In 2012, the St. Catharines Downtown Association was awarded the Marketing and Communications Award for the banner project by the Board of Directors of the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA) at their 12th Annual National Conference. They recognized our efforts for the work we do in our community, and applauded our unique initiative which celebrates St. Catharines’ citizens and residents who have made a formidable contribution to Canadian society. We are proud of our banner program and inspired by the citizens of St. Catharines who have made a significant contribution to our civic pride. We have recognized artists, athletes, politicians, musicians and more. We encourage the residents of St. Catharines as well as visitors to our city to learn more about the 29 people who we have honoured for their achievements. Visit our website at www.mydowntown.ca/about-us/famous-faces to learn more or read on to learn

about a few of the subjects on our Famous Faces banners. William H. Merritt was a soldier, merchant, promoter, author, and politician. Born in Bedford, New York, Merritt started out as a merchant in St. Catharines selling dry goods, groceries and hardware. In 1816, Merritt purchased a small sawmill on Twelve Mile Creek and shortly after built a gristmill there. Merritt is best known for his part in the promotion of the Welland Canal, linking

The Great Lakes of Ontario and Erie. Merritt is considered one of the most important historical figures in the development of the City of St. Catharines. His house still stands along the Twelve Mile Creek and there are many memorials throughout the community. Ron Sexsmith, born and raised in St. Catharines, is an acclaimed singer/songwriter, with over a dozen albums to his credit. Ron aspired to songwriting at a young age and taught himself to play guitar. Ron has collaborated with many artists and has earned immense respect from his peers, critics, and a devoted international audience. His contemporary songs have been covered by Rod Stewart and Feist (“Secret Heart”), k.d. lang (“Fallen”), Emmylou Harris (“Hard Bargain”), Dallas Green (“Wastin’ Time”), and Michael Bublé (“Whatever It Takes”), to name a few. In 2005, he won the coveted Juno Award for Songwriter of the Year. Harriet Ross Tubman was born into slavery on a plantation in Maryland. Tubman gained international fame as an Underground Railroad operator, abolitionist, Civil War spy and nurse, suffragist, and humanitarian. She escaped enslavement in 1849, then dedicated herself to fighting for freedom, equality, and justice. Over the next decade she would return to the American South, relocating

members of her family to St. Catharines. North Street in St. Catharines remained her base of operations until 1857. While there, she worked at various jobs to finance her activities as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. She attended the Salem Chapel British Methodist Episcopal Church on Geneva Street. Robert “Bob” S.K. Welch, born in St. Catharines, was the former Deputy Premier of Ontario (from 1977 to 1985).

He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1963 to 1985 as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party, and was a respected member of the International Joint Commission. After leaving politics, Bob Welch returned to his law practice (known as Lancaster, Mix & Welch), and also served as Chancellor of Brock University from 1985 until his death in 2000. He was a recipient of the Order of Canada in 1994. Howard Engel was born in Toronto, and raised in St. Catharines. He is a Canadian mystery writer and CBC

producer. He is well known to Canadian readers for his series of Benny Cooperman detective novels set in the Niagara Region in the fictitious city of Grantham, a community that bears a strong resemblance to the City of St. Catharines. He was the 1990 Winner of the Harbourfront Festival Prize for Canadian Literature and the 1983 winner of the Arthur Ellis Award for crime fiction. In 2007, Engel was appointed a Member of the Order of

Canada, receiving it at the 100th investiture. Walter Ostanek is an accordionist and composer. Born in Quebec and raised in St Catharines, he began playing button accordion at 9 years old and turned to piano accordion at twelve. Ostanek formed his own band in 1957, specializing in the so-called ‘Cleveland style’ of polka music. Ostanek starred on the television shows ‘Polka Party’ and ‘Polka Time’. By 1990, he had recorded more than thirty-five albums. 35th Anniversary, Accordionally Yours, and Music and Friends received Grammy Awards as the best polka albums of 1993, 1994, and 1995. He was awarded the Order of Canada in 1999.

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