St. Catharines, the largest city in the Niagara Region (2006 Population:131,989) is the urban centre of Niagara's fruit belt, and aptly named "the Garden City". St. Catharines is nestled between the shores of Lake Ontario and the cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment, and these two significant geographic features create a unique microclimate. This results in an early spring, a hot, sunny summer, a warm lingering fall and a mild winter that allows the growing of tender fruit varieties that cannot be successfully grown in other parts of the country. This unique climate combined with a distinctive soil composition makes Niagara one of few places in Canada that premium viniferous grapes can be cultivated.

 As part of one of the fastest growing regions in North America (the Greater Golden Horseshoe), St. Catharines has been designated as an Urban Growth Centre under the provincial government's Places to Grow plan. When the Ontario Greenbelt legislation was introduced, plans for urban expansion were halted and St. Catharines essentially became an "island". Future growth will involve skyward construction and like other areas where land for development becomes scarce, property values will eventually increase.

Major community events include The Folk Arts Festival in late May and early June, The Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Regatta in early August with the highlight of the year being the famous Grape and Wine Festival in mid September.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:

 CITY OF ST. CATHARINES SITE- http://www.stcatharines.ca/

SOURCE:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Catharines,_Ontario