Welland

Understand

History

The city was settled in 1788 by the United Empire Loyalists, who were refugees from the United States. On 19 October 1814, Canadian forces led by George Hay, 8th Marquess of Tweeddale, met an American raiding party, numbering approximately nine hundred, near the eastern edge of the present community during the Battle of Cook's Mills. After an intense skirmish, the Americans retreated to Buffalo, New York. Cook's Mills was the second to last engagement of the War of 1812 on Canadian soil. The Welland Canal has been involved in the area's history since the First Welland Canal was extended to reach Lake Erie in 1833. A wooden aqueduct was built to carry the Welland Canal over the Welland River at what is now downtown Welland, and the area became known as simply Aqueduct. A lock to cross from the canal to the river and vice versa was also built. A small shantytown soon developed around the facility, providing essential services in what was a convenient stop-over location. The growing town was later named Merrittsville, after William Hamilton Merritt, the initiator of the Welland Canal project. This name is still reflected in the name of the Merrittville Highway (Niagara Road 50), which served as the primary north-south route in central Niagara before the construction of Highway 406. Welland gained its present name when it was incorporated on 25 July 1858. It became a city in 1917. In addition to the presence of the canal, one of the few railway crossings across the canal was near Welland. The two factors contributed to the development of heavy industry in Welland. The Plymouth Cordage Company was the first major industrial company to open a plant in Welland in 1906. By the 1930s, Welland was an important industry location in the region and was developing rapidly. In the 1960s, the city was starting to outgrow the canal passing through its core. The Welland By-Pass project, started in 1967 and finished in 1973, provided a new, shorter alignment for the Welland

Getting there

By car From St. Catharines take Highway 406 south. The 406 passes through Thorold before ending in Welland. The North end of Welland can be accessed from the Merritt Rd. exit. The Seaway Mall and other large stores and restaurants can be accessed from the Woodlawn Rd. exit. The Southeastern part of Welland and the downtown core can be accessed from Main St. where Highway 406 ends in a roundabout.

By bus Niagara Transit. Bus service from Port Colborne, St. Catharines, and Niagara Falls. Fare is $3.50 per trip. (updated Sep 2025)

Getting around

Niagara Transit (local routes) (formerly Welland Transit), toll-free: +1-833-678-5463. Niagara Transit operates local bus routes within Welland as well as regional routes. To pay the local fare ($3.50 as of 2025), insert exact cash into a fare box. After paying your fare, ask for a transfer to complete your trip on another local Niagara Transit bus. Buses generally run every 30 or 60 minutes. (updated Sep 2025) Taxis are also available but it is recommended that you travel by car. Park lands neighbour the canals and river and contain a continuous trail that runs the length of the city. This makes biking a convenient method to travel North-South in the city. Biking or rollerblading along the canal trails is a good, safe way of connecting to the cities to the north and south, avoiding practically all car traffic.

See

Welland Canal. Hard to miss! Once the largest industrial project in the world and still operating today it facilitated the opening of the Upper Great Lakes to the Atlantic and thereby imperial Britain. A monument to the hundreds of workers who died in its construction can be found just outside the downtown core. Merritt Island is in the center of the town and is a 3 km long island that runs between the Old Welland Canal and the Welland River. Recreational trails and parks run the extent of it. The only car entrance is from the southern edge behind the court house. Near the parking lot there is a playground for children, and in the summer you can rent paddle boats and canoes for use along the river. The Niagara Food Festival is held in this park in the fall. Welland is known for its murals. Around town you can find varied sizes and genres of the wall paintings.

Do

The village of Port Robinson is divided by the current Welland Canal. Either side is a good location to watch for ships traversing the canal. The canal is operational from late March to Christmas every year. 1 Can View Drive-In, 1956 Regional Road #20, Fonthill, [email protected]. Movie Hotline +1 905-892-9929 or +1 905-892-1155. Opens mid-April every year subject to weather. Admission varies, see web-site. (updated Mar 2022) 2 Fonthill Bandshell, 20 Pelham Town Square, Fonthill. 7PM-9PM. Summer Concert Series in Peace Park south of Fonthill City Hall. Thursday nights from mid-June to September. The organizers include a wide variety of musical styles. Bring your own lawn chair. Admission by donation. (updated Mar 2022) Merrittville Speedway, 2371 Merrittville Highway, Thorold (go west from Hwy 406 on Regional Rd 20, and turn north), ☏ +1 905-892-8266. Gate opens at 5:30PM, Showtime is 7PM. Canada's longest-running dirt track features stock car racing Saturdays from late April till Labour Day weekend. There are also special events on some other days, e.g. Labour Day Weekend. Adults $12, students (13-18) & seniors $10, kids (8-12) $5, under 8 free. Parking free. Niagara Regional Exhibition (Welland Fair), 1100 Niagara St, ☏ +1 905-735-6413, toll-free: +1 888-935-6413, fax: +1 905-735-2317, [email protected]. Held every year in early June - will next be held June 3, 4, and 5, 2022. Admission $5, All-day rides $35. (updated Mar 2022) Pelham Summerfest, [email protected]. "Come Chill on the Hill". Four days of family fun occur on the 3rd weekend of July each year. Free. (updated Mar 2022) 3 Welland International Flatwater Centre, North Course: 16 Townline Tunnel Rd, South Course: 473 Forks Rd, ☏ +1 905-735-1700 (Ext. 4000). Disciplines include canoe, dragon boat, kayak, paddle board, rowing, swimming, scuba diving, and triathalon. (updated Mar 2022) Welland Recreational Waterway, ☏ +1 905-732-7673. The Old Welland Canal that runs though the town is now a

Buy

Big Box Zone (Woodlawn and Hwy 406). There's not much in the way of big box stores in Welland. This area includes a Wal-Mart Supercentre, Canadian Tire, RONA, LBO, Dollar Tree, and Marks Work Wearhouse. 1 Seaway Mall, 800 Niagara Street North (at Niagara and Woodlawn), ☏ +1 905-735-0694, fax: +1 905-735-5422, [email protected]. M-F 10AM-7PM; Sa 10AM-5PM; Su 11AM-5PM. The largest shopping centre in Welland. The main stores are Hart, Shoppers Drug Mart, SportChek, Staples, Stitches, and Winners. There is a Cineplex on the south-east corner, and a branch of the Welland Public Library. (updated Mar 2022) 2 Welland's Farmers Market, 50 Market Square (between Young and Division Streets), ☏ +1 905-735-1700 ext 4000, [email protected]. Sa 6AM-n