About Robin McPherson

Equitable, Liveable & Sustainable - A City for All

Robin is currently Councillor for Ward 4/St. Patrick’s representing you at St. Catharines City Council.


Robin lives downtown with her partner Janice and their 3 dogs – Lindy, Trixie and Reba. She is the first 2SLGBTQ+ City Councillor in St. Catharines. They are partners in Janice and Robin Digital Communications, helping not-for-profits and businesses tell their story and connect with supporters and customers through their websites, social media and other marketing.


Robin has served on community boards of directors and on City of St. Catharines committees for more than 20 years. She has been actively creating and developing community projects such as WalkSTC, Priceless Art Auction and Social Media Club Niagara.


Robin has also chaired or been a member on range of city commitees:


As Chair of the St. Catharines Downtown Association during the Covid-19 pandemic, Robin worked with the DTA excutive director and association membership to develop a new strategic plan ensuring that all members’ voices were heard during the planning process.


During the summers of 2021 and 2022, the DTA board worked with it’s membership, community partners (Niagara Artists Centre, FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre) and the city to pedestrianize downtown streets on Fridays and Saturdays.


As a Councillor, Robin sits on the Standing Budget Committee, The St. Catharines Downtown Association, and the Economic Sustainability Pillar.

"I believe in a city for ALL. A city that is equitable, liveable and sustainable.
I am proud your city councillor."

Robin Signature

Community Experience

City of St. Catharines Committee of Adjustments – Member

May 2019 – Jan 2022

The Committee of Adjustment is a quasi-judicial body, similar to an informal court, that operates under the Planning Act, the Statutory Powers Procedure Act and various provincial regulations. The Committee operates independently from City Council.

Downtown Development and Revitilization Advisory Committee – Member & Chairperson

Jan 2011 – Jan 2019

The purpose of the Downtown Development and Revitalization Committee (DDRAC) is to provide input to the City on a co-ordinated approach to the revitalization of downtown St. Catharines.  The DDRAC is committed to fostering a vibrant downtown by pursuing key opportunities for development in the downtown core.

WalkSTC – Co-Founder

Jan 2014 – Jan 2017

The WalkSTC project – based on a similar project in Raleigh, North Carolina – was created to change people’s perception in St. Catharines that it’s a long walk from one end of downtown to the other, or from downtown to Montebello Park or to the Merritt Trail or the Meridian Centre. The project installed 21 signs across the downtown that provided directions and walking times to key locations like Market Square, the Meridian Centre, parking garages and Montebello Park.  WalkSTC included photography exhibit at Mahtay Cafe.

As chairperson, I worked closely with the Executive Director and local businesses to find new ways to bring people downtown during a difficult time. We also had key partners – the Niagara Artists Centre and First Ontario Performing Arts Centre – working with us to bring residents back to downtown during the pandemic with weekly pedestrianization of St. Paul St. and James St. 

Heritage Advisory Committee (SCHAC) – Co-Chair

Apr 2001 – Mar 2019

The St. Catharines Heritage Advisory Committee (SCHAC) provides advice to Council and staff on measures to protect and enhance heritage resources based on conventionally accepted conservation practices and methods.

 

To fulfill its mandate the Committee will be familiar with and consider the respective heritage district plan/guidelines as well as by-laws designating individual properties under the Ontario Heritage Act. The committee will also consider the Garden City Plan as well as any other provincial or applicable heritage resource (eg. the Ontario Heritage Tool Kit).

Priceless Art Auction – Founding Committee Member

Apr 2014 – Mar 2016

Priceless Art Auction – Bid with Your Time, Not Your Dime was created by the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce to engage with the younger business generation in our community who were looking to support the arts community and were in search of volunteer opportunities to give back.  Individuals could bid on art by committing volunteer hours in the community.  The highest bid wins and once the volunteer hours are complete the winner recieves the art.  Over 4000 volunteer hours were promised, and work at local charities and non-profits of the volunteers’ choices.