Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Welland is working with the developer of a soon-to-be-demolished Best Value Inn on Niagara Street to relocate a mural depicting the historical images of a horse pulling a sailing ship through the canal in the mid-1800s.
Made aware of the impending destruction of the mural, city staff reached out to the developer to find a way to safely remove the art. City staff are planning to store the mural until an appropriate new location is found.
“Our city is rich in history and culture, and preserving both is important as we move forward,” said Rob Axiak, director of community services. “We will look at potential locations and bring recommendations to the arts and culture advisory committee and heritage committee for their support and advice.”
The Welland Mural project began in 1986 and shows the city’s industrial and marine history, including scenes of the Welland Fair, steam engines, tugboats and historic downtown.
“We are looking forward to working with the developer to find a suitable outcome for this particular piece of art,” Axiak said.
“This is one of those instances when the city, community and our development partners can work together to produce a positive result.”