A History of Marine Transportation in Niagara, pre-1969
Item
Title
A History of Marine Transportation in Niagara, pre-1969
Description
Marine transportation has transformed the Niagara region and remains a vital component of economic development. It laid the foundations for commerce, settlement, and expansion of the region, and it continues to be a conduit for change, renewal, and advancement. Canalization and other marine infrastructure have improved navigation while facilitating transportation networks that remain crucial to regional, national, and international supply chains. In addition to significant achievements in shipping and canal infrastructure, Niagara has also been a strategic centre for boatbuilding, shipbuilding, and repair. Contributing to and supporting commercial and recreational watercraft through its evolving shipyards, dry docks, and associated facilities.
Toward understanding the foundations that paved the way to modern developments, this paper will explore the historic character of marine transportation in Niagara. Through demonstrating how these early developments led to current trends, it examines factors that shaped the region’s waterborne developments and which continue to inspire manufacturing and shipping operations. Marine transportation spurred growth in boat and shipbuilding, creating demand for labour and skilled employment across the region. Through initial developments on the Niagara River, and later along the Welland Canal, productivity and competitiveness in the marine sector have remained at the core of Niagara’s economic development for over 200 years.
Toward understanding the foundations that paved the way to modern developments, this paper will explore the historic character of marine transportation in Niagara. Through demonstrating how these early developments led to current trends, it examines factors that shaped the region’s waterborne developments and which continue to inspire manufacturing and shipping operations. Marine transportation spurred growth in boat and shipbuilding, creating demand for labour and skilled employment across the region. Through initial developments on the Niagara River, and later along the Welland Canal, productivity and competitiveness in the marine sector have remained at the core of Niagara’s economic development for over 200 years.
Creator
Kimberly Monk
Date
January 2024
Format
PDF
Language
English
Rights
Rights held by the creators.
Subject
Marine
Transportation
Welland Canal
Shipbuilding
Transportation
Welland Canal
Shipbuilding
Source
Niagara Community Observatory
list of authors
Kimberly Monk
Publisher
Brock University
Date Issued
January 2024