Our weather is varied enough to be interesting, but we have been spared severe events such as hurricanes and tornadoes. The summer months, June, July and August, are often very warm and humid, but we have several pools and the Lake Ontario waters in the north end of the city are sometimes open for swimming. Sunbathing and barbecues on the beach are enjoyable for some residents while others prefer to take to the water for boating and fishing. Spectacular sunset scenes over the lake, as seagulls swoop and glide around the picturesque lighthouse, are the stuff of which rich summer memories are made.
The Welland Canal, which forms St. Catharines' western boundary, is a favorite spot for tourists during the shipping season. They can watch cargo ships from around the world traverse the man-made waterway which joins Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.
Autumn, in our city, from September to November, is cool, comfortable and colorful. The leaves of many varieties of deciduous tress change to brilliant hues, then flutter to the ground. Gardens are resplendent with Fall flowers, and abundant harvests of fresh fruit and vegetables are offered for sale at the downtown Farmers' Market.
Annually, in this season, we celebrate the "Folk Arts Festival" during which the club members of different cultural societies host Open Houses. Visitors enjoy touring each one, sampling national dishes and admiring crafts, costumes, music and dancing from many different countries.
We also have an annual "Wine Festival" in September. Tourists, farmers, friends and neighbors gather for a week of festivities in Montebello Park, an expanse of green space in the downtown area. Tours are conducted to many lush vineyards around St. Cataharines, which produce world-class wines. A Wine King and Queen are chosen and they ride in regal splendor in the grand parade as it winds its way through the downtown streets, on the following Saturday.
There are also number of Fall Fairs in surrounding communities which showcase the fine agricultural products and prize-winning livestock which thrive in the green belt of Southern Ontario.
Winter in St. Catharines is cold with many snowy days. Mittens, hats, scarves, snow boots, and heavy coats are the order of the day. We have several arenas for ice skating, and a hockey team, the "Ice Dogs". You can make day trips to excellent skiing facilities in the Central Ontario, and the northern New York State regions if you wish, but for some of us, the winter season, from December to February, is time to cocoon and recharge our batteries.
The Christmas season is an exception, when office celebrations, private parties, and New Year's Eve bashes relieve the snowy, white calm of the winter months. During the month of December, most families decorate their houses with colorful lights and decorations. Many St. Catharines' streets resemble winter scenes from Fairyland.
With the month of March, Spring arrives and the weather gradually begins to warm up. The golfers prepare their clubs for the first game of the season on one of the fine courses in the area. On Easter, churches of all denominations are crowded with worshipers. In May, green grass and leaves reappear, and tulips and daffodils erupt in splashes of color heralding the approach of another summer season.
Spring also brings "Education Week" when schools host Open Houses and hold other special events for parents and the community. St. Catharines boasts many fine schools, high schools, Brock University and Niagara College, all of them excellent educational facilities. Our young people have every opportunity to receive the best possible education.
Larger universities, offering more diverse courses of study, are situated in Hamilton and Toronto, which are 40 and 80 miles away respectively, over the well-maintained surface of the Queen Elizabeth Highway.
Because of our proximity to the Great Lakes and efficient filtration facilities, St. Catharines enjoys an abundance of fresh, clean water. We also have nearby electrical power generation plants to supply us with dependable electricity. Our citizens are currently learning to cut back on the use of these resources, in the interests of ecology and economy.
Like many Ontario communities, St. Catharines needs more family physicians and specialists to serve the needs of its people, many of whom are in the retirement phase of their lives. However, a new state-of-the-art regional hospital and cancer treatment center are being constructed in the western end of the city. We hope that this modern facility, along with the many amenities the Niagara Region offers, will act as drawing cards for the medical professionals we need.
From the quieter, more settled area of St. Catharines, a quick jaunt down the highway will bring you to the lively tourist center of Niagara Falls, which provides all the stimulation and night life anyone could desire. With its natural grandeur, the casino which frequently hosts big name stars, its fine hotels, elegant dining establishments and visitors' attractions, it's the answer to many a tourist's prayer.
But for ordinary, everyday living, where you reside with your family in safety and comfort, with necessary resources and desirable amenities conveniently close at hand, I'll choose St. Catharines every time. As far as I can judge, it's the best place to live on the face of the globe.
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