Port Dalhousie becomes tropical paradise
Majestic palm trees tower above an ornate fountain where the Port Mansion once stood.
Buildings on Lakeport Road have been transformed into colourful and decorative shops, while a new customs office now stands in the centre of the Lakeside Park parking lot.
Another newly constructed building facade adorns the beach near by, and buildings along Hogan’s Alley are being transformed, too, turning the St. Catharines hamlet into the downtown core of a tropical community.
A team of orange-shirted artists, builders and landscapers representing Northwood Anne Duo Inc. spent eight days creating a set for filming part of the second season of the Anne television series on CBC, starring 15-year-old Canadian actor Amybeth McNulty as Anne.
The series, based on the classic Anne of Green Gables books by Lucy Maud Montgomery, is also available for U.S. viewers on Netflix, renamed Anne (with an E).
Dozens of curious area residents gathered behind barriers set up around the sets, snapping pictures and discussing the transformation of the quiet hamlet.
“They actually have palm trees. That is so awesome!” said St. Catharines resident Jayne Fortushnick, as she watched the work progressing. “This is huge.” Although several bystanders noted there aren’t many palm trees on Canada’s east coast, the series producers never intended to replicate the fictional town of Avonlea on Prince Edward Island – the setting of Montgomery’s novels.
Signs set up beside the barriers provided an explanation of the setting, as well as a hint of the footage that will be captured when filming takes place today and Thursday.
“While Anne remains in Avonlea, the story continues in a tropical city (Port Dalhousie) in the 1890s,” the sign says.
Port Dalhousie Coun. Carlos Garcia has been among the spectators, watching the work progress and taking photographs.
“It has certainly brought a lot of visitors and attraction to Port Dalhousie,” he said.
“It’s amazing watching a set being developed how they can in fact transform an area into something else.”
With one major development proposal planned for the hamlet, and potentially others to come, Garcia is concerned about retaining the community’s charm.
“I just hope that whatever we do, we don’t destroy the village feel and that quaint attraction that the place has, which is what brings people here.”
Garcia described himself as an experienced businessman as well as a heritage advocate.
“I understand and realize that heritage is good for the community and it attracts visitors,” he said. “Heritage tourism, I understand, is the fastest single growing segment of the tourism market, which is the biggest market in the world in terms of dollars and visitors.”
Port Dalhousie Coun. Bruce Williamson shared the concerns about retaining the character of the community, with plans underway to build a 14- or 15-storey tower in the area.
For now, however, Williamson said the film set has been “a lot of fun“in the community.
“I think the facades are really interesting, and the one in front of the old pizza joint ... it’d be neat to see if it could be retained,” he said, referring to an intricate entryway painted black to resemble wrought iron. “It might not be authentic history for Port Dalhousie, but it’s cool looking.”
St. Catharines economic development officer Brian York said an old picture of the Port Mansion building – demolished in 2012 to make way for a previous proposal for a tower that was never built – first attracted the production company’s attention.
Nevertheless, York said the production company’s location manager Dorigen Fode was impressed with the community.
“She said this is exactly what we’re looking for,” York said.
From there, he said various city departments teamed up with area businesses and community groups, to ensure the filming could proceed.
“It recreates a period of yesteryear, and I think that’s important. But it also opens up the vision of what Port can be,” he said. “We certainly have some wonderful development proposals on the books that will help drive more traffic to that area.”
York hopes the interest from the Anne producers will encourage other filmmakers to follow suit.
“Securing a couple of these every year would be amazing, and we’ve seen an incredible response from both Port Dalhousie, and the St. Catharines, Niagara community. It’s been really cool,” York said.
“It’s been a great undertaking and one that we’re proud of.”
Meanwhile, St. Catharines gets to keep the palm trees.
York said St. Catharines director of parks, recreation and culture services Phil Cristi negotiated a deal with the production company, allowing the city to keep the palms.
Garcia said although the trees will need to be protected during the winter months, he was assured by St. Catharines arborists that they can be maintained.
“It should be a nice addition to have in the city,” he said.
The seven episodes of the first season were broadcast on CBC from March 19 to April 30, and can still be viewed online at cbc. ca/anne.
The second season will consist of eight to 10 episodes to be broadcast next year, although broadcast dates have not been finalized.