The City of St. Catharines has a population of approximately 135,000 and the metropolitan population is approximately 135,000) is the largest city in Canada's Niagara Region. It is 50 kilometres south of Toronto across Lake Ontario and is 19 kilometres inland from the international boundary with the United States. St. Catharines has the nickname "The Garden City" due to its many wonderful parks, gardens and trails.

The first business, a goods storehouse owned by Robert Hamilton, was established around 1783. In 1808, the first name "St. Catharines" appeared for the first time on a survey, named after Robert Hamilton's wife, Catharine Hamilton. In 1817, the post office was established with the name "St. Catherines" (sic), but by 1821, the name was officially "St. Catharines".

The first Welland Canal was constructed from 1824-33 behind what is now known as St. Paul Street, using Twelve Mile and Dick's Creek. William Hamilton Merritt worked to promote the venture, both by raising funds and by gaining government support. The canal established St. Catharines as the hub of commerce and industry for the Niagara Peninsula. Wikipedia

Merritt also played a role in making St. Catharines an important place of abolitionist. The area became known to escaped slaves as a place of "refuge and rest", and cemented it as a final terminus on the Underground Railroad for African American slaves.

The Niagara Grape & Wine Festival is a non-profit organization that presents three popular wine festivals in St. Catharines and Niagara during the year. The Niagara Icewine Festival (Winter), the Niagara New Vintage Festival (Summer), and the Niagara Wine Festival (Fall), which is the largest of the festivals, attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to the region each year. Other festivals include The Folk Arts Festival and Art of Peace Festival.