The Imperial Sovereign Court of St.Catharines and the Greater Niagara Region is a local chapter of the International Alliance of Courts (I.A.C.) which consists of over 65 courts throughout the United States of America, Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.

As the second largest fundraising organization in the global homophile/homophile-positive community, the I.A.C has been a substantial force over the last 40 years.

Founded in San Francisco, California in 1965 by Empress 1 Jose, The Widow Norton, the I.A.C is a not for profit social group modeled after a monarchical society.

Locally, the Imperial Sovereign Court of St. Catharines and the Greater Niagara Region has a long history. Founded in partnership with Hamilton in 1992, the area was a barony (a division of Toronto’s Imperial Realm) known as "The Barony of Steel Knights and Ladies of the Golden Harvest". The following year this barony was divided, and the "The Barony of St. Catharines / Niagara" was formed, still under the authority of The Imperial Sovereign Court of Toronto. In 2002 the court was elevated and granted sovereignty from Toronto, being officially called "The Imperial Sovereign Court of St. Catharines and the Greater Niagara Region".