October 2021: FALL

Winemaking business uncorked at Fitch Street Plaza in Welland

Christine Leduc, co-owner of Von Bin, a new winemaking business in Welland's Fitch Street Plaza. KRIS DUBE / TORSTAR Wine lovers who live near Fitch Street Plaza in Welland suffered a bit of a loss when a 59-year-old LCBO store closed in April as result of a new outlet opening in the northeast end of the city. But in July, Vin Bon, a microwinery chain now with 17 Ontario locations, opened its doors at the shopping centre. The local business is owned by Roger and Christine Leduc, a couple who for years patronized other local winemaking businesses and became intrigued by the industry. READ MORE:

Waterfront condos on Welland's recreational canal sold out

Welland Mayor Frank Campion talks about the Upper Vista Welland Condominiums development on Prince Charles Drive. DAVE JOHNSON / TORSTAR Welland has become a waterfront community, says Mayor Frank Campion. “We have a large stretch of canal running right through the centre of our city, and it’s good to see development happening along it. This showcases what we have to offer,” he said Thursday. Campion, Welland Ward 5 Coun. Claudette Richard and Niagara Centre MP Vance Badawey joined Evertrust Development Groups Canada Inc. as it announced its Upper Vista Welland Condominiums development on Prince Charles Drive. “The sheer fact they decided to build here on the (recreational) canal proves the point that it is a great amenity for not only the community but for people looking to move here from other places. This is a fantastic waterfront development,” said Campion. Upper Vista, at 350 Prince Charles Dr., is a 226-unit, five-storey, two-tower luxury condo development, which is already sold out, said Evertrust Development’s president Ted Zhou. READ MORE:

Ten hangars to be built at Niagara Central Dorothy Rungeling Airport

Ten hangars will be built at Niagara Central Dorothy Rungeling Airport. Nine of them have tenants lined up, Welland city council heard this week. The city is financing the $600,000 project. DAVE JOHNSON / TORSTAR

Welland will finance the construction of 10 hangars at Niagara Central Dorothy Rungeling Airport, and nine of them have tenants lined up. The airport commission — its members include elected officials from Welland, Wainfleet, Port Colborne and Pelham — came to the city asking for $600,000 for the project. At the recent meeting of city council, Ward 4 Coun. Bryan Green asked if the commission had approached any other municipalities that own and operate the facility. READ MORE:

Brilliant work: Lifting INNIO projects at Welland plant

An engine lift station for the INNIO Brilliant Factory in Welland, Ont. Photo Credit: Michael Poeltl Handing Specialty recently completed a number of significant projects with INNIO in Welland, Ont. at its Brilliant Factory facility. The 500,000-sq.-ft. project that began as a greenfield development with GE Power has been underway since August 2018 with INNIO. The Austrian supplier of gas-driven power generation completed the acquisition of GE’s Distributed Power business the beginning of 2019 and is making the large Waukesha gas engines there. The plant will eventually employ 200 people. READ MORE:

Welland's newest hotel, Holiday Inn Express and Suites, opens its doors

Holiday Inn Express and Suites general manager Kamran Karim, left, and owner Joga Basi stand in front of the new 80-room hotel at 224 Power Dr. in Welland. Dave Johnson / Torstar Looking for an investment opportunity, Joga Basi was drawn to Welland by the city’s growth and willingness to help entrepreneurs. Wednesday, Basi and Kamran Karim opened the new 80-room Holiday Inn Express and Suites, at 224 Power Dr. north of Woodlawn Road and just west of Highway 406. Basi owns the hotel that features an indoor pool, fitness centre, three meeting rooms and business centre. Karim is its general manager. READ MORE:

Work continues on restoration of Central Fire Station in Welland

Progress on the restoration of Central Fire Station in downtown Welland is visible from the outside as work has been taking place in recent weeks. KRIS DUBE / TORSTAR Progress on the restoration of Central Fire Station in downtown Welland is visible from the outside as work has been taking place in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Central Station Education Initiative president Nora Reid and vice-president Claire Masswohl provided city council an update on its project — an effort to restore the decommissioned fire hall into a museum honouring emergency services. The group will turn the three-storey building into a multi-purpose community centre, with original fixtures and artifacts from 1920 on the first floor. There will be rentable office space for not-for-profit cultural groups and artists, and innovative co-working space for businesses, artists and artisans on the second floor. READ MORE:

Welland's Ward 4 sees new businesses open during pandemic

Welland Ward 4 Coun. Bryan Green says numerous new businesses, such as the ones in the small plaza on Niagara Street south of Quaker Road, have opened in the ward in the past year. He expects even more to come to the ward and the city as new development brings more people to Welland. DAVE JOHNSON / TORSTAR A lot is going on in Welland’s Ward 4, says Coun. Bryan Green. Green said the ward — he’s one of two councillors who represent it — has grown with many new businesses opening in the past year. Some of those businesses include Stacked Pancake and Breakfast House, Party Max, Simply Gas, Everest Tandoori Kitchen, Niagara North Propane, Starbucks, Sleep Country and a new Pizza Hut. There are more to come, said Green, citing Whole Health Niagara Pharmacy, Intrepid Health Clinic, Insalata Cannabis Market, Garden City Cannabis and, one he is personally looking forward to, Firehouse Subs. READ MORE: 

Welland Canadian Tire store expansion underway

Construction on the Welland Canadian Tire store expansion is well underway. The revamped store, on Primeway Drive, will grow to about 10,220 square metres (110,000 square feet) from 6,040 square metres (65,000 square feet) in retail space. A large warehouse and a 465-square-metre (5,000-square-foot) area designed to accommodate curbside pickup is part of the plans. The expansion will make it the chain’s third-largest store in the country.

Construction of the Welland Canadian Tire store expansion is well underway. DAVE JOHNSON / TORSTAR

New Prince Charles Drive fire station will improve response times for fire boat

A car drives past the future site of Welland Fire and Emergency Services new Station 3 at 924 Prince Charles Dr. DAVE JOHNSON / TORSTAR A new three-bay, 585-square-metre fire station on the city’s west side will improve response times and give Welland Fire and Emergency Services firefighters room to move, says Chief Adam Eckhart. The station, to be built at 924 Prince Charles Dr., will replace Station 3 about a kilometre south, constructed in 1955 and last updated in 1997. Eckhart said the planned build is modelled on the new Station 2, under construction behind headquarters at 636 King St. The headquarters, formerly Crowland town hall, will be demolished and moved to the new Station 1, also under construction, at 400 East Main St. READ MORE:

New Forks Road bridge in Dain City to be completed by 2024

A new Forks Road bridge will be built by 2024, the City of Welland says. SPECIAL PHOTO The public got a glimpse of what a new Forks Road Bridge will look like and found out more about the process to build it, during an online information session Thursday night. The previous span stood for 88 years but was demolished in 2019 after being declared unsafe for vehicle and pedestrian traffic in 2018. Some 3,500 vehicles a day crossed the one-time lift bridge over the former Welland Canal, now the recreational canal. City staff and representatives from Upper Canada Consultants and WSP Canada Inc. provided a virtual overview of the project Thursday and about 30 people participated, the city said Friday. Work is expected to begin in early 2022 with a targeted completion date of 2024. READ MORE:

Ottawa funding Welland Maple Park improvements

New accessible washrooms are coming to Welland’s Maple Park through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund. Friday, the federal government announced $313,797 in funding for significant enhancements to the park that runs between South Pelham and Clare roads. The city said upgrades to the park include the construction of new accessible washrooms and separate storage space. The washroom is more than 60 years old. READ MORE:

An aging washroom/storage facility at Welland's Maple Park will be replaced under a federal funding program. DAVE JOHNSON / TORSTAR FILE PHOTO

Welland Transit spending nearly $15-million to renovate and add to operations facility

At just shy of $15-million, a redesigned Welland Transit operations centre will essentially be a new facility, says manager Ed Zahra. “The redesigned layout is an enhancement to the current facility to meet the demands currently required and possible expansion,” Zahra said during a presentation at a special council meeting Tuesday. READ MORE:

At just shy of $15-million, a redesigned Welland Transit operations centre will essentially be a new facility once work gets underway on the building at 75 Federal Rd. DAVE JOHNSON / TORSTAR

Former Welland Soccer Club lands on Rice Road sold by city; sale closes in October

Just more than 12.5-hectares of land on Rice Road in Welland has been sold to the Schout Corp. Council approved the sale of the former Welland Soccer Club lands this week. DAVE JOHNSON / TORSTAR FILE PHOTO Once home to Welland Soccer Club, just more than 12.5-hectares of land on Rice Road will feature single- and semi-detached homes, and townhouses in the future. Tuesday, city council approved selling the property at 469 Rice Rd. to the Schout Corp. and put funds from the sale into the Youngs Sports Complex Sustainability Reserve. A report from economic development manager Lina DeChellis said Schout Corp. made an offer on the property in October 2017, several months after the former soccer club building was declared surplus by the city. READ MORE:

Papa John's, Guac Mexi Grill and new KFC coming to Welland

Welland residents will have at least three more options to choose from when buying lunch and dinner. At the northwest corner of Rice and Thorold roads, a commercial space will be home to Papa John’s Pizza, KFC and Guac Mexi Grill. A house at the corner has been demolished and a sign advertising space for lease has been erected. The three chains already committed to the site will be joined by others as there are two units that remain available, said Ken Finch, a broker with Royal LePage. READ MORE:

Multi-use sports park construction in Welland 'progressing well'

The location of a future multi-use sports in Welland is a plot the city has long felt would be ideal for a recreational amenity, says the municipality’s head administrator. Under construction since late spring, the project has a price tag of more than $3 million — covered by $2.75 million from Empire Communities and $300,000 from Canadian Tire Jumpstart. READ MORE:

Several road and infrastructure projects slated to take place in Welland

Construction is ongoing on Scholfield Avenue at East Main Street in Welland. BOB TYMCZYSZYN / TORSTAR Welland will be a busy place over the next several months as various road and infrastructure projects are set to take place, some starting in the weeks to come and others to be tendered out to contractors. The work equates to about $16 million worth of road reconstruction, asphalt patching, crack sealing, top layers of asphalt being added and a surface treatment program being applied to roads in rural parts of the city. READ MORE:

Dietrick Motiak set to celebrate 50 years in his downtown Welland clothing store

Dietrick Motiak next month will celebrate five decades in the same business location in Welland. Dietrick's, at 24 Cross St. between Division and East Main streets, is the last men’s clothing store in the city’s downtown core. DAVE JOHNSON / TORSTAR Dietrick Motiak doesn’t advertise his Welland men’s clothing store. He doesn’t need to. After five decades in the same location, Motiak has a loyal following of customers who frequent his downtown store at 24 Cross St., between Division and East Main streets. “I’m the last man standing down here. There used to be five menswear shops.” Dietrick’s sells men’s clothes, suits, sports jackets, casual wear, blue jeans, cotton pants, shorts and sportswear. READ MORE:

Rose City Gin a nod to Welland, says NB Distillers' Neeraj Bakshi

NB Distillers' owner Neeraj Bakshi holds a bottle of the company’s recently released Rose City Gin. The label features a lift bridge with a boat going underneath it. DAVE JOHNSON / TORSTAR Launched on World Gin Day, NB Distillers’ Rose City Gin is a nod to the company’s new home in Welland. “It’s our way of saying thank you to the city for having us and for the welcome we are receiving,” said owner Neeraj Bakshi, adding the company will look to name future around based on Welland places, landmarks and history. NB Distillers formed in 2002 after it bought Mississauga-based Canadiana Organic Distillery Corp., which produced Canadiana Premium Red Vodka. READ MORE:

"Spotlight On" looks at Welland's new and existing businesses, providing a glimpse into what makes them a staple in the community.

Type of Business: Financial Services Started in Welland: 1949 Number of Employees: 650 September's Spotlight is on Desjardins Ontario Credit Union. Desjardins serves 130,000 active members in the private, commercial, real estate and agricultural sectors. This strong, high-performing organization, with its rich and diverse expertise, has 650 employees across 51 branches, making them a major employer in Ontario. With a business volume of more than $17.1 billion and total assets exceeding $8.5 billion, this new credit union ranks 2nd among Ontario caisses populaires and credit unions.

To satisfy the needs of their diverse members, Desjardins boasts a range of services including: Personal and commercial banking services Credit cards, loans and lines of credit Savings and investment Wealth management Business services Ontario Signature Service Brokerage service READ MORE:

Type of Business: Manufacturing Started in Welland: 2012 Number of Employees: 25 August's Spotlight is on SLM Recycling. Innovation, Investment, Integrity. These basic principles guide business and drive success at SLM Recycling, a full-service scrap metal recycling, processing and transportation provider. August 2021 is a celebratory month for the company as it marks their 20th anniversary. Residents in the community may be familiar with SLM Recycling for their Scrap for Ca$h service, and U-Pick self-serve auto parts is well frequented by do-it-yourself mechanics and hobbyists. The wide range of available services and equipment includes: Scrap processing and site clean up Mobile material handling, grading and sorting Demolition Car crushing and baling Shearing Truck and rail transport Tire collecting, hauling and processing READ MORE: Type of Business: Health Service Provider Started in Welland: 2010 Number of Employees: 7 July's Spotlight is Niagara Spine & Sport. In 2010 Dr. John Strebul had ambitious ideas for a multidisciplinary care centre offering various clinical services in one location. For the last 11 years he and a diverse team of health care professionals have been providing pain relief and well-being treatments to the people of Welland and its surrounding areas. The goal of Niagara Spine and Sport Therapy is to get results for patients by treating their specific needs with different therapies and finding the most effective, healing combination. To help people maintain their health and wellness goals, the clinic offers a suite of treatment services that include: Chiropractic Care Acupuncture Spinal Decompression Therapy Massage Therapy & Muscle Release Shockwave Therapy Physiotherapy Laser Therapy READ MORE:

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 About Us: City of Welland Economic Development Office 60 East Main St. Welland, Ontario L3B 3X4 905-735-3771 www.madeinwelland.ca

WELLAND/NIAGARA GATEWAY ECONOMIC ZONE & CENTRE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN (CIP) The Gateway CIP provides financial incentives to property owners who revitalize, strengthen and diversify the economy in Welland by promoting private sector investment, development, redevelopment and construction activity on employment lands in the Gateway CIP Project Area which includes all employment lands (both strategic and non-strategic locations for investment) within the urban area of the City.

In partnership with the Niagara Region, three Incentive Programs are available through the Gateway CIP. The Tax Increment Based Grant Program (TIBG); The Development Charge Grant Program (currently both the Region of Niagara and the City of Welland offer a 100% exemption in Development Charges); City of Welland Planning Application Fee Grant Program (available in Strategic locations for Investment.