Canada doubles down on kitsch

There was significant excitement last week about Ontario investing in Niagara Falls, Canada.

They are doubling down on what they have already done wrong by over-developing and sprawling commercial and casino development, targetting $1 billion in investment from the province.

Don’t get me wrong, a lot needs to improve in Niagara Falls, New York. For example, how about a serious discussion about the proposed site of Centennial Park. Don't just tell me we looked at the Rainbow Mall and it wasn't the same as putting it on land we don't own by the casino.

Also, maybe the state should start honestly counting park visitors. It’s a fun little game they play telling us 9.5 million people visit annually.

The trouble is in the methodology – the state is apparently counting every visitor multiple times. Maid of the Mist sold about 1.6 million tickets in 2024. If we figure 75% of visitors go for the boat ride that would give us a rough count of 2 million people.

Here’s how they cook the numbers: Visit the Maid with a family of 4? One visit. Park in Lot 1? One visit. Drive over to Goat Island and park? One visit. Walk to Cave of the Winds? One visit. Hence our family of 4 counts 16 times.

Eco and Heritage tourism, when done right, are a boon. Canada can spend billions trying to create a new, better place because they already abandoned their natural wonder in favor of car friendly honky tonk where it costs $36 to park and $29 to watch a high definition movie about the history of the place. Every bit of new development is a further desecration of a sacred place.

There is no sign they intend to court the high-end tourists we can draw by celebrating what we have and being tasteful about what we target. Niagara Falls, Ontario is all kitsch and no soul.

Niagara Falls, NY is and will remain a treasure. We need to celebrate it and build upon what we have. The state building it gateways on Second Street and by the American rapids will be crucial additions. So is the redevelopment of the Howard Johnson's where the pool came off this week and work has begun on the facade. 

When you factor in the Hotel Niagara, Rainbow Mall redevelopment, Robert Moses Parkway Removal, the city redeveloping the Main Street business district and Rapids Theater and the reimagined City Market, it is easy to tally $500 million or more in new investment even without Centennial Park. Adjust it for US dollars and we are already close to Canada's proposed $1 billion.

The difference is in Niagara Falls, New York development will be methodical and tasteful. In Niagara Falls, Ontario it will be all about flash with no substance.