Domestic assault trial for Niagara Falls Councillor Mike Strange set to begin

Starting on April 14, Niagara Falls Councillor Mike Strange will stand trial in a St. Catharines courtroom facing a charge of intimate partner assault.

The criminal charge stems from an alleged incident involving his intimate partner in May of last year. The proceedings are expected to draw significant public attention, not only because of the seriousness of the allegation, but due to the broader controversy and scrutiny that have unfolded in connection with his role as an elected official. 

Strange has consistently maintained his innocence stating he will be vindicated in court.

Despite requests from the public, Councillor Mike Strange has refused to take a leave of absence while facing a charge of intimate partner violence.

(Joel Wittnebel/The Pointer files) 

The upcoming proceedings mark the latest development in a case that has drawn public attention and raised broader questions about accountability of elected officials across Ontario.

As reported by The Pointer, the events began in the early morning hours of May 3, 2025, then Niagara Police responded to a call at Strange’s home. Upon arriving at the location police found Strange’s partner with injuries that were treated at the site. Strange was apprehended and charged with assault in connection with what the police report describes as an incident of intimate partner violence.  

He was released the same day under strict conditions, including no contact with the alleged victim, restrictions on his mobility and no possession of firearms.

The charge against an elected official, one who has continued to sit on council—and could remain in office regardless of the outcome—quickly triggered widespread public scrutiny. Critics, including regional councillors and community advocates, called for his resignation or for him to take a leave of absence while the matter proceeded through the courts. He refused. 

In the weeks following his arrest, the case became a province-wide focal point for broader debates about municipal accountability and gender-based violence.

In June, three women were arrested during a council meeting after protesting council's repeated refusal to allow the provincial advocacy group Women of Ontario Say No, led by Emily McIntosh (WOSN), to speak to council regarding proposed changes to Bill 9, an amendment to legislation that calls for stronger accountability measures for elected officials facing criminal allegations, with a focus on those charged with violent crimes.

Three women were arrested and removed from Niagara Falls council chambers for peacefully protesting the refusal by elected officials to hear from advocates on municipal accountability legislation.

(Ed Smith/The Pointer files)

Tensions escalated further in July when the Women of Ontario Say No (WOSN) returned to Niagara Falls council. The group again made clear it would not be addressing the case involving Councillor Strange, emphasizing instead that its focus was on upcoming local provincial consultations related to Bill 9. With a provincial committee scheduled to meet in Niagara Falls that summer, WOSN aimed to secure the City’s support and provide input to inform the committee’s work. Despite these assurances, Mayor Jim Diodati maintained his position that the group would not be permitted to speak while Strange still had charges before the courts.

Reporting by The Pointer revealed that, behind the scenes, Strange was organizing efforts to counter the anticipated presence of advocates at an upcoming council meeting last summer. He encouraged members of his local community group, the Falls View Hose Brigade, to attend and occupy seats in the council chambers “so there is no place for the women’s group to sit.” In the same communication, he encouraged a breach of council decorum, instructing the group to “stand and clap”. 

A copy of the message sent by Councillor Mike Strange that was shared with members of the Falls View Hose Brigade. 

At the same meeting, he used his publicly provided seat on council to proclaim his innocence and denounce what he described as the “vindictive nature” of the charges against him. Despite Mayor Diodati blocking advocates from speaking to council because they may touch on Strange’s charges, he did not step in to stop Strange from speaking about the same thing.  

The incident intensified scrutiny of Strange and also drew in Mayor Diodati who, according to Strange’s message, “knows exactly what’s going on,” prompting at least two formal complaints alleging efforts to silence women and undermine public participation.

Ultimately the integrity commissioner, Michael Maynard, dismissed both complaints, finding that Strange’s action in mobilizing his friends and supporters to block a women’s advocacy group from attending council, did not contravene the code of conduct, a decision that drew shocked responses from the community.

Strange’s trial is scheduled for a St. Catharines courtroom on April 14 at 10 a.m. and is expected to last two days.

The case has become a flashpoint as citizens and the provincial government grapple with how municipalities should handle elected officials facing serious criminal charges. 

Advocacy groups continue to push for legislative reforms that would require councillors to step aside while violent crime charges are before the courts with removal upon conviction.

As the trial begins, the outcome will not only determine Strange’s future but could also influence ongoing debates around political accountability and public trust in local government ahead of the October municipal election. 

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