For Immediate Release:

Help support the preservation of Welland's proud fire-fighting heritage.

Come down and see us at the Farmers' Market and get your free Central Fire Station t-shirt as a gift, for a minimum cash donation of $50!

High-quality, 100% cotton, Gildan brand T-shirts with a full colour stencil of the Central Fire Station will be given out as free gifts to patrons at the Market who donate a minimum of $50 to our charitable campaign.  These cash-only donations will be recorded for tax receipts, as our "Market Special".  Makes a great Christmas gift!

Anna Olson, our Honourary Chair, will be there on Saturday November 16th to help kick-start the fundraising campaign.  She will be bringing her famous sweet treats (limited quantities) to give to donors, and will be available to sign copies of her book, if you have one!

We will be at the Market Square, Saturday mornings, November 16th, 23rd, 30th and December 7th.  

Quantities are limited, so hurry down!

We hope you can drop by and take a selfie, for this Canada-wide event, Historic Places Days, sponsored by National Trust for Canada!

Canada-wide Historic Places Days event

Welland's Central Fire Station will have an exciting opportunity to participate in the Canada-wide Historic Places Days event, July 10th to 17th, run by the National Trust of Canada, the same organization that recently ran the NEXT GREAT SAVE national contest.

The Central Fire Station will be advertised on the Historic Places Days national website and social media, as a historic place to visit.

There will be a cash contest for visitors to take a selfie, post on Instagram and facebook, and tag and follow the Central Fire Station and National Trust.  The national exposure and prestige for Welland will be immense.

Visitors from all across Canada will be encouraged to visit the Central Fire Station from Wednesday July 10th until Wednesday July 17th.  There will be limited access to the interior of the Fire Station every day during the contest, from 2-4 PM.

Contest details:  Visitors take a selfie at the historic place and post on social media, tagging the venue, National Trust for Canada and Historic Places Days.  Three grand prize winners will receive a cash prize of $500.

Grand Prize Draw: Photo/video entries will be placed in a random draw to win one of three grand prizes! Each grand prize consists of $500 for yourself and $500 for the site you tagged. One grand prize will be drawn on Sunday, and the remaining two will be drawn on the final day!

Daily Prize Draws: Daily prizes will be awarded starting the day after the launch day! Daily Prize draws include: 

7 Parks Canada Passes; 

7 Canada’s History Subscriptions; 

7 Canadian Geographic Magazine Subscriptions; and 

7 National Trust Memberships. 

For more details, please visit the website http://www.historicplacesdays.ca

The Central Station Education Initiative (CSEI) gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Niagara Community Foundation’s  David S. Howes Fund, a public foundation serving the people of Niagara since 2000.

NCF connects donors to causes and communities to resources through permanent endowment funds, providing grants to eligible charitable organizations in culture, health, education, environment, recreation and social service sectors. NCF turns intent into impact.

The CSEI recently received a grant in the amount of $26,532.00 from the Niagara Community Foundation through their David S. Howes Fund.

This grant will fund interior plaster repair on the staircases, a new metal basement door, accessible washroom fixtures, blinds throughout the building, a laptop computer and printer and three display cases for the main floor Firefighting Heritage Display.

Central Station Education Initiative (CSEI) is a Registered Charity, incorporated in March of 2017,  and an outgrowth of many organizations and Committees working over the last three decades to find a way to save and transform Central Fire Station into a public heritage building.

The CSEI is a not-for-profit, that is reliant on donations, and is staffed by volunteers.

Members of the public who wish to make a donation may do so by e-transfer to wellandcentralfirehall@gmail.com

https://www.wellandtribune.ca/news/niagara-region/historic-welland-fire-hall-restoration-vying-for-cash-in-national-trust-canada-contest/article_9febafc7-628a-5fca-bb73-b76e889f21a1.html

OTTAWA, April 10, 2024 – Canada’s historic places highlight our history, culture and stories and are the foundation of strong communities. Today, the National Trust for Canada announced the 12 finalists for the Next Great Save competition, which empowers communities to save heritage places.

In the Next Great Save, heritage advocates from coast-to-coast make a case for their project that will help to protect, adapt, renew or improve Canada’s historic places – and win a cash prize to make their project a reality.

Finalists were selected based on the team’s ability to save their historic place, and address current issues like climate change, diversity and inclusion, along with the contributions they make to their communities. The following competitors will be featured in public voting set to begin on April 18 and end on May 6 for the chance to win up to $65,000 in cash prizes:                 

• Cape Bear Lighthouse and Marconi Station – Murray Harbour, PE
• Cité-des-Hospitalières – Montréal, QC
• Greenly Island Houses – Blanc-Sablon, QC
•  LaSalle Theatre – Kirkland Lake, ON                                                                                                           
• Mon Keang School – Vancouver, BC
• Nanton Grain Elevator – Nanton, AB
•  Old St. Thomas Church – Moose Factory, ON                                                                                                           
• Our Lady of Mercy Heritage Church – Aguathuna, NL
• Roxy Theatre – Coleman, Municipality of Crowsnest Pass, AB
• St. Andrew's Lodge – Qualicum Beach, BC
• St. John's Centre for the Arts – Arichat, NS
• Welland Central Fire Station – Welland, ON

With generous sponsorship from Ecclesiastical Insurance, the first-place winner will receive a $50,000 cash prize while the second and third place winners will receive $10,000 and $5,000, respectively.                

Heritage places are vital in building sustainable communities and creating a sense of belonging. The Next Great Save empowers communities to tell the diverse stories of Canada and helps save and renew these important historic sites. Through this competition along with other preservation efforts, the National Trust has supported 932 non-profits working in heritage to grow their capacity in fundraising, business planning, marketing and tourism by providing coaching, tools and resources.

“Heritage conservation is about meeting the needs of communities today and tomorrow, not just preserving something that existed in the past. These projects demonstrate how heritage can enhance communities by supporting economic development, community gathering, entertainment, and education. Each is led by a passionate group who care deeply about the future of their historic place and community,” said Dr. Patricia Kell, Executive Director of the National Trust. “Through this competition, we help extend the life of these valued heritage places, and raise awareness of the social, environmental, economic and well-being benefits that they generate.  I encourage everyone to get involved by voting in the Next Great Save.”

“This is an exciting way to raise awareness of great historical places across Canada”, said David Huebel, President, Ecclesiastical Insurance. “The Next Great Save competition will support a deserving project and give new life to a worthy heritage place in our community.”           

Each participating site will be mounting a campaign to encourage their community, supporters and advocates to vote for their projects. Online voting opens on April 18 at 12 p.m. EST and members of the public can vote once a day at www.nextgreatsave.ca. Voting will officially close on May 6 at 7 p.m. EST and the winner and two runners-up will be announced on May 7.  

Quick Facts

Since 2015, the National Trust has delivered some $13 million to support the conservation of historic buildings and cultural landscapes, and employment opportunities at historic sites across the country. 

Since 2015, the National Trust’s conferences have inspired and educated more than 5000 people with industry- leading conversations.

The National Trust has helped save and improve the outlook for 54 endangered places for nearly two decades impacting the 17.3 million Canadians living in these 37 distinct regions across the country.

About the National Trust for Canada

Created in 1973, the National Trust for Canada is the leading national charity dedicated to the conservation of Canada’s historic places. The Trust believes that heritage places and older buildings are integral to solving community challenges and meeting contemporary needs, including climate resilience, diversity and inclusion, identity and sense of place, and community wellbeing. 

About Ecclesiastical Insurance

Ecclesiastical Insurance is an award-winning commercial insurance company and a proud part of the Benefact Group – a charity owned, international family of financial service companies that gives all available profits to charity and good causes. provides specialist insurance solutions to the arts, culture and heritage community, faith organizations, retirement living, educational institutions, registered charities, and non-profit organizations, protecting Canada’s historic places, both large and small, with regional offices in Dartmouth, Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver.

Central Station Education Initiative is very grateful to the following local businesses for their ongoing help and support:

Watertite Roofers

DocNet and WireItUp

2M Architects

Quinn Custom Motorcycles

Prowl Communications

Bruce Binch Accounting

Regional Glass and Mirror

Sweet Treats and Luncheon Meets – Catering by Melanie Jane

Multi -Trade Rental Company 

Ben Orszulak - Professional Clock Tower Association 

NPH REACH Innovation – Construction Skills program

Budget Appliances

City of Welland