I'd like to consider what makes my hometown, St. Catharines, unique. Perhaps the greatest feature is that it is sandwiched between large areas of orchards and vineyards. How many other cities can say this about themselves? I recall living in Toronto for a year and when I came home some weekends on the train the dominant image in my mind was the fruit growing farmlands. When you consider all of the events in the city, this fact is also substantiated by the fact that the Grape and Wine Festival is the major event of the year. So I think the preservation of these fruit farms is essential to the vitality of our city. Perhaps we need to focus more on this theme. I only know one local songwriter who has incorporated this motif into his songs.
Perhaps the second most distinguishing feature of St.Catharines is the series of Welland Canals that has been part of the landscape. Here we have a major shipping canal but also 3 historical routes in addition to the present one. So along these major routes we had the beginnings of a number of small villages, Port Dalhousie, St.Catharines and Merritton which eventually amalgamated. Once again, we have something quite unique but I don't believe we have really used this feature to the potential it could have.
There are other features, in a geographic context, which have had defining influences on our city. There is a lakefront location and a prominent escarpment along the southern edge. Both of these have affected the road pattern, among other things. However, these are not as unique as the fruitlands and canals would be. That is where St.Catharines should really define itself.
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