City of Port Colborne

Cruise through history at Canal Days!

In 2009 the St. Lawrence Seaway celebrates it's 50th anniversary. The Welland Canal is an intrinsic part of the Seaway system and is still a very active trade and commerce route so it's business as usual as giant freighters, barges, and lakers glide past the festival all weekend long.

Only in Port Colborne does the current Welland Canal pass directly through the downtown business district, and only during Canal Days will visitors find an impressive array of special guests: Tall Ships, Coast Guard vessels, a working Fire Boat, and many other ships along the wall at historic West Street.

Many of these ships are open for public viewing, and many of the ships' crew interact with festival guests, or compete in marine challenges. Lake Erie Tall Ship Cruises are available and guests can also book a sunset dinner cruise, or view the spectacular Canal Days Fireworks from the deck of the Empire Sandy.

What better way to celebrate the height of summer than to bring all the elements togather - the feel of the wind and the deck beneath your feet, the spray of the water, the warmth of the air, and the fires of celebration in the sky overhead.

Returning to Canal Days this year is:

• Empire Sandy
• E.M.Cotter 
• STV Unicorn
• Tall Ship Lynx

Sailing as the only all-female crewed tall ship in the world, Unicorn sails the seas with proven on-board leadership programs for teenage girls and women.  Holland-built in 1947 from German U-boat metals, Unicorn partners with Sisters Under Sail to deliver her mission of building confidence, enhancing self-esteem, developing social conscience and teaching the value of sisters working together towards  a common goal.  In 2010, Unicorn and Sisters Under Sail set a course for the Great Lakes and offers several leadership sailing opportunities for girls and women.

The Lynx Educational Foundation is a non-profit, non-partisan, educational organization dedicated to hands-on educational programs that teach the history of America's struggle to preserve its independence.  The maritime challenges during the War of 1812 are taught aboard the American Privateer Schooner Lynx utilizing a comprehensive, interactive program designed to enrich personal achievement though teamwork and the discipline of sail training.