Hotel Blog

The Welland Canal might look like a relatively simple engineering project, digging a trench large enough to carry ships from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie, however, it is one of the most important engineering projects in Canadian history. Built to have ships bypass Niagara Falls, the first canal opened in 1829 and has been rebuilt several times since. The modern version, completed in 1932, stretches 43 km and uses eight locks to lift ships nearly 100 meters between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Most of these locks are found in Thorold and St Catharines.

What makes the canal special is how vital it is to trade. As part of the St. Lawrence Seaway, it moves millions of tones of cargo every year like; Grain, steel, fuel, and more. Connecting the Great Lakes to markets around the world. Moving goods by water is efficient and cost-effective, keeping transportation prices low for businesses across Canada and the U.S.

For Welland, the canal is more than just a shipping route. It has shaped the city’s growth, attracted business, created jobs, and brought visitors who love watching ships pass through the locks. Even today, it remains a key driver of local development and a proud symbol of the city’s history. In Port Colborne, the main water front area, West Street continues to see investments in infrastructure and local businesses. You can walk, shop, eat and watch a ship go by. 

In Welland, one of the original canals is now only active for non-motorized water sports. On a summer’s day you will see a rowers, a few friends on a paddle board - maybe even doing some yoga, swimmers, kayakers, or even a scuba diver! A quiet waterway with a massive impact! That's the Welland Canal. We hope your next stay with us will stop by to see the canal in action! (Canal does close for maintenance and weather late December and reports early April, dependent of the ice on the great lakes). 

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