One of southern Ontario’s fastest-growing and most innovative cities, the City of Welland strikes an attractive balance between small-town charm and commercial prosperity. Affectionately known as Canada’s Rose City since the 1920s thanks to local rose cultivation, Welland still celebrates its proud heritage with an annual rose festival. Graced with perpetual beauty provided by its canal bringing people together along its banks, the city is filled with energy and the enthusiasm of locals who love living there.
Yet, despite its rural delights, Welland is a thriving economic hub, and, with Toronto just one-and-a-half hours away, it provides easy access to the Greater Toronto Area and all it has to offer. With the city focused on growth, its state-of-the-art amenities and public facilities are a big draw for those looking to set down roots. Its friendly people make Welland a welcoming and sought-after address.
And it looks like people who move to Welland tend to stay. A recent tally of the city’s population count currently sits at about 65,500 and is projected to nearly double over the next decade and a half, as current projections indicate the possibility of its census hitting figures as high as 103,000 by 2041.
The city’s overall infrastructure is top-notch. Niagara College Canada is a proud, expanding tertiary institution offering over 125 programs, and St. Catharines’ Brock University has a selection of more than 100 programs. There is also a modern hospital which is part of Niagara Health. Beyond quality education and healthcare, residents also love their local, year-round farmers market, which has been running since 1907, creating an opportunity for everyone to get together and have a good time while being able to purchase locally produced food, treats, and other products.
The Welland Canal, which dates back to 1829, was built to join Lakes Erie and Ontario, and this 44.4km stretch of water became part of the city’s economic heartbeat when it was developed as an industrial shipping highway. Originally part of the St. Lawrence Seaway, the canal remains pivotal in providing cargo vessels access to the Niagara area. Although the region has a healthy economy and fabrication sector, it maintains the well-manicured ambiance of a fantastic place to visit, live in, play in, and enjoy.
As such—and with its very own rose named after it—the City of Welland is the ideal place to stop and smell these gorgeous blooms and perhaps even stay forever. The city is home to friendly, thriving communities where people are warmly welcomed, and a custom, illustrated children’s book, Wonders of Welland, available in English and French, shares with them all the fun stories, history, and awesome things to do in and around the city. Of course, this means a lot of exciting exploration for the entire family.
Written by the City’s Chief Communications & Engagement Officer, Marc MacDonald, and illustrated by a Niagara College student intern, Javier Carranza, the book was published in 2024, proving to be an invaluable resource in helping new arrivals settle in and become truly part of this dynamic place. “We were looking at the influx of families, children, newcomers and how to embrace the people who [arrive here],” Paul Orlando, Communications Specialist and the book’s editor, tells us.
As an absolute first of its kind across the United States and Canada, to the team’s knowledge, this invitation to adventure has proven as popular with longstanding locals as it has with new arrivals. Fully funded by private developers seeking to provide newcomers with a positive experience, the initiative is proving to be a real hit.
Many Wellanders are typically sporty folks who have a great love of and focus on environmental stewardship and enjoy spending time in the great outdoors. As a result, the city has become a popular tourist hub amongst sports aficionados of all kinds, especially those partial to water activities. To this end, the city boasts the Welland International Flatwater Centre (WIFC), which provides world-class facilities for everything from dragon boat racing to canoeing, kayaking, and rowing all year-round. There is also the Empire Sportsplex, which opened in 2023 and was honoured with the Parks and Recreation Ontario Park or Facility Design Award not long ago.
One of the city’s newest assets is its beloved Jackfish baseball team, and support for the team has given its stadium a new lease on life. “It’s a pretty popular ticket to get your hands on throughout the summer,” Jessica Ruddell, Director of Community Services, says with a smile. “We’re thrilled with that partnership and the investments made.”
Indeed, as several redevelopment projects are underway, the City of Welland has a future of growing excitement ahead of it. Upgrades include the redevelopment of Cooks Mills community centre and park in the east of the city. There are also talks of an arena development that aims to expand the use of existing infrastructure.
And sports are not the only recreational pursuits catered for here. There are many options for rest and relaxation, with much of the leisure activity in the city happening in and around the canal. There are also more than six well-tended parks to visit, offering hiking, biking or just basking in nature while taking in the splendid views.
Getting around is also a pleasure, as local city planners are firm in their resolve to make Welland less dependent on private motor vehicles through efficient public transport, biking, safe pedestrian spaces, and more. Robust planning in the past means that today, ample accommodation and housing options of many different types are available for people of all ages and stages of life. Whether starting up or winding down, in the middle of raising a family, or single, the city has plenty of suitable housing available for everyone.
Welland’s residential properties are balanced with commercial spaces to ensure retail needs are well served. Maintaining and strengthening the city’s cultural heritage is another priority, so the city is planning to implement a parks, recreation, and arts master plan, which promises to add even more appeal to an already inspiring place. Community participation in the program is being encouraged through a public art assessment program under the guidance of a culture advisory committee.
The city aims to develop its existing public art collection by incorporating new work in novel and functional ways—like inviting visitors to engage with such works throughout its parks—and the project is invigorating Welland’s existing asset portfolio. One example of such new public art is an oversized sculpture that doubles as seating and takes inspiration from the modern impression of an anchor. In addition, a beautiful amphitheater at Merritt Park on the canal seats a little over 700 people and is a prime location for concert season.
Many of the city’s professionals have been honoured with a flurry of awards in recognition of their good work. “To me, that signifies that Welland is being looked at as a leader,” says Ruddell. “We’re really happy with that and want to highlight our staff’s accomplishments.”
Such awards include three cooperation performance awards from Brock University and Top 100 Festivals and Events Ontario for its concerts on the canal. “We’re excited for the staff that put that event on,” shares Ruddell. “This was their first time delivering the event, and they did a really great job with it.” Moreover, the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce honoured Lina DeChellis, Director of Economic Development and Strategic Initiatives, for her contributions to this sector with an ‘Excellence in the Public Sector’ award last year. As a result of the vitality characterizing its team, the City of Welland has become a sought-after employer.
To further bolster this legacy of excellence, the City of Welland is generously investing in its people’s professional development. “People are our greatest asset,” Ruddell says. “There’s an ongoing appreciation for continuous improvement, learning, and pushing ourselves to be better. Even our senior leaders are participating in executive leadership development.”
In a world where the values that make us human and keep us mentally, spiritually, and physically healthy are significant parts of any progressive city planner’s priorities, investing in nurturing meaningful leadership skills goes a long way to securing the overall well-being of Welland. “As municipal leaders, we realize that we can achieve a lot more by partnering with the community. We’ve had a lot of success doing that,” Ruddell highlights.
One thing is certain: with its commitment to integrity, innovation, and people, the city’s wealth of unique natural assets, motivated business leaders, and everyday people who take pride in keeping this the outstanding place that it is, all come together to provide Welland with the most precious asset of all: a sense of community. We look forward to seeing where Welland goes next.
