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Niagara Parks Commission admits to using Agent Orange

Tim Parent, 610 CKTB News

The Niagara Parks Commission has confirmed it used a herbicide associated with Agent Orange to kill poison ivy on all of its lands.

Robert McIlveen, interim general manager of the NPC, admitted at a commissioners meeting today it used 2,4,5,-T up until 1974.

The NPC intends to hand over all of its records pertaining to the use of the herbicide to the government panel investigating its use in the province.

McIlveen added, the NPC is concerned about the effect the herbicide may have had on former parks employees and the public at large

The NPC has released a statement about the use of 2,4,5,-T.  It can be found here

The province has admitted, the former Ontario Hydro used Agent Orange back in the 50′s, 60′s and 70′s to clear land along power line corridors across Ontario.

In March, Niagara Falls mayor Jim Diodati called on city staff to look in to the use of the herbicide by the province in the Falls area. Speaking to 610 CKTB News, Diodati calls the news unsettling but doesn’t want there to be a knee-jerk reaction to it.  What we need now, he says, is more information from the NPC.

Agent Orange was used heavily by the Americans during the Vietnam war to clear away dense jungle foliage and expose the Vietcong. Its use has been linked to several types of cancers, Parkinson’s disease and other health problems. more…

East Meets West in Niagara Falls

Alex (Vancouver) and Max (Montreal) live on both ends of the country, East coast and West coast. They film their daily lives and upload a video every weekend. Not only so they can keep in touch with each other but also for the youtubers.  Watch the videos of their visit to Niagara Falls.

$25 for $50 Worth of Goods at the Running Room

Click here to get the Deal

Long-distance runners often begin training out of concern for their health, but many continue to run their whole lives if the neighborhood wolf pack doesn’t stop chasing them. Equip yourself for extreme mileage with today’s Groupon: for $25, you get $50 worth of shoes, apparel, and accessories at Running Room in St. Catharines.

A vast emporium of running apparel, accessories, and shoes, Running Room’s aisles are patrolled by experienced runners who know how best to advise toddling newcomers and svelte speedsters alike. As well as stocking many popular brands of shoes, the Running Room sells their own fit-wear and accessories, which mix style and utility into a patented stewtility gumbo. Feel free to drape the body’s upper crust in tops like the unisex team long sleeve ($19.99) and short sleeve ($9.99). Meanwhile, lower halves stifled after a day of modeling childhood wetsuits can breathe easier thanks to the feminine-friendly cool down skort ($49.99) and the made-for-males cooling shorts ($49.99). Thorlos supportive socks ($16.99) keep hands warm on brisk morning runs, and convertible gloves ($49.99) keep even the longest toes comfortable. Stylish, sturdy shoes from Nike, Asics, Saucony, New Balance, and more ($119.99–$199.99).

Niagara Food & Wine Expo Contest

Follow this link to the official contest page:

http://www.niagarablog.com/niagara-food-wine-expo-ticket-giveaway-contest/

 

Category: General  Tags:  One Comment
TVO’s the Agenda is Coming to Niagara

NIAGARA, HELP SET THE AGENDA FOR THE ONTARIO ELECTION

  • TVO and The Agenda with Steve Paikin visit Niagara May 15 and 16 for the Agenda on the Road: Your Vote 2011 tour
  • TVO seeks public participation for the AgendaCamp public workshop at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Centre on Sunday May 15. Registration for this free event open now at yourvote2011.ca
  • Live, on-location broadcast from the Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Centre, Monday May 16 at 8 pm

The Agenda TVO

TVO and its flagship current affairs program, The Agenda with Steve Paikin, will be in Niagara May 15 and 16 during the Agenda on the Road: Your Vote 2011 tour to hear from citizens of the region what they think the should be the focus of the Ontario provincial election in the Fall . The two-day visit includes the AgendaCamp public workshop at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Centre on Sunday May 15 which will inform the live, on-location broadcast of The Agenda with Steve Paikin the following night at 8 pm, also at the community centre. more…

Tourism from US to Canada down 8.9%

The Canadian Tourism Commission has released February 2011 statistics on overnight visits to Canada from abroad, and they don’t look good.  Overall, arrivals fell 4.1% as compared to 2010.  The most notable decline was visitors from the US (down 8.9%) and Germany (down 26%).  Should we panic?

Kevin Pillai, president of King Charter says “We have not noticed the decline.  The number of tourists traveling to Toronto and Niagara Falls has been relatively steady”.  In fact King Charter, a bus charter company servicing the Toronto and Niagara Falls area, expects a double digit increase in tourist this summer once the weather improves.   There is reason for this optimism.  After all,  last year Canada hosted the Olympics which saw many people visit BC.  Comparing February 2011 to February 2010 is not fair.

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Niagara Food & Wine Expo Ticket Giveaway Contest

Come celebrate with us the finest in international food, beer, and wine at the Niagara Food & Wine Expo. Visitors can sample the signature dishes prepared by their favourite Niagara Region Chefs, and discover the perfect bottle of Riesling from one of the neighbouring wineries. This is Niagara’s largest international tasting event!

Where: The  Expo will be held at the newly constructed, state-of-the-art, environmentally designed Scotiabank Convention Centre. Situated in the internationally renowned destination of Niagara Falls, this cutting edge facility is the first of its kind in Ontario and provides a stunning backdrop for this world-class event.

When: May 27 to 29, 2011

General admission tickets are $12.  But we are giving them away for FREE! Want a ticket?  Here is what you have to do:

1. Visit www.niagarafoodandwine.ca

2. Comment on this post and tell us which restaurant or winery you are most excited about visiting at the Expo.

3. Want an extra entry? Retweet this on Twitter ” I want to go to the Niagara Food & Wine Expo @NFWE #NFWE http://bit.ly/lvdKNv ”

We’ll be announcing winners throughout the duration of the Contest.  The contest ends May 17th 2011.

The winners of the Niagara Food & Wine Expo ticket giveaway are:

Dave S, Jenny C, Jennie N.

2 of the winners won by posting a comment on this page and 1 won by tweeting about it on Twitter.

more…

Maid of the Mist 2011 schedule

Maid of the Mist 2011

The Maid of the Mist is scheduled to start the 2011 season on May 4th, 2011.

Maid of the Mist Hours of Operation

Weekdays: 9:45 am to 4:45 pm

Weekends: 9:45 am to 5:45 pm

Times may change on holidays.

 

 

 

Flying over Niagara Falls in a Helicopter


Home video taken of the Niagara Falls helicopter tour. The tour flies over the majestic Falls of Niagara, Historical landmarks and Niagara’s renowned wine country in a way unimaginable from the ground. This particular tour is done by Niagara Helicopters which is located just a few minutes from Niagara-on-the-Lake town center.  If you are from Toronto and wish to take the helicopter tour there are many tour companies offering this helicopter tours as a package.  Check out eTours.to, NiagaraTours.ca and TorontoTours.ca.  All these tour companies have the Heli Tour option.

$0.31 Baskin Robbins Ice Cream Day

On Wednesday, April 27, 2011 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Baskin Robbins will host its third annual 31¢ Scoop Night in support of the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation (CFFF). The national, charitable event invites the public to enjoy a scoop of their favourite ice cream or Soft Serve, in a cup or cone, for only 31¢. Donations will also be accepted in-store. To learn more, visit www.baskinrobbins.ca/cfff

Niagara Falls Baskin Robbins Locations: more…

Weekend Easter Egg Hunt at the Butterfly Conservatory

Easter Weekend at Niagara Parks Easter Egg Hunt at the Butterfly Conservatory
April 22 – 25, 2011

The Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory is pleased to announce a fun new Easter Egg

Niagara Parks Butterfly ConservatoryNiagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory 

Hunt for families over the long weekend April 22 – 25, 2011. This event includes a word-scramble activity where children will look for letters hidden throughout the Conservatory to spell a secret phrase for a chance to win a grand prize gift basket donated by Pop & Lolly’s Candy Shop. Thanks to generous donations from Nestle, Mars and Hershey, each child will also receive one complimentary treat  (while supplies last) after their visit.

Families are encouraged to download and print a special Niagara Parks colouring page in advance of their visit and NPC staff will be pleased to post the artwork on site.

The fully accessible Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory is located on the grounds of the world-renowned Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens & School of Horticulture, 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) north of the Falls at 2565 Niagara Parkway. Admission is $12.25 for adults (ages 13+), $7.95 for children (6 – 12 years), and children five and under are admitted FREE (prices in Cdn. plus tax). Parking is free.

The Butterfly Conservatory will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Friday – Sunday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Easter Monday, with the last visitors admitted 30 minutes before closing. Please call (905) 356-8119 for details.


 

Annual Easter Show at Niagara Parks Floral Showhouse

Another Niagara Easter tradition for over 60 years is a visit to the Annual Easter Show at Niagara Parks Floral Showhouse.

Take in the beautiful colourful and fragrant spring flowers and see real chicks and bunnies! Admission to this year-round attraction is free! more…

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Tourism tug of war

Welcome to the bumpy ride that is regional tourism.

A new body meant to co-ordinate provincial tourism funding for all of Niagara is just getting off the ground. But the fledgling Regional Tourism Organization has already stumbled into a controversy over an untendered marketing contract.

Meanwhile, the much-maligned Niagara Economic Development Corp., the regional government-funded agency that runs a separate Tourism Niagara website, is paralyzed by a political debate over its future.

When the dust settles, Niagara is supposed to have a co-operative, industry-led organization designed to cut through the clutter of competing marketing efforts and help co-ordinate an effective, regional tourism strategy.

But right now, some industry members feel “it’s hard to do our job,” said Susan Morin, community economic development manager for Venture Niagara.

Tourism marketing is still happening, of course. St. Catharines is still promoting the Garden City; Niagara Falls is still a well-oiled marketing machine. Regional co-ordination, however, isn’t as visible.

“It’s tough, trying to understand who is the leader here, who is doing what right at this moment,” said Morin, who is helping organize a meeting next week for concerned tourism industry members. “With all the changes, it’s a little bit like the perfect storm.”

Morin, who is also involved with Tourisme Franco-Niagara, said businesses at the April 6 session will talk about ways to replace a tourism marketing committee formerly run by NEDC.

Those brainstorming committee meetings disappeared following regional council’s recent decision to lop off the tourism arm of the economic development agency. Other agency tourism services no longer receiving regional cash include marketing literature for cycling tourism, the Welland Canal recreational trail and a winter and wine campaign, according to interim NEDC head Alan Teichroeb.

Regional councillors re asoned the new Regional Tourism Organization would be coordinating regional marketing efforts from now on. But it’s unclear what will happen to the remaining NEDC services, like the regional tourism website and the Gateway Niagara information centre.

“Some people think with the (Regional Tourism Organization), the calvary is coming,” Morin said. “But whether it is or not, we can’t afford to wait.”

Morin said if the meeting goes well, attending businesses could form a “tourism network” to help plug the gap left by the exit of the regional agency.

But there are more holes to fill, Grimsby and District Chamber of Commerce president John Dunstall said. more…

Niagara Falls Glass Bottom Canoe Rides

Niagara Canoe Adventures Inc. is please to announce that they have received regulatory approval to operate a Canoe rentals business in the Niagara River and near the base of Niagara Falls.  Operations will begin May 15th and run through the Summer.  

The Canoe rides are sure to be a hit this summer!  “There is no better way to see Niagara Falls than through a glass bottom canoe” says Tim Brants

The kayak-canoe hybrid is made of the same durable material found in the cockpit canopies of supersonic fighter jets. It’s transparent hull offers paddlers an underwater view of beautiful Niagara aquatic wildlife and scenery.

Canoe rental Prices are a very affordable $25 per hour per person*

Insurance not included in price

Harry Houdini 137th Birthday

Today is Harry Houdini’s birthday.  He was born Erich Weiss on March 24, 1874 and lived to age 52.

Breakfast Television Visits Niagara Falls


The Fallsview Indoor Waterpark is Niagara’s newest and largest indoor waterpark, located on North America’s largest hotel and indoor waterpark complex, the Falls Avenue Entertainment Complex. Directly across the street from Niagara Falls the waterpark offers over 3 acres of indoor water fun including sixteen thrilling waterslides (some as high as six stories), a massive indoor wave pool, year round outdoor sundeck and activity pool, the mammoth “Beach House” Aqua Play area and much more.The Fallsview Indoor Waterpark features direct indoor connections to three superior Niagara Falls hotels, the Sheraton on the Falls, Crowne Plaza Niagara Falls-Fallsview Hotel and the Skyline Inn for your accommodation needs.

50% off 3-Course Meal & Show at The House of Comedy

Click here for the deal
$22 for a Three-Course Meal and Show at The House of Comedy

Laughter is the best medicine, though it tends to be the worst legal defense. Salute the healing art of comedy with today’s Groupon: for $22, you get a three-course meal and a comedy show (a $45.14 value, including HST) at The House of Comedy in Niagara Falls.

The House of Comedy’s stage is graced by a host of professional comics with extensive backgrounds in crafting artisanal-quality humour. Direct eye sockets to the stage for a talent-stuffed stand-up show replete with rising-stars, seasoned vets of the stand-up circuit, and wisecracking Vaudevillian theatre ghosts. As larynxes are humoured with hearty laughter, a three-course dinner hushes fussy stomachs with an edible hierarchy of salad, rolls, grilled chicken or 8-ounce N.Y. strip steak, oven-roasted potatoes, butter-glazed vegetables, and chef’s choice of dessert. Shows vary in terms of stars and topics, so call ahead for the most up-to-date information.

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David Copperfield escapes Niagara Falls

No camera tricks, video effects, or cuts are used in this escape.

David Copperfield battles the forces of Niagara Falls in a daring escape. This was the climax of his thirteenth television special: The Magic of David Copperfield XIII: The Niagara Falls Challenge.

Category: General  Tags: , ,  One Comment
March Break Exhibit at the Butterfly Conservatory

Check out our NEW March Break Exhibit:
“Sciensational Week” at the Butterfly Conservatory

March 12 – 19, 2011  – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sciensational Week Snake

Bring the kids to the Butterfly Conservatory this March Break for a new interactive and educational exhibit featuring native Ontario snakes, reptiles, turtles and amphibians. Animal specialists will be on site to discuss native species at risk and conservation issues. They will also be pleased to assist visitors who may wish to touch and hold the animals.

A native mammal fur exhibit will also be on display throughout the week.

Entrance to the exhibit is included with admission to the Butterfly Conservatory.

Admission: $12.25 for Adults 13+, $7.95 for Children 6 – 12 years and Children 5 and under are admitted FREE (prices in Cdn plus tax). Free Parking on-site.

Hours of Operation: Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with last visitors admitted at 4:30 p.m.

Location: The fully accessible Butterfly Conservatory is located on the grounds of the Botanical Gardens, 2405 Niagara Parkway, Niagara Falls. (905) 356-8119. more…

Niagara Falls Whirlpool Jet Boat Video

Experience a thrilling whitewater adventure with Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours! The fleet of 7 Wet Jet boats will get you drenched, or you can opt for our Jet Dome and stay dry. The most exhilarating attraction in the Niagara Region!

3 Ways to Support Your Favorite Vacation Spot Online

Niagara Falls is known for it’s amazing beauty, and as one of the largest waterfalls in the US. It not only takes it’s viewers breath away but offers a valuable source of hydroelectric power. This beautiful and useful monument has been visited since the 1600s and is still a tourist attraction today.

We all have that special spot that we just can’t wait to vacation to. We take family and friends, and tons of pictures! Have you ever wanted to tell others about the beautiful scenery, the amazing places to visit, and of course show off your photography? Well, you don’t have to have a marketing degree to give your favorite vacation spots the attention you think they deserve.

The internet is an amazing tool for all sorts of things, sharing information being the most important. We can relay information, share experiences, photos and all sorts of other things at an amazingly fast pace. Within seconds you can find whatever it is you are looking for.

1. Share on a Vacation Website

There are tons of websites already in place that allow users to share information and pictures. People can share their favorite vacation spots, check out other people’s favorites, and even comment or converse on the topics. This way of sharing is nice because not only do you get feedback on the spot from people who have visited a certain area, but you may also find new spots that interest you. Most of these sites will offer a free membership, but may have an upgraded type membership for a small fee. Niagara Falls is a well-known vacation, and tourist attraction so you are sure to find many web pages, such as this one, that offer information on it. Do remember, however, no one has seen it through your eyes, and no one has taken the exact same photos as you! Sharing information about places like this can be so much fun and in the process you may learn something about the vacation spot that you had no idea existed. Not only are you sharing, but exploring as well.

2. Create Your Own Favorite Vacation Site

Creating and launching your own site can be fairly easy with all of the hosting sites available on the internet today. If you want to get really creative you can start from scratch. This may take you a little more time and you may need help from a web developer, but it will be worth it in the end. Most times there will be a small fee, normally not terribly expensive. One of the websites that I have used and continue to use is wix.com. I love the format and the ease at which you can create a unique web page. You may have to do a little exploring to find the site that works best for you, but don’t worry, the internet is nearly endless and you are sure to find one you like. This is your own page and your own URL, which makes it a more personal form of sharing. You can even set it to show up on search engines like Google to make the reach more widespread than just your family and friends. You can also set up a contact page that allows viewers to send questions and comments, which is a great way to enhance your website and make it even more reader friendly. more…