Fort Erie Race Track holds successful Prince of Wales Stakes
With some 5,000 fans back in the stands, Fort Erie’s famous horseracing track played host to the 86th installment of the Prince of Wales Stakes on Tuesday.
Trained by Kevin Attard and piloted by Gary Boulanger, Al and Bill Ulwelling’s Haddassah staved off Harlan Estate to capture the upset win and take home the second jewel of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown.
“Kevin said he might be the most talented three-year-old he has, but he hadn’t mentally put it together. Today, he showed he did,” said Boulanger, who captured his first Prince of Wales victory.
A successful betting day at the window, the handle reached $2 million.
Vandals target home of local mayor
Only days after St. Catharines Liberal candidate Chris Bittle had his vehicle targeted by vandals, the city’s mayor had his home spray painted with graffiti disparaging Trudeau and “communists”.
After the incident, Mayor Walter Sendzik said he “felt sorry” for the person and didn’t want the actions of an individual (or a few individuals) to mar the entire city.
Also damaged were Sendzik’s vehicle and fence, with the latter having “Jagmeet 4 PM” spray painted on it.
“I am disappointed to hear of yet another instance of vandalism against an elected official in Niagara. This behaviour is unacceptable and does nothing but denigrate our public discourse and serve to divide us as a community,” said Niagara Regional Chair Jim Bradley.
Niagara Health’s top administrators condemn protests outside hospitals
President and CEO of Niagara Health Lynn Guerriero and Chief of Staff Dr. Johan Viljoen released the following statement regarding the ongoing protests outside many of Ontario’s hospitals:
“It has been extremely concerning to witness protests targeting hospitals across the country in response to COVID-19.
While we respect the right to peacefully protest, protesting at hospitals is irresponsible and can be dangerous. These protests are putting vulnerable people at risk by obstructing access to care, often in emergency situations.
We have not experienced a protest at Niagara Health; however, these protests are demoralizing for our teams and healthcare workers everywhere who have so dutifully and compassionately put patients and their families first since the pandemic began.
We stand strong with Niagara Health’s staff and physicians and with healthcare workers across the country who continue to sacrifice so much to provide safe, quality healthcare in this unprecedented time of need.”
Inflation continues to rise at dramatic rate
Inflation – or the Consumer Price Index (CPI) – rose 4.1 per cent on a year-over-year basis in August, up from a 3.7 per cent gain in July. The August increase is the fastest pace seen since March 2003. According to Statistics Canada, the increase in prices mainly stems from an accumulation of recent price pressures and from lower price levels in 2020. Excluding gasoline, the CPI rose 3.2 per cent year over year.
Per BNN Bloomberg, gasoline and the homeowners’ replacement cost index – related to new home prices – were the largest upside contributors to inflation in August.
“I think because home prices have risen so quickly, now pushing more people into the rental market, we will see further upward pressure on rents through this year,” Sal Guatieri, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, said in an interview on BNN Bloomberg Television. “That could keep the shelter component of CPI rising at a good clip and putting general upward pressure on inflation.”
About a million more Canadians hit the ballot box early
Elections Canada estimates around 5.8 million eligible voters cast their ballots in advancing polling from Friday to Monday this past week. The figure represents an 18.5 per cent increase from the 2019 election. The 5.8 million number does not include mail-in ballots.
“I want to thank the electors who took advantage of advance polls for their patience and their help in making this a safe experience for everyone. I also want to thank the tens of thousands of election workers for making this possible,” said Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault.
Election day is Monday, September 20.
This Weekend Around the Region
Niagara Grape and Wine Festival
Celebrating its 70th year of wine, food, music, and fun, the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival is back this weekend and next (in modified form).
Enjoy live, in-person shows at the Best of Montebello Park Outdoor Concert Series at the St. Catharines First Ontario Performing Arts Centre on September 17 and 18. Purchase a ‘Grape & Wine Discovery Pass’ to enjoy two weekends of touring and tasting at Niagara wineries for just $49. Your Discovery Pass includes six wine and food pairings at your choice of 20 different wineries.
When: September 17-18 (concerts), September 18-19 and 25-26 (Discovery Pass)
Where: First Ontario Performing Arts Centre, St. Catharines (concerts) and various wineries around the region (Discovery Pass)
For more information, head to the festival’s website here.
Great Canadian Butter Tart Fest
A hybrid indoor and outdoor event, Grimsby’s 2021 Great Canadian Butter Tart Fest promises to be the sweet experience of September you and the family won’t want to miss!
Admission is $5 (cash at the door). Children 12 and under are free.
When: Saturday, September 18, 11:00am-4:00pm
Where: West Niagara Fairgrounds, Grimsby
For details, go to the event’s Facebook page here.
Niagara Symphony Orchestra at the Pavilion
Join the Niagara Symphony Orchestra (NSO) for a free outdoor concert at St. George Orthodox Church, featuring exciting symphonic works by Beethoven, Mozart, and Mendelssohn.
Admission is free but advanced tickets are required to attend. The event will take place rain or shine. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chair for seating.
When: Sunday, September 19, 2:30-4:30pm
Where: St. George Orthodox Church, Niagara Falls
To reserve your spot, go to the NSO’s event page here.
