MPP Oosterhoff Celebrates Opening of New Fire Training Tower in St. Catharines

March 9, 2026

St. Catharines – The Ontario government is welcoming the opening of a new state-of-the-art fire training facility in St. Catharines which will help train hundreds of firefighters for in-demand careers in fire and rescue services in Niagara.

St. Catharines Fire Services received over $1 million in support by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and the Ontario government to build the training tower, part of $9 million in funding to build five new state-of-the-art training facilities across Ontario.

“These five new training centres – including this facility right here in St. Catharines – together will have the capacity to train more than 28,000 firefighters over a five-year period,” said Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West.

“This provincial support helps meet the emergency response needs of growing communities in Niagara and allows local firefighters to get the training they need closer to home.”

MPP Oosterhoff joined Hon. Michael Kerzner, Solicitor General, and Sheref Sabawy, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, today, at the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new fire training tower in St. Catharines.

“Firefighters face high-risk situations every day, and they deserve access to the best training possible,” said Hon. David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

“Our government is proud to support the construction of this modern training tower so firefighters can train safely for real scenarios, close to home. This investment ensures the people who protect our communities have the tools and preparation they need to respond when seconds count.”

“Our government is proud to support the brave men and women of St. Catharines Fire Services through the construction of this training tower,” said Hon. Michael Kerzner, Solicitor General.

“Through our investment in the Fire Protection Grant, we are also ensuring that those who protect Ontario are protected, with lifesaving equipment, cancer prevention measures and critical infrastructure upgrades.”

Work on the fire training tower began in July 2025 and was substantially completed this past December, with the final stage of completion occurring in recent weeks.

“This new training tower is a critical piece of infrastructure for our training needs,” said David Upper, Fire Chief and Director of Fire Services at St. Catharines Fire Services.

“This purpose-built, modern training tower is an investment in safety – for our firefighters and for the residents and businesses we serve. Today, we are not just opening a facility – we are strengthening our readiness, our resilience and our commitment to protecting our community for decades to come.”

Ontario invests more than $1 billion each year in employment services and training programs to help workers train for well-paying and meaningful careers in their communities. These investments are part of the government’s ongoing efforts to attract, support and protect workers, making Ontario the best place to work, live and raise a family.

In Ontario, the Office of the Fire Marshal trains and certifies firefighters to National Fire Protection Association Standards.