Welland to explore canal-side motel interest
City looks to expand free Wi-Fi, hire tourism co-ordinator
As Welland grows it needs to be a city that people want to live in, says Mayor Frank Campion.
“We’re doing well on the development side but we need to do a lot more to encourage people to live here,” Campion says.
While making the city attractive for people to move to, Welland also must look to its residents.
“How do we improve the lives of residents here, how do we make people want to stay here?”
Campion says the city can do more and working is toward that goal now for present and future residents.
He speaks of the Lincoln
Street Docks area and how it has grown over the past few years with the annual Welland Floatfest event and the installation of a new skate park last year. He says a report is coming to council about the area’s future.
Last year, the city started to improve the area with the addition of benches. It was Phase 1 of a two-phase development along the Welland Recreational Canal at the docks. The improvements were to also include public docks for swimming, picnic tables, bike racks, barbecues and shaded sitting areas.
Phase 2 is to include a new boathouse for the canoe-kayak rental program, improved parking area, an area for food trucks, temporary washrooms and a possible pickleball court.
“Things like that can really enhance the lifestyle of the community … we can make the docks a destination for people.”
Repurposing the plaza in front of city hall and finding a way to create more buzz and vibe, like that created when the city broadcast the last Tragically Hip concert on the outdoor big screen, is another way to attract future residents and enhance the lives of current residents, Campion says.
“What other opportunities are there to bring people downtown?”
Campion says the city is looking to expand the free Wi-Fi network it has now. There’s already expanded coverage around Merritt Island.
“We want to do a lot more for people. We’re looking at creating places people want to go with the amenities they want — a place to
charge their cellphones, sit and work with their laptops.”
With a diverse group of cultures in the city, the mayor says ethnic groups can play a role in helping bring in new residents and engaging those who live in Welland now.
“We can all work together and take a real holistic approach to our community.”
Another way to make the city attractive for all is to increase its tourism potential, he says.
Campion says the city has a good sports tourism market but needs to a better job and get more into the tourism business in general.
“We have to create enough for people to do so they will come here and want to stay here.”
Part of that involves having more hotel space for people to stay in when they do come, the mayor says.
When events take place now at Welland International Flatwater Centre all of the motel rooms in the city fill up.
People have to go outside of Welland to stay.
“There are people interested in building motels in Welland … but there needs to be a reason for people to come here when there are no events happening. We need to be successful at creating events and things people want to do, and then someone will build a motel.”
During budget talks scheduled for today, Campion says, a waterway-tourism co-ordinator is being proposed as a new hire for the city.
“If we can get that person then they will have a focus on bringing more events to the city and waterway.”
Campion says the recreational canal and flatwater centre can be put to more use than the events and competitions that take place now. The more events that take place and the more the centre is booked into the future, the more attractive it makes Welland as a place for someone to build a motel, he says.
He says the city is looking to the north end as a place for a possible motel along the waterway. Welland soon will put out a request for proposals on lands it owns along the recreational canal behind the Seaway Mall.
“It’s an ideal location for commercial, residential and hotel along the waterfront. All of those things can be in one place, making it a destination itself. There’s a lot of national and international interest already. It’s a feature that could take us over the top.”
Campion says there is a team of dedicated people at city hall looking to make Welland the best place to live in Ontario, Canada and the world.
“We want to make this a great place to live, we just have to start doing it.”