{"id":90,"date":"2018-07-09T16:55:02","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T20:55:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bonjourniagara.com\/vivre\/?page_id=90"},"modified":"2023-06-07T11:45:46","modified_gmt":"2023-06-07T15:45:46","slug":"region-overview","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/vivreaniagara.com\/en\/region-overview\/","title":{"rendered":"Region Overview"},"content":{"rendered":"<blockquote><p>Niagara is a safe and accommodating environment, open for business and a good place to live, work and grow.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>Location<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wc-shortcodes-row wc-shortcodes-item wc-shortcodes-clearfix\">\n<div class=\"wc-shortcodes-column wc-shortcodes-content wc-shortcodes-two-third wc-shortcodes-column-first \">\n<h3>Land Acknowledgement<\/h3>\n<p>Niagara Region is situated on treaty land. This land is steeped in the rich history of the First Nations such as the Hatiwendaronk, the Haudenosaunee, and the Anishinaabe, including the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. There are many First Nations, M\u00e9tis, and Inuit people that live and work in Niagara today. <em>Interagence Niagara<\/em> acknowledges all Indigenous people, past and present, and the wise stewardship of the lands on which we live.<\/p>\n<h3>Region of Niagara<\/h3>\n<p>Niagara Canada is not just Niagara Falls \u2013 it is a region made up of many communities, including medium-sized cities, small towns and hamlets.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagararegion.ca\/default.aspx\">Niagara\u2019s Regional government<\/a>\u00a0is responsible for public health, emergency services, garbage collection, community services, enterprise and resource management, planning and development services, some roads and public works.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The 12 local municipalities in Niagara include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forterie.ca\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fort Erie<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pelham.ca\/en\/index.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pelham<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.grimsby.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Grimsby<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/lincoln.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lincoln<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/niagarafalls.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Niagara Falls<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.notl.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Niagara-on-the-Lake<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/portcolborne.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Port Colborne<\/a>*, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stcatharines.ca\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">St.Catharines<\/a>,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thorold.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u00a0Thorold<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wainfleet.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wainfleet<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.welland.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Welland<\/a>* and <a href=\"https:\/\/westlincoln.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">West Lincoln<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>The region encompasses a total area of 1,852 km<sup>2<\/sup> with a total population of <span lang=\"EN-CA\">477,941<\/span>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>The region has three urban centres, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Welland.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Landmark natural features include Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and the Niagara Escarpment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>The region is part of a growing area: 4 million individuals live within a 90-minute drive, making Niagara a thriving location.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Niagara is approximately 120 km away by car or transit to Toronto, Canada\u2019s largest city. There are daily <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gotransit.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">commuter train and bus services<\/a> to and from Toronto. You can also ride the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gotransit.com\/en\/partners-and-promotions\/go-trains-to-niagara-falls-7-days-a-week\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GO train between Toronto and Niagara Falls<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>There are 5 international border crossings into the United States as well as 7 airports within a one hour drive that provide easy access from Niagara Canada to anywhere in the world.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><cite>French Language Services Act<\/cite><\/h3>\n<p>You can access French language services from all 28 ministries of the provincial government via Service Ontario and from all federal ministries via Service Canada. In Ontario, access to French language services is an entrenched right under the <a href=\"https:\/\/csfontario.ca\/en\/loi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">French Language Services Act<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This includes things like getting a driver\u2019s licence or birth certificate. All information regarding government programs is available in French as well.<\/p>\n<p>However, in order to obtain French language services and information, you must present yourself to a government office situated in or near a designated area. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/page\/government-services-french\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">designated area<\/a> consists of an area where Francophones make up at least 10% of the population. In a city, French language services are offered where Francophone citizens number at least 5,000.<\/p>\n<p><i>*<\/i> The cities of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.portcolborne.ca\/en\/index.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Port Colborne<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/discover.welland.ca\/decouvrir.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Welland<\/a> are designated areas under the <i>Ontario French Language Services Act.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><em><span lang=\"EN-CA\">&#8220;As a provincially designated community we strive to provide an increasing number of services in both official languages.\u00a0 It is important for the City of Welland to preserve and encourage growth in French language and culture as it strengthens our city.&#8221;<br \/>\n<\/span>City of Welland Mayor, Frank Campion<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wc-shortcodes-column wc-shortcodes-content wc-shortcodes-one-third wc-shortcodes-column-last \">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-corners alignnone wp-image-1975 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/vivreaniagara.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/testimonial-gaston.jpg\" alt=\"There is always something new and my family and I are growing with the region. - Gaston\" width=\"400\" height=\"690\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vivreaniagara.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/testimonial-gaston.jpg 400w, https:\/\/vivreaniagara.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/testimonial-gaston-174x300.jpg 174w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.francophoniedesameriques.com\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-321\" src=\"http:\/\/vivreaniagara.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/centre-de-la-francophonie-des-ameriques.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"292\" height=\"224\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Housing<\/h2>\n<p>Niagara has many housing options with competitive prices that are close to facilities, community services and places to look for housing assistance. Whether you want to live in the city or just outside the city, in a house or an apartment, there are many options for you. For information on affordable housing, visit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrh.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Niagara Regional Housing<\/a> and also <a href=\"https:\/\/welcomeniagaracanada.com\/finding-housing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Welcome to Niagara<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Transportation<\/h2>\n<h3>Public Transit<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagararegion.ca\/transit\/default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Niagara Region Transit<\/a> is the new <strong>Consolidated Transit System in Niagara<\/strong> which connects some of Niagara\u2019s largest communities. Regular bus services are available in Niagara Falls, St. Catharines (including some service in Thorold), Welland (including some service in Port Colborne), Fort Erie and Niagara-on-the-Lake.<\/p>\n<h3>Train service<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.viarail.ca\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Via Rail<\/a> services are available from stations in St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Grimsby. You can also ride the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gotransit.com\/en\/partners-and-promotions\/go-trains-to-niagara-falls-7-days-a-week\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GO train between Toronto and Niagara Falls<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Driving<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Niagara&#8217;s major urban centres have the least traffic congestion of Canada\u2019s largest cities.<\/li>\n<li>With access to major and secondary highways, including the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW), any point to point trip within the region is a maximum 45 minute drive.<\/li>\n<li>Traveller Information provided by <a href=\"https:\/\/511on.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ontario 511<\/a> helps to plan travel on Ontario&#8217;s highways.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Cycling<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.niagaracyclingtourism.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Niagara Region&#8217;s cycling tourism network<\/a> provides an overview of accessible cycling roads to both visitors and residents alike.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Security<\/h2>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagarapolice.ca\/en\/index.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Niagara Regional Police Service<\/a> works to keep Niagara residents and visitors safe. Emergency services are provided by a number of fire departments and the paramedics of\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.niagararegion.ca\/living\/health_wellness\/ems\/default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Niagara Emergency Medical Services<\/a>. Emergency services are available throughout the region by <strong>dialling 911<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Niagara is a safe and accommodating environment, open for business and a good place to live, work and grow. Location Land Acknowledgement Niagara Region is situated on treaty land. This land is steeped in the rich history of the First Nations such as the Hatiwendaronk, the Haudenosaunee, and the Anishinaabe, including the Mississaugas of the &#8230; <a title=\"Region Overview\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/vivreaniagara.com\/en\/region-overview\/\" aria-label=\"More on Region Overview\">Plus<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":30,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"generate_page_header":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-90","page","type-page","status-publish"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Region Overview | Bonjour Niagara \u2013 Francophone Community Resources<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Niagara is a safe and accommodating environment, open for business and a good place to live, work and grow.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/vivreaniagara.com\/en\/region-overview\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Region Overview | Bonjour Niagara \u2013 Francophone Community Resources\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Niagara is a safe and accommodating environment, open for business and a good place to live, work and grow.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/vivreaniagara.com\/en\/region-overview\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Vivre \u00e0 Niagara - 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