Previews of fall programs available now on ActiveSTC
Aug 19, 2025 – With the approach of fall on the horizon, now is the perfect time to renew your commitment to keeping you and your family active this year. There are plenty of new recreational and swimming programs to keep those of all ages active throughout the season.
Registration for residents of St. Catharines will open online on ActiveSTC at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug 26. Residents can register in person at the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug 27. Everyone can sign up for activities on ActiveSTC on Thursday, Aug 28, 6 p.m., and in person registration will be open to everyone on Friday, Aug 29 at 8:30 a.m. at the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre.
Online registration requires an ActiveSTC account. Avoid delays on registration day by creating an ActiveSTC account or updating account information ahead of time. You can also browse programs now and add them to your “Wish List” to easily find them when registration opens. Program information is currently available for previewing at stcatharines.ca/ActiveSTC.
At the aquatics centre, fall programming includes swimming lessons for all ages, leisure swims, lengths, a variety of aquatic fitness classes in both the leisure and lane pools. For more information, please visit stcatharines.ca/Swimming.
Priding itself as the “City Where Everybody Can Play!”, the City is offering a wide variety of programming that will cater to individuals of all ages. Highlights for fall include:
- Creative Bug: Beginner Sewing (6-10 years)
- Creative Bug: Exploring The Arts (7-14 years)
- Little Medical School: First Responder Heroes in Training (6-11 years)
- Little Medical School: Marine Biology Turtle Rescue (5-10 years)
- RoboThink: RoboPetz (5-12 years)
- RoboThink: Battle Robots (7-12 years)
- Learn to Run (18 years and up)
- Fencing (15 years and up)
- Learn to Wood Carve – Chickadee Project (14 years and up)
The City also offers a variety of drop-in recreation programs for residents of all ages, abilities, and interests. Visit http://www.stcatharines.ca/DropInPrograms for details.
Fall program and special events at St. Catharines Museum
The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre will host its Fall Community Walks on Saturday, Sept 20 and 27, Oct 4, 18, and 25, and Nov 1. For more information on which walks are being offered, check out the Museum’s events calendar.
The museum is hosting the Welland Canal Bicentennial Lecture Series, presented in partnership with the Welland Museum and Port Colborne Marine and Historical Museum, this fall. This travelling lecture series, back by popular demand, explores the rich history of the canal and its communities. Lectures will occur on Nov 1, 8, and 15.
Kathleen Powell, Curator / Supervisor of Historical Services, will give a talk at the St. Catharines Public Library, 54 Church St., on Monday, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m., titled “Into the Modern Era: St. Catharines from 1910 - 1920”. The first decades of the 20th century were times of great change across the world and St. Catharines was no different. Big changes are the hallmark of the period from 1910 - 1920 and the modern city as we would recognize it today is beginning to emerge. On Friday, Oct 3, Powell will also give an illustrated presentation of St. Catharines in the nineteen-teens, offering greater insight into St. Catharines in 1910, setting of this year's “One Book One Niagara” title, The Laundryman's Boy. The main event, featuring author Edward Y.C. Lee, will take place at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre.
Adrian Petry, Visitor Services Coordinator, will speak at the new St. Catharines Public Library Merritton Branch, 221 Glendale Ave. (at the Pen Centre), Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. “A Photographic History of Merritton.” features fascinating stories of Merritton’s industrial and cultural history through photographs from the museum collection.
In addition - Petry, accompanied by the museum’s team of Spirit Walk volunteers, will participate in a panel discussion about the legacy of spirit walks and cemetery tours in Niagara hosted by the Niagara Falls Museum on November 19 at 6 p.m.
More information on the Walking Tours, lecture series, and other events at the museum can be found at stcatharines.ca/MuseumCalendar.