Canal advisory needs members

Welland residents have until Thursday to apply to a committee that will advise city council on matters pertaining to the management and development of the Welland Recreational Canal, including surrounding trails and canal lands.

The city has been advertising for the nine-member committee on its website and Twitter account for more than a month now, with an original deadline of Feb. 1 long since passed.

A second deadline, of this Thursday at 4:30 p.m., was set in the hopes of filling the committee with those interested in the future of the waterway which stretches through the city’s downtown core.

“We’re seeking community response from various segments,” said chief administrative officer Gary Long.

Members being sought, he said, include a representative from an affiliate sport club situated along the waterway; a representative from the community of recreational waterway users, not connected to an affiliate sport club situated along the water; a representative from Welland International Flatwater Centre event partner community (ex officio); two members at-large; a representative from the emergency services community; a representative from the hospitality industry; and two Welland business community members at-large.

“We want to have varied and differing points of view and perspectives. That may be the challenge of the lack of interest to date.”

Long said the city wants to make sure it gets the committee right as it plans for future of activities and events along the waterway, future residential development next to and adjacent to the canal, and development of the trail system.

He said the city will wait to see what applicants its gets by the end of day Thursday and evaluate their candidacy.