May 07, 2009

Boundary Waters Treaty Centennial Celebration
December 2008

Prior to 1909, there was no bilateral international agreement between Canada and the United States pertaining to the diversion, uses and/or pollution of waters along their shared borders of the Great Lakes. There were for the most part no rules.

The two countries soon recognized the problems associated to this lack of control and regulation and began negotiations to remedy the problem. From these came an agreement known the Boundary Waters Treaty.

The 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty was the first international Canadian-American treaty to control the principles of boundary water resource development and to control the diversion of boundary waters. This agreement between Canada and the United States was signed at Washington on January 11, 1909. 

In June  of 2009, the 100^th anniversary of this cross border treaty will be celebrated in Niagara  when the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America including

the City of Buffalo, New York
the City of Niagara Falls, New York
the City of Niagara Falls, Ontario
the Town of Fort Erie, Ontario
the Town of Niagara on the Lake
the Village of Lewiston, New York
the Town of Youngstown, New York

will host this Centennial Celebration of the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty at Niagara Falls on June 13, 2009.

The Centennial Celebration will be held during Boundary Waters Week - a regional initiative scheduled to run from June 5-14, 2009. Throughout Boundary Waters Week the Niagara Region Corridor will be host to water themed conferences and events, exhibitions and performances.

The official celebration of the Boundary Waters Treaty will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2009 at Niagara Falls.

Each of Niagara's border municipalities will be host to a centennial activity over the course of Boundary Waters Week. The official ceremony will be held at the International Boundary at the Rainbow Bridge from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on June 13th 2009.

Federal, state, provincial and municipal government officials including Native Americans and First Nations representatives will be a part of the official program.

The ceremony is anticipated to attract national media attention.

Niagara Convention Centre
October 2007

The Niagara Convention and Civic Centre is to be built on the west side Stanley Avenue opposite Livingston Street in the City of Niagara Falls, Ontario.

The $87 million dollar project is 231,000 square feet in size that includes a 100,000 square feet main exhibit hall,  31,000 square feet of meeting space and 100,000 square feet of support space.

The project is jointly financed by the Federal Government ($35 million dollars), the Provincial Government ($35 million dollars), the Falls Management Company ($15 million dollars) and the Fallsview BIA ($2 million dollars).

Passports Required June 1st 2009
April 2009

On June 1st 2009, it will be mandatory when crossing the USA-CANADA border to produce enhanced identification such as a passport, nexus card or enhanced drivers license. This is a requirement of both Canadian and American citizens.

Artpark Summer Concert Series
April 2009

Artpark in Lewiston, New York have announced their summer concert series line-up.

US Border Security Increased
April 2009

The US Border Patrol is increasing surveillance along the Buffalo - Niagara International border between the USA and Canada with the installation of 5 additional surveillance towers along the border.

Cameras mounted on these towers can monitor movement of any person, vehicle or boat along the border.

City Allocates Money To New Year's Party
January 2009

The City of Niagara Falls has allocated $55,000 dollars remaining from the Ontario Power Generation fund to cover the cost of televising New Years Eve Party in the Park for 2009/2010.

Falls Illumination
January 2009

The nightly Illumination of the Falls schedule is as follows:

January 1st to January 8th - 5 p.m. to midnight
January 9th to February 28th - 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
March 1st to March 10th - 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
March 11th to March 31st - 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
April 1st to April 30th - 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
May 1st to August 16th - 9 p.m. to midnight
August 17th to September 30th - 8:30 p.m. to midnight
October 1st to October 31st - 7 p.m. to midnight
November 1st to November 2nd - 6:30 p.m. to midnight
November 3rd to December 30th - 5 p.m. to midnight
December 31st - 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.

In 2009 the City of Niagara Falls will allocate $36,050 dollars for their share to provide nightly illumination of the Falls.

City Provides $$$ To Festival of Lights & Tourism Bureau
January 2009

The City of Niagara Falls will allocate $380,000 dollars to support the Winter Festival of Lights for Tourism Development.

The City of Niagara Falls will allocated $600,000 dollars to Niagara Falls Tourism Bureau for tourism promotion. 

Ontario Power Generation Plan 2010 Project 
December 2006

Ontario Power Generation has announced that in 2010 following the completion of the Niagara Tunnel Project,  the Chippawa-Queenston open cut hydro canal will be closed and dewatered for several months to allow for cleaning and restoration work. Once completed the canal will again be used to channel water from the Welland River to the forebays of the Sir Adam Beck Power Generating Stations.

Hilton Hotel Becomes Niagara's Tallest 
December 2008

The Hilton Hotel on Fallsview Boulevard has recently become the tallest building in Niagara Falls. It is located at the south-west corner of Fallsview Boulevard at Murray Street. The new hotel addition is 172 meters (564 feet). When completed, this addition will eclipse the height of the Skylon Tower by 12 meters. The Skylon is 160 meters (520 feet) tall - 53 storeys.

As of April 1st 2007, the base has been excavated and the steel and concrete footing are being constructed.

The Hilton Hotel Fallsview is owned by the DiCosimo family of Niagara Falls.