A new $2.3M fire training tower has been officially opened in St. Catharines.
The Fire and Emergency Services Training Tower marks the end of fire fighters from St. Catharines having to train in other parts of Niagara.
The tower has been built on the footprint of the former tower decommissioned in 2017 on Renown Road overlooking Twelve Mile Creek and Hwy. 406.
The City has been without a training tower for several years.
“This new training tower is a critical piece of infrastructure for our training needs,” Chief Upper said. “This purpose-built, modern training tower is an investment in safety – for our firefighters and for the residents and businesses we serve. Today, we’re not just opening a facility – we’re strengthening our readiness, our resilience, and our commitment to protecting our community for decades to come.” St. Catharines Fire Chief Dave Upper
The project was supported with $1 million in funding by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and the Government of Ontario.
“Our government is proud to support the brave men and women of the St. Catharines Fire Services through the construction of this training tower,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “In addition, the adoption of NG911 will be a game changer, meaning more calls answered and more lives saved when it matters most. Through our investment in the Fire Protection Grant, we’re also ensuring that those who protect Ontario are protected, with lifesaving equipment, cancer prevention measures, and critical infrastructure upgrades.”
Work on the replacement training tower began last July and was substantially completed on Dec. 31, 2025, with the final stage of completion occurring in recent weeks.
Story credit: Bonnie Heslop
Image Credit: St. Catharines
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