Please support/attend this enriching community event
WELLAND – The City of Welland is inviting community feedback on the future composition of City Council.
On September 3, a report was presented to Council outlining options to reduce the number of councillors while ensuring effective governance. Before making a decision, Council referred the matter back to staff, prioritizing community engagement to gather input from residents.
This report follows a Notice of Motion passed by Council in April, directing staff to explore options for reducing council composition to lower costs. Any changes approved by Council would take effect with the 2026 municipal election. Welland is currently represented by 12 councillors and one mayor, with two councillors representing each of the city’s six wards.
“Council wants to ensure that any decision made about the composition of City Council reflects the needs and opinions of the community,” said Tara Stephens, director of legislative services/city clerk. “Engaging residents will guide the future of local governance in Welland. We encourage all community members to participate in the Engage Welland survey to share their views on this important decision,” said Stephens.
The City invites residents to provide feedback on these proposed changes through the dedicated page and survey on the Engage Welland platform. Public input is essential in shaping the future of Welland’s governance.
For more information and to participate in the survey, residents are encouraged to visit www.engagewelland.ca/council-composition.
Attribution: City of Welland media release
Are you able to lend a hand to this needed outreach?
WELLAND – Sunday, October 27th marks the day for Notre Dame College School’s 49th Annual Pilgrimage for the Developing World.
The pilgrimage is an opportunity for the school community to “put their feet to the gospel” by walking in solidarity with those of the developing world who are less fortunate.
Over the years, Notre Dame has raised over $2.5 million through this event for development projects throughout the world. From the pilgrimage we learn that Canadian Christians are abundantly blessed – we have the ability and means to respond to the needs of the poor.
Please support Notre Dame students as they walk in solidarity with those who are less fortunate. If you cannot be there, please consider a donation which can be made online at www.notredamecollege.ca.
Attribution: ND news release
Please support/attend this spooktacular museum event
Halloween is creeping up, and so is our Spooky Halloween Workshop! On October 26th, from 2-3pm, kids aged 7-12 can create their own spooky spiderweb watercolour resist paintings! Spots are limited, so register today at wellandmuseum.ca/events! /Barky’s Billboard is a recurring feature on the blog.
WELLAND – The City of Welland is pleased to announce approved funding of $20.4 million for the Ontario Road Wastewater Trunk Sewer Expansion and Water Infrastructure Improvements project. This significant investment from the government of Ontario is from the Ministry of Infrastructure’s Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF).
As a critical investment in the city’s wastewater and water infrastructure, this project will support Welland’s growing population, improving water services and enabling sustainable growth for future housing, commercial, and industrial developments. With this funding, the City will expand the wastewater trunk sewer along Ontario Road and replace aging watermains.
“This funding is a considerable investment for our community. Expanding the water and wastewater infrastructure will not only improve essential services but also unlock future housing opportunities,” said Mayor Frank Campion. “As Welland continues to grow, this project lays the groundwork for a more vibrant, sustainable city.”
The project will include construction of a new 2.4-kilometre wastewater trunk sewer from the Ontario Road sewage pumping station to King Street, alongside the replacement of 1.3 kilometres of aging cast iron watermain between Southworth Street and King Street. These upgrades will enhance the city’s capacity to support new housing projects and ensure the reliability of critical services for residents and businesses.
“This is a strategic investment in Welland’s future. By enhancing our core infrastructure, we are building a strong foundation to accommodate future growth and economic development,” said Sherri-Marie Millar, director of infrastructure services.
Construction is expected to begin in January 2025, with a targeted completion date in December 2026.
Attribution: City of Welland media release
By Terry Hughes
Recent actions taken by council involving the canal lands is similar to the role taken by the Conservatives when pursuing the great Canadian Land Sale that occurred in 1989 and became a federal election issue locally. The federally-controlled canal board under the Conservatives had abandoned the idea of tourism and instead, based on a plan shown here (top left image) that promoted the selling of the lands to private interests. Welland council’s response opposed this decision (second from left image,top) and instead, required that the land remain in the public domain under Parks Canada (below second image) . A videotape produced by the city called Canal Concerns and narrated by the radio personality, Frank Sernak, illustrated how this plan contradicted the use of these lands by the city and by the previous federal position to ensure the long-term retention of all the remaining lands and waterway along this portion of the Welland Canal Corridor as a major heritage and tourism resource for the benefit of the people of Welland, the Region of Niagara and Canada, now and in the future.
When the time came for the federal election in 1989, two local issues faced the voters, the Free Trade Agreement and its impact on local industry and, privatization of the canal lands. Voters rejected both and the hope that the canal lands issue would be reversed. Unfortunately, that was not the case because the Conservatives who won the neighbouring riding made the argument that they still controlled the canal board and would pursue their land sale. A media campaign followed as shown here (top right image) and a government survey completed by the public showed that some 60 people supported the document although the illustrative material showing the attractiveness of these developments were deceiving.
To counter this issue, a petition (photo at left) was circulated from the Labour Day weekend until the Niagara Regional Exhibition of that year and over 1,400 signatures were collected opposing the land sale. The results were passed on to our federal representative, Gib Parent, who presented the results in Parliament and entered it into the official record called Hansard.
If anyone on council doubts the validity of the video made by the city called Canal Concerns, a disk was made by former city official, Richard Dalton of the video and should be available in their archives. Two members of the city committee who appear on the document were former Coun. George Marshall and City Administrator Vic Kerschl along with city staffer Stan Neathery. Neathery notes the issues of bank erosion that still have not been addressed to this day!
With the takeover of the operation of the canal lands from the defunct WRCC the record of maintaining the diminishing property known as canal lands as well as certain heritage sites is disappointing. The Feeder Lock property is hidden by a surrounding dog park and high weeds that hide the remnants of the lock. And the recently recognized Second Aqueduct/Cross Street Pool as a historic site is to remain as it sits with no hope of developing it into an attractive and pictorial reminder as the genesis of Welland and its role as an aqueduct, presently the only structure of its kind in Canada for seventy-five years and a municipal swimming pool for nearly forty years.
When invited to view the site in its present state the late Roberta Styran PhD, was quoted as saying ,”Replace the existing sidewalks to nowhere with a replica of a second canal swing bridge at one end of the structure. This would have the added advantage of allowing the existing historic plaque to be visible. Commission someone to place a statue of a stone mason with his tools at the other end of the structure. And for pity’s sake get some interpretative signs!”. She was past president of the Canadian Canal Society, director of the American Canal Society, and member of the Governing Council Inland Waterways International and World Canals Conference Steering Committee.
Today, the lands are quickly disappearing as the invasion of condominiums continues. The open areas known as the north reach have been sold for a major housing project. We are told that we still have access to the canal along a narrow strip that includes a bike path. Will those who find themselves in these nearby shoreline structures demand access to the waterway with motorized watercraft? Could this mean that our hallowed area known as Merritt Island will fall into the hands of developers?
Along with more than 25 supporters of developing the pool site, I would like to close with a portion of a letter from Mr. Ron Boyer of Connaught Street. He shared the following insights about the pool: “This was not the only learning experience of swimming but of meeting those of diverse backgrounds and cultures all coming together, a veritable United Nations. A lesson for life and a true representation of the city of Welland never to be forgotten.”
PS: The video called “Canal Concerns” has an interesting comment about the site where the failure of the condominium now under construction occurred and questions supporting such a large structure.
My view: VIEWING OF ‘‘CANAL CONCERNS’’ IS A MUST FOR ALL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL!
Next Column: Local Museum Curator Has An Interesting Canadian Connection With New France
(Terry Hughes is a Wellander who is passionate about heritage, history and model railroading. His opinion column, Heritage Lives, appears on the blog once or twice monthly.)
November 2….November 2…..November 2…. November 2
Welland! Save the date for this year’s Welland Food Drive, Saturday, November 2. We will once again be going door to door to every home in Welland, collecting food for 3 of the food banks in Welland.
With 1 in 10 Wellanders needing food bank services over the last year, we really need the people of Welland to step up and help take care of our neighbours in need, as you do each year.You can also donate financially online at Wellandfooddrive.com
Please support/attend this popular seasonal event
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