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The City of Port Colborne will celebrate the opening of the 2026 shipping season on the Welland Canal with its annual Top Hat Ceremony on Sunday, March 22.
Returning to Lock 8 Gateway Park, the maritime tradition marks the journey of the first vessel through the Welland Canal. Port Colborne Mayor William Steele will greet the captain of the vessel – the Radcliffe R. Latimer – and present a top hat to mark the occasion.
Community members are invited to attend the celebration at 163 Mellanby Ave., along with representatives from provincial and federal governments, Port Colborne City Council, the marine industry, and members of the media.
A free community breakfast hosted by the Port Colborne Fair Trade Committee will begin at 8 a.m., featuring pancakes, sausages, hot chocolate, tea, and coffee. The Top Hat Ceremony will follow at 9 a.m.
A livestream of the ceremony will be available through the City of Port Colborne’s Facebook page. The recording will be shared to the City’s YouTube channel following the event.
Parking at Lock 8 Gateway Park is limited due to ongoing construction. Additional parking is available at 76 Main St. W. A parking map and event details are available at www.portcolborne.ca/tophatceremony
WHERE: Lock 8 Gateway Park
163 Mellanby Ave.
Port Colborne, ON
WHEN: Sunday, March 22, 2026.
Breakfast begins at 8 a.m.
Ceremony begins at 9 a.m.
Quick Facts:
- The first Port Colborne Top Hat Ceremony took place in the early 1970s under Mayor John Buscarino.
- Two top hats are used during the ceremony. The first is a ceremonial top hat loaned by the Port Colborne Historical & Marine Museum. The turn-of-the-century Tress & Co beaver felt fur hat was anonymously donated to the Museum, and has been used in the Port Colborne Top Hat Ceremony since 1999. The hat is stored in an acid-free box at the climate-controlled Captain John W. Sharpe Heritage Resource Centre.
- The second top hat is a keepsake for the captain of the first vessel to take on their journey. It is embroidered on the inside with a special message and the date.
- The present Welland Canal is the fourth canal to be built and was officially opened on August 6, 1932. The first canal was opened in 1833.
- 2026 marks the St. Lawrence Seaway’s 68th navigation season of the Welland Canal.
- The Port Colborne Historical & Marine Museum has an online exhibit featuring the history of the Welland Canal including construction, commerce and industry, shipbuilders, East Street and West Street, and more. Visit the exhibit at www.portcolborne.ca/onlineexhibits
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