St.Catharines residents came together tonight to discuss the State of the City.
An event starring Mayor Walter Sendzik, the First Ontario Performing Arts Centre saw over 500 guests in attendance.
It's no surprise St.Catharines is rich in history and tradition.
Now the National Bank of Canada says Niagara is the 2nd fastest growing economy in Canada.
The main focus of the night was to highlight and celebrate local business and their impact on the growth of the city.
Sendzik mentions the minimum wage increase, the shift in economy and the fate of NAFTA, have taken a toll on local business'.
Saying, "We can't solve all issues, but we can work to create a better solution."
He wants people in St.Catharines to be able to afford to run and grow their business'.
By handing out the STC awards, Sendzik celebrated business' strengths and the positive impacts they have on our communities.
Sendzik also addressing the opioid crisis, saying he would like to see a safe injection site set up in the city.
He hopes the city will walk on a new path for future generations to have a stronger relationship.
Leaving with a statement for residents to take home, "We built a community together. We are an inclusive community."
All attendants were then asked to come up and sign the Compassion STC Charter.