Port Dalhousie

The historic lighthouse and pier

Port Dalhousie, in relation to other nearby lakeports.

Port Dalhousie /dəˈluːzi/ is a community in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. It is known for its waterfront appeal. It is also home to the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta and is historically significant as the terminus for the first three (19th century) routes of the Welland Canal, built in 1820, 1845 and 1889.

Activities

The city's most popular beach, on the shore of Lake Ontario, is located in Port Dalhousie at historic Lakeside Park. The park is home to an antique carousel which was carved by Charles I. D. Looff in 1905 and brought to St. Catharines in 1921. It continues to provide amusement for young and old alike, at just 5 cents a ride. The Royal Canadian Henley Regatta, on Martindale Pond, has been happening for "almost 100 years".

Etymology

Port Dalhousie is named for George Ramsay, 9th Earl of Dalhousie, Governor General of British North America. Dalhousie also gave his name to Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and to the town of Dalhousie, New Brunswick.

Dalhousie pronounced his name 'dal-HOW-zee' during his time. All of his namesakes carry this pronunciation except Port Dalhousie, which is pronounced 'duh-LOO-zee'. It is said that this is a result of the accent of the Scottish sailors and shipbuilders who frequented the Port's establishments (Dalhousie, himself a Scot, used the more upper class English-sounding pronunciation).

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  Aerial view -1920
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  Aerial view -1920
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  Aerial view -1920
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  A memorial in the town to the local soldiers who died in the First and Second World Wars, and in the Korean War.

External links

• The Welland Canals Advocate
• Port Dalhousie's Only Online Community Journal
• Dalhousie Peer Magazine
• Port Dalhousie Official BIA website
• Port Dalhousie walking tour
• Images from the Historic Niagara Digital Collections at the Niagara Falls Public Library
• The History of Port Dalhousie