The city is on the banks of the Welland River which once provided transportation for the Neutral Indians. Later, it became an integral part of the Welland Canal system, when an aqueduct was built to carry canal water over the river. Use of the historic aqueduct ceased in 1925. However, remnants of this engineering marvel still exist near the Welland Court House. The court house, built in 1856, combined with the development of the canal to mark the beginning of the town's prosperity. Known as "The Rose City", it has the largest Francophone population in the region.
The Chippawa Rose Gardens feature over 50 rose beds and 1500 blooms. With buildings as their canvas, artists from all over Canada were commissioned to create the largest outdoor are gallery in the world. The result - 28 masterpieces, stunning in their size and detail. A unique trio of events: The Rose Festival in June, the Niagara Regional Exhibition in September, and the Niagara Food Festival in October make Welland one of the region's most festive towns.
For more information on Welland, visit www.tourismwelland.com/.
