The Niagara Falls Review

Diodati address sells out in advance

- RAY SPITERI Raymond.Spiteri@niagaradai­lies.com 905-225-1645 | @RaySpiteri

Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati will deliver his state of the city address to a sold-out crowd Thursday at the Americana Conference Resort Spa and Waterpark on Lundy’s Lane.

The event is scheduled between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Dolores Fabiano, executive director of Niagara Falls Chamber of Commerce, which is hosting the luncheon, said the event sold out about 3½ weeks ago.

“We had 500 tickets that were just gobbled up. We had an option to open up one more section, which we did and … we didn’t even get to put them online because we had a waiting list.”

Fabiano said the 600 people attending will be a record for the luncheon.

She said the record was made possible due to a growing chamber membership, a general interest in the happenings in the city and because of Diodati’s delivery style.

“I think we’ve done a good job of getting the membership a little more engaged. As new members come along, we try and really put

this kind of stuff on their radar and encourage them to attend. I think the city itself has done a fairly good job and people know that when they come and hear him speak, the mayor is a really charismati­c guy and he puts on a good presentati­on. There’s some good informatio­n there, but he’s got a good sense of humour as well.”

Each year, the mayor’s address highlights events and initiative­s in the city and is delivered in what Diodati describes as “politainme­nt.”

“It is a great opportunit­y to update our residents and business community on what is new and exciting and where we’re headed in Niagara Falls,” he said.

The Niagara Falls chamber’s mandate is to help advance the need of businesses in the city.

Fabiano said during the state of the city, chamber members look to receive an update

on new developmen­ts in the municipali­ty.

“They want to learn about new businesses that are relocating to our community and really businesses that are doing well and expanding,” she said.

“I think it’s really easy to always hear bad news — bad news travels fast and so when someone is downsizing or closing, it gets around so quickly. But some of the good things that are happening, it doesn’t travel as fast and sometimes it’s only at these kinds of forums that you really hear about some of the hidden gems in our communitie­s.”

The event will be broadcast live on YourTV as well as live streamed online.

A link to the live event will be made available on the city’s website, niagarafal­ls.ca, at noon Thursday.

 ?? JULIE JOCSAK THE ST. CATHARINES STANDARD ?? Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati will deliver his 2018 state of the city address at the Americana Conference Resort Spa and Waterpark Thursday, as he did at the same venue in March 2017.
JULIE JOCSAK THE ST. CATHARINES STANDARD Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati will deliver his 2018 state of the city address at the Americana Conference Resort Spa and Waterpark Thursday, as he did at the same venue in March 2017.
 ??  ?? Dolores Fabiano
Dolores Fabiano

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