A City in Transition |

| IMAGES OF A CENTURY: THE CITY OF NIAGARA FALLS, CANADA, 1904 - 2004 | CHAPTER TEN | 1994 - 2004 A CITY IN TRANSITION | 1994 - 2004 A City in Transition One word dominates the years 1994 to 2004 in Niagara Falls – casinos. and fitness spa, and a 1,500-seat state of the art theatre known as the Avalon Ballroom. As Duncan Brown, chief executive officer of the Ontario “If you have seen casinos in the world, you won’t see anything better than Lottery and Gaming Corporation noted, “The opening of Niagara Fallsview this.” These were the proud words of Gil Bennett, chairman of the Ontario Casino Resort reaffirms Niagara’s position as a premier North American Casino Corporation Board, when speaking to reporters as Casino Niagara tourist destination.” With Casino Niagara remaining open, Niagara Falls hosted some 7,000 invited guests for a preview night on December 9, 1996. now has two casinos. In just 200 days a vast army of skilled workers, labouring in round the clock shifts, had transformed the old Maple Leaf Village complex into a glittering In the meantime, another significant development has been under 8,640 square metres (96,000 square feet) casino. Its opening was a turning construction. The Niagara Falls Community Centre, at the corner of point in this city’s history, changing the future and face of Niagara Falls Montrose and McLeod Roads, is due to open in the spring of 2005. This $24 forever. million facility will feature a number of recreational, health, educational, and family services. After several years of lobbying, the city had convinced the provincial government that a casino was a viable attraction for Niagara Falls. This The casinos have not been the only areas to prosper over the turn of the new facet in our city’s life was a runaway success from the moment its century in Niagara Falls. There are many annual civic events such as the doors opened. Almost overnight we had a new industry that not only Canada Day Parade, the Santa Claus Parade, the Winter Festival of Lights, attracted wide attention but employed over 3,000 people, most of them the New Year’s Eve party in Queen Victoria Park, and the Spring (formerly from the Niagara region. The casino’s presence immediately brought about the Blossom) Festival, all of which continue to be popular with residents an upbeat, more positive attitude in the city. Niagara Falls was on the move and visitors alike. The manufacturing and retail sector continue to employ again. Casino Niagara was meant to be an interim operation, to be many outside of the tourism industry. replaced by a permanent casino a few years later. The past 11 years have been ones of optimism and change, and the future In February 1998, the Falls Management Company, under an agreement looks bright for the residents of Niagara Falls. The common thread with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, was selected to develop throughout the decades of the past century has been the falls and its a new casino resort. (Later that year Falls Management also assumed enduring ability to attract millions of visitors from around the world. One responsibility for Casino Niagara.) Ground was broken for the billion can still see the mist over the cataracts in the morning, take a stroll in the dollar development in October 2001. Located on the 9.2 hectare (23 acre) Niagara Glen, or picnic on the parkway. We continue to be the world’s most site at the corner of Murray Street and Fallsview Boulevard, the Niagara famous address. Tell anyone “I’m from Niagara Falls,” and you will likely be Fallsview Casino Resort opened in June 2004. The 225,000 square metres met with a positive response. We are blessed to live in such a community (2.5 million square feet) complex includes an 18,000 square metres of opportunity and beauty. The rainbows that so frequently appear over (200,000 square feet) casino, a 30-storey hotel, a shopping galleria, a health the falls reflect both our colourful past and a vision for the future. | 323 | | IMAGES OF A CENTURY: THE CITY OF NIAGARA FALLS, CANADA, 1904 - 2004 | CHAPTER TEN | 1994 - 2004 A CITY IN TRANSITION | 1994 THE SEVENTY-FIRST Niagara • the population of Niagara Falls was Falls Lions Club Carnival on July approximately 76,311 • local grocers charged: 1, 1995. Each year the Lions -$2.19/lb for butter Club invites residents to come to -$1.49-$3.99/lb for beef Optimist Park to enjoy midway -$1.59-$2.99/10 lbs for potatoes -99¢/dozen for eggs rides, bingo, carnival games, -$1.29/2kg bag for sugar prizes, and summer food. The • there were 5,069,383 passenger event typically runs for the last automobiles registered in Ontario few days of June and the first of • bread cost between 59¢ and $1.19/loaf according to size and July. variety • a 4L package of three bags of milk cost $2.99 • Hy&Zel’s on Lundy’s Lane sold household cleaning supplies such as Mr. Clean for $2.69/800mL, Shout laundry detergent spray for Photo by Chantal Cameron, Niagara Falls Public Library (Ontario) $2.59/945mL, and Drano plumbing concentrate for $2.29/900mL • admission to the Whitewater water park was $11.00 • a front or rear brake service at Canadian Tire cost $79.99 • children’s Mighty Morphin Power Rangers sneakers took $9.98 out of the household budget at Picway Shoes • watching a movie at the Cineplex Odeon theatre behind Niagara Square cost $4.25 1994 5, January Ontario), Falls, (Niagara • the IGA grocery chain sold popular foodstuffs like High Liner fish sticks, Review The $3.79/350g, Hamburger Helper, $1.99/package, and Eggo waffles, $2.29/312g • a pair of women’s Levi’s jeans ran Photo by Chantal Cameron, Niagara Falls Public Library (Ontario) between $21.88 and $26.88 at the BiWay THE FIREHALL THEATRE, seen here in 1995, was opened in 1976 at the corner of Walnut and Kitchener Streets by the Niagara Falls • Farr Lumber on First Avenue sold Music Theatre Society. Located in the old Walnut Street Fire Hall, a renovation and addition was made to the building in 1982. The Black & Decker 7.2 volt, 65 watt acting company provides a venue for local residents to become involved in community theatre and produces a number of shows every cordless drills for $61.00, and 9.0 AMP, 5,300 RPM circular saws for $40.00 year. | 324 | | IMAGES OF A CENTURY: THE CITY OF NIAGARA FALLS, CANADA, 1904 - 2004 | CHAPTER TEN | 1994 - 2004 A CITY IN TRANSITION | DIAMOND JUBILEE SCHOOL, seen here in 1995, was built in 1927. The institution saw its last class of pupils during the school year of 2002-03, and was closed in June of that year. The building is located on Dorchester Road. Photo by Chantal Cameron, Niagara Falls Public Library (Ontario) Photo by Chantal Cameron, Niagara Falls Public Library (Ontario) (Niagara Falls, Ontario), June 1, 1994 FATHER HENNEPIN SCHOOL, a member of the Niagara Catholic District School Board, was The Review built in 1957. Located on Churchill Street, this photo captures its appearance in July 1995. | 325 | | IMAGES OF A CENTURY: THE CITY OF NIAGARA FALLS, CANADA, 1904 - 2004 | CHAPTER TEN | 1994 - 2004 A CITY IN TRANSITION | 1999 PAT AND ROSA SIMON, • photofinishing at Zehrs supermarket pictured here around 2000, are cost $3.99 for a 24 exposure film • The Bay department store sold 300 proprietors of Simon’s Restaurant watt KitchenAid mixers for $319.99 on Bridge Street. Simon’s is the to $369.99, and Lagostina eight-piece city’s oldest restaurant, founded in sets of stainless steel cookware for $349.99, on sale from $699.99 1884. A local landmark, the eatery • aerobics videos by Richard Simmons is known locally for good food and or Kathy Smith, well-known fitness as a gathering place for good personalities, cost $10.83 to $12.63 at conversation. Pat and Rosa have Wal-Mart, while the discount retailer also sold Sony PlayStation video contributed to the community in game consoles for $179.83 and many ways. Pat can be found at Fellowes personal use paper most city functions, taking shredders for $39.83 • the popular Dockers brand of men’s pictures and preserving our khaki pants could be had for history. between $55.99 and $66.99 at The Bay • enrolling in the Greater Niagara Pat and Rosa Simon Baseball Association’s T-Ball program cost $55.00/child, while their Junior Rookie to Junior baseball programs ran $85.00/child • an 18 hole round of golf at the Rolling Meadows Golf and Country Club on Montrose Road cost $33.00 for a morning time slot on the weekend • Saks Furniture on Ferry Street sold Serta mattress sets for $399.00 to $897.00 (Niagara Falls, Ontario), June 3, 1994 SOURCES: Ministry of Transportation of Ontario The Review Niagara Falls Public Library (Ontario) The Review (Niagara Falls, Ontario), ST.MARY’S UKRANIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH on January 3, 1994; January 5, 1994; January 6, Main Street, pictured here in 1995, is designed in a Boyko- 1994; January 8, 1994; January 16, 1994; January 29, 1994; June 2, 1994; June 4, 1994; style. Built from fir logs from British Columbia, the church June 10, 1994; June 11, 1994; June 13, 1994; was constructed between 1986 and 1990. Architect Ihor June 14, 1994; January 2, 1999; January 8, 1999; January 9, 1999; January 12, 1999; Stecura of Toronto and the Timothy J. Bullock Company January 14, 1999; June 5, 1999; June 9, 1999.

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