Rename hydro canal for Tesla

Plans are being developed to refurbish the hydro canal that runs through the city of Niagara Falls.

Having grown up in a neighbourhood adjacent to the canal, I’ve only heard it referred to as the hydro canal. There’s a plaque at one end of the Lundy’s Lane bridge over the canal that calls it the Ontario Hydro Electric Generating Canal. This is not a name created by a marketing genius. Even though this is a major project with an important history, I have been asked by many visitors what the canal is for. They had no idea the canal existed until they stumbled upon it.

I was surprised to read an article calling it the Sir Adam Beck Power Canal, as I’ve never heard that name used. While it may be convenient, I don’t believe it is in common use. I would like to propose that the canal be renamed in honour of Nikola Tesla. Naming this canal the Nikola Tesla Power Canal would grant this great man the credit he deserves for what he brought to the world, and illustrate how much this has meant to the province and City of Niagara Falls.

Given that Niagara Falls is a major tourist destination, some sites along the canal could become points of interest. Giving the canal a name relevant to the world would emphasize its significance and give people another good reason to visit.

Greg Baynes

Niagara Falls