Niagara Falls, Ontario | Scotiabank Convention Centre

NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO

Niagara Falls, Ontario showcases an impressive array of natural wonders, sights, and attractions that distinguishes it as a destination unlike any other. From the top of Skylon Tower (775 feet up) to the base of Horseshoe Falls (188 feet down), Niagara Falls is an awe-inspiring location. The Falls give off a round-the-clock roar, a refreshing - and surprisingly far-reaching - mist, and a reminder of just how wondrous our natural world is.

From the marvel of gazing at the Falls from innumerable look-out points to adrenaline-fueled activities like whitewater jet boats, there are many ways to experience them. For those that long to get up close to the Falls, don your famous blue slicker and jump aboard the Maid of the Mist Niagara Falls to go right up to the base, walk behind them at Journey Behind the Falls, or fly over them on a helicopter ride.

Even at night the Falls are impressive. The nightly illumination means you can enjoy them anywhere you have a Falls view - from your Niagara hotel, restaurant, cocktail lounge or observation deck.

Niagara Falls is a bustling destination full of activities for most everyone - vineyards and world-class golf courses, fine dining and casual eateries, casinos and live Niagara entertainment, spas and leisurely country drives to Niagara-on-the-Lake, cycling adventures and hiking trails.

Getting to Niagara couldn't be easier with access to three International Airports, Pearson Toronto International, Hamilton International Airport and Buffalo International Airport.All offer daily shuttle service to the heart of Niagara.

Niagara Falls, Canada enjoys a four-season climate. It is approximately the same distance from the equator as Seattle, Chicago, Detroit and Boston. During the Summit in June, the weather will be very pleasant and warm. June temperatures in Niagara average a high of 24 Celsius (76 Fahrenheit) and lowof 14 Celsius (57Fahrenheit).

Originally called Elgin, the community merged with Clifton in 1856 and was known by that name until 1881, when its name was changed to Niagara Falls. It was incorporated as a city in 1904. In 1963 the city was greatly expanded when it merged with Stamford township. The flourishing tourist industry enables Niagara Falls to continue to grow commercially and culturally.

Quick Facts About Niagara Falls:

•The Falls at Niagara are about 12,000 years old and were formed when melting glaciers created massive fresh-water lakes (the Great Lakes) one of which (Lake Erie) ran downhill toward another (Lake Ontario). The rushing waters carved out a river in their descent and at one point passed over a steep cliff like formation (the Niagara escarpment). From the original falls going over the Niagara Escarpment, the water began to wear its way back up the river. The path that it left is known today as the Niagara Gorge (a deeply-cut and very scenic river path).

•The Niagara River flows at approximately 56.3 kilometres/hour (35 miles/hour)and, currently, Niagara Falls wears its way back approximately 1 foot/year.

•There are actually two waterfalls in Niagara, the American Falls and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls.It is the combination of height and water flow that makes Niagara Falls so beautiful.

•The Horseshoe Falls are 180 feet (57 meters) high and allow 6 million cubic feet (168,000 cubic meters) of water over the crestline every minute during peak daytime tourist hours (that is about a million bathtubs full of water every minute!).

•In 1960, Roger Woodward was the boy who had survived a descent over the Falls after a boating accident above the Falls.

•Blondin was a funambulist (tight-rope walker) who performed numerous crossings of the gorge in Niagara Falls during the mid-1800s.Blondin performed endless stunts on the high-wire, from crossing blindfolded to carrying a cooking stove and preparing an omelet on the high wire.Most spectacularly, was the stunt during which Blondin carried on his back Harry Colcord his 148-pound manager August 19, 1859.

•Annie Taylor "Queen of the Mist", a school teacher from Bay City Michigan was first person to travel over the Falls in a barrel on October 24, 1901.Since her feat, many stunt artists have challenged the mighty Falls usually in home-made barrel-like contraptions.More recently, a couple of foolhardy individuals have attempted to survive a plunge over Niagara Falls in a kayak and a jetski - they both perished.

•Niagara Falls, Ontario is known as the Honeymoon Capital of the world.

•The word Niagara comes from the word "onguiaahra" which means "a thundering noise".

•"Uncle Tom’s Cabin", a famous novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe was partly inspired by the writer’s trip to Niagara Falls and her subsequent interest in Reverend Josiah Henson who smuggled runaway slaves across the Niagara River into Canada.

•Water is redirected from traveling over the Falls in order to drive large hydro-electric turbines that produce electricity for Southern Ontario and Western New York State.

•An "Old Scow" (a steel barge) remains stranded a few hundred meters above the Falls and has been marooned there since August 6, 1918 when a near tragedy was averted by three men who opened the dumping hatches of the barge to let water in and ground the out-of control boat.

•Water that flows over the Falls at Niagara ultimately ends up in Lake Ontario - from there, water drains by way of the St. Lawrence River in to the Atlantic Ocean.

•One of the bloodiest battles of the War of 1812 took place on July 25, 1814 at Lundy's Lane in Niagara Falls, Ontario... A total of 7500 Americans and Canadians fought for six hours. At the end, 1,000 soldiers lay dead or wounded.

•The 20th Century Fox movie "Niagara", starring Marilyn Monroe, was filmed in Niagara Falls, Ontario in 1952.

•In March of 1848, the waters stopped flowing over Niagara's famous cliff when the Niagara River was plugged temporarily at the mouth of the river in Fort Erie, Ontario.

For more information about things to do while in Niagara Falls, Ontario, please visit Niagara Falls Tourism's website.

SCOTIABANK
CONVENTION CENTRE

The new Scotiabank Convention Centre, in Niagara Falls, Canada, completes the large and colourful mosaic of experiences that make the Niagara Region a world-class destination.

Located a mere 500 metres from the world-famous Canadian Horseshoe Falls, the Centre draws from the breath-taking sight of Nature’s power, and the numerous fun and lively entertainment, dining, and retail options found in the Fallsview Tourist District – Niagara Falls’ trendiest spot!

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver designed facility minimizes its carbon footprint in the Niagara Region by making exemplary use of recycled and regional construction materials to both contribute to the local economy and to curtail pollution associated with transportation. In addition, the Centre’s exemplary strategically designed processes significantly increases efficiency of its water and electricity consumption. An advanced green housekeeping and maintenance program ensures the Centre operates in a healthy and environmentally friendly way. To greatly enhance visitors', staff and exhibitors' connectivity with the outdoors and the surrounding environment, this fully ‘accessible’ facility has been designed with extensive floor-to-ceiling glazing, providing year-round friendly naturally lighted working spaces, and creating significant energy savings!  

Committed to fully implementing green and sustainable practices, the Centre, with the assistance and talents of food professionals from Centerplate (the Centre’s exclusive Food & Beverage vendor), and in partnership with the Centre’s endorsing celebrity Chef Anna Olson(Food Network Canada TV host & author), provides seasonal and regional field-to-table food offerings greatly reflective of the exciting and mouth-watering flavours common to the Niagara Region.

Scotiabank Convention Centre
6815 Stanley Avenue
Niagara Falls, ON L2G 3Y9
905-357-6222
888-997-6222

PARKING

The Scotiabank Convention Centreoffers guests nearly 900 parking spaces. The Centre parking is conveniently located next to the facilities and is easily accessed from the intersection of Stanley Avenue and Livingston St (see map above).

Parking at the Centre is fully-automated but guests are able to rely on the Centre’s parking attendants to provide support at pay stations and entry/exit points during special events and/or tradeshows.

For more information on the Scotiabank Convention Centre, Please visit their website.