Interview with Jerome Kudera

Partial Transcript: I grew up in the Queenston neighbourhood in St. Catharines, I moved here in 1974…

Segment Synopsis: Jerome introduces himself and gives a brief description of his childhood including where he went to school and some activities he participated in in the neighbourhood. He then discusses his role within the neighbourhood both as when he was younger and now through his work with his church, supporting local businesses and the homeless.

Keywords: Brock university; Business; Childhood; Connaught public school; Cub Scouts; Education; Homelessness; St. Catharines Falcons; St. Catharines General Hospital; Westminister United Church

Subjects: Community; Queenston neighbourhood

Partial Transcript: That's where I learned how to skate, first of all, there was always public skating there…

Segment Synopsis: Jerome discusses learning to skate at the Garden City Arena and watching St. Catharines Falcons games on Friday nights. He shares his favourite memory at the arena, meeting Maurice Richard at an old timers game.

Keywords: Bil Derlago; Bruce Boudreau; Childhood; Hockey -- Fan; Hockey -- Player; Maurice Richard; Montreal Canadiens; NHL; OHL; Rocky Saganiuk; Sport -- Hockey; St. Catharines Falcons; St. Catharines Saints; St. Catharines TeePees; Toronto Maple Leafs

Subjects: Junior A Hockey; Junior B Hockey; Old Timers Hockey Challenge

Partial Transcript: Probably the last time I was there I attended a friend's hockey tournament as a friend's daughter played there maybe four or five years ago…

Segment Synopsis: Jerome shares that he hasn’t been to the arena much as an adult but remembers that his mother had a business close by and that people would go to Tony’s Tasty Treats after hockey games for food. Jerome also discusses some other businesses around the arena and talks about going to family-friendly events at the arena like the circus.

Keywords: Business; Childhood; Circus; Public Skating; Sport -- Hockey; Tony's Tasty Treats; Tournament

Subjects: Community; Minor League Hockey

Partial Transcript: Oh, yes, because like I remember when, you know, the St. Catharines Standard so that our newspaper, every time that, you know, this is back in the day where we read the newspaper we had to, because he that's the only way you got news or you listen to the radio…

Segment Synopsis: Jerome discusses reading the St. Catharine Standard and learning about the St. Catharines Saints. He shares how hockey games impacted the kids in the neighbourhood. Jerome then talks about how the arena is no longer modern but serves a role as a landmark in the downtown area. He talks about going to local businesses near the arena like Tony’s Tasty Treats and Herzogs.

Keywords: Business; Childhood; Herzogs; Rex Stimers; Sport -- Hockey; St. Catharines Falcons; St. Catharines Saints; St. Catharines Standard; Tony's Tasty Treats; Toronto Maple Leafs

Subjects: Community; Queenston Neighbourhood

Partial Transcript: Yeah. So in 1976, my mom opened up a store called Philcraft, a P H I L craft store for Philippine crafts, imported a whole bunch of items from the Philippines, wicker baskets, some seashells…

Segment Synopsis: Jerome tells us about his mother’s business Philcraft, and its success because of the location and business from the Garden City Arena and St. Catharines General Hospital. Jerome then shares his thoughts about the Garden City Arena being accessible since it is downtown and what about it made it feel safe to him as a child.

Keywords: Childhood; Philcraft; St. Catharines General Hospital

Subjects: Business; Community; Queenston Neighbourhood

Partial Transcript: Oh, yes. You know, again, back in my heyday, when I would go out to a Falcons game on Friday nights it was all fun and we'd pack the arena, packed meaning maybe a thousand people, 2000 tops I think it was, and it felt safe…

Segment Synopsis: Jerome talks about how the area has changed since he was a kid. He discusses the lack of businesses in the area and the homeless. He highlights some key changes like when Sunday shopping started and Queenston Street was reconstructed to allow two-way traffic. He also discusses the growth of shopping centers and casinos and how that pulled attention away from the downtown area.

Keywords: Hockey -- Fan; Homelessness; Queenston Neighbourhood; St. Barnabas Chuch; St. Catharines Falcons; Westminister United Church

Subjects: Business; Community; Junior B Hockey

Partial Transcript: Well, to me, the impact was early on when, when they had hockey or they had events there, when you asked a local business, they loved the Friday nights because people come eat at their places like at the restaurant, people come and shop before the games…

Segment Synopsis: Jerome tells us about how the Garden City Arena impacted the neighbourhood and how he thinks that has changed. Jerome then discusses some other businesses in the neighbourhood, including Bob Patrick’s Sport and Cycle, Fortis, Avondale, and Burtnik Printing Press. He then recalls a memory of Maurice Richard.

Keywords: Avondale; Bob Patrick's Sport and Cycle; Burtnik Printing Press; Fortis; Herzogs; Maurice Richard; Public Skating; Queenston Round Table; Rex Stimers; Sport -- Hockey; Tony's Tasty Treats

Subjects: Business; Community; Queenston Neighbourhood

Partial Transcript: So the Queensway hotel is right in the corner of St. Paul, Geneva and Queenston streets. I was a little too young to visit hotels back in the back of the day…

Segment Synopsis: Jerome talks about the busy intersection where the Queensway Hotel was located. He then discusses local tourist attractions, including Niagara Falls and the Welland Canal.

Keywords: Casino; Education; Niagara falls; Queensway Hotel; Welland Canal

Subjects: Business; Queenston Neighbourhood; Tourism

Partial Transcript: Oh, absolutely. But like, I didn't leave and never came back. I left to live in Toronto, I'd go to school or get my career going…

Segment Synopsis: Jerome talks about the major economic and industry changes in the area, including changes in population, General Motors plant and supporting the industry.

Keywords: Childhood; Education; General Motors

Subjects: Business; Community; Queenston Neighbourhood

Partial Transcript: I think my hopes are, as you know, I'm not a resident here today, but I'm actively part of you know, the, of the neighborhood…

Segment Synopsis: Jerome tells us about how he hopes that the neighbourhood can be rejuvenated. He talks about addressing issues of homelessness and the role the city should play.

Keywords: Business; Community; Hockey -- Fan; Homelessness; Sport -- Hockey

Subjects: Queenston Neighbourhood