Welland

Welland is a small, growing city in the Niagara Region, a short drive to Niagara Falls, St. Catharine’s, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Canada’s border with the United States.
The city’s development originates in transport routes. Railway connections from Buffalo to Toronto provide proximal access across the border by land, and the Welland Canal connects shipping ports by waterway. This has given Welland a unique advantage as a hub with key connections to multiple shipping routes. Although the area has been settled since the late 1700’s, much of its modern growth is attributed to the Welland Canal being extended to reach Lake Erie in the 1830’s.
Welland’s shipping access made it a strategic location for industry, and companies began locating their industrial plants there to take advantage of the good location. The population rose as more workers flocked to the area from all around to take advantage of the job opportunities.
In the past decade, the city has been revitalizing and redeveloping the downtown core to attract more businesses and has had success in doing so. The Welland Canal, which runs through the downtown, provides a gorgeous natural backdrop to many community events, the city’s famous Dragonboat Festival being one of the most popular.
Rowing events are held in the canal as well, and spectators are invited to watch and cheer from the waterside grandstand. In the warm months locals, fish, kayak, and canoe in the canal and walk, rollerblade and bike along the canal path while taking in the beautiful view. In the frosty winter months locals and visitors enjoy skating and ice fishing when the water freezes over.
In 2017, Welland broke the Guinness World Record for longest line of inflatables, when over 2,000 local participants took to the canal with their favourite floaties and made a line 165 metres long. Although the record has since been broken, the achievement highlights the community’s ability to come together and have fun doing it.
Increasing economic development in the region and a sprawl of housing developments make Welland an excellent value when buying a home, and a fun place to live.