Ontario’s Garden City is surrounded by a gently rolling landscape, dotted with lakes and ponds, vineyards and some of Canada’s most fertile agricultural land.

St. Catharines, the largest city in Niagara with a population of 145,000, has been the retail centre for the region, with a variety of fashionable shopping centres, global franchises and a trendy downtown core.

Despite much growth, the city has remained loyal to its agricultural roots, boasting some of the world’s most prolific tender fruit, not to mention trees and gardens. A Farmer’s Market in the heart of downtown makes local produce readily available. Many fine wineries are close by, with two right in St. Catharines. The natural accompaniment to savouring wines motivated the establishment of numerous fine restaurants. Their use of regional produce to create a unique, homegrown cuisine, has gained international acclaim for many local dining establishments.

For the outdoor enthusiast, there are miles of cycling and hiking paths, including the Niagara Escarpment segment of the Bruce Trail. Water sports, such as kayaking, rowing, and sailing are a natural diversion on the many waterways and lakes. Port Dalhousie offers recreational activities for the whole family; seasonal outdoor concerts, a charming shopping village and a renowned sailing harbour. World-class rowing competitions are held here annually, including the 2000 world rowing championships which hosted athletes from around the globe.

One of Canada’s most exotic collections of flowering Rhododendrons can be found at Happy Rolph Bird Sanctuary, as well as pathways leading to the lake with plenty of picnic tables.

The Lock 3 Viewing Complex on the Welland Canal is another attraction, affording a grand view of ships from around the world travelling through the locks, up the Niagara Escarpment from Lake Ontario. The complex contains a restaurant and the St. Catharines Historical Museum.

Among the most popular annual events in St. Catharines are the Niagara Grape & Wine Festival, a 10-day extravaganza celebrating the harvest of Niagara’s sumptuous grapes, and the two-week Folk Arts Festival, a chance for the city to trumpet its cultural assets.

Residents of St. Catharines enthusiastically support the 50-year-old Niagara Symphony and congregate for world-class music and theatre at the Centre for the Arts at Brock University.

Located in a Victorian mansion built in 1824, and famous for its exhibits and collections as well as for its beautiful interior, Rodman Hall Arts Centre offers concerts, lectures, art films, and children’s theatre programmes throughout the year.

Other special events and festivals include the Octoberfest and the Annual Lake Ontario Salmon Derby.

For more information please visit the City of St. Catharines, St. Catharines Physician Recruitment or the Regional Municipality of Niagara.

For physician job postings please visit Canadian Association of Staff Physician Recruiters (CASPR) or Health Force Ontario.