Tree Lightingceremony Draws Crowds to Town
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
TLR winter mag Lakereport.ca / Niagaranow.com comes out Dec. 3 Hyper-local news for Niagara-on-the-Lake LakeThe Page 20 Report Vol. 2, Issue 47 Niagara-on-the-Lake’s most respected newspaper November 28, 2019 Bridge connecting Niagara Falls and NOTL reopens after 10 years Project cost about $5 million to complete and is expected to last ‘for generations’ Brittany Carter After several years of ne- The Lake Report gotiations, CN Rail agreed to pay up to $1.5 million to After 10 long years, the share the cost of construct- newly rebuilt Mewburn ing the new bridge. The Road Bridge will finally Town of NOTL com- offer drivers another con- mitted to $250,000 and nection between Niagara- Niagara Region covered on-the-Lake and Niagara the remaining cost. During Falls. initial talks with CN Rail, On Tuesday afternoon the company was willing Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati, regional chair Jim Bradley and NOTL Lord Mayor Betty Disero unveil the plaque to be the bridge passing over the to pay just under $600,000 placed on new Mewburn Road Bridge Tuesday. BRITTANY CARTER CN Rail line along Mew- for the bridge’s replace- burn Road near the Moun- ment – but the region and “The road was here be- The winning bid of about erty purchases, material centre of the “vibrant” tain Road roundabout was city of Niagara Falls want- fore the train tracks – basi- $3.7 million for construc- and quality control testing community of St. Davids. officially reopened. ed to build a wider bridge cally what that means is we tion of the bridge was brought the entire project “We have many people In 2009 the original and include bike lanes and got more money out of CN. awarded to Dufferin Con- total to the $5 million on York Road, and this bridge was closed due to paved shoulders. So, really important on the struction Company; final mark, she said. will allow a safer York “deformations and severe Historical research timing,” Diodati said. construction costs were Lord Mayor Betty Di- Road and a safer down- section loss of the main showed that Mewburn The $5 million invest- closer to $3.5 million, sero said she believes the town and a safer village,” structural steel members,” Road existed as a farmer ment is a project that Millar confirmed. The bridge will offer another, she said. Sherri-Marie Millar, proj- road in the 1840s, and Niagara Region chair total for the entire project, safer route for the many Although the bridge is ect manager and engineer CN Rail wasn’t built until Jim Bradley said he is which included pre-design transport trucks and ve- now officially open, Disero for Niagara Falls, said in the 1850s, Niagara Falls confident will “stand for investigations, engineer- hicles travelling into town an email response. Mayor Jim Diodati said. generations.” ing, a legal survey, prop- – keeping them out of the Continued on Page 2 Tree lighting ceremony draws crowds to town Local woman helps in sharing downtown holiday joy with migrant workers, most of whom had never been to Old Town before Brittany Carter but on Sunday, a group of of workers to Queen Street, The Lake Report Mexican workers joined in said she was inspired by the on the town’s holiday spirit efforts of Niagara Work- People gathered around during the festivities for ers Welcome founder Jane the Old Court House steps the first time. Andres and touched by the for Sunday evening’s It was also the first time tragic death of Mexican Christmas tree lighting a tree lighting ceremony farm worker Zenaida this while the St. Michael took place downtown, past summer. Catholic Elementary said town spokesper- She said she wanted to School choir serenaded son Lauren Kruitbosch. A reach out to help any way the crowd – but this year’s tree hasn’t been displayed she could. celebration connected the in front of the cenotaph Of the 35 workers who town more than ever. since 2014, and it was done boarded the bus from St. Many farm workers with the blessing of the the Davids Hydroponics, where who live in Niagara-on- Legion this year. many of them are employed, More than 40 migrant workers joined the tree lighting ceremony in Niagara-on-the-Lake the-Lake seasonally have Julia Buxton-Cox, who on Sunday. Local Julia Buxton-Cox helped arrange for them to come share the evening. never made it to Old Town arranged to bring the group Continued on Page 8 Page 2 November 28, 2019 1882 Niagara Stone Rd, Virgil 233 King St, Niagara-on-the-Lake NEWS www.simpsonspharmacy.ca Falls gateway bridge opens after 10 years of being closed for work Continued from Front Page at Concession 6 and York and Warner Road. Roads … You’ve got kids “We’re going to be able said the town will still out on ATVs and motorcy- to take care of them much have work to do to improve cles and farming equipment better. It’s an important the remainder of the road out there,” he said, adding connector for both our leading into town. that the influx of trucks and communities,” he said. She added that, in next traffic travelling from the Diodati recalled the last year’s budget, council bridge may open the town time he drove down the will need to allot money up to more collisions. bridge with his family, to repair Mewburn Road, “From what I remember before its decade closure. which turns into Conces- there were two fatalities at “We would maybe ac- sion 6 Road. that intersection,” Miele said. celerate a little bit because “I’m looking forward He said the stretch the kids liked to catch air,” to having our guys come along Concession 6 Road he said. “Little did I know forward in our 2021 budget is narrow, and one large (part of the bridge) had to complete the road on truck travelling down the come unattached and it the other side of the bridge hill will take up the entire was really dangerous.” down to York Road so road, which he said will That last time he drove people will have safe trav- cause problems and pos- over he said, “we really els,” she said. sible safety issues as well. caught air” and the dete- Local resident and previ- Above and beyond riorating bridge was shut ous council member Paolo convenience, Diodati said down the next week. Miele said he’s concerned in those moments “when But after years of ne- about the safety of the seconds really matter,” the gotiations and plans, he road on the NOTL side of new connection between said he’s proud to say the the bridge. the two communities will bridge is complete. “My biggest concern is allow emergency ser- “Finally, we’ve got this the safety of human life vices from Niagara Falls to beautiful bridge,” Diodati Photos of the old bridge and various stages of the new bridge’s completion. right at that intersection reach areas like York Road said. BRITTANY CARTER Niagara College campus renamed after Dan Patterson Dariya Baiguzhiyeva Niagara College plays in the digenous welcome by elder do with it, but it was a won- The Lake Report community. Gary Parker and a perfor- derful gesture,” Patterson “It was a night I will mance by Chorus Niagara. said. “It was lots of fun.” Niagara College campus never forget,” he said in an The evening also focused Friday, Nov. 22, was also on Taylor Road has been interview. “I’m not some- on Patterson’s legacy and proclaimed Dan Patterson renamed to Daniel J. Pat- one who likes the centre of the relationships he has Day by the mayors of Niag- terson Campus, after the attention but it truly was a built within and beyond the ara-on-the-Lake, Niagara outgoing college president special night.” Niagara community. Falls and Welland. who has made a lasting im- Patterson started his Videos showing congratu- While he will contin- pact not only on the college, career at the college in latory messages came from ue to live in Niagara, Pat- but on the entire Niagara 1995. During his tenure, Ontario Premier Doug terson said he will also community during his 25- enrolment has grown from Ford, former premiers embark on a new journey year tenure. 4,500 students to more than Kathleen Wynne and Mike as a chair of the Ontario Patterson said the surprise 11,000 full-time students in Harris, Lt.-Gov. Elizabeth Centres of Excellence. announcement, made by more than 130 programs, Dowdeswell, and former On top of being a board the Niagara College board according to a college me- U.S. ambassador to Canada member of the Colleges of governors at a special More than 600 people came out to celebrate Dan dia release. One of the eve- Bruce Heyman and his and Institutes Canada, Pat- celebration held last Friday, Patterson at Partridge Hall at the FirstOntario Performing ning highlights that struck partner Vicki. terson said he intends to came as a shock. Arts Centre. SUPPLIED PHOTO a chord for Patterson was Patterson’s wife Saundra mentor students and help “I had no idea that was in when college alumni from also made a surprise speech raise money for bursaries, the works,” Patterson told now having my name on it the FirstOntario Performing every year of his career, about their life together. scholarships and projects The Lake Report. As Ni- is truly humbling. Without a Arts Centre. from 1995 to 2020, came Regional chair Jim Brad- designed to provide Ni- agara College is geographi- doubt, a particular highlight It was an emotional night out on stage to thank him.