Made In Welland

April 2021: SPRING

Long-term lease could keep Jackfish at Welland Stadium for as many as 12 years

Welland Mayor Frank Campion, left, and Welland Jackfish owner-president Ryan Harrison unveil the name the Intercounty Baseball League team will use for one home game each season beginning in 2021. BERND FRANKE / TORSTAR

To counter the here-today, gone-tomorrow history of baseball in Welland, the former Burlington Herd decided after their first season in Niagara they needed a long-term lease to begin making some history of their own.

“We realized early on why we wanted a long-term lease because, at the end of the 2019 season, we had fans coming up to us and saying, ‘Hey, are you guys back next year?’” Jackfish owner and president Ryan Harrison said in an interview.

He said the Jackfish decided they needed to “cement” their commitment to the community “so people see, ‘They’re not going anywhere, let’s buys tickets now, let’s buy merchandise now.’”

Steel industry in Welland at a turning point, says Mayor Frank Campion

This file photo shows a pour at Valbruna ASW Inc. in Welland. Mayor Frank Campion said recent federal and private funding in the company marks a turning point for the steel industry in the Rose City. DAVE JOHNSON / TORSTAR FILE PHOTO

The steel industry in Welland is at a turning point, ready to start growing again, says Mayor Frank Campion.

Campion spoke about the recent injection of $5 million in federal funding to Valbruna ASW Inc. through FedDev Ontario last week.

Along with the federal government funding, the company will see $24 million in private and other investment for a new electric arc furnace and other new technologies to make it the only steelmaker in Canada with the capability of producing stainless steel and nickel alloy with improved durability.

“It’s never going to be what it used to be, with 2,000 people employed, but it’s a signal that steel manufacturing remains in Welland,” said Campion.

Welland steel manufacturer to expand with FedDev loan

A Niagara-based steel manufacturer will be expanding into new international markets, fuelled by up to $5 million in federal funding.

Economic Development Minister Mélanie Joly is expected to announce a repayable FedDev Ontario investment of up to $5 million to Valbruna ASW Inc. in Welland this morning, allowing the expansion of the company that manufactures carbon, stainless and other specialty steel materials for various industrial sectors.

Valbruna ASW Inc. is receiving up to $5 million in federal funding to help the Welland steel plant expand and preserve and create jobs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. KRIS DUBE / TORSTAR FILE PHOTO

NB Distillers' temporary Welland location to open first week of April

A bright red band on both sides of its black wings makes the Red Admiral Butterfly stand out and easy to spot, and Neeraj Bakshi hopes the same colouring on a vodka bottle that shares its name with the flying insect catches the eyes of consumers.

The clear bottle features bright red lettering with two Red Admiral butterflies on it — one large, one small. It also has Made in Niagara on the label.

NB Distillers’ temporary distillery and retail shop should open the first week of April at 1-36 Darte Drr. in Welland. The company will build a new facility on surplus city-owned land just west of Welland International Flatwater Centre. DAVE JOHNSON / TORSTAR

Unlike the aggressive butterfly, Bakshi said the small-batch, handcrafted Red Admiral Vodka produced by his company, NB Distillers, is smooth, sippable and pairs well with a variety of mixes.

“We fine-tuned the original 2015 blend made by the (former) Russian owner and his Polish wife. Our master blender tweaked the recipe,” said Bakshi, adding consultants helped in the process as well.

Distillery to build new facility just west of Welland International Flatwater Centre

A vodka found in LCBO stores across Ontario has a Welland connection that’s about to grow.

Tuesday, city council approved selling 2.28 hectares of surplus land just west of Welland International Flatwater Centre to Neeraj Bakshi. The deal is to close on March 24.

Dechellis said it will be the permanent home of a distillery temporarily located at 36 Darte Dr., just more than 300 metres away.

Welland grows and prospers despite COVID-19 pandemic, says Mayor Frank Campion

Welland Mayor Frank Campion said construction on Kit Steel’s 12,787-square-foot rebar fabrication facility is underway in the River Road Industrial Park. It was one of the things he spoke about in an annual year-in-review address Thursday morning held in support of United Way Niagara. DAVE JOHNSON / TORSTAR

Welland will host a COVID-19 vaccination centre when supplies are available, Mayor Frank Campion said in his annual year-in-review address Thursday.

“We’re making arrangements … more information will be coming on that soon,” he said during the presentation held in support of United Way Niagara.

He said it’s important to realize vaccinations are coming, but added Niagara needs to get its fair share of them to help residents.

Earlier this year, a shipment of the Moderna vaccine was diverted without explanation from Niagara to another area of Ontario.

Housing boom hits Welland

A sign marking the proposed Dain West subdivision in Dain City on the former John Deere property. KRIS DUBE / TORSTAR

It’s tough to pinpoint an exact number of residential units that will receive building permits in 2021, but the year will be “similar or higher in terms of growth” compared to 2020, says the City of Welland’s interim director of development and building services.

In early January, the city announced 2020 was the “best year ever” when it came to homes and apartments being built in the city, with construction starting on 519 units throughout the year.

This year is expected to be another good one.

Empire Communities investing $18 million to $21 million in Dain City

Empire Communities is investing between $18 million and $21 million into the city of Welland.

All of it in Dain City — before the company builds its first of nearly 2,200 homes in the area.

The investment will go to a new $2.75-million multi-court sports park at Welland International Flatwater Centre, plus $500,000 in naming rights for 10 years.

Empire Communities will rebuild and realign Canal Bank Street leading into Dain City as part of $18 million to $21 million in improvements it will carry out before building nearly 2,200 homes in the area. DAVE JOHNSON / TORSTAR

Empire will put $6.3-million into the realignment and widening of about 1.5 kilometres of Canal Bank Street. It will spend $4.3 million on the urbanization of about a kilometre of Forks Road.

City of Welland taxpayers won’t be on the hook for any improvements, said Steven Armstrong, principal of Armstrong Planning and Project Management.

New Welland LCBO store to open March 9

A new LCBO store off Woodlawn Road in Welland is expected to open March 9. KRIS DUBE / TORSTAR

A new LCBO store in Welland will open March 9. The opening date was confirmed Tuesday by Sandra Kaiser, vice-president of corporate affairs for SmartCentres, the company that owns the retail cluster at Woodlawn Road and Primeway Drive, which includes Walmart, Canadian Tire and Rona.

Welland getting restaurants prepared for patio season in 2021

Whether the provincial government will be allowing bars and restaurants to seat guests outdoors when the weather warms up remains to be seen, but the City of Welland is helping local establishments get prepared for being able to do so.

Through consent at last Tuesday’s council meeting, the city is looking ahead to support local restaurants and retail businesses by extending the 2020 streamlined approval process for temporary outdoor patios and adding outdoor displays for 2021.

Mr. Mikes Steakhouse Casual co-managers Drew Gowan and Kelly-Ann Broderick get ready to welcome customers to the Welland restaurant's patio last year. KRIS DUBE / TORSTAR FILE PHOTO

In 2020, Welland issued 14 approvals for new or expanded outdoor patios on public or private properties, four for outdoor patios on public lands, and 10 for outdoor patios on private property.