St. Catharines, ON Area Guide

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Family friendly Public transit is accessible Walkable to grocery stores Yards are well-kept Lots of parks Walkable to restaurants Friendly neighbors Safe at night Pet friendly Streets have sidewalks A quiet area Sense of community

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St. Catharines, ON

St. Catharines is Ontario’s sixth largest urban area and the largest city in the Niagara Region. It sits on the south shore of Lake Ontario directly opposite Toronto and just 19 kilometres from the US border. It is officially pegged as ‘The Garden City’ due to its numerous parks, gardens and trails. But it is also a city of industry, with manufacturing being its main economic force. There are also numerous call centres in St. Catharines that act as a backbone between Canada and the USA. Barrie is not just about business, it also has some world-class vineyards, a few post-secondary institutions and a strong arts scene.

St. Catharines is a lovely place to call home. It has some distinct communities that help add to the growing city’s charm. The neighbourhoods in the north part of the city are the most affluent, although Downtown St. Catharines is the liveliest area of the city. This is where a St. Catharines Livability guide will steer you if you want to indulge in the city’s nightlife. It also has the best selection of restaurants. Downtown St. Catharines is one of the most popular places in terms of apartment rental, with many streets being predominately residential.

Unfortunately, the median salary in St. Catharines is quite low even though there are plenty of jobs to be found. Part of this is because it has a large student community, as it is home to the established Brock University. McMaster University's Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine is also in St. Catharines, as is the Niagara College of Applied Arts and Technology and the prestigious Ridley College. There are also numerous elementary and secondary schools in the city for its young population. In fact, just over 22 percent of the population are under 19, while around 18 percent are pensioners.

All major transportation routes in the city merge at the St. Catharines Bus Terminal in Downtown St. Catharines, as do long-distance buses to Toronto, Niagara and New York City. The city’s public bus network is quite extensive, so there is no need for a car here. If you would prefer to be more environmentally friendly, there are over 90 kilometres of trails for walking, cycling, jogging or hiking around the city. Any St. Catharines resdident will surely mention the Waterfront Trail that runs along Lake Ontario and the Bruce Trail, which is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve site.