Welland Central Fire Hall - Blog by serviceWelland Central Fire Hall - Blog by servicehttps://www.centralfirehall.ca/blogs/author/serviceTue, 31 Mar 2026 15:44:31 -0700http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[Trivia Night ]]>https://www.centralfirehall.ca/blogs/post/trivia-night-2026

Join Us for a Fun Trivia Night Fundraiser

Join us for a fun night of Trivia on April 11, 2026 - pizza, fun, prizes, silent auction, vendors and more. Call Leslie for tickets. 

trivia night poster
]]>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 07:09:47 -0400<![CDATA[What's Good In Niagara Interview]]>https://www.centralfirehall.ca/blogs/post/Whats-good-in-niagara-interview

Historic Central Fire Station gets new life in Welland

Below is the web article from our interview the other day - it will air on New Country 89.1 as the 'What's Good in Niagara?' 

 

Please check out the interview at the link below

 

What's Good in Niagara? Historic Central Fire Station gets new life in Welland - Niagaradailynews.ca

]]>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 12:18:35 -0400<![CDATA[Ontario Trillium Foundation Awards CSEI $200,000 Capital Grant]]>https://www.centralfirehall.ca/blogs/post/ontario-trillium-foundationWe are very pleased to announce that the Central Station Education Initiative has been awarded a $200,000 capital grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation]]>

We are very pleased to announce that the Central Station Education Initiative has been awarded a $200,000 capital grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation that will allow us to move forward with completing the restoration/renovation of the second and third floors at the Central Fire Station. We are sincerely grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Government of Ontario.

]]>Fri, 15 Aug 2025 13:39:30 -0400<![CDATA[Our Grand Opening ]]>https://www.centralfirehall.ca/blogs/post/our-grand-openingGrand Opening of the Welland Central Fire Hall press release and images.]]>

GRAND OPENING AT CENTRAL FIRE STATION HELD
​SATURDAY, JUNE 7TH 2025

On a beautiful sunny day this past Saturday, June 7th, more than 200 people turned out for the Grand Opening of the main floor firefighting exhibit at Welland’s historic Central Fire Station.  Visitors included many friends and relatives of those fire fighters who served at Central Station when it was in operation. 

 

Speakers at the event included Mayor Frank Campion; Madison representing MPP Jeff Burch, City Councillors John Chiocchio and Sharmila Setaram, Central Station Education Initiative President Nora Reid and Artefact/Display Committee Chair David Thomson, all of whom emphasized the uniqueness and importance of the combination of historic architecture and original firefighting fixtures and artefacts that survive at the 104-year-old station. 

 

Platoon Chief Drew Clemens, representing Welland’s Fire and Emergency Services, spoke about the interesting history of the Central Fire Station and his personal connection to this Fire Hall where he served for many years.  

Mayor Frank Campion presented Central Station Education Initiative with a congratulatory certificate from the City of Welland and Madison, representing Member of Provincial Parliament Jeff Burch, presented the group with certificates from Mr. Burch and Premier Doug Ford.

Ward 3 Councillors Sharmila Setaram and John Chiocchio thanked Central Station Education Initiative’s group of volunteers for spearheading this innovative revitalization project in the heart of Welland's Downtown Historic/Heritage District. 

The Welland Professional Fire Fighters Association Honour Guard were present to pay tribute to the memory of Captain Craig Bowman and to all fallen firefighters. 


Captain Bowman passed away after a courageous battle with an occupational illness. In 2023 the Province of Ontario passed the Captain Craig Bowman Act (Bill 127) that recognized and provided compensation for firefighters who developed work related cancer after serving less than 25 years. His locker stands at the Central Station in commemoration. 


Another highlight of the day was the presence of Welland Fire’s aerial truck and crew, courtesy of Welland Fire and Emergency Services.

Central Station will be open to visitors every  Saturday morning from 9:30 A.M. until 12:30 P.M. from June through September  Admission is free with donations gratefully accepted.  The public are invited to drop by when they visit the downtown Welland Farmer’s Market on Saturdays.

Central Station Education Initiative (CSEI) is a volunteer run Registered Charity and incorporated Not-for-Profit.  CSEI leases Central Station from the City with a mandate and responsibility to raise all the funds necessary to restore the historic building; protect, display, share and educate about its firefighting history and reinvigorate it as a community hub. 


CSEI’s T-shirt fundraiser is ongoing.  With a $50 donation to CSEI, donors will receive a beautiful T-shirt with a colour photo of the Station and a charitable tax receipt of $35 (in accordance with CRA tax regulations).  Donations can also be made via e-transfer to wellandcentralfirehall@gmail.com  Please include your full name and address in the comments box in your e-transfer to receive a charitable tax receipt.


Central Station Education Initiative’s volunteer Board of Directors are Nora Reid, President; Anthony Dockrill, Vice-President; Gilles Boisvert, Treasurer; Stephanie Maza, Secretary and Board Members Peter Bryan, Tim Cutler, Tia De Agazio, Cathy Horvath, Claire Masswohl,  Leslie Robichaud, and Dave Thomson.  Honourary Directors are Dan Fortier and Brian Kremen and Honourary Fundraising Campaign Chair is Anna Olson. 


CSEI would like to thank its longstanding volunteers and sponsors and looks forward to a successful future in completing its mission.


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]]>Thu, 12 Jun 2025 09:19:55 -0400<![CDATA[Happy Holidays & Year In Review]]>https://www.centralfirehall.ca/blogs/post/happy-holidays-year-reviewA holiday message and the year in review...]]>

A Recap of 2024

Here’s a look at what your financial support and hours of volunteer work have allowed us to accomplish over the last year. 2024 was a year of progress with the Main Floor at Central Fire Station restored and ready for the Firefighting Heritage Exhibit. Please scroll down to follow the changes. 

Click the Read Now Button below: 

Read Now
]]>Tue, 24 Dec 2024 08:40:28 -0500<![CDATA[Central Fire Hall Receives Trillium Grant]]>https://www.centralfirehall.ca/blogs/post/central-fire-hall-receives-trillium-grantCentral Station Education Initiative received an Ontario Trillium Grant of $128,500]]>

The Central Station Education Initiative received an Ontario Trillium Grant of $128,500 that was used to complete restorations and upgrades to the 104 year old Central Fire Station in Welland, a designated heritage building under the Ontario Heritage Act.

]]>Tue, 24 Dec 2024 08:31:26 -0500<![CDATA[Join Us November 16th at the Farmers' Market]]>https://www.centralfirehall.ca/blogs/post/Anna-olson-kick-start-fundraising

Anna Olson To Kick-Start Fundraising Campaign

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!



]]>Tue, 29 Oct 2024 10:14:34 -0400<![CDATA[Canada-wide Historic Places Days event]]>https://www.centralfirehall.ca/blogs/post/canada-wide-historic-places-days-eventWe hope you can drop by and take a selfie, for this Canada-wide event, Historic Places Days, sponsored by National Trust for Canada!]]>

You are invited!  July 10th to 17th, 2-4 PM

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

photo by k lindy of the fire hall
]]>Tue, 09 Jul 2024 06:45:50 -0400<![CDATA[Funding Received from NCF]]>https://www.centralfirehall.ca/blogs/post/grant-received-from-niagara-community-foundationThe CSEI recently received a grant in the amount of $26,532.00 from the Niagara Community Foundation through their David S. Howes Fund.]]>

$26,532.00 Grant from the Niagara Community Foundation through their David S. Howes Fund

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

Get Started Now
]]>Mon, 17 Jun 2024 12:47:12 -0400<![CDATA[Volunteers Rally for Video Production]]>https://www.centralfirehall.ca/blogs/post/volunteers-rally-for-video-production

Media Coverage by Dave Johnson, Welland Tribune



We were pleased to have the assistance of Andy Harris at Lev8.ca help create a video we required for the 'Next Great Save' Contest we are one of 12 vying for the coveted prize money.  We appreciate all the volunteers who came out to make the video possible and support this venture, as well as all those who are voting for us to help us win!  A special thank you to Dave Johnson of the Welland Tribune for covering the event for the news to help spread the word.  Read the full article here.  (link to the link below Mac) Please note you must have a Tribune subscription to read the full article. 



Please remember to vote every day for us at www.nextgreatsave.ca 

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


Get Started Now
]]>Wed, 08 May 2024 06:38:00 -0400