Work on Welland's new $17.9M fire stations progressing, says Chief Adam Eckhart |
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This recent drone photo shows work underway at Welland Fire and Emergency Services' new headquarters, 400 East Main St. Fire Chief Adam Eckhart expects to see walls start to go up in the next couple of weeks on the downtown site where Atlas Specialty Steels had stood for decades. ROB SCOTLAND / SPECIAL TO TORSTAR
Footings should be in place sometime this week for Welland Fire and Emergency Services’ new Station 2, says Chief Adam Eckhart.
It will sit behind the current headquarters at 636 King St. and cost more than $4.2 million to build. That cost also includes demolition of the current structure, which served as Crowland Township Hall, and fire and police department offices in the past.
“We’re in good shape,” said Eckhart of the project.
Eckhart said contractors working on the property ran into the former pool that used to sit behind the hall.
“It was still there, intact. It had thick concrete walls and foundations. It took three or four days to remove it.”
The chief said most of the underground servicing work for the new station, which will be 580 square metres in size with garage space making up nearly 60 per cent of the overall building size, is complete and a rough coat of asphalt in place.
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Construction underway on two new Welland fire stations |
Every second counts when firefighters gear up for a call, and that’s a factor in why close to $20 million is being spent on new Welland Fire and Emergency Services buildings.
Two new fire stations are expected to be ready for service in about a year, after construction started within the last week.
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Construction has begun at 400 East Main Street (Former Atlas property) on one of two new fire stations in Welland. BOB TYMCZYSZYN / TORSTAR |
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Work underway in Welland on third-largest Canadian Tire store in country |
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Ground has been broken on the expansion of the Welland Canadian Tire store. BOB TYMCZYSZYN / TORSTAR |
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Ground has been broken on an expansion of the Welland Canadian Tire store — putting it on its way to becoming the chain’s third-largest store in the country.
A store in Edmonton is the largest in Canada, followed by one in Ottawa that will open next year.
Located in north Welland on Primeway Drive, near Woodlawn Road next to Walmart and Rona, the revamped Canadian Tire store will grow to about 10,220 square metres (110,000 square feet) from 6,040 square metres (65,000 square feet) in retail space, said general manager Kevin Ryder.
A large warehouse and a 465-square-metre (5,000-square-foot) area designed to accommodate curbside pickup are part of the plans.
Canadian Tire vice-president of visual merchandising Jason Kane said the company will not disclose the cost of the expansion.
“It’s definitely a fantastic, big step forward and a big investment in the community of Welland,” said Kane during a teleconference Wednesday.
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Welland touts good news about city's economic growth |
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New industry, infrastructure renewal and recreational amenities were among topics celebrated during a virtual presentation hosted by senior staff at Welland city hall Thursday.
The ‘Made in Welland’ event involved the city’s new economic development manager Lina DeChellis, interim chief administrative officer Steve Zorbas, development and building services director Grant Munday, infrastructure services director Sherri-Marie Millar and fire Chief Adam Eckhart sharing success stories and forecasts for the future.
Sixty-two people tuned in and followed along, DeChellis said after the event.
Zorbas referred to a recent article published by Maclean’s magazine that listed Welland as 15th in a list of the country’s top communities in which to live.
Welland is “not only a good place to live, but to work and play,” said Zorbas during the hourlong presentation.
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Welland's NB Distillers' retail store opens |
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Bottles of NB Distillers’ Chak De Whiskey and Red Admiral Vodka sit on a barrel inside the company's soon to open retail store at 1-36 Darte Dr. in Welland. DAVE JOHNSON / TORSTAR
Sales of NB Distillers’ Red Admiral Vodka are going well in Niagara, says Neeraj Bakshi as his company gets ready to open its Welland retail store next week.
“We’re happy with the support we’re receiving from Welland, Port Colborne, Niagara Falls, Wainfleet. There are some really encouraging numbers. We’re expecting a much better response when we open our doors,” said the distillery owner.
Bakshi said the store will have a soft opening Friday, May 7, and Saturday, May 8, from noon to 7 p.m. in its temporary location at 1-36 Darte Dr. The space, on the north side of Fastenal Canada, also houses a temporary distillery.
The store will open Wednesdays through Saturdays noon to 7 p.m. starting May 11.
In addition to vodka, the distiller produces Liquid Gold Whiskey and Chak De Whiskey and a gin that should hit the market in June.
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Inclusive splash pad and multi-sports court coming to Welland International Flatwater Centre |
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An inclusive splash pad and multi-sport court to be built alongside another multi-sport facility at Welland International Flatwater Centre will make the Rose City a leader in inclusivity in the future, says Richard Dalton.
Dalton, Welland’s manager of recreation and culture, and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities’ Marco Di Buono presented Jumpstart’s plans Tuesday night.
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Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities is gifting the City of Welland an inclusive splash pad and multi-sport court to be built at the Welland International Flatwater Centre in conjunction with Empire Communities $2.75-million multi-court sports park. DAVE JOHNSON / TORSTARP |
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“This complements the incredible work already being undertaken by Empire Communities,” said Di Buono, Jumpstart’s associate vice-president of programs and operations, as he outlined what the inclusive multi-sport court will hold.
It will have sport and para-sport court lines for basketball, tennis, ball hockey, volleyball, pickleball and badminton; six fixed-height and two adjustable-height basketball nets; a self-guided play area with high contrast four-square court and hopscotch; contrasting colours to support visual impairment; shaded double-wide benches for improved accessibility; wheelchair-accessible seating and tables; shaded accessible bleachers; cushion comfort plus Laykold acrylic surfacing system; four double-wide entry points; and four LED overhead court lights.
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Welland ranks 15th in nation of 25 best places to live and work remotely: Maclean's Magazine
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Frank Campion says Welland is always shooting to be No. 1, but he’s happy to see the Rose City ranked 15th in the nation among the top 25 best municipalities to live and work remotely.
Thursday, Maclean’s magazine released its best communities list, which ranked 415 communities across Canada.
The magazine said it looked toward “great living for people who don’t have to worry about finding a job within commuting distance” this year.
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Maclean's magazine ranked the City of Welland 15th among the top 25 best municipalities to live and work remotely in Canada. It said the city's top three features are internet access, health and amenities such as the recreational canal. DAVE JOHNSON / TORSTAR |
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“I think it’s certainly a nice thing for the city of Welland,” the mayor said.
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New bakery brings sweet touch to
downtown Welland
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Angel Creary, owner of Angel Caters
Angel Creary makes fancy cupcakes and various sweets and she’s a self-made entrepreneur who recently opened a new shop in downtown Welland.
Angel Caters, specializing in artistic baked goods, opened on East Main Street on Easter Monday, her 22nd birthday.
Located at The Galleria, a cluster of small businesses that includes a photography outlet and a tattoo shop, Creary’s bakery is open for pickup only at the moment due to COVID-19 precautions, so customers cannot come inside to browse her selection yet.
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Foyer Richelieu build in Welland gets
$2 million from feds
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The federal government is investing $2 million into a project that will support Niagara’s elder francophone community.
Foyer Richelieu in Welland, a predominantly French long-term-care home, is in the midst of a campaign to build a $30-million campus at its Tanguay Avenue property.
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Vance Badewey, Niagara Centre, MP |
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The funds announced Thursday during a virtual press conference, with officials from the facility and the government, will go toward a cultural and community centre to be built as part of the project.
The Touching Lives Campaign, when started about three years ago, aimed to bring in $5 million in contributions when it wraps up this year — a portion of the project funded mostly by the provincial government.
The announcement puts the long-term-care home past its campaign goal, bringing the total to $6.75 million, said chief administrative officer Sean Keays.
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Meet the couple who helped a small Niagara city 'win, win, win' during the pandemic |
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Welland residents Paul and Tina Turner are the brains behind a local initiative that aimed to lessen the strains of the pandemic for vulnerable members of their community. COURTESY/ TINA TURNER
Paul and Tina Turner are lifelong residents of Welland, Ont.
They have seen it at its height when it was a bustling steel town providing jobs for thousands of locals in the 1960s and 70s. They have witnessed its decline since the early 2000s when the factories closed and the unemployment rate jumped to a city high.
Through it all, the Turners have worked to make the people of Welland feel pride for, and connection to, the city they live in. As the city struggles through COVID-19, one of its biggest hardships yet, they found a unique way to help the people of Welland, which is located about 25 kilometres west of Niagara Falls, Ont.
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"Spotlight On" looks at Welland's new and existing businesses, providing a glimpse into what makes them a staple in the community. |
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Type of Business: Decluttering/Home Services
Started in Welland: 2012
Number of Employees: 15
June's Spotlight is on Urge to Purge.
Formed in Welland in 2012 as a mother and son venture aiming to help seniors declutter and organize their homes, Urge to Purge has grown into a multi-level service company serving Welland, the municipalities across Niagara Region and beyond.
Operations have expanded to a dedicated team of 15 employees with three trucks and a trailer, as well as a warehouse for furniture and household item donations. Staff work with donation centres to connect those most in need with the pieces they require.
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Type of Business:
Insurance
Started in Welland: 2019
Number of Employees: 300
May's Spotlight is RATESDOTCA.
RATESDOTCA Group Ltd. (formerly Kanetix Ltd.) expanded their operations into Welland in January 2019 and has been growing over the last few years. Employing 300 Niagara and Welland residents,
RATESDOTCA recognizes talent from within; to date they have promoted 49 employees and look forward to more rising stars.
A proud Canadian company with over 20 years of experience, RATESDOTCA has been helping millions of shoppers make better insurance and financial decisions. You can compare quotes for
- Car insurance
- Home insurance
- Travel insurance
- Life insurance
- Mortgages and more
RATESDOTCA is your one-stop shop for all your needs. The launch of RATESDOTCA includes the re-brand of Kanetix Ltd.
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Contact:
Lina DeChellis, Manager,
Economic Development
Corporation of the City of Welland
Telephone:
905-735-1700 ext 2110 or 1-800-735-3771
Fax:905-735-1543
edc@welland.ca
www.madeinwelland.ca
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About Us:
City of Welland
Economic Development Office
60 East Main St.
Welland, Ontario
L3B 3X4
905-735-3771
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