Paul Tomblin wrote:
In a previous article, "LWG" said:
OK, I'll bite...

How *do* you say "St. Catharine's"?

As if there isn't an "a" between the "th" and the "r". Or if you're

Right, in casual conversations it is "saint cath-RINES." When talking to
someone who is trying to write down your address the official
pronunciation is "saint cath-A-rines, with an A between the H and the R,
[pause while they mumble something] that's right, two A's and one E
before the final S." But you know when the package or letter arrives it
will have "St. Catherines" on it, unless it was coming from Quebec then
it will say "Saint Catherines" or "Ste. Catherines."

A few years ago when the Ontario government wanted to merge smaller
cities into larger ones some recommended that St. Catharines, Niagara
Falls, Welland and the smaller towns around merge in a new city named
Niagara, the biggest complaint I heard came from people who asked what
will we do with all the free time created by not having to correct
outsiders on how to spell the name.

But to bring this back to an air related post, I could never figure out
why pilots use "St. Catharines" on the radio, when the airport is named
"Niagara District Airport."


--
Peter Weaver
Weaver Consulting Services Inc.
Canadian VAR for CHARON-VAX
www.weaverconsulting.ca