April 10, 2024 – Join a museum staff-guided walk this Saturday down the Merritt Trail
and learn about early canal and industrial history.
Spots are still available for the first in the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals
Centre’s spring series of community walks.
Register at activestc.ca at or by calling the museum at 905-984-8880.
The Merritt Trail: Welland Vale and the Early Welland Canals’ walk takes place on April
13 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Explore the early history of the Welland Canal with a guided walk from Welland Vale to
downtown and learn the foundations of milling, industrial growth, hydro-electric
generation, and the urban character of the city.
Further information is sent to participants upon registration.
The museum’s spring series of staff-guided walks in various historical neighbourhoods,
parks, trails, and Victoria Lawn Cemetery show participants the hidden history around
the city’s urban landscape.
“Our city’s story is all around us and these community walks are a great way to
experience local history in a new and interesting environment,” Supervisor of Historical
Services Kathleen Powell said. “Our community walks offer something to pique
everyone’s interest.”
Here’s the full roster of the museum’s spring walk series. Walks start at 10 a.m. and run
rain or shine.
• Saturday, April 20
Victoria Lawn Cemetery: Transportation in the Garden City
Hear the stories of the people who were in the business of moving people; from the
early days of stagecoaches to the Welland Canal and ship building to the modern
automobiles St. Catharines is famous for building.
• Saturday, April 27
Merritt Trail: Canal Valley and the Early Welland Canals
Explore the history of the Second Welland Canal along the Merritt Trail. See lock
remnants and hear the stories of the people who built the locks and our city.
• Saturday, May 4
Downtown: The Downtown Pop-Culture Tour
Visit the sites around downtown to hear stories of the city’s robust contributions to
popular music, film, theatre, broadcasting, and sports.
• Saturday, May 11
Port Dalhousie: Port Dalhousie and the Early Welland Canals
Explore the rich built heritage of Port Dalhousie. Trace the routes of the early Welland
canals through their northern terminus and hear the stories of the people who worked
and lived in this little town with a big personality.
• Saturday, May 18
Victoria Lawn Cemetery: Law and Order
It’s the community walk for all the true-crime fans. Hear the true and fascinating
historical stories of crime and justice from our city in this walk-through of Victoria Lawn
Cemetery, including court records and newspaper reports.
• Saturday, May 25
Downtown: Snacks and Historical Facts – Downtown West Tour, co-presented with the
St. Catharines Downtown Association
Hear the fascinating story of downtown St. Catharines while sampling tasty drinks and
fare from local downtown businesses.