Business View Magazine | December 2020

270 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2020 I magine living in a small, friendly city of around 90,000, enjoying going about your daily business as part of a close-knit community… one where 14 million people come to visit and say “hello” every year! Welcome to Niagara Falls, Ontario – home to a pretty big water feature and an even bigger heart. Located in North America’s most affluent consumer market, Niagara Falls is a globally-recognized city with a prosperous business community anchored by tourism, manufacturing, commercial retail, and knowledge-based sectors. Extensive road, rail, water, air, and telecommunications networks make the city easily accessible as a destination for both work and pleasure. With the U.S./Canada border closed now for several months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Niagara Falls, Ontario has seen its visitor traffic and revenue do a deep dive. But the city has pivoted to embrace its ‘non-Falls attributes’ and is experiencing strong economic and population growth in the process. Business View recently spoke with long-term Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati, who shared his candid insights into the challenges and successes taking place in the city he loves. The following are edited highlights of our conversation. BVM: How is the city faring as a destination during the pandemic? Mayor Diodati: “Niagara Falls is a unique place. We say we’re the biggest small city in Canada; less than 100,000 people but when AT A GLANCE NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO WHAT: A city of 90,000 WHERE: On the Canadian side of the Niagara River WEBSITE: www.niagarafalls.ca lls, ario Two marvelous cities in one