Along with the rest of St. Catharines, Port Dalhousie has a rich maritime history. Unfortunately, age has taken its toll on the focal point of this rich history, the Welland Canal. In an effort to contribute to the revitalization of the Niagara Region, a grassroots project is being undertaken to rejuvenate Lock 1 of the second Welland Canal. The Lock One Revitalization Project has been put together by the Port Dalhousie Beautification and Works Committee and Kiwanis Club of St. Catharines.
Project & community background
The 2nd Welland Canal helped open the Great Lakes and predates confederation. The limestone walls of the canal are still mostly visible and are a great example of the mid-1800’s construction.
Port Dalhousie has seen its fair share of resurgences over the last 30 years. It seems that now they’re heading in the right direction, with new shops and restaurants occupying old canal town buildings along with the revitalization of key historic components such as Lock 1.
Plans of improvement
Taking a look at some of the proposed plans, improvements to Lock 1 include:
- Tiered seating and viewing area
- Bronze statues to commemorate tow horses used to pull ships through the canal
- Historical interpretive signage
- Structural analysis along with landscaping and construction
Crowdfunding competition winners
Earlier this year, this project was entered into the crowdfunding competition, This Place Matters, and has now been awarded with the grand prize of $40,000. In total, there were 14 projects in the running from coast to coast, The Lock One Revitalization Project received 1,400 more votes than a Montreal building conversion proposal.
With the big $40,000 win and funds raised, this project’s funding is now sitting on $77,000, and counting. Although this is huge news for this exciting project, there’s still more to go. “We’ll have to start a little more fundraising, specifically for the tow-horse sculptures,” said Jeff Mackie, adding the intention is to also apply for other grants and seek other funding sources.
Revitalization is ongoing throughout the Niagara Region and is benefitting both economic and cultural aspects. It’s a great thing for the growth of the region, so be sure to connect with me and stay up to date on the newest happenings.
