A Free Community Space, Built for Niagara
The Niagara Community Room is a privately supported, professionally managed community space available completely free of charge to Niagara residents, groups and organizations.
Created to give people a welcoming place to meet, learn, connect and build community, the Room supports everything from meetings and workshops to support groups, education, youth programs and community initiatives.
Located at 474 East Main Street in Welland, the Niagara Community Room is fully insured, self-serve and available by advance booking.
No membership. No rental fee. Just space for Niagara to come together.
Who This Space Is For
The Niagara Community Room supports a wide range of community-focused uses, including:
- Workshops and educational sessions
- Community group meetings
- Student and outreach initiatives
- Small business and professional discussions
- Support groups and public-interest forums
- Yoga and wellness classes or events
The space is intended for small, organized gatherings seeking a professional and welcoming environment.
Quick Overview
Designed for small group use (up to 30 people):
- Presentation-ready Smart 55″ HDTV
- PA system with wireless microphones
- Complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi
- Private, secure meeting space
- Flexible seating and layout
- Four large folding tables
- Washroom available on-site (basement level)
- On-site public street parking
- Four parking spots in rear parking lot
Supporting Local Healthcare
The Niagara Community Room was developed in partnership with the Niagara Health Foundation to strengthen community connection while helping raise awareness of an important fact about local healthcare:
Medical equipment in Niagara hospitals is not funded by the government. It is funded entirely through community contributions.
Niagara Health Foundation raises and stewards these funds to help provide the equipment, technology and resources our local healthcare teams need.
By providing free community space while sharing this message, we hope to help more Niagara residents understand the important role our community plays in supporting local healthcare.
Every contribution matters.
Learn more or support Niagara Health Foundation:
Click to Donate Today for a Healthier Niagara
Founding Friends of the Niagara Community Room
The Niagara Community Room is free to use and privately supported. Our Founding Friends are local individuals, businesses and organizations helping us invest in the future of this community space.
A one-time $400 Founding Friend contribution helps fund capital improvements including a wheelchair-accessible main-floor washroom, mobility ramp for the main entrance, 120-inch motorized screen and HD projector, upgraded presentation equipment, and improvements that allow us to welcome more people and programs.
Founding Friends receive permanent recognition on our Community Wall as part of the group that helped build and improve this free resource for Niagara.
Become a Founding Friend — $400
Community Coordination & Partnerships
The Niagara Community Room is supported by a small team focused on coordination, community engagement, and partnerships across the Niagara region. Together, they help ensure the space remains accessible, well-organized, and aligned with the needs of the broader community.
Nathaniel Metherel
Director of Community Relations
Nathaniel leads community relations for the Niagara Community Room. With a background as a school teacher and Canadian Armed Forces reserve officer, he brings a structured and thoughtful approach to engagement with institutions, organizations, and the broader public.
He works closely with community groups, media, and stakeholders to build awareness, support collaboration, and ensure the space remains accessible and responsive to local needs. Nathaniel serves as the primary point of contact for partnerships, media inquiries, and community initiatives.
Di’Andre McDonald
Community Relations Officer
Di’Andre was born and raised in St. Catharines and has strong roots in the Niagara community. A financial advisor by profession, he brings a natural ability to build relationships and connect with people, businesses and organizations across the region.
As Community Relations Officer, Di’Andre helps expand awareness of the Niagara Community Room, develop community partnerships and build relationships with organizations that share our commitment to strengthening Niagara.
Laura Mainella
Community Ambassador
Laura helps introduce the Niagara Community Room to residents, businesses, organizations and community leaders throughout Niagara. As the current owner of Auto Rock Radio Niagara Falls and a longtime Niagara broadcaster and community advocate, Laura brings decades of experience connecting people and promoting local initiatives.
Annaira Learmann
Booking Coordinator
Annaira supports bookings, scheduling and day-to-day coordination for the Niagara Community Room. As an Economics student at Brock University, she brings an organized and thoughtful approach to helping groups access and use the space.
Cam Wilson
Founder & Community Supporter
Cam founded the Niagara Community Room to provide Niagara residents, groups and organizations with professionally managed community space completely free of charge. He continues to financially support the Room and its operation and works with Niagara Health Foundation to help broaden public awareness of how critical healthcare equipment is funded in Niagara.
Outside the Community Room, Cam is a licensed Mortgage Agent Level 2 and Team Lead of Wilson Mortgage Team with Dominion Lending Centres FC Funding.
His previous community work has included initiatives involving local healthcare and municipal finance, including work recognized by St. Catharines Regional Councillor Mike Britton relating to changes to the City of St. Catharines’ investment approach.
The Niagara Community Room exists to support connection, learning, and collaboration—made possible through local initiative and ongoing community use.
POLICIES & GUIDELINES
These guidelines ensure the space remains clean, functional, and accessible for all users.
Cleanliness & Garbage
Users are required to:
- Leave the space in a clean and orderly condition
- Remove all garbage, materials, and items brought into the space
- Take all waste with them upon departure
Niagara Community Room does not provide garbage bags or waste removal services.
Failure to comply may result in:
- additional cleaning charges
- restriction of future bookings
Food & Beverage
- Light refreshments (snacks and non-alcoholic beverages) are permitted where they are secondary to the event
- Food-based events are not permitted
If food is the primary purpose of the event, the booking is not allowed
Setup & Equipment
- Return furniture to original layout
- Do not remove or damage equipment
- Use all equipment responsibly
Respectful Use
- Maintain a respectful environment
- Avoid excessive noise or disruption
- Ensure all attendees behave appropriately
End of Booking
Before leaving:
- Remove all personal belongings
- Remove all garbage
- Leave the space in good condition
TERMS OF USE & LIABILITY
The Niagara Community Room is a privately supported community space designed to provide a professional and accessible environment for meetings, workshops, and community-based activities.
By booking and using the space, you agree to the following:
Acceptable Use
The space may be used for:
- Meetings
- Workshops
- Educational sessions
- Community group activities
- Professional discussions
All use must be lawful, respectful, and aligned with the intended purpose of the space.
Prohibited Use
The following uses are not permitted:
-
- food tastings
- serving or distributing food to attendees
- cooking demonstrations involving consumable food
- catering or food product promotionFood-focused events, including:
- Any event where food is the primary purpose
Food is only permitted where it is incidental to the event (e.g., light snacks during a meeting).
The following are also prohibited:
- Alcohol consumption
- Smoking or vaping
- Illegal or unsafe activities
Organizer Responsibility
The booking organizer assumes full responsibility for:
- All attendees
- Conduct within the space
- Compliance with all policies
- Any damage, misuse, or violations
Damage & Cost Recovery
The booking organizer agrees to accept full financial responsibility for any damage, loss, excessive cleaning, or misuse of the Niagara Community Room occurring during or as a result of their booking.
This includes, but is not limited to:
- Damage to furniture, equipment, walls, flooring, or fixtures
- Cleaning costs resulting from spills, stains, or excessive mess
- Failure to remove garbage or materials brought into the space
- Costs required to restore the space to its original condition
- Use of the space in violation of these policies
Niagara Community Room reserves the right to:
- Assess the condition of the space following use
- Determine reasonable costs for repair, cleaning, or replacement
- Issue an invoice to the organizer for recovery of such costs
The organizer agrees to pay such costs within a reasonable timeframe.
Failure to comply may result in:
- restriction or denial of future bookings
- further action where necessary
Photography & Community Awareness
For safety, the Niagara Community Room is monitored by closed-circuit video surveillance. As a free community space, one of the ways we continue to grow awareness and keep the Room active and available is by showing Niagara the incredible groups, programs and people who use it. We may take photographs during your booking to share on Niagara Community Room social media, our website and Google page. By allowing us to share your group’s use of the space, you help other people discover this free community resource and help us continue building community across Niagara. If you or anyone in your group prefers not to be photographed, simply let us know in advance and we will respect that request.
Right of Refusal
Niagara Community Room reserves the right to deny or cancel bookings that do not align with these terms.
PRIVACY POLICY
The Niagara Community Room is committed to protecting the privacy and security of all users.
Information Collected
We may collect:
- Name
- Contact information
- Event details
- Uploaded government-issued ID
- Signed agreements
Purpose of Collection
Information is collected for:
- Booking verification
- Identity confirmation
- Safety and accountability
- Insurance and liability documentation
Identification (ID)
Government-issued ID is collected solely to:
- verify the identity of the booking organizer
- ensure accountability in the use of the space
This information is:
- securely stored
- not shared publicly
- only accessed if required for operational or legal purposes
Data Storage
All data is:
- stored securely in digital systems
- retained for a reasonable period for audit and insurance purposes
Disclosure
Information may only be disclosed:
- where required by law
- for insurance or legal claims
- to protect the safety and integrity of the space
Photography & Community Awareness
For safety, the Niagara Community Room is monitored by closed-circuit video surveillance. As a free community space, one of the ways we continue to grow awareness and keep the Room active and available is by showing Niagara the incredible groups, programs and people who use it. We may take photographs during your booking to share on Niagara Community Room social media, our website and Google page. By allowing us to share your group’s use of the space, you help other people discover this free community resource and help us continue building community across Niagara. If you or anyone in your group prefers not to be photographed, simply let us know in advance and we will respect that request.
Consent
By submitting information, users consent to the collection and use of their data as outlined in this policy.
