History of Niagara Council
Important Events
 1970 - 1972:Niagara Region's First Council |
 1970 - 2010:Niagara Region's Former Chairs |
The movement to reform local government saw many county governments, some in place since confederation in 1867, reorganized in the populated industrial corridor around the Great Lakes.
Niagara became part of the reform movement to create new Regional Governments. On June 26, 1969, the provincial legislature enacted The Regional Municipality of Niagara Act.
On January 1, 1970 12 area municipal governments and one regional government replaced the 2 counties and 26 municipal structures.
The Niagara Regional Council is comprised of a Chair, and 30 Councillors representing five cities, five towns and two townships. Learn more about the history of the Niagara Region.
Current Council
From right to left starting with the top row:
Top Row: Councillors Tim Rigby, Ronna Katzman, Robert Gabriel, David Lepp, Mark Bylsma, Michael Collins (deceased July 2009), Bob Saracino, Bruce Timms, Norman Puttick, Barbara Greenwood, and Bill Smeaton
Second Row: George Marshall, Judy Casselman, Dave Augustyn, Henry D'Angela, Debbie Zimmerman, Bill Hodgson, Brian Baty and Shirley Cordiner
Bottom Row: Damian Goulbourne, Brian McMullan, Vance Badawey, Katie Trombetta, Peter Partington, Barbara Henderson, Ted Salci, Bob Bentley and Gary Burroughs
Absent: Councillors Doug Martin, Brian Heit and Cindy Forster
Councillor Carlos Garcia joined Regional Council in 2009 representing St. Catharines.
Former Councillors Reception
A reception was held on April 22, 2010 to recognize former regional councillors who were members of the 1970 to 1972 inaugural regional council. Pictured here from left to right: Joseph Reid, Bob Bell, Gordon Joseph (Mike) Taylor, Bill Marshall, Bill Andres and Allan Pietz.