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How much does wine contribute to the Ontario Economy?

 

SALES (total retail value for 2003-2004)

$450 MILLION. Every bottle of Ontario wine sold in the province adds $3.88 in value to the Niagara economy.

VOLUME:       44 MILLION LITRES

ECONOMIC  IMPACT ON ONTARIO ECONOMY:        

Every $10 million in wine sales translates into $14.8 million in economic activity in Ontario (source: Deloitte and Touche study).  

EMPLOYMENT

WINERY OPERATIONS    998
WINERY RETAIL SYSTEM    1,861
DIRECT WINERY SUPPLIERS    988
INDIRECT WINERY SUPPLIERS    889
GRAPE GROWERS    1,022
INDIRECT EMPLOYMENT OF GRAPE GROWERS         77
TOTAL WINE INDUSTRY-RELATED EMPLOYMENT    5,050

VALUE OF GRAPE PURCHASES (2004)

$26.5 MILLION

TOTAL GRAPE PURCHASES (2004)

26,450 metric tonnes

ACREAGE FOR WINE GRAPES IN NIAGARA

15,000 acres (5,200 hectares)

Category: Wine

How large is the Ontario Wine market?

• Number of wineries in Canada: 180 (approx.)
• Number of grape wineries in Ontario:  90 plus
• Number of wineries that produce VQA wines: 71
• Niagara wine accounts for 42% of the total wine market in Ontario
• In 2003, Niagara produced 385,097 litres of Icewine and 114,107 litres of late harvest wine
• Total volume of VQA Ontario wines sold for 2003-04 was 11,497,207 litres valued at $191.7 million

Category: Wine

What is Icewine?

The rarest and most treasured of Niagara’s wines is the luscious, intensely flavoured Icewine. Ontario is the only wine-producing region with a winter cold enough to guarantee an Icewine crop each year. As well, no other wine-growing region in the world produces Icewine with such consistency and quality.

Icewine originated in Europe two centuries ago when the farmers of Franconia were hit by a sudden and unexpected winter frost. Instead of discarding their frozen grapes, the farmers went ahead and made wine. The result was a small quantity of honey-sweet liquid with balancing acidity unlike anything they had ever produced. Called Eiswein, it was considered a treasure; however, conditions for its production in Europe remain elusive.

Niagara, on the other hand, is blessed with a cold winter climate that ensures Icewines can be made consistently year after year. According to VQA guidelines for the production of Icewine, which are carefully monitored for total quality assurance, temperatures must dip to -8 degrees Celsius or lower before the harvest can begin to ensure that the grapes are naturally frozen solid during pressing. A host of VQA standards ensure the excellence of Niagara Icewine.

Each autumn, select vineyards are left unharvested so that the grapes will freeze naturally on the vines. Cold temperatures are essential in the production of Icewine. The colder the grape, the sweeter the juice. When the temperature dips below zero, the water in the grapes freezes leaving a small amount of pure juice with high concentrations of sugar and acidity. At the normal autumn harvest, grapes are approximately 80% water.

The berries, frozen nearly solid, are then handpicked and pressed, with the unfrozen portion of the grapes’ juice trickling slowly to the tray. This rich yellow-gold pure juice is highly concentrated in natural sugars and acidity and, when fermented, creates nectar of intense flavour.

Grape growers in Niagara take a big risk by leaving the fruit on the vine after the usual September harvest. Bunches of sweet grapes fall prey to birds and animals. Rain can cause bunch rot, and wind and hail can strip the fruit from the vine. For these reasons and because grapes must be handled with care, Icewine is comparatively expensive. The result is wonderful and intensely sweet but the process is painstaking and fraught with difficulties.

Ontario is recognized as producing the world’s finest Icewine consistently winning top awards at prestigious wine competitions. Icewine is currently produced by more than 70 wineries in Ontario. The production for 2003 was 437,671 litres from 3,372 metric tonnes and in 2002 was 627,000 litres from 4,089 metric tonnes, an increase of 29 percent over 2001’s 364,000 litres of Icewine juice.

It used to be one of the best kept secrets of the wine world, but since 1991, when the Inniskillin Vidal Icewine 1989 won the Grand Prix d’Honneur at Vinexpo in Bordeaux, it is now firmly established among the elite of wines in the world.  Because of its rarity, Icewine is much sought after by international connoisseurs.

Category: Wine

What is the Vintners Quality Assurance (VQA) ?

• The VQA sets production, appellation and quality standards and regulations for fine wines in Canada.

• VQA is to Canada what AOC is to France, DOC is to Italy and QMP is to Germany – quality control from the vineyard to the glass.

• The VQA medallion is a guarantee of quality in Canadian wine production.

• The VQA medallion on a bottle of Niagara wine means that the wine is made of 100% Niagara grown grapes.

Category: Wine

What is the specific advantage of the Niagara VA?

The Niagara Peninsula is the largest VA in Canada, accounting for 80 percent of Canada’s grape-growing volume. The climate during the growing season is comparable to that of Burgundy, France. As if to compensate, wines grown in such temperate climates can produce superior fruit, with better aromas and more intense flavours than in warmer climates.

It is bordered by Lake Ontario on the north and the Niagara River on the east. Where the Niagara River flows over the Niagara Escarpment, the most predominant topographical feature of the peninsula, the river is transformed into one of the seven great wonders of the world, Niagara Falls. (Highways 20 and 56 form the western boundary and the Welland River the southern.)
 
The Niagara Escarpment is a 335 metre (575 ft.) high ridge that winds for 725 km (550 miles) from Queenston, Niagara (near Niagara Falls) to Tobermory in northern Niagara, where it continues underwater to Manitoulin Island and then into the state of Michigan in the US. In its journey through Niagara, the Niagara Escarpment forms an east-west spine, the essence of this appellation. A ledge or tier called the Bench runs parallel to the base of the Escarpment where vineyards benefit from the lake’s offshore breezes, which are buffeted back to the lake when they reach the escarpment, maintaining a constant active flow of air. This circulating activity prevents cold air from settling in lower-lying areas during threatening periods of frost.

The region’s temperatures are influenced by Lake Ontario, which acts as a hot water bottle in winter — raising winter temperatures on land from its summer-warmed waters. In spring, breezes from its winter-cooled waters help to hold back the development of fruit buds until the danger of late spring frosts have passed. Lake Niagara also cools the summer air so that grapes do not ripen too quickly, and then keeps the fall air comparatively warm so that the first frost is delayed, thus extending the growing season. Most of Niagara’s wineries are located in the Niagara Peninsula.

Category: Wine

What varieties excel in the Niagara Region?

Over 60 varieties of classic European grapes can be grown in Niagara, including several that are emerging as capable of creating wines of great distinction. Among the main white vinifera varieties are Riesling, Chardonnay, Gewerrztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc. Promising vinifera reds that have shown great power and elegance in recent vintages are Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Two French hybrids, Baco Noir and Maréchal Foch have also demonstrated great versatility and appeal.

Category: Wine

What is the growing season?

The Great Lakes help to provide a temperate continental climate that has contributed to creating a zone in Niagara called the Carolinian Forest, named after the same habitat found as far south as the Carolinas in the United States. It is considered a Canadian national treasure with more species of rare plants and animals than any other place in Canada. Most soils in the grape-growing areas are composed of glacial till or sediments left in glacier-covered rivers and lakes, and clay-loam.

The length of the growing season varies. When defined by heat summation units or degree days, the range has been as low as 1060 (°C) or 2000 (°F)-degree days in the coolest vintage (similar to Epernay, France) to 1670 (°C) or 3000 (°F)-degree days in the warmest (similar to Paso Robles, California). Bud break occurs on average from late May to early June with harvest generally beginning in mid-August for French hybrids such as Baco Noir, and mid-September through October for viniferas such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and Cabernet Franc. Late harvest styles are usually harvested in mid November, with Icewine harvests occurring between mid-December and the beginning of January, depending on the weather.
 
As in other temperate/continental growing regions, each vintage varies depending on the season. Rain, humidity, cold, and drought can all limit the ripening period; however, Niagara has experienced several excellent vintages in the last decade: 1991, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2002. All have had degree days significantly higher than the 30-year average of 1360°C (2480°F).

One harvest that is consistent from vintage to vintage, however, is the Icewine harvest, where winter temperatures are guaranteed to fall below -8°C (-18 °F) the traditional and, in Canada, the legal temperature for harvesting Icewine. This temperature, or below, allows the grapes to freeze sufficiently on the vine, and to be harvested and pressed while still frozen. The pressing process is continuous in order to allow the concentrated flavours of the mellowed and honeyed grapes to release their intensely concentrated juices without being diluted by melting ice crystals.

Category: Wine

Why is location so important for wine making?

The vineyards of Niagara lie in the centre of the world’s wine belt, between 41° - 44°N. While the area does not have a climate identical to other cool climate growing areas of the world within the same band, such as Burgundy or Bordeaux, it shares many aspects with these regions that are crucial to the production of fine wine. Ontario, situated in central Canada, extends further south than any other province in Canada. Its wine grape growing regions are located along a strip of land that parallels the Canada/US border along the northern shore of Lake Erie, as well as along the southern shoreline of Lake Ontario.

Category: Wine

What is the Wine Council of Ontario?

The Wine Council of Ontario (WCO) is a non-profit trade association with a leadership role in setting standards, establishing policy, and future directions for the wine industry in Niagara. It acts as a liaison and co-coordinating body between Niagara wineries, grape growers, and government groups. In addition, the Council performs generic marketing and promotion functions in domestic and export markets on behalf of its members.

Under the Council’s leadership many new initiatives have been and continue to be undertaken to improve the standards and reputation of Niagara wines and to spread the word to the wine-buying public. Today, largely through the efforts of the WCO, consumers can feel confident that they are receiving excellent quality and value when they purchase Niagara wines.

Membership in the WCO is open to all commercial producers of wine in Niagara, with the criteria that a member must be an Niagara resident and the winery must be located in the province. At present, there are 56 members representing 66 winery properties in the WCO.

Category: Wine

Why is the Niagara Region Home To Winemaking Excellence?

Much has changed in Niagara’s wine country since the first commercial winery began. Today Niagara boasts The Niagara Region as one of it’s three Viticultural Areas (VA). The Niagara Region Viticultural Area, or wine region, have posted road signs and wine routes to direct visitors to the wineries.

THE RIGHT COMBINATION

The climate in the Niagara wine region is perfect for grape growing: geographically, Niagara’s vineyards lie at the centre of the world’s wine belt located between the 41and 44 North about the same latitudinal band as the famous wine regions in southern France, Italy, California and Spain. Lake Erie and in particular, Lake Niagara, provide a unique microclimate, moderating both summer heat and winter cold.

The terrain in the Niagara Region also contributes to the success of the industry. Sandy loam, gravel and clay provide the drainage and acidity needed to successfully grow the Vitis vinifera, the classic European vine that allows winemakers to produce classically appealing wines. The Niagara Escarpment is an added plus for the Peninsula, acting as a natural shelter against frost.

Category: Wine

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What is the Niagara Region?

Found in southern Ontario between two of North America’s Great Lakes (Ontario and Erie) the Niagara region is a very diverse municipality.

Our natural features, rich soils and unique climate have contributed to some of the best farmland to be found anywhere. Niagara’s farmlands are promoted through many local markets as well as extensive worldwide distribution. Niagara has become renowned for its award winning wine industry.

With many other natural features such as the Niagara Escarpment, miles of parks and beaches, not to mention Niagara Falls itself, it is not surprising that the Niagara region is host to more than 12 million visitors a year. Tourism is a booming industry in this region. From the historic landmarks and quaint shopping opportunities of Niagara-on-the-Lake, to the modern and lavish atmosphere of Casino Niagara, you can find an ample supply of things to see and do in Niagara. The region has an abundance of walking trails, cycling and driving routes, such as the Niagara Parkway that follows the Niagara River, to the Niagara Wine Route. The Niagara Wine Route connects at least 22 wineries, through some of the prettiest countryside in Ontario. Niagara is home to many four star accommodations varying from all-suite "convention centre equipped" hotels to charming and memorable Bed & Breakfasts.

The Welland Canal, which is a true tourist attraction in its own right, is also one of the major factors in Niagara’s focus on transportation. We are bordered to the east by New York state. With four driving bridges less than an hour away from major Canadian cities such as Hamilton and Toronto, and extensive rail lines, not to mention a district airport, Niagara has proven to be a vital link to businesses in both the United States and Canada.

Niagara, which covers 1896 sq. km (715 sq. miles), is made up of 12 unique and distinct loca lmunicipalities.  Varying from the larger populated cities of St. Catharines and Niagara Falls with their urban intensive features, to Wainfleet and West Lincoln with a more rural or natural area setting. Tourism, industry and farming, not to mention all the natural resources including our vast mineral resources (pits and quarries) and environmental resources (peat and petroleum), all add to Niagara’s economic diversity.

The contrasting municipal features and unique natural landscape contribute to the diverseness of the Regional Municipality of Niagara.

Category: Niagara Region

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How much water goes over Niagara Falls?

April to Sept. 15, 8:00 am to 10:00 pm - 2832 cubic metres/sec

Sept. 16 to Oct. 31, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm - 2832 cubic metres/sec

All other dates and times - 1416 cubic metres/sec

The remainder of river flow is removed upstream from the Falls and shared equally for hydroelectric generation by Canada and the United States. The total generating capacity at Niagara is about 4.4 million kilowatts (5 million horsepower).

Category: Niagara Falls

How big is Niagara Falls?

• The Canadian Horseshoe Falls plunges 52 metres (170 feet) into the Maid of the Mist Pool.
• At the American Falls the water's vertical descent ranges from 21 to 34 metres (70 to 110 feet) to the rock at the base of the Falls.
• The Niagara Gorge extends from the Falls for 11 kilometres (7 miles) downstream to the foot of the escarpment at Queenston.
• More than 168,000 cubic metres (6 million cubic feet) of water go over the crestline every minute during peak daytime tourist hours.

Category: Niagara Falls

What should I wear to Niagara Falls?

The coldest months in Niagara Falls are November through March, when temperatures average between -6 and 4°C (21 and 39°F). Snowfall is abundant during the winter months. April and October are also brisk. June, July and August are balmier, with average highs of 25°C (77°F) and lows of 15°C (59°F). Keep in mind that the falls affects local weather conditions. Even on the sunniest days, visitors close to the falls can get quite wet from the mist if the wind is blowing their way. Be prepared to wear rain gear or to don dry clothing.

Category: Niagara Falls

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What is so special about the trees along the Niagara Escarpment?

The stature of the ancient Eastern White Cedars found along the Escarpment bears little relationship to their age. A tree with circumference of a few centimetres could be hundreds of years old. Fantastically, the 400 to 1000 year-old trees can be found growing right out of the rock of the Escarpment. These harsh living conditions dwarf the trees and limited their growth and size. The stunted trees have uniquely adapted to their environment. They survive the fierce cold that can occur along the edge of the Escarpment and their tiny seeds can penetrate and grow even in the minute cracks in the rock.

Category: Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve

What kind of flora and fauna does the NEBR support?

The diverse natural landscape contains an incredible ecosystem located in the heart of Canada's most densely populated region. In fact, biologists have said that the Escarpment is the most diverse region in the province. It is home to an outstanding assortment of flora and fauna including:

· 36 species of reptiles and amphibians
· 53 species of mammals
· 90 species of fish
· more than 350 species of birds
· Unusual plants abound, such as: the Walking Fern (this fern spreads by way of above ground runners, giving the appearance that it is walking)

Despite the UNESCO designation and the Niagara Escarpment Plan, currently 109 species are on the threatened or endangered list

Category: Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve

What is the Niagara Escarpment?

The spectacular Niagara Escarpment encompasses farms, recreation areas, sweeping scenic views, 1675 foot cliffs, clear streams, wetlands, pebbled beaches, rolling hills, pristine waterfalls, wildlife habitats, historic sites, villages, towns and cities. The Niagara Escarpment is known as one of the world's most unique natural wonders - a masterpiece of living art that has been recognized as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve because the residents of this significant ecosystem have successfully balanced conservation and preservation with surrounding development.

Reserves like the Niagara Escarpment provide excellent examples of sustainable development, and are valuable reference sites for environmental research, monitoring and educational activities.

It is said that there has been more change to the Niagara Escarpment during the past 100 years than in the previous 9,000 years.  As a result of the tremendous urban and recreational development of natural lands, people became motivated to ensure access to green space where they could walk and reflect.  People came together and built the Bruce Trail.

Category: Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve

How tall is the Niagara Escarpment?

The Niagara Escarpment reaches 1675 feet at it’s highest point.

Category: Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve

What is the purpose of the NEBR?

The Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve conserves Ontario's natural and social capital by protecting prime agricultural lands, forests, water, wetlands, heritage properties and recreational spaces. Sustainable development and land use on the Niagara Escarpment is governed by the Niagara Escarpment Plan, which contains seven land use designations.

For example, the Plan's "rural designation" safeguards prime agricultural lands. Production within the Plan Area includes market gardens, tender fruit, mixed farming, apple orchards and beef cattle. Within the last decade wineries along the Escarpment's Beamsville bench have gained international recognition. The Escarpment's rich soils and the microclimate it creates, along with a warmer climate, offer excellent growing conditions for vinifera grapes (including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling).

The biosphere reserve also includes cliff faces, slopes and aquatic ecosystems. The physical characteristics of the Escarpment landform and the 131 parks and open spaces within the Plan contribute to some of Ontario's best outdoor tourism opportunities. The Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve provides numerous areas for skiing, camping, hiking, boating, swimming and viewing in addition to four season resorts. The Escarpment's 131 existing parks and open spaces are linked by the world famous Bruce Trail, which contributes over $100 million per year to local and regional economies through tourism.

For information on the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve, contact the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC). The NEC has many background studies, maps, books, technical reports, articles and periodicals in its Resource Centre at its Georgetown Office.

Category: Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve

What is the NEBR?

The Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve is situated in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is a provincially and internationally significant geological landform and one of Canada's most magnificent landforms. Ontario's Niagara Escarpment is a forested ridge travelling 725 km from Lake Ontario (near Niagara Falls) to the tip of the Bruce Peninsula (between Georgian Bay and Lake Huron).

The Niagara Escarpment rises above Ontario's farmlands, cities and industries. Its mountains, streams, scenic valleys, waterfalls, woodlands and natural areas contain more than 300 bird species, 53 mammals, 90 fish and 37 types of wild orchids, and it is home to the oldest living eastern white cedars in Canada.

In 1990, UNESCO recognized Ontario's Niagara Escarpment as a World Biosphere Reserve. This international designation recognizes the Niagara Escarpment Plan and management system, which is complemented by continual research, monitoring activity and education. Ontario's Niagara Escarpment is one of 12 Canadian biosphere reserves and part of a worldwide network of 440 biosphere reserves in 97 countries.

Category: Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve

How long is the Niagara Escarpment?

The Niagara Escarpment is a forested ridge travelling 725 km from Lake Ontario (near Niagara Falls) to the tip of the Bruce Peninsula (between Georgian Bay and Lake Huron).

Category: Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve

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What does the NPC do for the Niagara Region?

Niagara Parks is completely self-supporting and receives no funding from Ontario taxpayers. We raise our own revenue through the operation of our attractions, gift shops, historic sites, restaurants, golf courses and parking lots.

In terms of our economic and tourism contribution, we play a key role in helping to attract over 10 million visitors to Niagara each year. It is estimated these visitors spend almost half a billion dollars annually on purchases of tourism goods and services in the Niagara region.
 
We maintain the Niagara River Recreation Trail and many picnic and park venues, where events like walk-a-thons and marathons are held for important causes such as Heart Niagara, the MS Society, Canadian Cancer Society and the Alzheimer Society.

Niagara Parks also supports a number of social service agencies and charitable organizations in Niagara. We are proud of our work with the United Way of Niagara and with groups such as the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, John Howard Society, N-Tec, Niagara Support Services and the Head Injury Association.

Residents and businesses in the region and the three municipalities that border the Park ~ the City of Niagara Falls, Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and Town of Fort Erie ~ and visitors alike, all enjoy the amenities and services offered by the Park. Free amenities include playgrounds with splash pads, hiking trails, boat launches, sites for photography and miles of nature areas with benches for enjoying the sights. Modest administration fees are required to book pavilions and sites for picnics and re-unions, wedding ceremonies and boat docking.

Category: Niagara Parks

What is the NPC?

The Niagara Parks Commission is a Provincial Crown Agency, incorporated by the act of the Provincial Legislature on April 23, 1887.  They are obligated to maintain economic self-sufficiency through the application of sound business practices and must function under the terms set out in the Niagara Parks Act, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Minister of Tourism and Recreation and the Commission, and some sections of the Corporations Act. Along with stewardship responsibilities, Niagara Parks must fulfill a broad range of activities laid out by government, as detailed in the Act under General Powers and Duties (section 4) and Regulations (Section 22).

Niagara Parks is classified as an operational enterprise which is characterized as one which sells goods or services to the public in a commercial manner, including but not necessarily in competition with the private sector.  NPC receives the revenues from its commercial activities and applies them to further the objects for which it was incorporated.  It is self funding but does rely on the government of Ontario for guarantees of its bank loans.
 
Niagara Parks is similar to a private corporation, with all the objects, powers and duties prescribed under the Niagara Parks Act. The Commission operates like a Board of Directors and is composed of twelve members: eight appointed by the Province and one each appointed by the Councils of the Regional Municipality of Niagara, the Town of Fort Erie, the City of Niagara Falls and the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. The Province designates one member of the Commission as Chairman and another as Vice-Chairman.

The Members of the Commission are responsible and accountable to the Government of Ontario, the sole shareholder of the Commission. The Commission’s Chairman reports to the Ontario Minister of Tourism and Recreation.

Because they are a Crown agency, their staff are termed Crown employees and are not considered public or civil servants.

Category: Niagara Parks

What is the purpose of the NPC?

The Niagara Parks Commission was founded with the mandate to preserve and enhance the natural beauty of the Falls and the Niagara River corridor for the enjoyment of visitors, while maintaining our financial independence.

As guardian of a national trust, we are mandated to preserve and commemorate the historical, cultural and environmental significance of the Niagara River corridor. Stewardship roles assumed by Niagara Parks have been an important aspect of the Commission since its inception over a century ago.

In fulfilling this important public mandate, Niagara Parks provides a wide range of public and community services all at no cost to taxpayers. Today’s Niagara Parks maintains and operates attractions, historic sites, golf courses, picnic grounds, a marina, restaurants, gift shops, a School of Horticulture and Botanical Gardens and hundreds of acres of gardens and floral displays.

Category: Niagara Parks

What areas of the Niagara Region are controlled by the NPC?

When first established in 1885, Niagara Parks controlled only the lands and buildings immediately surrounding the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. This area, now known as Queen Victoria Park, encompassed some 62.2 hectares (154 acres) of land.

Today the area owned and maintained by Niagara Parks has grown into what is North America’s most completely maintained Parks system, encompassing 1,720 hectares (4,250 acres) of parkland and 56 kilometres (35 miles) of roadway and recreational trail along the Niagara River from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario.  Niagara Parks is like a city within cities, complete with our own police force, road maintenance, transportation system, snow and garbage removal services.

Category: Niagara Parks

How big are the Niagara Parks?

Queen Victoria Park in Niagara Falls covers over 62.2 hectares (154 acres) of land. Overall the parks throughout the region cover 1,720 hectares (4,250 acres) or land.

Category: Niagara Parks

How many visitors come to the Niagara Region?

There is an visitor volume of over 10 Million People per year to the Niagara Region. These visitors represent citizens from over 125 countries world-wide and represent over 500 Million dollars in economic support to the region.

Category: Niagara Parks

When did Niagara Falls become a park?

The Niagara Parks Commission was first established in 1885.

Category: Niagara Parks

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Is the Welland Canal part of the St. Lawrence Seaway?

The Welland Ship Canal is that part of the St. Lawrence Seaway which joins Lake Ontario and Lake Erie and by-passes Niagara Falls. The Welland Canal and the Sault Ste. Mlarie Canal constitute the Western Region of the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority, with the Head Office at St. Catharines, Ontario, and Field Offices at Fort Weller and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

The Welland Ship Canal, which was opened in 1932. It is the fourth Welland Canal built since 1824. Its construction was started in 1913, but suspended from 1916 to 1919. In 1965 construction of a new Welland Bypass Channel was commenced and completed by March 27, 1972. The other canals had their northern terminus at Port Dalhousie on Lake Ontario, three miles west of the present terminus at Port Weller. From Port Weller, the Canal runs southerly 26.8 miles to Port Colborne on Lake Erie through a well populated industrial area and is crossed by three railway bridges, and eight highway bridges. The new Welland Canal Channel from Port Robinson to Ramey's Bend in Port Colborne reduced the length of the canal by .8 of a mile and eliminated six bridges with construction of 2 tunnels. It is estimated that 3/4 of an hour transit time on a round trip will be saved by a vessel using this new channel. There are submarine cables carrying electric power, telephone and telegraph lines beneath the Canal, as well as gas and oil pipelines. It also supplies water for the DeCew Falls power plant of the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario and for various municipal water supplies.

At both approaches, there are beacons and sheltered anchorages. The limiting length of the locks is 765 feet between fenders used to protect the lock gates. The locks are 80 feet wide and the Canal is 200 feet wide at the bottom and 310 feet at the waterline. The permissible draft is 26 feet and the overhead clearance under the lift bridges is 120 feet. Turning basins are provided at four points along the Canal. There are eight locks with a total lift of 327 feet. The Canal Power House, which provides all the power for lighting and operating the Canal, can be supplemented from other sources in emergencies.

The canal is usually open from early in April to the end of December. During 1969, 53,532,336 tons of cargo passed through the canal. Almost one-sixth of this tonnage was coal and approximately 12,738,576 tons of grain passed through the canal. During 1972, 64,193,633 tons of cargo passed through the canal. Almost one third of this tonnage was grain, with coal comprising 9,805,394 tons and iron ore 13,6000179 tons. This represented a record year for the Welland Canal.

The opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959, which changed the whole pattern of inland navigation by permitting large vessels to carry huge cargoes freely between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes, has increased the traffic on the Welland Canal, which is showing a marked improvement over previous years. On the first three canals, tolls were charged until 1903. Tolls were suspended from the Welland Section in 1962 with only a lockage fee of $100.00 per lock, now applicable to commercial vessels transiting the Welland Canal. Pleasure craft pay a lockage fee of $3.00 per lock to transit the Welland Canal.

Category: Welland Canal History

What is the history of the Forth (current) Welland Canal?

The actual construction of the Ship Canal was begun in 1913 and carried on despite the outbreak of the First World War. In the spring of 1916, however, in the face of material and manpower shortages, construction was suspended and remained so until 1919. Work was resumed in 1919 and carried on under the supervision of Mr. A. J. Grant, to completion in 1932.

The original course was generally followed from Port Colborne to Thorold, but from Thorold north the Ship Canal followed the Ten Mile Creek Valley and joined Lake Ontario at Port Weller, approximately 3 miles east of Port Dalhousie.

Since no natural harbour existed at Port Weller, an artificial one was created with embankments extending a mile and a half into Lake Ontario.

The Ship Canal is now 26.8 miles long and has a width in the canal reaches of 310 feet at water level and 200 feet at the bottom of the prism, with the exception of the new Welland Channel which has a width of 350 feet and a depth of 30 feet. Seven lift locks and one guard lock have replaced the 40 locks of the First Canal; each lift lock being 859 feet in length between centers of gate paintles, 80 feet in width and having 30 feet of water over the sills. Each of the seven lift locks has a lift of about 46-1/2 feet.

Many safety devices are employed throughout the canal. Electrical interlocks control all machinery operating the gates, valves, fenders and signals to protect the equipment and prevent disasters. At the locks, the gates are protected by wire rope fenders, each one of which consists of 3-1/4" diameter wire rope carried across the locks by means of a light structural boom. This boom with the suspended cable is raised to a nearly vertical position when it is desired to pass a ship. If a ship strikes the fender, the boom is carried away and the rope, paying out over brake drums, brings the vessel to a halt before it strikes the lock gate.
 
Eleven bridges, including six of the vertical lift type, five of the bascule or rolling lift type span the canal. Each bridge is equipped with a standby gasoline engine for emergency operation in the event of electric power failure.

All electrical power used on the canal is generated by the canal power house located at the foot of the flight locks and having 3 turbo-generators with an installed capacity of 15,000 kilowatts.
 
Since each lockage requires approximately 21,000,000 gallons of water, or enough to cover 77-1/2 acres by one foot in depth, large poundage areas are provided above the locks in order to decrease the drop in the canal level at each filling. By contrast the average amount of water required for one lockage in the First Canal was about eight-tenths of an acre-foot.

Water is led into and discharged from the locks through culverts with openings along each side of the locks at the lock floor level. The time required to fill a lock is 10 minutes, and the total time required for a vessel to navigate the canal is about 8 hours average.

The original estimate for the construction of this canal was approximately 30 million dollars which was, of course, based on pre-World War 1 costs. The disruption due to the war and the greatly increased prices after the war were the principal factors in increasing the actual cost to be about $135,000,000,00.

Category: Welland Canal History

What is the history of the Third Welland Canal?

The Commission, in 1871, recommended a uniform system of locks for the St. Lawrence and Welland Canals with locks 270 feet long and 45 feet wide and with 12 feet draft, which was later increased to 14 feet.
 
The Third Welland Canal followed practically the same route as the Second Canal from Port Colborne to Allanburg but here the route left the Twelve Mile Creek to follow a new line to the east of the Second Canal and in a much more direct line to Port Dalhousie.

This Third Canal, 26-3/4 miles in length, was opened to traffic in 1881, but it was not until 1887 that 14 foot draft prevailed throughout. Once again ships were increasing in size and number, and by 1905 it was evident that a greatly enlarged canal was essential. Between 1907 and 1912 exhaustive surveys were made, and in 1912 a first appropriation was made for the construction of the fourth canal, the  Welland Ship Canal.

Category: Welland Canal History

What is the history of the Second Welland Canal?

The route selected for the Second Canal was practically the same throughout its length as the First Canal. The number of locks was reduced from 40 to 27 by increasing the lift of each lock. The new locks were increased in size to 150 feet in length, 26-1/2 feet in width, and with a 9 foot draft over the sills. The former First Canal channel and locks became, in general, the weir channels of the Second. Remains of the old wooden locks are still visible when the existing portion of the Second Canal between Thorold and Lake Ontario is unwatered.
 
As a first step in construction, the Feeder Canal was enlarged and a connection made to Port Maitland where a lock 200 feet by 45 feet with 9 foot draft was constructed. The Feeder was deepened and this route was the only one available from 1845 to 1850 while the main canal was being reconstructed from Feeder Junction to Port Colborne. This completed the Second Welland Canal. Locks and other structures on it now over 100 years old still stand in excellent condition today.

In 1853 the canal was improved by raising the banks and lock walls to give an increase in draft to 10 feet. By this time it was evident that the supply of water from the Grand River was not sufficient, and that the summit level should be lowered about 8 feet so as to feed directly from Lake Erie. However, this lowering of the summit level was not completed until 1881.

Up to the date of Confederation, July 1st, 1867, the total expenditure on the Welland Canals was $7,638,239.00. By this time steam was replacing sail, and again the canal was beginning to be a bottleneck between the lakes. In 1870 a Commission was appointed to recommend improvements.

Category: Welland Canal History

When was the first Welland Canal built?

The first Welland Canal was completed in 1829. Between 1849 and 1962, thirteen bridges were constructed across the Niagara River Gorge. Four of them remain.

Click here to visit the Welland Canal Corridor area of this website.

Category: History of the Niagara Region, Welland Canal History

What is the history of the First Welland Canal ?

Although the idea of a canal to bypass the Falls had been broached on several earlier occasions, the first active steps towards the construction of a canal were made under the inspired leadership of the Hon. Wm. Hamilton Merritt, who was convinced that by using the Twelve Mile Creek basin, a canal could be dug to join Lake Ontario to Chippawa Creek, now called Welland River. Vessels could then pass easily down the Chippawa into the Niagara River at a point about two and one-half miles above the Falls and thence to Lake Erie.

In 1824 an act was passed in the legislature incorporating the Welland Canal Company, and on November 30, 1824, the first sod was turned at Allanburg by the president, Mr. George Keefer. One hundred years later on November 30, 1924, a modest cairn was unveiled at this spot.

The original plan was for a combined canal and rail route, the canal following Twelve Mile Creek Valley to the foot of the escarpment and the boats being hauled up the incline on wooden rails. Another proposal was to cross the summit by means of a tunnel 15 feet wide, 14 feet high and with a 6 foot draft of water. However, the Company decided to make the ascent of the escarpment by means of locks and to dig an open channel, called the Deep Cut, between the top of the escarpment and the Welland River.

In 1828, the work in the Deep Cut having suffered severe set-backs, due to landslides, the company decided to raise the summit level of the Canal about 8 feet, and to obtain a water supply at a higher elevation. For this reason a Feeder Canal was constructed to supply water from the Grand River at Dunnville. From there the Feeder flowed north-west through the swamps of Wainfleet and Moulton Townships, crossed the Welland River by a wooden aqueduct at Welland and joined the summit level of the main canal at Port Robinson. At Port Robinson, the summit level of the canal was connected to the Welland River by two locks locking down to the river.

In the Fall of 1829, water was let into the Feeder and the first canal to join Lake Erie to Lake Ontario was an accomplished fact. On November 27, 1829, the Canadian Schooner "Annie and Jane" of York, and the "R. H. Boughton" of Youngstown, N. Y., entered the canal and arrived at Chippawa on November 30th, exactly 5 years after the turning of the first sod.
Improvements to the Canal and Feeder were gradually carried out and vessel traffic slowly increased. At that tire two routes were available from Port Robinson, one by way of the Feeder to Dunnville and Port Maitland, and the other by way of the Welland River to the Niagara River. As the Feeder route had only 4-foot draft and as sailing vessels using the Welland River route had to be towed up the Niagara against strong currents by 8 to 14  yoke of oxen, it soon became evident an extension of the Canal south from Port Robinson to Lake Erie was essential. After various surveys and many discussions "Gravelly Bay", now Port Colborne, was selected as the Lake Erie Terminus. The extension was completed and put in operation in June, 1833.
This, the First Canal, was 27-1/2 miles in length. It proceeded from Lake Ontario at Port Dalhousie, the outlet of the Twelve Mile Creek, up the creek to Shipman's Corners (now St. Catharines), along the east branch of the creek to Slabtown (now Merritton), ascended the escarpment to Thorold, thence crossed the height of land between Beaver Dams Creek and the Welland River and continued South to Lake Erie at Port Colborne. It had 40 locks, 110 feet in length, 22 feet in width and 8 feet in depth.

The Company from time to time obtained loans from the Imperial Government and from the Governments of Upper and Lower Canada and the Government of Upper Canada bought a considerable amount of the Company's stock. After the Union of Upper and Lower Canada in 1841, the Province of Canada acquired all the stock belonging to private individuals.
As the wooden locks had not proved satisfactory, work was immediately started on rebuilding with stone. Moreover, as schooners were already outgrowing the canal, it was decided to proceed at once with the construction of the Second Welland Canal.

Category: Welland Canal History

Why was the Welland Canal Built?

In the early days of settlement in Canada, in the absence of roads or trails, the lakes and rivers provided a natural and convenient mode of travel. This form of travel was, however, seriously limited by two obstacles, the rapids of the St. Lawrence and the much greater barrier of Niagara Falls. Prior to the construction of the First Welland Canal, the only route from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie, which differ in elevation by 326 feet, was by means of a laborious and hazardous portage from Queenston to the Chippawa Creek.

Category: Welland Canal History

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What is the Greater Niagara Circle Route?

Originally conceived in 1929, the idea of a Parkway along the waters edge of the Welland Canal was considered by the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority when they contemplated planting the trees required as a wind shelter for ships using the canal.

Inspired by the canal side trails built by St. Catharines and Welland, the Regional Municipality of Niagara has adopted the Parkway and Trail concept as a Regional Niagara Tourism development strategy.

Since 1990,  the Region has been pursuing its Master Plan in building trails in partnership with the Government of Canada, the Municipalities of Niagara-on-the-Lake, St. Catharines, Thorold, Welland, Port Colborne, and Fort Erie. Ultimately, these works will encompass a Road, Parkway and Trails system which, when linked to others like it in Niagara, will form the Greater Niagara Circle Route.

This route follows the Welland Canal from St. Catharines to Port Colborne; the old CN Rail Line to Fort Erie; the Niagara Parkway to Niagara-on-the-Lake and, Lakeshore Road back to St. Catharines. The Road and Parkway components, to be completed under a subsequent undertaking, will be designed for car and bus touring with 4 gateways and numerous pull-offs with parking at sites of historical significance or natural beauty.

The Basic Safe Trail is the foundation upon which this final vision is based. It will be a three meter wide paved path suitable for safe walking, hiking, running, rollerblading and cycling.

The Basic Safe Trail is a $10,000,000 project begun in 1992. Once completed, it will measure 44km from the Eastern Spit at the Lake Ontario entrance to the Welland Canal to Gravelly Bay on Lake Erie at the southern end. Another 30km of Basic Safe Trail, the Friend ship Trail, will connect Port Colborne to Fort Erie using the former CN Rail track bed. When combined with the other existing trail components of Niagara, they close the loop of a Greater Niagara Circle Route measuring approximately 150 km. To date approximately 65% of the work has been completed with the $6,500,000 in costs being shared by the various governement partners and some local private fundraising.

Category: Greater Niagara Circle Route

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How did the municipalities get their names?

The Niagara region is made up of 12 diverse municipalities, each with its own unique history. Lending insight into those histories are the stories behind the various municipality names.

When townships in the Niagara Peninsula were first surveyed in the late 1780’s most of them were simply given numbers. The names came later. When John Graves Simcoe, the first Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, came in 1792 he subdivided the land into countries to create electoral ridings, grouping all of the Niagara Peninsula townships together under the name Lincoln County. Lincoln and the other countries in the western part of Upper Canada were all named for countries in England, and most of the townships in Lincoln County were named for places or families in Lincolnshire, England.

The name Lincoln can be traced back to the city in Eastern Engalnd. The name is a contraction of Lindum Colonia, the Latin name of a colony for veteran Roman soldiers. When countries, or shires as the English called them, were created in England Lincoln emerged as the principal town of Lincolnshire.

Grimsby

When the township was surveyed in the 1780’s Grimsby was labelled Township No. 8. With the formation of Lincoln County the name Grimsby was chosen after the town of the same name in Lincolnshire. The community that emerged in the township was often referred to as The Forty, because it was 40 miles from Niagara.

Port Colborne

In its early days the area that is now the City of Port Colborne was referred to as Gravelly Bay. It wasn’t until the first Welland Canal was extended southward in the early 1830’s that the canal port-of-entry on Lake Erie was named Port Colborne, to honour the Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, Sir John Colborne. Until the creation of the canal, very little existed in the area.

St. Catharines

In earlier times this community went by a number of different names. In addition to St. Catharines it was also referred to as The Twelve, because of its location on Twelve Mile Creek, and Shipman’s Corners, after a tavern operated by Paul Shipman. It’s been suggested that the name St. Catharines won out because it was attached to the first post office. There are several theories behind the name St. Catharines. The most popular suggests that it honours the wife of merchant Robert Hamilton, who provided land for the community’s first church and school. Another theory is that the name denotes Catherine Butler, wife of colonel John Butler, the Commandant of Butler’s Rangers during the American Revolutionary War.

Welland

Welland was previously called Merrittsville, and before that Aqueduct. Its present name, which it received in 1858, is derived from the Welland River. Originally called Chippewa Creek, the river was renamed by Simcoe after the River Welland in Lincolnshire, England. Both the Welland Canal, and the new Welland County that was created in the mid-19th century, also took the same name.

Wainfleet

Wainfleet was one of the original survey townships, and like the other was named for a place in Lincolnshire. Some suggest that the name was chosen because like its English namesake, Niagara’s Wainfleet also had extensive marshland. The Township’s Coat of Arms includes a wagon wheel and wavy blue bars to represent the Anglo-Saxon meaning of Wain “a wagon,” and Fleet “a creek or river.”

Niagara Falls

The world Niagara is believed to derive from a native word, and was first recorded in 1641 by a Jesuit missionary as Onguiaahra. The modern spelling of Niagara first appeared in 1683. The precise meaning of the word is uncertain but may denote “The Neck,” “The Strait” or “Thunder of Waters.” The modern City of Niagara Falls is composed of two early townships: Stamford, which was named after a town in Lincolnshire, and Willoughby, which was named for a Lincolnshire family.

Niagara-on-the-Lake

This picturesque community was one of the original numbered townships and was labelled Township No. 1. Simcoe later named it Newark, and gave the same name to the first capital of Upper Canada, now the old town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. In 1798 both were officially renamed Niagara, a name that had been used informally since the earliest days. It’s believed that the post office later added “on-the-Lake” to the name to differentiate it from Niagara Falls.

Thorold

When Thorold was originally surveyed in 1788 it was called Township No. 9. It wasn’t until 1793, after the formation of Upper Canada, that it was named Thorold, possibly after English Baronet and Member of Parliament, Sir John Thorold. It has been suggested, however, that the township was named to honour the ancient Thorold family, not just one of its members.

Pelham

Pelham was another of the original numbered townships. It was labelled Township No. 10, and later took the name Pelham to honour Henry Fiennes Pelham-Clinton, Earl of Lincoln and Duke of Newcastle. As in the case of Thorold, however, some suggest that the township was named for the Pelham family rather than a particular family member.

Lincoln and West Lincoln

Both Lincoln and West Lincoln were created in 1970 when Lincoln County merged with Welland County to create the Region of Niagara. The Town of Lincoln was made up of two former townships, Clinton and Louth. Three townships – Caistor, Gainsborough, and South Grimsby – combined to create the Township of West Lincoln. All of these original township names are of Lincolnshire origin.

Fort Erie

The Town of Fort Erie takes its name from the famous British fort built in 1764. When the township was surveyed in 1788 it too was called Fort Erie, but more often it was referred to as Bertie, a Lincolnshire family name. There was also a village of Fort Erie, and a railway town called Bridgeburg. Eventually all of these communities amalgamated to form what is now the modern Town of Fort Erie.

Category: History of the Niagara Region

What is the transportation history of the Niagara Region?

The roadway between Niagara-on-the-Lake and Chippawa was the first designated King's Highway. The first stage coach in Upper Canada operated on this roadway between the late 1700s and 1896. The first railroad in Upper Canada opened in 1841 with horse-drawn carriages running between Chippawa and Queenston. In 1854 it was converted to steam and relocated to serve what was to become the Town of Niagara Falls.

In 1855, John August Roebling, the designer of the Brooklyn Bridge, built the Niagara Railway Suspension Bridge, the first bridge of its type in the world. Between the late 1700s and the middle 1800s, boats were the main way to get to Niagara Falls. By 1896, three boats plied the route between Toronto and Queenston.

One of the first electrified street car services was provided in Niagara, and in 1893 the Queenston/Chippawa Railway carried boat passengers from Queenston to Table Rock and beyond. In 1902, a railway was constructed across the Queenston Suspension Bridge. Later it was extended along the lower Gorge on the American side of the River, connecting back into Canada at the Upper Arch Bridge. This transit line, the Great Gorge Route, continued in service until the Depression. The use of boats declined as tourists increasingly chose to visit Niagara by automobile, bus or train.

Tourism travel to the Falls began in the 1820s and within 50 years it had increased ten-fold to become the area's dominant industry.

After World War 1, automobile touring became popular. As a response, attractions and accommodations sprang up in strip developments, much of which still survives.

Category: History of the Niagara Region

When was the first Welland Canal built?

The first Welland Canal was completed in 1829. Between 1849 and 1962, thirteen bridges were constructed across the Niagara River Gorge. Four of them remain.

Click here to visit the Welland Canal Corridor area of this website.

Category: History of the Niagara Region, Welland Canal History

What happened to the Niagara Region after the War of 1812?

Following the War of 1812, the region began the slow process of rebuilding itself. Queenston became a bustling community, but Chippawa was the big centre, with distilleries and factories.

In the 1820's, a stairway was built down the bank at Table Rock and the first ferry service across the lower River began. By 1827, a paved road had been built up from the ferry landing to the top of the bank on the Canadian side. This site became the prime location for hotel development and the Clifton was built there, after which the Clifton Hill is named.

Category: History of the Niagara Region

1812, who shot first?

In 1812, United States President James Madison declared war on Canada. Artifacts from that war dot the riverside, as do monuments erected later, such as the one to Sir Isaac Brock. Recently, the skeletons of members of the U.S. Army were found near Old Fort Erie.

Category: History of the Niagara Region

When did the first Europeans come to the Niagara Region?

In May 1535, Jacques Cartier left France to explore the New World. Although he never saw Niagara Falls, the Indians he met along the St.Lawrence River told him about it. Samuel de Champlain visited Canada in 1608. He, too, heard stories of the mighty cataract, but never visited it. Etienne Brule, the first European to see Lakes Ontario, Erie Huron and Superior, may also have been the first to behold the Falls, in 1615.

Category: History of the Niagara Region

What was life like for those early inhabitants?

By 9,500 years ago a deciduous forest apparently covered southernmost Ontario. This forest supported the hunter-gatherers of the Archaic Period (9,000 to 3,000 years ago) with a diet of deer, moose, fish and plants. Small groups hunted in the winter, feeding on nuts and animals attracted to the forest. Larger groups came together during the summer, setting up fishing camps at the mouths of rivers and along lakeshores.

The Woodland Period lasted from 3,000 to 300 years ago, culminating in the peak of Iroquois culture in southern Ontario. Corn, bean and squash agriculture provided the main sources of food. With their bellies full, the Iroquois had time for other pursuits and the population boomed. Small palisaded villages were built, with nuclear or extended families occupying individual longhouses. During this period, burial rituals and ceramics were introduced to Ontario. Society became more complex with a political system based on extended kinship and inter-village alliances.

When the European explorers and missionaries arrived at the beginning of the 17 th Century, the Iroquoian villages were under the direction of various chiefs elected from the major clans. In turn, these villages were allied within powerful tribal confederacies.

Unfortunately, inter-tribal warfare with the Five Nations Iroquois of New York State, made worse by the intrusion of the Europeans, dispersed the three Ontario confederacies, the Huron, the Petun and the Neutral. Niagara ceased to be the territory of those who lived in harmony with nature. Still, this fascinating period of native occupation cries out for interpretation and study. Since human settlement requires drinking water, sites within 150 metres of rivers and lakeshores have the greatest archaeological potential. Palaeo-Indian sites in Niagara would most likely be associated with the series of relic beach ridges that once formed the shore of early Lake Erie.

Category: History of the Niagara Region

When does the history of human occupation of the Niagara Region begin?

The first humans arrived in Niagara Region almost 12,000 years ago, just in time to witness the birth of the Falls. The land was different then, consisting of tundra and spruce forest. During this time (the Palaeo-Indian Period, which lasted until 9,000 years ago), Niagara was inhabited by the Clovis people. These nomadic hunters likely camped along the old Lake Erie shoreline, living in simple, tiny dwellings. They left little to mark their tenure except chipped stones. These large, fluted projectile points were likely to fell the caribou, mastodons, moose and elk that roamed the land.

Category: History of the Niagara Region