Welland in the News
Welland International Flatwater Centre
June 10, 2019
Manager ‘confident’ in next five years for Welland International Flatwater Centre
The City of Welland's manager of recreation and culture Richard Dalton at Welland International Flatwater Centre. - Kris Dube , Torstar
It’s been a successful transition since the city took over operations of Welland International Flatwater Centre from Welland Recreational Canal Corp. in 2017, says the municipality’s manager of recreation and culture Richard Dalton.
“I’m very confident with how the next five years at WIFC will operate,” Richard Dalton says, adding the city is “relentlessly trying to make sure it’s a success.”
Built in 2013 for $10 million ahead of the 2015 Pan Am Games, the facility along the recreational canal has hosted a plethora of regional, provincial and international events in rowing, canoe-kayak, dragon boating, canoe polo, swimming, triathlon and more.
There are no world events scheduled this year and the only national contest in 2019 is the Canoe Kayak Canada Canoe Polo Championships, Aug. 17 and 18.
A provincial rowing championship regatta will take place July 14.
Dalton says a year without athletes coming from all over the world is a chance to focus on bidding processes for other prestigious meets.
“It’s a golden opportunity now to capture some new events.”
A projected 9,700 people will participate in meets on the 2019 schedule — 2,000 of them in the annual Welland Floatfest on the canal — Sunday, July 7.
Last year, close to 12,500 athletes hit the recreational waterway.
Another national canoe-kayak event in two years plus a “confidential” major dragon boat event the city has its sights on for 2020 are all part of what the future is expected to hold, he says.