Visiting the Niagara Region

By Jennifer Seligman

With its fun-filled tourist attractions and quaint bed and breakfasts, the Niagara Region has become synonymous with culture, tourism, and weekend escapes. And little by little, the very factors that make Niagara such a compelling place to visit are helping to make it a more attractive place in which to own property and live.

Greg McCandless, an Economic Development Officer with the City of St. Catharines, believes location and affordability are contributing factors to the Niagara Region?s growing popularity and booming real estate market.

"The Niagara Region is one hour from Toronto, and very close to Buffalo.This attracts many commuters. We're also seeing a lot of people more interested in the Niagara Region these days because of the affordability factor. You can afford a lot more house [here] than in Toronto."

It has been 23 years since Joy Cohen moved to St. Catharines from Toronto for her husband's business. She is quite comfortable living in the Niagara Region, and thinks it was a great place to raise her three children.

"People don't want to raise their kids in a big city," says Cohen. "The suburbs in Toronto are too big; we have a much smaller community, but we're right in between Buffalo and Toronto. We can still live in a small town and have access to both big cities."

Cohen also believes that living expenses in the Niagara region are much more economical. "The cost of living is less; you can live in a mansion here for the same price as a bungalow in Toronto. And there's a big future here; there's Casino Niagara, and the large wine industry, so it brings a lot of people in for jobs."

"A lot of people also like to retire here," she adds. "They want a slower pace. This area caters to a lot of senior citizens; there are lots of golf courses and retirement homes being built, and of course there is the lower cost of living."

"The quality of life is a factor," agrees McCandless. "We don't have anywhere near the population density that Toronto has. There are also lots of activities close by such as the tourist attractions in Niagara Falls, the wineries, and outdoor activities such as hiking and cycling. You have both Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, which results in a great marine industry, sailing, fishing, motorboats, and beaches."

"There are also great, lesser-known areas, for example, the town of Jordan in Twenty Valley, between St. Catharines and Stoney Creek. Jordan has beautiful rolling hills on the escarpment, wineries, and great restaurants. Fort Erie is also in a great location, directly across from Buffalo. The horse races are quite popular there. And Grimsby is a quieter bedroom community. People who live there mostly commute to work."

Daniel Kraus has lived in his house in St. Catharines since he was born.

"It's not too big, but it has everything you need. You have Niagara-on-the-Lake, which is gorgeous; there is Niagara Falls close by; and Port Dalhousie with its beaches."

"I think once I'm done school and starting a job, I will want to move to Toronto," says Kraus. "But it's great to grow up here and raise a family, and definitely settle down when you're older. And the best part is that even though I live in St. Catharines, I'm still able to be in Toronto all the time and maintain friendships I have made from camp and university."