WELLAND – Saturday, Nov. 16, 1 p.m. Local historian Terry Hughes will join us to explore the importance of the Welland River in the building of the Welland Canal.
This presentation is part of the Welland Canal Bicentennial Lecture Series. For more info, visit: wellandmuseum.ca/
WELLAND – Saturday, Oct. 19, 2 pm. Explore the significance and impact of the Welland murals, stunning public artworks that reflect the city’s rich history, identity and heritage.
The presentation will also highlight their role in enhancing community pride, urban renewal and the importance of outdoor art. Join us to discover how this serves as a powerful narrative of Welland’s past, present and future. Presented by Maddy Gordon of Welland Museum.
Boo! Happy Halloween
WELLAND – Welland Lodge 617, Croatian Fraternal Union of America can be proud of its history on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.
From meetings in the homes of members, to a cherished “hall of memories” on Fifth Street for more than five decades, to its present home at Croatian National Home, the Lodge, a cultural organization, can lay claim to a celebrated history.
A publication by the City of Welland provides insights into early Croatian history including the Lodge’s.
“Historical and Architectural Reflections of the Founding Peoples of Welland”, by the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (1992), noted that Welland, in 1905, was the site of the first Croatian settlement in Ontario.
Between 1920 and 1930, a “new wave of settlement occurred in Welland.” Croatian arrivals found work in industries, with the railroad and canal projects, according to the book. And then this:
“The Croatian Fraternal Union Welland Lodge 617 ‘Croatian Sons Club’ located on Fifth Street was the first C. F. U. Lodge organized in Ontario, in 1924.”
Something to be proud of!
According to one account, in 1911 Croatian customs and traditions were showcased by seven Croatians who became friends. Handmade tamburas and lessons under the direction of Steve Skvorc produced the first tamburitza orchestra.
The Croatian immigrants with no families and no knowledge of the English language heard about the Croatian National Society (later the CFU), about it being a mutual benefit society and organization which would provide security and preserve national identity.
Here are some key dates:
April 9, 1924: The immigrants founded Lodge 617 for the adults;
January 13, 1925: The “nest” for the children was organized;
March 16, 1925: Property was purchased on Fifth Street and the first Croatian Hall was established – a home to Lodge 617 Hrvatski Sinovi/Croatian Sons. It became the centre of social, cultural and sports activities of the Croatian people;
1977: The hall was sold. Lodge 617 moved to the Croatian National Home as an affiliate and the two have continued to work together.
Throughout its existence, Lodge 617 promoted Croatian culture and heritage through cultural associations and tamburitza groups. In addition, league bowling was like a glue that bonded young and old members over the years.
In 1962, the first Welland Junior Tamburitzans group was formed. In 1980 a second group, Veseli Hrvati, was organized. This group was sponsored by CFU Lodge 617 and the Croatian National Home and continued for 12 years. After a 10-year hiatus it reunited and formed the Veseli Hrvati Adult Tamburitzans. As juniors and then adults, members have participated in many CFU Tamburitzan Festivals.
Today we celebrate 100 years of Lodge 617 – an organization founded on brotherhood, love and the work of humble immigrants who travelled into the unknown with humanitarian ideals. They brought with them cherished traditions of the old homeland, sharing them and working for their continuance in Welland.
Lodge 617’s legacy is to be proud of, including donations to diverse initiatives in Croatia over the years. Here in Welland, a donation was made to Welland Heritage and Multicultural Centre toward its Welland Canal Memorial Monument in Merritt Park, honoring immigrants – many Croatians among them – who worked on Welland Canal construction.
Here is a list of some of the lodge’s activities: monthly meetings, first Sunday of each month; Mother’s Day lamb and pork barbeques; hosting performers from Croatia with dinners and concerts; and annual Christmas parties for members. But with an aging membership, activities are slowing down. Young members need to get on board and do their part to ensure the lodge’s legacy continues, hopefully for years to come.
The members of the Lodge 617 are proud of the ongoing commitment over many years to uphold Croatian culture, language, culinary arts and music in Welland, the province of Ontario and Canada.
The 100th anniversary active membership roster as of Sept., 2024 shows 204 members of Lodge 617, and 43 members of Nest 247.
The anniversary will be marked by a gala reception and concert on Saturday, Oct. 12 at the Croatian National Home, Broadway Avenue, Welland. For further details, telephone 905-735-5089.
WELLAND – The City of Welland’s physician recruitment incentive program has successfully met its 2024 objectives.
Ten new doctors, including seven from the United Kingdom, will be established in the community by the end of November. This will bring the total number of physicians in Welland to 34. These new healthcare providers are expected to enrol more than 15,000 residents who previously lacked access to local primary care.
The recruitment program was initiated in June 2023 to address Welland’s status as an area of high physician need. Financial incentives are offered to physicians starting new practices or taking over existing ones, directly improving healthcare access for all residents.
As Welland’s population continues to grow, city council remains committed to supporting the program and has approved an additional $1 million to continue the recruitment effort.
“Our Council is dedicated to ensuring that every resident has access to a family physician,” said Mayor Frank Campion. “This program has been instrumental in addressing our healthcare needs, and the success we’ve seen so far is just the beginning as we look to recruit more doctors in the future.”
Jill Croteau, physician recruitment specialist with Niagara Region, was enthusiastic about the program’s results.
“The success of this recruitment campaign comes from the collaboration between local municipalities and regional partners. We’ve attracted top-tier physicians who are excited to establish their practices in Welland. We’re making strides in ensuring our communities have access to the healthcare they deserve.”
The physician recruitment campaign is part of a regional effort through the Southern Ontario Physician Recruitment Alliance. In 2024, 39 per cent of the 23 new physicians relocating to the region chose Welland. As a result of effective international marketing efforts, 64 per cent of the doctors arrived from the United Kingdom.
For information about the physician recruitment program, visit https://www.niagararegion.ca/health/professionals/physician-recruitment/default.aspx.
Attribution: City of Welland media release
By Joe Barkovich, Scribbler-at-large
A few more photos to share from the Ross Beard art exhibit on Saturday at Welland Museum. I find myself in agreement with the artist’s admirer who was overheard saying, “Let’s have another one (exhibit) sooner rather than later.” The feeling of wanting more was likely experienced by others in attendance too.
These accompanying photos hardly constitute another exhibit, but they do offer another peek at the late artist’s great talent and some insights into his life, courtesy Diane Beard’s words about her husband in the piece, above.
I was interested reading about how Mr. Beard’s art career began. This comes from a backgrounder that was available at the exhibit, The Paintings of Ross Beard:
“Ross Beard began landscape painting at the age of twelve. Under the discerning eyes of Sister Evelyn at the Notre Dame College of Art through grades 6-12, Ross developed his unique style. Completing his post-secondary education at Sheridan then Niagara College, he began painting full-time as a landscape painter in 1976.
“Surrealistic landscapes evoking a mysterious serenity bathed in cool blues with warm crimsons and ochres soon made Ross a local favourite.
“As in the past, today Ross Beard’s paintings blend sentimentality, mystery, nostalgia and romance combined with fine detailing and historical accuracy. His paintings of the Welland Canal, Wainfleet and Lake Erie are unsurpassed and beautifully grace homes all over the world.”
Well, now looking forward to seeing the collection of photos by Anthony Gallaccio, who also was at the exhibit, when he posts them on social media. Will probably be the closest thing to an exhibit until the next one is organized for more of us to admire and appreciate.
Captions: top left, Venturing Out (with Harry the dog); top right, Penny Lane; middle left, Robin Hood Mill Port Colborne; centre right, guests admiring Mr. Beard’s work; bottom left, James Takeo and Aldo Parrotta. /Joe Barkovich photos.
By Joe Barkovich, Scribbler-at-large
Aldo Parrotta described art by Ross Beard on display in an exhibit Saturday in a single word: “iconic”.
The exhibit was at Welland Museum, the sponsor of the show.
Well known in the community because of his own art background and initiatives, Parrotta said the exhibit helps make the case for an art gallery in Welland. He has immersed himself working on a project to that end.
“What you have here is a piece of Welland captured in time. This is a legacy. It needs to be taken care of properly,” he said about Mr. Beard’s work.
Mr. Beard contributed three murals to Welland’s Festival of Arts in the 1980s. One remains, on the front wall of the former Tribune building on East Main Street. Mr. Beard passed Feb. 8, 2019.
“Ross was fortunate to have grown up in the idyllic hamlet of Dain City when the old canal was a source of joy and inspiration in an era of time when children spent their time playing with friends,” are words taken from an introduction to the show, Ross Beard – A Sort Of Homecoming. “Dain City had a train station where they could lace up their skates and skate for miles down John’s Creek before the new canal was built.”
I must admit Mr. Beard’s art, with Dain City and canal themes, are personal favourites. Not only are you looking at the scene, but you find yourself being drawn into it, becoming part of it. Its happened to me on more than one occasion. I think this is magical.
Visitors at the exhibit eyeballed art displayed on walls, on screen, on tables, enclosed in glass. There were many conversations, some whispered, others loud enough for neighbors to overhear. One such comment: “I wish I could come back here tomorrow to see everything again.” The exhibit was Saturday only.
Another leading voice on the art scene in Welland is that of James Takeo. He and Parrotta were taking in the exhibit together.
Takeo said he had “two points” on his mind.
First, as a member of the Welland Museum board, he was “very happy” the museum had put on the Beard exhibit, for one thing, to share and also enhance the cultural legacy of the community.
The second point, more personal, was moving:
“Everything I’ve done in art in this community I would never have done if I hadn’t been inspired by this guy’s art.”
(More to follow Tuesday)
The Every Child Matters flag was lowered to half-staff at both the Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake Niagara College campuses to honour the children who never made it home from residential schools, as well as for the survivors and their families. Also, the NC Button will be illuminated orange to mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The college is encouraging the community to show their support by wearing an orange shirt and at the Welland site this morning, many, many students were seen waiting for transit or walking on campus in orange t-shirts. The college will also continue with its 4 Seasons of Reconciliation, a “unique” three-hour online course that promotes “renewed relationship between Indigenous Peoples and Canadians.” The accompanying photo was taken at the Welland campus. /Joe Barkovich photo
Well, this is it, the end. The last Gadabout Gardener feature this season. I decided to go out with a bang….well, make that a rose or three or four, or more. What else, right, after all I’m a rose guy. This small collection showcases a few fall roses from the Joseph L. Mocsan Memorial Rose Garden in Chippawa Park, Niagara College Welland campus and my garden. Enjoy. Hope to see you again next spring.
Gadabout Gardener is a recurring feature on the blog, appearing until the end of September./ Joe Barkovich photos
fromareportersnotebook 