The Third Welland Canal

Following the Confederation of Canda in 1867, the new Federal Government enacted policies to promote and grow the new national economy. The Great Lakes and the Welland Canal were central to that plan.

New iron steam ships also continued to outgrow the small locks completed in 1845 and the volume of traffic and delays in getting through the busy canal were a constant complaint. Further delays were caused by the requirement to unload cargo onto smaller vessels to fit through the canal, then load it back into larger ships after passage.

The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre is helping us celebrate our 150th anniversary of being officially incorporated as a City with a weekly look back into our rich history from a diverse range of perspectives.

The Third Welland Canal comprised of an entirely new channel dug from Port Dalhousie through to Thorold. The route of the new canal cut across the north end of the city and took a wide curve up the escarpment, much further east of Thorold, then rejoined the channel near Beaverdams. Construction began in 1871 and was completed, mostly, by 1881. The aqueduct, carrying the canal over the Welland River in Welland was completed in 1887.

The local business community was worried and vocal about the impacts of moving the canal away from their businesses. Further concerns were raised when no factories or turning basins were to be constructed along the new canal, meaning no opportunity for local business to take advantage of the waterway as they had on the previous canals.

In response, the Second Canal was kept open through the 1920s to provide waterpower and access to local ship traffic.

The new channel had a depth of 4.3 m / 14 ft, to match the depth of the canals on the St. Lawrence River and deep enough for Lake Erie to finally replace the Grand River via the Feeder Canal as the source of water.

The above image shows the Northmount as it passes through the Third Welland Canal in 1916. (2007.13.11)

Visit the St. Catharine Museum and Welland Canals Centre for a more in-depth look at the story of the Welland Canals.