St. Catharines 150
Happy 150th, St. Catharines!
For 150 years, St. Catharines has been shaped by change, opportunity, and innovation. What began as an agricultural settlement and canal-side industrial centre has grown into a vibrant city and a cornerstone of Niagara’s development.
In 2026, St. Catharines proudly marks its 150th anniversary as a City. While our community’s roots stretch back much further, St. Catharines was officially incorporated as a City on May 1, 1876.
Throughout this milestone year, we’ll be celebrating with a series of events, activities, and community initiatives that honour our history while looking ahead to our future. From cultural programming and historical reflections to City-wide gatherings and a special 150th celebration, there will be many opportunities to participate, connect, and share in the pride of our city.
We want to celebrate with you
Share your St. Catharines memories, experiences, and stories. Sign our online guestbook. Post photos of your favourite spots. Take part in fun polls and trivia. Add your voice and experiences to our 150th celebrations and help us highlight what makes St. Catharines special.
Share your St. Catharines story
Share Your St. Catharines Story!
2026 marks 150 years of St. Catharines as a City, and we want to celebrate the people, places, and experiences that make our community unique.
Use this space to share your stories, memories, or reflections about St. Catharines. Your contribution can be:
A personal memory of growing up, living, or working in St. Catharines
A favourite place, event, or tradition that’s meaningful to you
A story about how St. Catharines has changed over the years
A wish or hope for the future of the City
Add photos to bring your stories and memories to life! Submissions may be featured in our 150th anniversary celebrations, helping highlight what makes St. Catharines special.
A note about your story: stories and photos posted here will be visible to everyone visiting the page. We may also feature or share the stories and photos posted here on other City channels, such as social media, newsletters, or our website. Please remember to keep personal information private and avoid sharing sensitive details.
We can’t wait to read your stories and celebrate 150 years together!
-
Share The Twelve / Shipman’s Corner on Facebook Share The Twelve / Shipman’s Corner on Twitter Share The Twelve / Shipman’s Corner on Linkedin Email The Twelve / Shipman’s Corner link
The Twelve / Shipman’s Corner
The earliest survey for Grantham Township didn’t include a planned location for a town. St. Catharines grew up organically around the junction of established trails – most notably the Iroquois Trail.
This is the third in a series of STC History posts to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the City of St. Catharines. We know the roots of our community stretch back much further than 150 years and the St. Catharines Museum & Welland Canals Centre is helping us celebrate our 150th anniversary with a weekly look back into our rich history from a diverse range of perspectives.
A small... Continue reading
-
Share STC150: Settling the land on Facebook Share STC150: Settling the land on Twitter Share STC150: Settling the land on Linkedin Email STC150: Settling the land link
STC150: Settling the land
The first European settlers came to the area after the American Revolutionary War in the late 18th century and began surveying the land to begin building homesteads, mills, churches, and by the 1820’s the Welland Canal.
This is the second in our series of STC History posts to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the City of St. Catharines. We know the roots of our community stretch back much further than 150 years and the St. Catharines Museum & Welland Canals Centre is helping us celebrate our 150th anniversary with a weekly look back into our rich history from a... Continue reading
-
Share STC150: It all starts with the land on Facebook Share STC150: It all starts with the land on Twitter Share STC150: It all starts with the land on Linkedin Email STC150: It all starts with the land link
STC150: It all starts with the land
Thanks to ancient geologic conditions, the land that is today St. Catharines has the perfect climate and landscape for comfortable living and excellent growing conditions.
The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre is helping us celebrate our 150th anniversary of being officially incorporated as a City with a weekly look back into our rich history from a diverse range of perspectives.
Indigenous peoples have thrived on these lands for millennia, building deep-rooted, culturally rich and prosperous communities. People and animals have been living on this land for approximately 11,000 years, since the ice sheets retreated from Ontario at the... Continue reading