St. Catharines mayor on confusing road signs, Private Watson statue relocation

St. Catharines mayor Mat Siscoe joined Tim Bolen to discuss the road signs that were recently put up and the relocation of the Private Watson statue.

The highway ramp closures were a surprise as the signs went up last week and contained no details, confusing many residents and commuters.

The Ministry of Transportation in Ontario is responsible for the maintenance of the ramps, and Mayor Mat Siscoe said, “we have a good relationship with the MTO which is why this situation is frustrating…because there just wasn’t the communication that we were then able to relay to residents”.

Since then there has been clarification such as when the ramp closures will take place, and no two ramps back to back will be shut down simultaneously.

READ MORE: St. Catharines drivers confused by unexpected road closure signs

Another contentious topic was the statue of Private Watson, which was located in front of St. Catharines’ City Hall for over a century. Critics argued it was commemorating a battle that Canada should not have taken part in.

Mat Siscoe says this statue was always intended to be a gravestone, and as such it was relocated to Watson’s gravesite at Victoria Lawn cemetery.

READ MORE: St. Catharines votes to remove controversial statue from city hall

On a lighter note, Tim and Mat discussed the growing food scene in St. Catharines, specifically the downtown core. A local favourite, oddBird, was recognized in Canada’s 100 Best magazine on its 2024 restaurants list.

Mayor Mat Siscoe praised their fried chicken, and said it’s a must-visit spot to check out for unique fare and drink pairings. He concluded by adding that downtown St. Catharines has a lot to offer locals and tourists, as the city gets ready for another bustling summer.