As the COVID-19 pandemic reaches nearly two years of lockdowns, vaccines and new variants, Welland Mayor Frank Campion says residents and businesses have shown their resiliency.
“They have managed to maintain their spirit throughout. The many difficulties, changing rules and impositions have created inconvenience and hardship but, for the most part, we have all navigated our way through it. Having said this, everyone is looking forward with hope and anticipation to put COVID behind us,” he said.
In a year-end interview, the mayor said ensuring residents had an opportunity to get vaccinated, ensuring businesses knew what they could and could not do and communicating to residents the importance of vaccines and provincial orders was challenging.
“Homelessness and disadvantaged people’s issues also posed a challenge. We all worked hard to help those who found themselves struggling to get adequate food and shelter.”
Campion said 2021 was a roller-coaster ride with the introduction of vaccines that led to fewer restrictions, but new variants that affected residents and businesses abilities to do things and lead a more stable life.
“There is no question that there is a general frustration and a desire to get back to normal.”
While dealing with the pandemic, Welland saw significant growth last year in the industrial, residential and commercial sectors, with a market-driven demand for housing.
“We will exceed the 2020 building construction value of $201 million, and we expect to see more than 725 dwelling units.”
Commercial development has been strong and includes a new winemaking business at Fitch Street Plaza, the opening of Holiday Inn Express behind Walmart, the NB Distillers retail shop opening and the expansion of the Canadian Tire Store.
North on Niagara Street Stacked Pancake & Breakfast House, Party Max, Simply Gas, Everest Tandoori Kitchen, Niagara North Propane, Starbucks, Sleep Country, Firehouse Subs and a new Pizza Hut are among businesses that opened in the past year.
Campion said on the industrial side, Kit Steel on Downs Drive is now operating, construction is underway at Tamarack Lumber off Woodlawn Road at Brown Road, Upper Canada Railway Service is in the works, there’s potential expansion at Intravision Green, upgrades for Valbruna ASW and expansion at Bosch Rexroth.
“It was a very busy year.”
Welland’s growth will continue in 2002, the mayor said.
“We also need to focus on housing that is affordable across all resident sectors from the homeless, those in poverty, seniors, etc. Each sector has different needs, ability to pay, desires to rent versus own, lifestyle and more. We need to have housing stock in the city that can provide a home to everyone.
Campion expects growth to continue in the commercial and industrial sectors with employment opportunities for residents.
“There is significant demand for industrial land in Welland. We get multiple calls from areas like the GTA and across Canada and the U.S. weekly,” he said.
“We continue to work with Niagara Centre MP Vance Badawey, Port Colborne and Thorold to establish Ports Niagara. This will continue in 2022, and, it is expected, negotiations for lands will continue with the federal government and result in business development within the (Welland Canal) corridor.”
The mayor said the city also works with private industrial landowners to assist them in marketing their properties for industrial use.
“Our incentive programs, and particularly our brownfield programs, encourage owners of these properties to clean up contamination and provide industrial development opportunities. All of this allows us to continue industrial development without the need to convert nonindustrial lands,” he said.
As the city focuses on development and growth, the mayor said city council will continue to increase spending on aging infrastructure.
This year the city will put $10.3 million into facility upgrades, including $6.4 million for Memorial Park pool revitalization, $13.7 million for roads, $2.1 million for sidewalks, $2.6 million for storm sewers, $2.4 million for the new fire Station No. 3, $1.7 million for a new aerial fire truck and $1.9 million for bridges and culverts.
