Welland

Facts:

Population (2006): 50,331*	Local Area: 84.8 sq. km.*
Density: (sq. km): 620.7*	Total private homes: 21,543*
Average household size: 3.0	Average household income: $54,874
Working Age: (15 - 64): 31,635	Retirees: 8,200
Median Age: 40.0
Trade Certificate holders: 3,832	College or University Degree: 8,577
Location: 1.5 hours from Toronto; 45 minutes from Buffalo, NY
Transportation: Hwys QEW and 406
Largest Employers: Convergys; Canadian Tire Financial Services; GenCorp

* Statistics Canada

The Rose City Lives Up To Its Name

Located in the heart of the Niagara Peninsula, Welland's weather is tempered by two Great Lakes, Erie and Ontario. The result being a moderate climate, not too hot, not too cold, not too wet and not too dry. Being central in the Niagara Region it has easy access to all major transportation corridors. Everything from rural tranquility to urban excitement is within easy reach. "Where Rails and Water Meet" has long been the slogan for this City. Located at the mid-point of the Welland Canal, a vital link in the St. Lawrence Seaway system, with major rail lines passing through it and connected directly to main highway arteries. Welland is the place to be if you're looking for big City conveniences in a small town atmosphere. Whether residential, commercial or heavy industrial, land prices are very competitive and quite low when compared to other Ontario municipalities. The average price for a new single-family home is about $125,203 with a one bedroom apartment renting at an average of $600 a month. The heavy clay soil makes the City ideal for horticulture and is one of the few cities with a rose named after it, a yellow blend hybrid tea.

Multicultural

Of all the cities in the Niagara Peninsula perhaps Welland best represents the cultural mosaic that truly is Canada, a fact that is celebrated annually with its Folklore Festival, just one of many festivals the City hosts. With a high French-Canadian population the City is also home to a significant Italian community and over the past 10 years has become the port of call for immigrants from South America, Africa, Asia and Russia. On hand to welcome all new arrivals is the Welland Heritage Council and Multicultural Centre. It offers immigration assistance, computer training, daycare and help in finding a job. All in all everything the new Canadian needs to fit into the Canadian lifestyle.

Community Services

The multicultural centre is just one of many community services aimed at making you feel welcome in the Rose City. Both senior citizens and youth have places they can call their own. The Rose City Seniors' Activity Centre located along the recreational waterway offers programs and services for the 50-plus crowd ranging from trips to lunches to driver education and income tax help. At the other end of the age spectrum, the Youth Innovation Centre located at the Seaway Mall has activities, events, leadership training, health education and employment assistance for young people.

Sports and Recreation

Welland has hundreds of acres of parks, fields and other facilities aimed at sports and recreation. With 25 neighbourhood parks, three outdoor pools, 30 baseball diamonds, two boat launch areas, three soccer pitches, a lawn bowling green, a bocce court, five basketball courts, two tennis clubs, two arenas, a rowing course and a sports complex ­ there is bound to be something to catch your interest. There are over 40 recreational and competitive sports organizations in the City. Golf courses abound in the Niagara Region. Only Prince Edward Island has more golf courses per capita than Niagara. Because of its central location, Welland is within at most a 30-minute drive to some of the finest golfing facilities in North America. If fishing or boating is your thing, the City (located on the Welland River and with a recreational waterway running through it's core) is within easy driving distance of two Great Lakes and the Niagara River. From salmon to bass, muskie to walleye and pike to perch the catch of your choice is waiting for you. The relocation of the Welland Canal to just east of the City took away the inconvenience of waiting for ships to pass through and left behind a recreational waterway bordered by parklands and world class facilities for rowing, kayaking and dragon boat racing. A state-of-the-art baseball stadium (which seats 3,000 and meets major league requirements) is at the heart of the city's sports complex which also features two softball diamonds. The two arenas, open year-around, have ice from mid-August to May and are host to the City's Junior B hockey team, minor hockey and figure skating club. During the summer months roller hockey, lacrosse, wrestling, boxing, circuses, concerts and conventions are just some of the events held there.

Everything's Coming Up Roses

The Rose City has earned its nickname.
Chippawa Park is one of the prime locations featuring a rose garden with others located at Memorial Park, Cooks Mills Park, Maple Park and St. George Park. Annually, for 43 years now, the City pays tribute to its floral reputation with the Rose Festival. A two-week celebration features everything from sporting events to a baby show, a floral show and of course, a Grande Parade. It's the City's signature festival, but far from the only one Welland hosts. There's a winter carnival every February, a folklore festival, a food festival, a Santa Claus Parade, rowing regattas, dragon boat racing, the Niagara Regional Exhibition, a host of events to hold everyone's interest. If you're into hiking, biking, jogging or family picnics, there's the parkland along the abandoned canal, Merritt Island, and don't forget the City is the midway point along the Welland Canal Parkway and Trail.

Education

Four school boards operate within the city, with Welland offering education in either English or French, in public and separate schools. There are a dozen day care or nursery schools in the city, 21 elementary schools, 5 secondary schools and the main campus of Niagara College of Applied Arts and Technology. Niagara College offers 60 post-secondary and 12 post-graduate programs along with two degree programs in hospitality management and photonics. With an enrolment of 6,000 full-time students and 18,000 part-time, the College also offers many apprenticeship and skills training courses. Brock University in St. Catharines is just a short drive away as are numerous universities and colleges in the United States, Welland is about a half hour from the border crossings at Niagara Falls, Lewiston or Fort Erie.

Shopping

You can shop 'til you drop in Welland.
In addition to its downtown area, the City is home to 7 plazas, Chelwood Gate with 8 stores, Lincoln Centre with 24, Northtown Shopping Centre with 13, Rose City Plaza with 15, South Pelham Market with 10, Thorold Road and Rice Road Plaza with 10 and the Welland Plaza with 25. Then of course there is the Seaway Mall, a 555,000 square foot regional shopping center with 125 stores.

Health and Safety

Welland is home to the Welland Hospital Site of the Niagara Health System.  A 155 bed acute care facility, which also houses a 75 bed section for continuing care and a 75 bed long-term care facility. In-patient and out-patient care is available, with Welland having over 20 general practitioners, 30 specialists, about 30 dentists, 2 physiotherapy centres and 14 chiropractors.  Along with 2 private emergency walk-in clinics.

The Niagara Regional Police have a detachment in the City, with the Ontario Provincial Police patrolling the highways­ Highways 58A, 140 and 406. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment in Niagara-on-the-Lake looks after the whole peninsula when it comes to the Narcotics Control Act, Food and Drug Act, Customs Act and the Excise and Immigration Acts.

Fire protection in the City of Welland is provided by Welland Fire and Emergency Services Department, which is comprised of 52 full-time professional firefighters and 62 volunteer firefighters. Operating from five fire stations, Welland's firefighters are trained to handle all kinds of emergencies, including first response to life threatening injury or illness.

All the services are here: a library and museum, the location is in the heart of scenic and historic Niagara, murals outlining the key points of the City's history abound, two Great Lakes are just minutes away, a world-class tourist destination is on your doorstep, everything from casinos to culture (the Shaw Festival) is within your grasp when Welland is your address.