Niagara Region celebrates 25 years of Court Services

June 15, 2026

Niagara Region is celebrating a quarter-century of providing fair, timely and efficient access to justice for Niagara’s residents. 2026 marks 25 years since responsibility for court services was transferred from the Province of Ontario to Niagara Region under the Provincial Offences Act (POA).  

In that time, Court Services has made key improvements that have streamlined the justice process and enhanced community safety. In 2017, Niagara Region opened a new, fully accessible Provincial Offences Court facility in Welland at the former Empire public school site. Construction was completed under budget in 17 months and prepared the building for modernized services, such as self-serve machines and remote call-in connectivity for interpreters. The new facility replaced older, rented facilities in Welland and Niagara Falls, allowing Niagara Region to operate more efficiently and cost-effectively by consolidating Court Services into one owned location.  

Niagara Region Court Services has also remained at the forefront of digital innovation. In April 2021, it met the challenge of operating safely during the COVID-19 pandemic by becoming the first Court Service in Ontario to launch virtual trial proceedings via Zoom. Court Services transitioned to a hybrid model in April 2022, allowing either virtual or in-person attendance. 

“Over the past few decades, the Court Services team at Niagara Region has been a provincial leader for modernization and innovation in court services. Our team constantly strives for excellence in our practice. We were the first Provincial Offences court services team in Ontario to introduce Zoom virtual and hybrid trials during the pandemic in addition to other early digital adoptions. This initiative truly enhances access to justice by allowing remote participation. I am incredibly proud of the innovation we continue to showcase, the level of work we do and the quality of customer service we provide.”  Miranda Vink, Associate Director of Court Services 

Earlier this month, key Niagara Region team members and community partners gathered to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption of Court Services within Niagara Region. Tours of the Provincial Offences Courthouse provided an opportunity to explore the unique space and discuss the history and importance of Court Services in Niagara.   

The Provincial Offences Court deals with a variety of non-criminal offences, such as speeding and careless driving, invalid insurance, public intoxication and selling alcohol to a minor. Money collected from fines is first used to cover the operating and capital costs associated with the Provincial Offences Courts, meaning Court Services is self-funded and not reliant on the regional tax levy. 

After all program and operating costs are recovered, 50 per cent of the remaining revenue is distributed to the region’s 12 local area municipalities through an inter-municipal agreement.  

For more information on Court Services, please visit niagararegion.ca/living/provincial-offences/.

Media contact

Rachel Dedinsky
Senior Communications Specialist
Niagara Region
905-980-6000 ext. 3747
rachel.dedinsky@niagararegion.ca