St. Catharines is the most populated municipality of Niagara region with 131,989 residents living within its 96.11 km2 of land.
The municipality is situated on the northern side of Niagara region and is located where Lake Ontario and the northern end of the Welland Canal meet.
Profile of St. Catharines
Community profile of St. Catharines
| |
St. Catharines |
Niagara Region |
Ontario |
| Population density per square kilometre |
1,373.3 |
230.5 |
13.4 |
| Population of 2001 |
129,170 |
410,574 |
11,410,046 |
| Population of 2006 |
131,989 |
427,421 |
12,160,282 |
| Population change |
2.2% |
4.1 |
6.6 |
| Total private dwellings |
57,790 |
179,903 |
4,972,869 |
| Private dwellings occupied by usual residents |
54,730 |
169,425 |
4,554,251 |
| Land area (square km) |
96.1 |
1,854.2 |
907,573.8 |
| People ages 25-64 who have not completed high school |
13.9 |
14.0 |
13.6 |
| Lone female parent |
24.4% |
21.9 |
20.0 |
| Lone male parent |
5.6% |
5.4 |
4.5 |
| Knowledge of neither English nor French |
0.7% |
0.6 |
2.2 |
| Population who immigrated to Canada in the last 5 years |
12.9% |
10.4 |
17.1 |
| Aboriginal identity |
1.5% |
1.6 |
2.0 |
| Visible minority status |
10.0% |
6.3 |
22.8 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Census 2006
Population density
St. Catharines has a relatively large urban population compared to the rest of Niagara. In St. Catharines, there are approximately 1373.3 people in 1 square kilometre compared to 230 in Niagara and 13.4 in Ontario.
Population change
Between 2001 and 2006, the population of St. Catharines grew by 2.2%. This means the population in St. Catharines grew less than both the population of Niagara (4.1%) and that of Ontario (6.6%).
Population who did not graduate from high school
13.9% of the population of St. Catharines, between the ages of 25 and 64, have not completed their high school education; compared to 14.0% in Niagara and 13.6% in Ontario.
Lone parent families
St. Catharines has a higher percentage of single mothers (24.4%), among the families with children at home, compared to Niagara (21.9%) and Ontario (20%). St. Catharines also has a higher percentage of families with single fathers (5.6%) than Niagara (5.4%) and Ontario (4.5%).
Language, immigration and Aboriginals
Almost all of St. Catharines residents are able to speak either English or French. Only a very small proportion, less than 1%, cannot. This pattern is also seen in Niagara, but in Ontario, the proportion is slightly higher at 2.2%.
10.0% of people in St. Catharinses are of a Visible minority, which is higher than the Visible minority population of Niagara (6.3%), but is much lower than that of Ontario (22.8%). In terms of immigration, 12.9% of the population of St. Catharines immigrated in the last five years, which is higher than Niagara (10.4%), but again, this number is much lower than Ontario (17.1%).
In St. Catharines, close to the same percentage of the total population are Aboriginals (1.5%) as Niagara (1.6%) and Ontario (2%). However, only Aboriginals who live off reserve were surveyed by the census.
Income profile of St. Catharines
|
St. Catharines |
Niagara region |
Ontario |
| Low income before tax |
14.8% |
12.0% |
14.7% |
| Low income after tax |
10.5% |
8.4% |
11.1% |
| Low income families with children or youth less than 18 years old (before tax) |
19.1% |
15.0% |
18.0% |
| Low income families with children or youth less than 18 years old (after tax) |
13.0% |
10.5% |
13.7% |
Source: Statistics Canada, Census 2006
Population with Low income
14.8% of St. Catharines residents are considered as living in Low income (before tax). This is higher than both Niagara (12.0%) and Ontario (14.7%). After taxes, St. Catharines still has a higher percentage of people living within the Low income bracket (10.5%) than Niagara (8.4%), but a lower percentage than Ontario (11.1%).
Low income families
19.1% of St. Catharines families who are considered living in Low income (before tax) have a child/youth under the age of 18 living with them. After tax, this decreases to 13.0%, which is slightly higher than in Niagara (10.5%) but lower than Ontario (13.7%).
To examine geographical patterns of socio-economic indicators (e.g. income, low education), a priority index was developed to explore characteristics of the Niagara region. A Priority Population is defined as those populations that are at risk and for whom public health interventions (e.g. the Health Bus program) may be reasonably considered to have a substantial impact at the population level.
The map shows an image of St. Catharines with areas of high versus low priority, based on six indicators included from the 2006 census:
- Median family income
- Proportion of people who have not graduated with a certificate, diploma or degree
- Unemployment rate
- Proportion of single parent families
- Proportion of people living alone
- Proportion of persons who are separated, divorced or widowed
Leading Causes of Death
Leading causes of death (0-64 years)
| |
Males (0-64 years) |
Females (0-64 years) |
| |
St. Catharines |
Niagara |
St. Catharines |
Niagara |
| 1 |
Ischaemic heart disease |
15.8% |
Ischaemic heart disease |
15.3% |
Lung cancer |
10.0% |
Lung Cancer |
10.9% |
| 2 |
Lung cancer |
10.6% |
Lung Cancer |
8.5% |
Ischaemic heart disease |
8.8% |
Breast Cancer |
8.3% |
| 3 |
Intentional self harm |
5.0% |
Intentional self harm |
5.3% |
Breast cancer |
8.2% |
Ischaemic heart disease |
7.4% |
| 4 |
Colorectal cancer |
4.5% |
Transport accidents |
4.2% |
Cerebrovascular diseases
|
4.5% |
Colorectal Cancer |
4.9% |
| 5 |
Cancer of lymph, blood and related |
3.3% |
Colorectal Cancer |
4.1% |
Colorectal cancer |
4.3% |
Cerebrovascular diseases
|
4.0% |
Source: Causes of Death, 2000-2004, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO, Data Last Refreshed March 2009.
In St. Catharines, the leading causes of death among males and females aged 0-64 are similar to those of Niagara region.
Females
For females aged 0-64, St. Catharines and Niagara share the same leading causes of death: lung cancer, Ischaemic heart disease, breast cancer, Cerebrovascular diseases
and colorectal cancer.
Males
For males aged 0-64: St. Catharines and Niagara share Ischaemic heart disease, lung cancer, colorectal cancer and intentional self harm as leading causes of death. The only difference between them is that St. Catharines reports cancers of lymph, blood and related as the remaining cause of death, while Niagara lists transportation accidents as the remaining leading cause of death.
Leading causes of death (65+ years)
| |
Males (65+ years) |
Females (65+ years) |
| |
St. Catharines |
Niagara |
St. Catharines |
Niagara |
| 1 |
Ischaemic heart disease |
24.7% |
Ischaemic heart disease |
26.2% |
Ischaemic heart disease |
24.0% |
Ischaemic heart disease |
26.4% |
| 2 |
Lung cancer |
7.2% |
Lung Cancer |
7.7% |
Cerebrovascular disease |
11.0% |
Cerebrovascular diseases
|
9.1% |
| 3 |
Cerebrovascular diseases
|
6.7% |
Cerebrovascular diseases
|
6.1% |
Lung cancer |
5.1% |
Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease |
5.3% |
| 4 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases
|
5.7% |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases
|
5.4% |
Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease |
4.6% |
Lung Cancer |
5.2% |
| 5 |
Diabetes mellitus
|
4.4% |
Diabetes mellitus
|
4.7% |
Diabetes mellitus
|
4.2% |
Diabetes mellitus
|
4.8% |
Source: Causes of Death, 2000-2004, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO, Data Last Refreshed March 2009.
In St. Catharines, the leading causes of death among males and females over the age of 65 are the same as those of Niagara region.
Females
For females over the age of 65, St. Catharines and Niagara list Ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, lung cancer, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes as the leading causes of death.
Males
For males over the age of 65, St. Catharines and Niagara list Ischaemic heart disease, lung cancer, Cerebrovascular diseases
, chronic lower respiratory disease and diabetes as the leading causes of death.
Leading Causes of Hospitalization
Leading causes of hospitalization (0-64 years)
| |
Males (0-64 years) |
Females (0-64 years) |
| |
St. Catharines |
Niagara |
St. Catharines |
Niagara |
| 1 |
Liveborn infants according to place of birth |
4.6% |
Liveborn infants according to place of birth |
6.2% |
Complications of pregnancy (labour and delivery) |
16.6% |
Complications of pregnancy (labour and delivery) |
21.4% |
| 2 |
Disorders related to Short gestation and Low birth weight |
3.1% |
Disorders related to Short gestation and Low birth weight |
3.5% |
Complications of pregnancy (Antenatal) |
14.2% |
Complications of pregnancy (Antenatal) |
14.8% |
| 3 |
Diabetes mellitus
|
2.8% |
Acute myocardial infarction |
3.0% |
Liveborn infants according to place of birth |
3.4% |
Liveborn infants according to place of birth |
4.1% |
| 4 |
Acute myocardial infarction |
2.6% |
Complications of surgical and medical care |
2.9% |
Complications of surgical and medical care |
2.2% |
Mood, affective disorders |
2.1% |
| 5 |
Complications of surgical and medical care |
2.6% |
Diabetes mellitus
|
2.1% |
Mood, affective disorders |
1.8% |
Disorders related to Short gestation and Low birth weight |
2.0% |
Source: Causes of Hospitalization, 2003-2007, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO, Data Last Refreshed March 2009.
In St. Catharines, the leading causes for hospitalization among males and females aged 0-64 are quite similar to those of Niagara region.
Females
For females aged 0-64, the only difference between St. Catharines and Niagara for the leading causes of hospitalization is that St. Catharines reported complications of surgical and medical care and Niagara reported disorders related to Short gestation and Low birth weight.
Males
St. Catharines and Niagara share the same leading causes of hospitalization for males age 0-64: liveborn infants according to place of birth, disorders related to Short gestation and Low birth weight, diabetes, Acute myocardial infarction, and complications of surgical and medical care.
Source: Causes of Hospitalization, 2003-2007, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO, Data Last Refreshed March 2009.
In St. Catharines, the leading causes for hospitalizations among males and females aged 65+ are the same as those of Niagara region.
Females
For females, the leading causes of hospitalization reported for St. Catharines and Niagara included: heart failure, fracture of the femur, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Acute myocardial infarction and Cerebrovascular diseases
.
Males
For males, the leading causes of hospitalization reported for both St. Catharines and Niagara included: heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Pneumonia and cerebrovascular disease.
Prenatal and Reproductive Summary
Prenatal class attendance and Parkyn summary
| |
St. Catharines |
Niagara Region |
| Total Parkyn (N) |
1174 |
3795 |
| Mothers who attended a Prenatal class at Public Health† |
32.3% |
|
| Mothers under 20 years old |
6.1% |
5.2% |
| Mothers who smoked during pregnancy |
12.8% |
13% |
| Preterm birth baby |
8.2% |
7.1% |
| Low birthweight baby |
* |
4.3% |
| High-risk Parkyn Score |
22.8% |
19.2% |
| Feeding Method |
Breastmilk only |
71% |
72.6% |
| Both breastmilk and formula |
9.5% |
8.9% |
* Data are limited and cannot be reported.
†Source: Prenatal class Data, Niagara Region, 2008. Source: ISCIS Jan-Dec, 2007, Extracted: March 2009.
Overall, 32.3% of pregnant women in St. Catharines attended Prenatal classes offered by Niagara Region Public Health last year.
The Parkyn Postpartum Screening Tool is an instrument designed to identify families with a new baby who may be at an increased risk of developmental challenges based on health, physical and social drawbacks. Using this tool, 22.8% of newborns in St. Catharines were considered high risk in comparison to 19.2% in the Niagara region. In 2007, there were 1,174 live births to mothers from St. Catharines; representing 30.9% of the total newborns throughout Niagara. Of these births, 6.1% were to mothers under the age of 20.
In St. Catharines, 8.2% of births were preterm. This number is slightly higher than in the Niagara region (7.1%). When mothers were asked about their smoking habits, 12.8% of mothers in St. Catharines reported smoking during pregnancy which is similar to Niagara region (13.0%).
In St. Catharines, 71% of mothers breastfed while in the hospital; a further 9.5% both breastfed and used a bottle which is similar to Niagara (8.9%).
