where they became
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#17330846267855512-436: The Soul and on Feist's album The Reminder . A version of Sexsmith's "Whatever It Takes" appeared on Michael Bublé 's 2009 album Crazy Love . In 2004, fellow Canadian singer-songwriter k.d. lang covered Sexsmith's song "Fallen" on her album Hymns of the 49th Parallel . In 2010, Sexsmith appeared on "Liberace", a track off the album Vaudeville by Canadian rapper D-Sisive . In 2012 his song "Gold in them Hills"
5618-404: The U.S.–Canada border. Its economy is affected by the millions of tonnes of cargo shipped through the Welland Canal, with the locks for the canal being considered a tourist attraction by itself. St. Catharines was the location of a transmission plant for General Motors . The 20 hectare property where the factory once operated is now classified as a contaminated brownfield . St. Catharines
5724-400: The ambitious venture by raising funds and enlisting government support. The canal established St. Catharines as the hub of commerce and industry for the Niagara Peninsula . Merritt played a role in making St. Catharines a centre of abolitionist activity. In 1855, the British Methodist Episcopal Church, Salem Chapel ; was established at the corner of Geneva and North Streets on land granted to
5830-407: The area as a destination from day through evening events. In 2006, city council approved converting one-way arteries through the city centre to allow for two-way traffic, to make it easier for people to make their way around the city to explore it. In terms of urban planning and use, two-way traffic improves circulation within the area. The city wanted to improve downtown as a destination, rather than
5936-426: The audience below from debris. The renovation allowed audiences to see the repaired detailed ceiling. The interior renewal also consisted of keeping the Hall’s original brass railings and new seats, which mimicked the originals. The renovation moreover, focused on re-establishing the 100 original stained-glass windows that had been concealed with plywood since the 1950s due to sound disturbances. The refurbishment of
6042-409: The centre, which features concert, dance and film venues, is Brock University 's Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts. The university renovated the former Canada Hair Cloth Building to use for the school. This former industrial building is behind St. Paul Street and next to the municipal performing arts centre. In late 2011, city council approved moving forward with the construction of
6148-406: The city. The historical area of St. Catharines consisted of nothing more than what is now the downtown core, with the remaining land being part of Louth Township on the west and Grantham Township on the east. St. Catharines continued to steadily grow through the late 19th and early 20th centuries, eventually annexing land to the southwest that would become Western Hill and Old Glenridge , and to
6254-440: The completion of construction (after the 1904 Toronto Great Fire ), a pair of fire escape staircases were installed along the front face of the building. They were installed to deal with fire concerns of the building. These fire escapes (now removed) were considered an iconic part of Massey Hall's exterior. At some point in its renovation history, three of the windows at the front of the venue were converted into doors. The doors at
6360-473: The concert, the band released the 2013 EP The Road to Massey Hall , comprising covers of songs by other musicians who had played the hall in the past. In 2015, Canadian rock band Spirit of the West performed at Massey. The preparations for it are profiled in the 2016 documentary film Spirit Unforgettable . Toronto-born comedian, Russell Peters' April 2016 appearances at Massey Hall, were recorded for his Netflix stand-up special Almost Famous . For
6466-542: The congregation by Merritt in the early 1840s. The area became known to refugee slaves from the United States as a place of "refuge and rest;" it was a destination, one of the final stops in Canada on the Underground Railroad for African-American refugees fleeing slavery. The abolitionist Harriet Tubman then lived in St. Catharines. By the mid-1850s, the town's population was about 6,000, of whom 800 were of African descent. St. Catharines remains an important place in Black Canadian history. At an unknown early date, an inn
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#17330846267856572-444: The conversion was $ 3.5 million and was shared with Niagara Region. In 2012, most observers concluded that the change had achieved its goals; it garnered national media attention. In 2009, $ 54 million in joint federal, provincial and municipal funding was announced for the construction of a performing arts centre in the city's core, officially opened in September 2015 as the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre . Complementing
6678-429: The diminishing effect of the surrounding lakes. The highest temperature ever recorded in St. Catharines was 40.0 °C (104 °F) on 10 July 1936. The coldest temperature ever recorded was −25.7 °C (−14.3 °F) on 18 February 1979. The complex and extensive glacial history of the Niagara Peninsula has resulted in similarly complex soil stratigraphy in the area occupied by the city today. St. Catharines
6784-492: The east and north that would collectively become the central part of St. Catharines. In addition to the growth of St. Catharines, the town of Merritton and the town of Port Dalhousie existed as separate municipalities to the south and north of the city, each slowly growing their own residential base. Along with the rest of Ontario, St. Catharines experienced explosive growth after World War II. St. Catharines continued to annex Grantham Township as development continued, including
6890-457: The eastern portion of the Hamlet of Rockway , as well as the Hamlet of Power Glen . The few remaining portions of Grantham Township in the Northeast corner of the area, including Port Weller , were also transferred to the city. With the new Louth Township lands belonging to the city, St. Catharines would begin two developments in the west end — Martindale Road in 1983, and Vansickle Road in 1987. These developments are nearing completion. There
6996-412: The front of the venue were painted red (from their earlier brown-gold colour), a giant neon sign was hung above the main entrance, and notice boards listing upcoming acts were revamped on either side of those doors. The Albert Building, at 15 Shuter Street, was added as a janitorial residence in 1917 and later converted as backstage space. It has since been demolished and replaced by a new addition during
7102-410: The hall have included William Booth , Winston Churchill , Helen Keller , Thomas Mann and the Dalai Lama . Comics have included Jerry Seinfeld and Russell Peters . In May 1953, Massey Hall was the location of a notable jazz concert put on by five of the genre's most prominent artists of the era: Charlie Parker , Dizzy Gillespie , Bud Powell , Charles Mingus , and Max Roach . The performance
7208-411: The hall to mark his sixtieth birthday. In 2013, the Corporation of Roy Thomson and Massey Hall announced the closing of the performance space at Massey Hall for a revitalization project. The then 119-year-old building would proceed to undergo a two-phase renovation to restore some of the building's historic elements and the construction of new spaces to improve the community-driven centre. Phase one of
7314-411: The interior of the building while also ensuring the structural integrity of the building. The main idea was to make sure the Hall looked as if nothing had changed. This refurbishment procedure included the original wood, steel beams and restorers, repairing details, and making new plaster moulds of arch features if they were beyond repair. The ceiling had previously been covered in chicken wire to protect
7420-423: The large swaths of land to the north known now as " The North End ". St. Catharines would also absorb Merritton and Port Dalhousie in 1961, making them part of the city. During this time, St. Catharines nearly tripled in population. With the formation of the Regional Municipality of Niagara in 1970, the portion of Louth Township east of Fifteen Mile Creek was transferred to the City of St. Catharines. This included
7526-427: The later Loyalists to relocate after the American Revolution. They were from the Carolinas , New York State , and New Brunswick . In 1796, Thomas Merritt arrived to build on his relationship with his former Commander and Queen's Ranger , John Graves Simcoe , who was now the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada . The first Welland Canal was constructed from 1824 to 1833. William Hamilton Merritt worked to promote
7632-592: The main telecommunications backbones between Canada and the United States, and as a result a number of call centres operate in the city. It is designated an Urban Growth Centre by the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe , intended to achieve a minimum density target of 150 jobs and residents combined per hectare by 2032 or earlier. St. Catharines is also home to Brock University . The Iroquoian speaking Chonnonton peoples who were also known as
7738-851: The municipality itself as an employer became the largest in Ontario to offer a living wage , an action praised by the Niagara Poverty Reduction Network. As of the 2021 Census, 16.5% of residents were visible minorities , 2.5% had Indigenous identity, and the remaining 81.0% were White. The largest visible minority groups were Black (4.1%), South Asian (2.5%), Latin American (2.3%), Chinese (1.6%), Filipino (1.5%) and Arab (1.3%). In 2021, 58.3% of residents were Christians, down from 71.8% in 2011. 25.8% of residents were Catholic , 17.8% were Protestant , 9.4% were Christians of unspecified denomination, 1.3% were Christian Orthodox , and 3.9 were other Christian/Christian related traditions. 35.9% of
7844-478: The opening of the first Welland Canal in 1829, the city has had four different canal systems, whether modified or newly constructed, carved into its geographical landscape. The fourth and present-day canal forms the majority of the city's eastern boundary. The first three of the city's canals have largely been buried, portions of it beside the present-day Highway 406 and near Lake Street and the QEW highway. Other remnants of
7950-452: The original brick structure creating a connection between the new and the old. This state-of-the-art facility was designed and designated as a space for the community, artistic development and outreach initiatives. The two-phase restoration process of Massey Hall was led by Marianne McKenna of KPMB Architects and Christopher Borgal of GBCA Architects. KPMB mainly focused on the architecture and interior design aspects, while GBCA focused on
8056-465: The original canals can still be seen in various locations throughout the city; many remains are hidden within forested areas designated as city parks. Some residents in the region are interested in restoring the original routing of the Welland Canal through the city. They intend that the restored waterway and locks would be open to a new tourist attraction within the city. St. Catharines was affected by
8162-619: The original territory of the Mississaugas . A treaty signed in 1782 between the Mississaugas and the British government ceded a large tract of land, which included the St. Catharines area, to the Crown for the purpose of European settlement. St. Catharines was settled by Loyalists in the 1780s. The Crown granted land in compensation for services and for losses in the United States. Early histories credit
8268-444: The panes involved the fitting of noise defensive shades for the glass during concerts and performances. The renovation also facilitated the updating of Massey Hall to meet current Canadian accessibility standards. These updates included a Passerelle to connect the old Massey Hall to the addition and an elevator allowing individuals easy access to the upper levels. The grand stage was rebuilt and lifted to provide better visibility from
8374-427: The percentage obese or obese/overweight residents of Hamilton (74.3%), Kingston (70.1%), and St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador (70%) is now higher than St. Catharines-Niagara (69.3%), though the obesity rate in St. Catharines was higher in 2008 than in 1998. 23% of children in St. Catharines were estimated to be living in poverty as of 2015, which was above Canada's average rate of child poverty . In 2022,
8480-425: The performances. Hawkins' band, The Hawks, or permutations of it, backed most, if not all, of the acts. All of the musicians performing that night were collectively dubbed "The Rock ‘N’ Roll Orchestra ." The May 2008 performance by Matthew Good at Massey was released as a live album, entitled Live at Massey Hall . In 2013, folk-rock band Whitehorse made their first appearance at the venue. In conjunction with
8586-471: The population had were irreligious or secular, up from 24.5% in 2011. All other religions/spiritual traditions made up 5.8% of the population. The largest non-Christian religions were Islam (3.4%), Buddhism (0.6%), and Hinduism (0.6%). Tourism was considered to be an influential factor in Conference Board of Canada 's projected GDP growth for St. Catharines. The city is approximately 20 km from
8692-498: The production of Retriever , called Destination Unknown . Also in 2005, Sexsmith sang on the track "Song No. 6" by Norwegian singer-songwriter Ane Brun , which appeared on her album A Temporary Dive and again on her Duets album later the same year. In 2006, he performed a duet of "So Long Marianne" with Leonard Cohen in Yorkville, Toronto . In 2014, he wrote and sang a duet together with Dutch singer-songwriter Marike Jager ,
8798-466: The show. He began to have some radio success, particularly on Canadian adult-oriented radio. In 2002, Sexsmith recorded a cover version of "This Is Where I Belong", the title track for a tribute album called This Is Where I Belong – The Songs of Ray Davies and the Kinks , which included contributions from Damon Albarn , Bebel Gilberto , and Queens of the Stone Age , among others. In 2006, he performed at
8904-404: The song "Don't you", featured on her album The Silent Song . Sexsmith's songs have been performed and recorded by a number of well-known musicians, including Elvis Costello, Feist , Rod Stewart , and Emmylou Harris His song "Secret Heart" has been covered by Rod Stewart , Feist , and Nick Lowe . Sexsmith co-wrote "Brandy Alexander" with Feist—versions appear on Sexsmith's Exit Strategy of
9010-405: The source of the -ar spelling. An alternate theory to explain the spelling was that Catharine with an -ar was the typical spelling of the name for Palatine German settlers in the region. St. Catharines' climate is humid continental ( Köppen borderline Dfa / Dfb ). It has a unique micro-climate because of the moderating influence of Lake Ontario / Lake Erie and the sheltering effect of
9116-459: The source of the name. Secondary to water routes, indigenous trails provided transportation networks, which resulted in the nearby radial road patterns. The surrounding land was surveyed, and ownships were created between 1787 and 1789. After the Butler's Rangers disbanded in 1784 and settled the area, Duncan Murray, as a former quartermaster in the 84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants) ,
9222-768: The stage of Massey Hall. The hall was also a prominent location for political speeches before the development of television. Until 1984, the primary performer at the hall was the Toronto Symphony Orchestra , along with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir . Operatic singers have included Montserrat Caballe , Maria Callas , Enrico Caruso , Luciano Pavarotti and Vladimir Rosing . Classical musicians have included George Gershwin , Glenn Gould , Vladimir Horowitz , Oscar Peterson and Arturo Toscanini . Popular musicians and singers have included Joni Mitchell , Tears for Fears , Justin Bieber , Cream , Bob Dylan , Billy Joel ,
9328-449: The upper gallery seats. The restoration additionally re-established new backstage artist and performer accommodations. The construction of the new southern seven-story glass addition, named the Allied Music Centre, was designed to accommodate more support spaces for the hall. Accessible through the outdoor passerelles, the addition contains rehearsal spaces, a performance studio, a lounge, new washrooms, dressing rooms for performers, and
9434-473: The venue in 1977 and 1978, followed by a solo performance by Kim Mitchell , formerly of Max Webster, in 1984. On January 8, 1995, Ronnie Hawkins celebrated his 60th birthday with a concert at Massey, which was documented on the album Let It Rock . The concert featured performances by Hawkins, Carl Perkins , Jerry Lee Lewis , the Band and Larry Gowan . Jeff Healey sat in on guitar for most, if not all, of
9540-517: The width of the interior hall. This interior was inspired by the Alhambra Palace in Spain as well as Louis Sullivan's Chicago Auditorium . The exterior is Palladian architecture while the interior is Moorish Revival architecture . The exterior neoclassical facade was a preference voiced from Lillian , Hart Massey's daughter. Around the top of the hall are thirty stained glass windows, each depicting
9646-463: The world. The rowing event in the Pan American Games were held in St. Catharines in 2015. Several Olympic medallists in rowing are from St. Catharines, including Melanie Kok , Buffy Williams , and Dave Boyes . St Catherines will host the 2024 World Rowing Championships . There are marinas at Port Dalhousie and Port Weller and a club that sails from Municipal Beach. The St. Catharines Marina
9752-527: Was 14 years old. Sexsmith was seventeen when he started playing at a bar, the Lion's Tavern, in his hometown. He gained a reputation as "The One-Man Jukebox" for his aptitude in playing requests. However, he gradually began to include original songs and more obscure music, which his audience did not favour. He decided to start writing songs after the birth of his first child in 1985. That same year, still living in St. Catharines, he collaborated on recording and releasing
9858-414: Was allocated in the city's budget in 2021 for these road closures. In 2023, this initiative was discontinued. (>2000 population) + North American Indigenous , n.o.s. In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada , St. Catharines had a population of 136,803 living in 58,903 of its 61,977 total private dwellings, a change of 2.8% from its 2016 population of 133,113 . With
9964-539: Was also a push to continue further expansion to the west in the late 1990s, but this has since been halted by Ontario Greenbelt legislation. The following distinct communities exist within St. Catharines: Numerous efforts have been made to improve the downtown; the restructuring of manufacturing resulted in a loss of jobs and retail businesses. In the early 21st century, city, university, and private developers undertook several initiatives to revive downtown, related to urban design, clustering activities to attract people to
10070-712: Was appointed by the Crown to distribute free government supplies (victuals) for two years to the resettled Loyalists. He did this from his mill, built on the 12 Mile Creek in Power Glen . After his death in 1786, his holdings were forfeited to the merchant Robert Hamilton of Queenston, who tried to operate for profit the well-established Murray's Distribution Centre and Mill under the management of his cousin. Among other ventures, Hamilton became land wealthy by expropriating lands from subsistence Loyalist settlers who were incapable of settling their debts. Murray's distribution centre, later Hamilton's warehouse, and its location have long been
10176-462: Was built by Thomas Adams on the east side of what is now Ontario Street. It became a community meeting place, election centre, stagecoach stop, and mail delivery deposit. That had been preceded by the church and a log school house completed before 1797, all on the east bank of the 12 Mile Creek, at the extreme west end of what was then known as Main Street. It was an extension of the old Iroquois Trail and
10282-412: Was created, an additional bar in the balcony lounge was added. In 2013, Massey Hall began a long-awaited major renovation, which included the demolition of the Albert Building and preparing the rear space for construction activities. In July 2018, Massey Hall announced phase two of the renovation, entitled "Massey Hall Forever," which included extensive exterior and interior renovations, expanded stage,
10388-629: Was credited to "Ron Sexsmith and the Uncool"; the backing band including Don Kerr and Steve Charles, and also featured Sarah McElcheran (horn arrangements) and Kim Ratcliffe on electric guitar. Attention garnered by the song "Speaking with the Angel", Sexsmith earned a contract that led to his self-titled album in 1995. The record was praised by Elvis Costello , for whom Sexsmith later opened. Between 1997 and 2001, Sexsmith released three more albums, and then Cobblestone Runway in 2002. Retriever , his next album,
10494-631: Was designated a National Historic Site of Canada on June 15, 1981. The primary use of the hall has been for musical performances, but the hall has been used for many types of events, including public memorials, speaking tours, and boxing, among others. Many dignitaries have attended the hall since its inauguration. In 1901, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (the future King George V and his wife Queen Mary ) visited with Canadian Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier . Many prominent choirs, comedians, musicians, musical groups, singers and speakers have appeared on
10600-423: Was included on Katie Melua 's album Secret Symphony , and "Right About Now" was covered by Mari Wilson on the album "Cover Stories". In 2012, Sexsmith appeared on Lowe Country: The Songs of Nick Lowe , a Nick Lowe tribute album, where he covered Lowe's 1994 song "Where's My Everything?" Sexsmith sang the lead vocals on a song from Ryan Granville-Martin 's 2013 album, Mouthparts and Wings , which features
10706-474: Was once at the base of a glacial lake known as Glacial Lake Iroquois , which deposited thick layers of clay between the Escarpment and Lake Ontario. As a result of these factors, the city's soil is particularly conducive to fruit growing and is capable of producing grapes that are used to make wines. Three wineries operate in the city's west end: Henry of Pelham Winery , Hernder Estates and Harvest Estates. Since
10812-449: Was planned for retail space at street level on Carlisle Street, in order to promote activity and business on the street. The project cost $ 27.9 million, with funding split three ways between the federal, provincial and municipal governments. Starting in 2019, certain streets located in downtown St. Catharines have been closed during weekends to vehicle traffic. These pedestrian zones have expanded over time. $ 214,500 (~$ 237,951 in 2023)
10918-454: Was recorded and released as Jazz at Massey Hall . Neil Young 's performance on January 19, 1971, was recorded and later released as a live album, entitled Live at Massey Hall 1971 . Young has since performed several times at Massey Hall. In June 1976, Rush recorded the live album All the World's a Stage here. Max Webster , a Toronto band, opened for Rush and would later headline at
11024-417: Was renamed St. Paul Street by the settlers and their descendants by the mid-19th century. Later, several mills, salt works, numerous retail outlets, a ship building yard, distillery, and various other businesses were developed. Incorporated as a village in 1845, St. Catharines had a population of about 3,500 in 1846. The primary industry was flour milling. Other industry included ship repairs, four grist mills,
11130-517: Was shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize . Sexsmith's 14th full-length album, Carousel One , was released in March 2015. In 2017, Sexsmith published his debut novel, Deer Life , through Dundurn Press . It was well received and Publishers Weekly wrote that the "novel has much the same effect as his music, conveying uncertainty with fearlessness and heart." In February 2024, Sexsmith staged
11236-430: Was some westward expansion, which was divided between St. Catharines and Lincoln . Before it was called St. Catharines, the settlement near Twelve Mile Creek was known by various names, including Shipman's Corners and The Twelve. The name St. Catharines was first recorded in 1796, as St. Catherines, and became a common name for the settlement by 1809, but it would often be spelled with -er- or with an apostrophe before
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