Smaller competitions expected at flatwater centre in 2019
Despite national and international events not planning to return to the Welland International Flatwater Centre (WIFC) in 2019, it’s still going to be an action-packed season at the municipallyowned facility along the recreational canal, according to the staff member in charge of booking its schedule.
Richard Dalton, the city’s manager of recreation and culture, said things are cooling down after the World Canoe Polo Championships and the Canadian Dragon Boat Championships were based out of the centre this summer – but there should be a similar amount of swimming, triathlons, canoeing, and kayaking once the warm weather returns.
“In terms of the number of events, it’s going to be a very consistent year,” Dalton said on Tuesday.
Larger competitions also have a tendency to not be held at the same venue in consecutive years, he explained accounting for the fluctuation in event numbers.
“It’s very unusual for events of a regional or provincial nature not to move
around a bit,” said Dalton confirming the national dragon boat meet will be held in Western Canada in 2019 – expecting it to return to Welland the following year, along with other large-scale flatwater contests.
“This coming year, due to a cyclical nature, we’ll have a little bit less of those larger events,” said Dalton, also saying 2020 and onward will be “very busy.”
The World Canoe Polo Championships brought 600 athletes from 26 countries and an estimated 6,000 people to the area in late July and early August.
“We wouldn’t want to host one of those every year,” said Dalton, also hinting that the city is pursuing the national world canoe finals for this upcoming season on the water.
“We won’t know for a couple of weeks if that’s going to happen,” he said.
Having smaller-scale tournaments allows staff to prioritize a few other projects, such as relocating the municipal boat rental program from the Welland Community Boathouse closer to the centre of the city, near Lincoln Street, explained Dalton.
“This will give us a chance to focus some of the other things we’re doing on the waterway,” he said.
It’s not uncommon for the full schedule to be set until April, said Dalton.
“There’s still going to be some additions or changes,” he said.
There were 22 different competitions held at the venue throughout 36 days from May to September in 2018.
The building of the WIFC was completed in 2013.
Before it opened for action, events were held on the north side of the recreational canal since 2009.
The south course held various events for more than 40 years before the WIFC was built.