• About the Niagara Region
• The Niagara Environment
• Location
• Climate For Growing
• Events and Lifestyle Amenities in the Niagara Region
• Rich With History

THE NIAGARA ENVIRONMENT

The Niagara Region is unique to Canada and the World, offering a natural environment that is world-renowned. The Niagara Escarpment is Southern Ontario’s most prominent topological feature, stretching 725 km in length. Hikers enjoy the forested areas and waterfalls of the Escarpment by following the Bruce Trail, which begins in Queenston Heights near the gardens, parks and giant floral clock of the Niagara Parkway. The Parkway is North America’s largest ungated park, covering 1600 hectares (4000 acres) and running from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie. In a 1943 visit, Winston Churchill referred to the Parkway as “the prettiest Sunday afternoon drive in the world.”

In addition to the abundance of parks, trails, gardens and beaches is the Region’s most famous feature, Niagara Falls. The Falls is 57 meters high (180 feet), and has 168,000 cubic meters of water (6 million cubic feet) fall over its crestline every minute. Hydro created from the redirected waterflow provides electricity to Southern Ontario and Western New York, making the Region a vital resource to both countries. The majesty of the Falls attracts millions of visitors to the “Honeymoon Capital of the World” and the Region as a whole.

Because the Niagara Regional Police Service contends with diverse environments, there are a variety of different of units and vehicles used for law enforcement, rescue and recovery operations. Police officers may use any number of vehicles from our fleet during their career, including police interceptors (patrol cars), prisoner transport vehicles, motorcycles, All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), and other vehicles. In addition to these, there are those used by specialty units:

• The Marine Unit use seagoing craft to perform patrol duties of Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, the Niagara River, and other water sanctuaries within or bordering the Niagara Region, as well as assists in search and rescue/search and recovery operations.
• The Underwater Search and Recovery Unit use an FTI "Toad Sled" liveboating sled as well as other equipment to perform forensic investigations and recovery underwater.
• The Bicycle Patrol Unit use bicycles for transportation in the patrol of parks, hydro right of ways, jogging trails, and other areas normally inaccessible to vehicular patrol units.

CLIMATE FOR GROWING

With an annual average of 2027 hours of sunshine, the Niagara Escarpment’s protective boundary and other natural factors, the Niagara Region is one of Canada’s prime agricultural areas. It is one of the major producers of tender fruit in Canada and a producer of award winning wines. The Niagara Wine Route showcases the dozens of wineries and vineyards of the area, following a path through the grape growing areas of the Region. The grape and wine production is also celebrated by the annual Grape and Wine Festival, which is highlighted by the Grande Parade, one of the largest street parades in North America.

During the Grande Parade and other events, the Niagara Regional Police Service can often be seen playing a part in the festivities. In 2003, the Niagara Regional Police Service introduced mounted officers to its ceremonial Colour Guard, attending parades, ceremonies, fairs, and special events. The Canine Unit is also seen at many such functions, and is responsible for approximately two hundred public demonstrations per year. To provide public education, members of the Community Services Unit will setup presentation booths to share crime prevention tips and answer questions, as well as drive one of our original police cruisers from the 1970s in parades, and assist Elmer the Safety Elephant in greeting children.

EVENTS AND LIFESTYLE AMENITIES IN THE NIAGARA REGION

Festivals and events run throughout the year in Niagara, making it a popular destination to visit and lively place to reside. As seen in the following selection of events, there are popular attractions for every season:

The Niagara Regional Police Service often provides a police presence at parades, festivals, special occasions and other events to assist with crowd control, traffic situations, and other occurrences requiring law enforcement. Constables and/or Auxiliary Police Officers attend such events to ensure they remain peaceful and safe.

In addition to the festivals and events occurring throughout the year, there are also a number of amenities offered in the region to accommodate every lifestyle:

• 8 Theatres
• 10 Cinemas
• 17 Marinas
• 25 Camp Grounds
• 40 Golf Courses
• 60 Wineries
• Over 50 Parks
• Trails and Routes that interconnect across the Region
  (Source: www.niagaracanada.com)

In addition to these, in 1996, Casino Niagara opened in Niagara Falls as the largest casino in the province, and lead to the inception of the Niagara Regional Police Service’s Casino Patrol Unit. Since that time, a second 200,000 square foot casino opened in 2004 in Niagara Falls; the Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort. Together, they offer gambling, hotel services, restaurants, stores, spa services, and big name entertainment. For more information about attractions in the Niagara Region, visit: Info Niagara Ontario Travel Tourism Niagara Accessible Niagara Niagara Parks Commission

• Settled by humans approximately 11000 years ago (at the end of the last Ice Age), and home to aboriginal settlers like the Neutral Tribe
• One of the first areas in Southern Ontario to be extensively settled by Europeans
• A notable part of Canada’s government history. Niagara-On-The-Lake (called “Newark” at the time) was the first capital of Upper Canada. Parliament was held in Niagara-On-The-Lake from 1792-1796.
• The symbol of the New World. Until 1886, Niagara Falls was the symbol of America and the New World, until the Statue of Liberty was erected in New York City. Since then, Niagara Falls is world renowned as the Honeymoon Capital of the World.
• The home of numerous engineering achievements like:
  • creating tunnels under the Niagara River to divert water for generating Electricity at Sir Adam Beck Power Stations in Queenston. Two tunnels were built in the 1950s, while a third tunnel (10.4 km or 6.4 miles in length) is one of the largest tunnels in North America.
  • the Welland Canal, which is part of the St. Lawrence Seaway. It bypasses Niagara Falls to provide ships passage between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Pictures and historical facts of the canal can be found at the Welland Public Library’s Web site
• The sites of strategically important battles in the War of 1812, inclusive to the Battles of Queenston Heights, Beaverdams, Chippawa, Lundy’s Lane and Fort Erie
• A proposed site of the United Nations. In 1945, Navy Island in Niagara Falls was suggested as a primary choice for being Headquarters to the United Nations. Due to the peaceful border relations of Canada and the United States, it was thought to be a suitable choice for being the “World Peace Capital”. A picture of the proposed UN Headquarters can be seen on the Niagara Falls Public Library’s Web site
• An important part of the Underground Railroad, in which hundreds of slaves in the 1820s escaped the United States. A network of people guided these people along the Underground Railroad and Niagara’s Freedom Trail, in which St. Catharines was the final terminus to freedom.
• An common location for the filming of motion pictures, including The Ref (starring Denis Leary and Kevin Spacey), A Christmas Story (starring Darren McGaven), Niagara (starring Marilyn Monroe), Superman II (starring Christopher Reeve), Canadian Bacon (starring John Candy), The Dead Zone (starring Christopher Walken), The Skulls, and many others.
• The birthplace, home or former home of many celebrities including Linda Evangelista (supermodel), Walter Ostanek (winner of several Grammy Awards and member of Canada’s Walk of Fame), Neal Peart (drummer of the rock band Rush), Duncan Coutts and Raine Maida (of the band Our Lady Peace), Frank Shuster (comedian and cousin of Superman creator Joe Shuster), Dave Thomas (comedian\actor), Hume Cronyn (actor), and many others.
• An inspiration to writers and artists, including Rush (who’s song “Lakeside Park” is about the park in Port Dalhousie) and Harriet Beecher Stowe (who was partly inspired to write “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” from a trip to Niagara Falls, and interest in Reverend Josiah Henson who smuggled runaway slaves across the Niagara River into Canada).
• A favorite place for royalty, celebrities, politicians and 15,000,000 others to visit

The Niagara Regional Police Service also has a rich history. It is the oldest regional police service in Ontario, and was founded in 1971 by incorporating all of the municipal police forces that had existed previous to the formation of Niagara’s regional government. In doing so, the Niagara Regional Police Service became on of the ten largest police services in Ontario

For further information about the Niagara Region’s historical background, please visit the following Web sites:

• Your Niagara.ca
• A Brief History of the Niagara Regional Police Service
• St. Catharines Tourism
• Niagara Falls Heritage Portal