Regional Municipality of Niagara

The Regional Municipality of Niagara, also colloquially known as the Niagara Region, is a regional municipality comprising twelve municipalities of Southern Ontario, Canada. The regional seat is in Thorold. It is the southern end of the Golden Horseshoe, the largest megalopolis in Canada.

Niagara Region
Région de Niagara  (French)
Regional municipality (upper-tier)
Regional Municipality of Niagara
Municipalité régionale de Niagara  (French)
Flag
Motto(s): 
Unity, Responsibility, Loyalty
Location of Niagara within Ontario
Coordinates: 43°03′N 79°18′W
Country Canada
Province Ontario
Formed1970 (from Welland and Lincoln Counties)
SeatThorold
Government
 • ChairJim Bradley
 • Governing bodyNiagara Regional Council
 • MPsDean Allison, Chris Bittle, Vance Badawey, Rob Nicholson
 • MPPsJeff Burch, Wayne Gates, Sam Oosterhoff, Jennie Stevens
Area
 • Land1,854.23 km2 (715.92 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)[1]
 • Total447,888
 • Density241.5/km2 (625/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Websitewww.niagararegion.ca

The region occupies most of the Niagara Peninsula. Its eastern boundary is the Niagara River, which is also the border with the United States. It is bounded on the north by Lake Ontario and on the south by Lake Erie.

Unique natural landscapes make the Niagara Region an important centre for agriculture and tourism in Canada. The most important agricultural enterprise in Niagara is viticulture, or winemaking. The Niagara Wine Route, which connects visitors to dozens of wineries, is a growing tourism draw while the internationally renowned Niagara Falls is one of Canada's major tourist attractions. Along with Shaw Festival, held annually in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and the Welland Canal, the Regional Municipality of Niagara receives up to 12 million visitors each year

Administrative divisions
Map of the Regional Municipality of Niagara, showing its component municipalities.

Cities

Towns

Townships

Demographics
Canada census – Regional Municipality of Niagara community profile
2016 2011 2006
Population: 447,888 (+3.8% from 2011) 431,346 (+0.9% from 2006) 427,421 (+4.1% from 2001)
Land area: 1,854.23 km2 (715.92 sq mi) 1,854.25 km2 (715.93 sq mi) 1,854.17 km2 (715.90 sq mi)
Population density: 241.5/km2 (625/sq mi) 232.6/km2 (602/sq mi) 230.5/km2 (597/sq mi)
Median age: 45.7 (M: 44.4, F: 46.9) 41.9 (M: 40.7, F: 42.9)
Total private dwellings: 196,241 188,877 179,903
Median household income: $65,086
References: 2016[2] 2011[3] 2006[4] earlier[5]

Historic populations:[5][6]

  • Population in 2001: 410,574
  • Population in 1996: 403,504

Racial groups[4]

Religious profile[4]

Top ten largest ethnicities[4]

Features

Education

Festivals and major events
  • Canada Games - 2021
  • Canal Days (Port Colborne)
  • Festival of Lights
  • FISA World Rowing Championships - 1970 & 1999
  • Shaw Festival
  • Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre - Art at the Pumphouse (August Civic Holiday weekend)
  • Niagara Folk Arts Festival (St. Catharines)
  • Niagara Grape and Wine Festival
  • Niagara Greek Festival
  • Music Niagara Series (NOTL)
  • New Year's Eve at Niagara Falls
  • Twenty Valley Winter Winefest
  • Niagara Food & Wine Expo (Niagara Falls)
  • Niagara Icewine Festival (NOTL)
  • Niagara Integrated Film Festival (NOTL)
  • Niagara New Vintage Festival (NOTL)
  • Niagara Parks - Coca-Cola Concert Series (Niagara Falls)
  • Rib fest
  • Jazz Festival
  • SCENE Music Festival
  • Buskerfest
  • Royal Canadian Henley Regatta
  • St. Catharines Wine Tasting of 2005
  • Niagara-on-the-lake Peach Festival
  • Friendship Festival (Fort Erie)
  • Bravo Niagara Festival of Arts (NOTL)
  • Marshville Heritage Festival (Wainfleet)
  • Serbian Day (Vidov Dan)
  • NOTL Ghost Walks
  • Niagara Falls Comic Con (Niagara Falls)
  • Welland FloatFest
  • Welland Zombie Walk
  • West Niagara Fair

Health care services

History and trails
  • Bruce Trail
  • Fort George National Historic Site (Niagara-on-the-Lake)
  • Annual Fife & Drum Muster and Soldiers Field Days - Fort George
  • Fort Mississauga National Historic Site (Niagara-on-the-Lake)
  • Niagara Parks - Siege of Fort Erie Re-enactment
  • Chippawa Battlefield Park
  • Greater Niagara Circle Route
  • Merritt Island (Welland)
  • Morningstar Mill (St. Catharines)
  • Navy Island National Historic Site (Niagara Falls)
  • Niagara Parkway
  • Niagara Wine Route
  • Old Fort Erie (Fort Erie)
  • Queenston Heights National Historic Site (Niagara-on-the-Lake)
  • Old Ivy Walk
  • Waterfront Trail
  • Friendship Trail
  • Welland Canal Parkway
  • Balls Falls Conservation Area (Thanksgiving Festival)
  • Niagara Botanical Gardens
  • Daredevil Exhibit
  • Drummond Hill Cemetery
  • Dufferin Islands
  • Battle Ground Hotel Museum
  • Niagara Falls Museum
  • Niagara Historical Society Museum
  • Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Centre
  • Fort Erie Museums
  • Graffiti Alley
  • Bertie Hall

Persons of interest

Other
  • Scotiabank Convention Centre (Niagara Falls)
  • Clifton Hill (Niagara Falls)
  • Lundy's Lane Tourist District (Niagara Falls)
  • Niagara Olde Town (Niagara-on-the-Lake)
  • Port Dalhousie (St. Catharines)
  • Safari Niagara (Fort Erie)
  • Victoria Ave (Niagara Falls)
  • Welland Canal Centre (St. Catharines)
  • Howell Family Pumpkin Farm (Fonthill)

Protected areas

Wineries

West Niagara

East Niagara

  • Chateau des Charmes
  • Coyote's Run
  • Hillebrand Winery - Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario c.1979
  • Inniskillin - Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario c.1974
  • Marynissen
  • Pillitteri Estates Winery

See also Niagara Peninsula wineries

Transportation

Airports

Niagara Region contains three airports used primarily for general aviation:

Aside from scheduled commuter flights between Niagara District Airport and Toronto City with FlyGTA, for commercial flights Niagara residents use Toronto Pearson International Airport, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, or John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area; as well as crossing the border to use Buffalo Niagara International Airport or Niagara Falls International Airport in Upstate New York.

Public Transport

Niagara Region is served by GO Transit and Niagara Region Transit, as well as the following local bus operators:

Grimsby, Pelham, Wainfleet and West Lincoln do not have local transit systems.

Highways

400-Series expressways:

Other highways:

  • Highway 3
  • Highway 20
  • Highway 58
  • Highway 58A
  • Highway 140

See also

References
  1. "Census Profile, 2016 Census Niagara, Regional municipality". Statistics Canada. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  2. "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 21, 2017. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  3. "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2012.
  4. "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved March 27, 2012.
  5. "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012.
  6. "Niagara Regional Municipality census profile". 2011 Census of Population. Statistics Canada. Retrieved March 27, 2012.
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