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Thorold

Coordinates: 43°07′N 79°12′W / 43.117°N 79.200°W / 43.117; -79.200
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Thorold (disambiguation).
Thorold
City (lower-tier)
City of Thorold
Downtown Thorold in 2023
Downtown Thorold in 2023
Flag of Thorold
Flag
Official seal of Thorold
Seal
Location of Thorold in the Niagara Region
Location of Thorold in the Niagara Region
Thorold is located in Southern Ontario
Thorold
Thorold
Location in southern Ontario
Coordinates: 43°07′N 79°12′W / 43.117°N 79.200°W / 43.117; -79.200
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
RegionNiagara
Incorporated1850 (village)
 1870 (town)
 1975 (city)
Government
 • MayorTerry Ugulini
 • Governing bodyThorold City Council
 • MPVance Badawey
 • MPPJeff Burch
Area
[1]
 • Land82.99 km2 (32.04 sq mi)
Elevation
162 m (531 ft)
Population
 (2016)[1]
 • Total18,801
 • Density226.5/km2 (587/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Postal code
L2V, L2T, L0S
Area code(s)905, 289, 365, and 742
Websitewww.thorold.ca

Thorold is a city in Ontario, Canada, located on the Niagara Escarpment. It is also the seat of the Regional Municipality of Niagara. The Welland Canal passes through the city, featuring lock 7 and the Twin Flight Locks.

History

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The first survey of Thorold, or Township 9 as it was known then, occurred in 1788. The earliest communities in what is now Thorold emerged at Beaverdams, DeCew Falls and St. Johns.[2] In 1846, the community had a population of about 1,000 and there were three churches or chapels and a post office. Various types of tradesmen worked here. Industry included two grist mills, a cement mill, a brewery and three wagon makers. There were seven taverns.[3] Thorold, located on the brow of the Niagara Escarpment, soon became dominant and was incorporated as a village in 1850.[4] Its formation was linked to the creation of the First Welland Canal.[5] The village experienced population growth as the canal became more developed. In 1875, Thorold became a town.[4]

When the Regional Municipality of Niagara was formed in 1970, the Town of Thorold expanded to include the former Thorold Township. In 1975, the town became incorporated as the City of Thorold.[6]

Thorold is also the location of the War of 1812 battle site, Beaverdams, where, on June 25, 1813, Colonel Charles Boerstler and his American troops were defeated by the British regulars and Caughnawaga Mohawks.[7]

The 2021 Canadian census identified Thorold as the eighth-fastest growing municipality in Canada.[8]

Demographics

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Historical populations
YearPop.±%
18411,000—    
18711,635+63.5%
19011,979+21.0%
19112,273+14.9%
19214,825+112.3%
19315,092+5.5%
19415,284+3.8%
19516,397+21.1%
19618,633+35.0%
197115,065+74.5%
198115,412+2.3%
199117,542+13.8%
199617,883+1.9%
200118,048+0.9%
200618,224+1.0%
201117,931−1.6%
201618,801+4.9%

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Thorold had a population of 23,816 living in 9,095 of its 9,856 total private dwellings, a change of 26.7% from its 2016 population of 18,801. With a land area of 83.29 km2 (32.16 sq mi), it had a population density of 285.9/km2 (740.6/sq mi) in 2021.[9]

Arts and culture

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Thorold is home to several festivals and annual events. Included are:

  • Mountain Top Ceremony - Held at the Lock 7 Viewing Complex, this annual celebration marks the opening of the Welland Canal shipping season with the arrival of the first ship of the year through Lock 3. Usually held in late March.[10]
  • The Canal Bank Shuffle - A three-day annual festival of music and dance in the downtown core. Features blues musicians.[11]
  • The Thorold Reed Band is Canada's oldest, continually running band of any kind. Established in 1851, this community band's main stage is the bandstand at Battle of Beaverdams Park. In addition to their summer concert series, TRB also performs off-season at Knox Presbyterian Church.

In July 2024, downtown Thorold was used as a filming location for the eighteenth season of Murdoch Mysteries.[12] 11 scenes were filmed in the city.[13] Thorold was chosen due to its proximity to other filming locations and the lack of "contamination" in historical buildings. The setting being filmed for the series was Grimsby.[14]

Attractions

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Parks and trails

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Officially opened in 2002, the Mel Swart Lake Gibson Conservation Park is a 29-acre waterfront park located on Lake Gibson.[15] The park is part of the Niagara Greenbelt.[16] The Short Hills Provincial Park is also partially located in the City of Thorold.[17]

The Welland Canal Parkway Trail is a paved 42 km recreational path along the Welland Canal, from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie.[18]

Historical sites

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There are multiple historic sites in Thorold. These include:

The DeCew House in 1925. The Decew House, which was the destination of Laura Secord's journey to warn the British of a planned American attack. Thanks to her warning, FitzGibbon was prepared for the attack, and in the ensuing Battle of Beaver Dams was able to secure the surrender of an American force of approximately 500 men.[19] In 1950, it was destroyed by a fire.[20]
The Old Fire Hall at 12 Albert Street West. It was constructed in 1878 and designed by the architect John Latshaw. The building was repurposed as a design studio.[21]
Chestnut Hall is a historic building that was the home of John McDonagh, who was the mayor of the Village of Thorold. It is attached to the Thorold Public Library.[22]
The St. Johns Common School was the first non-denominational free school in Upper Canada, and remained in use until 1844, when a new school was built nearby. The cabin continues to be used for educational purposes, and is the oldest extant public school in Ontario.[23][24][25]
The Keefer Mansion is a building with ten rooms and bathrooms. It is also known as Maplehurst. It is owned by the city and has been leased as an inn.[26]
Welland Mills was a flour mill built by Jacob Keefer.[27]
  • The Beaverdams Methodist Church and Cemetery on Marlatt's Road. It was constructed in 1832. Beaverdams Church is the oldest Methodist Church still standing in Ontario. The first minister to preach in the chapel was Reverend Egerton Ryerson, who is largely responsible for founding the province of Ontario's education system.
  • A war memorial monument that commemorates World War I, World War II and the Korean War. Located in Memorial Park, at the corner of Albert and Chapel streets, it was unveiled on Sunday, October 30, 1921 and was erected by the citizens of Thorold to: "Honour the Memory of the Men of Thorold, who gave their lives for the cause of freedom in the great war, and in grateful remembrance of those who shared its dangers."
  • The Old Public Library at 1 Ormond Street South. It is one of 156 Carnegie libraries to have been funded in Canada. The building, designed by architect A. E. Nicholson, was opened in 1912. The library moved from here to its present home in Chestnut Hall in 1983. The building now serves as office space.

Sports

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The Thorold Blackhawks, founded in 1963, are a Junior 'B' hockey team in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. The Blackhawks were Golden Horseshoe Junior Hockey League Champions in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 and Golden Horseshoe Conference Champions in 2008. In 2005, the team went on to capture the Sutherland Cup as the best Junior 'B' team in Ontario. Notable former players include Nathan Horton, Dwayne Roloson, Conor Timmins and Owen Nolan. The Blackhawks home rink is the Thorold Community Arena in downtown Thorold. The team colours are black, white and red.

Infrastructure

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Transportation

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The Thorold Tunnel is an underwater vehicular tunnel, built between 1965 and 1967, which allows Highway 58 to cross the Welland Canal without interrupting shipping. Approximately 24,300 vehicles pass through the tunnel daily.[28]

Niagara Detention Centre

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Thorold is home to the Niagara Detention Centre, a 260-person capacity maximum-security prison. It generally serves people on remand, offenders sentenced to short terms (60 days or less), and offenders awaiting transfer to larger federal or provincial facilities.[29]

Education

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Thorold Secondary School is the only high school in the city. In 2012, District School Board of Niagara trustees voted on whether to close the school and decided to keep it open.[30] Thorold is close in proximity to Brock University and therefore has a large student population.[31] In 2021, four students were arrested after a large street party took place in the city.[32]

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Thorold, Ontario census profile". 2016 Census of Population. Statistics Canada. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
  2. ^ "History". Archived from the original on January 16, 2018.
  3. ^ Smith, Wm. H. (1846). Smith's Canadian Gazetteer - Statistical and General Information Respecting all parts of The Upper Province, or Canada West. Toronto: H. & W. Rowsell. p. 191. Archived from the original on 2016-04-03. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
  4. ^ a b Gayler, Hugh. "Thorold". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Canals". City of Thorold. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  6. ^ Gayler, Hugh. "Thorold". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  7. ^ Collins, Gilbert (2006). Guidebook to the Historic Sites of the War of 1812 (2 ed.). Dundern Press. p. 155. ISBN 9781550029147. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  8. ^ Drevfjall, Ludvig. "Welcome to Thorold—Population: 23,816". Thorold Today. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Ontario". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  10. ^ "Lock 7 Viewing Complex". Brock University and Tourism Niagara. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  11. ^ "Canal Bank Shuffle". Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  12. ^ Tymczyszyn, Bob. "Photos: Thorold gets makeover for 'Murdoch Mysteries' filming". St. Catharines Standard. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  13. ^ "'Murdoch Mysteries' to film in downtown Thorold". Niagara This Week. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  14. ^ Hutton, Richard. "Making Murdoch: 'The biggest challenge is that it's not 1911'". Pelham Today. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  15. ^ "Community Parks - City of Thorold". City of Thorold. April 23, 2022. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  16. ^ "Community Parks - City of Thorold". City of Thorold. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  17. ^ "Short Hills Provincial Park Management Plan". Ontario.ca. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  18. ^ "Trails". The City of Thorold. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  19. ^ Collins, Gilbert (2006). Guidebook to the Historic Sites of the War of 1812. Toronto: Dundurn Press Ltd. pp. 153–154. ISBN 1-55002-626-7.
  20. ^ "DeCew House, Thorold". Brock University. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  21. ^ Blay, Jeff. "Niagara designer breathes new life into Thorold's old firehall". St. Catharines Standard. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  22. ^ "Chestnut Hall 'badly showing its age'". Niagara This Week. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  23. ^ "St. Johns Village". Niagara Greenbelt. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  24. ^ "The Pioneers at St. Johns Short Hills Upper Canada" (PDF). Niagara Catholic District School Board. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  25. ^ "St. Johns Common School 1804". Niagara Greenbelt. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  26. ^ Walter, Karena. "Thorold's historic Keefer Mansion up for lease". St. Catharines Standard. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  27. ^ "Welland Mills, The". Ontario Heritage Trust. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  28. ^ Gannon, Dennis. "Yesterday and Today: The Thorold Tunnel turns 50". St. Catharines Standard. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  29. ^ "Niagara Detention Centre". Niagara Community Information Database. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012.
  30. ^ "Keeping Thorold high school 'logical' choice". Niagara This Week. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  31. ^ Camlasaran, Megan. "Why people are flocking to Thorold". Thorold Today. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  32. ^ Lansbergen, Bernard; Drevfjall, Ludvig. "Rowdy party weekend in Juneberry-area of Thorold leads to 4 arrests and furious neighbours". Thorold Today. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  33. ^ Blay, Jeff. "Owen Nolan to be inducted into Thorold's Runway of Recognition". Niagara Falls Review. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  34. ^ a b Lansbergen, Bernard. "Thorold hockey star enjoying shift to new career". ThoroldToday. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  35. ^ Liddycoat, Bob. "NHL dream come true for Timmins". ThoroldToday. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
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