It’s hoped that specialty “Made in Thorold” bath soaps and “Boat Nerd” t-shirts will entice tourists to make the trek to Front Street this summer.
“We’re trying to drive people downtown,” said Sue Morin, Thorold's Tourism Agent.
In her dual role as the community economic development manager for Venture Niagara, Morin appeared at city council this week with an update on initiatives of the Tourism Committee.
In addition to enquiring about Niagara Falls, the roughly 8,000 annual visitors to the Lock 7 Information Centre “are asking about Thorold, and the Welland Canal,” she reported.
And when those droves descend on the Thorold centre, as they do each summer while visiting the Welland Canal, they’ll be encouraged by student staff to visit Impact Promotions, which will make and sell the Boat Nerd t-shirts, and Da Bomb Bath Company to buy the Thorold soaps, said Morin.
A Yellow Flower Basket will also sell “stuffies” imprinted with “Thorold, Canada,” according to the flower shop’s co-owner, Diana D’Intino.
In addition, it’s expected that colourful heritage Prince of Wales flags will fly on Front Street very soon.
In other tourism news, Morin—whose mandate also includes cycle tourism—said that bicycle repair stations have been installed for cyclists’ convenience at Lock 7, the Port Robinson Ferry, and on Hwy. 20.
Ridership on the ferry has more than doubled since 2016, she said, with 8,794 passengers crossing the canal aboard Bridge-It in 2018.
“We call it ‘The Love Boat,’ she added, since “a couple got engaged on the ferry last year.”
The tourism committee also partners with the Thorold and Beaverdams Historical Society, which operates the Museum at the Lock 7 centre, as well as with the Canal Bank Shuffle, “and they have some really big talent that comes to town,” Morin stated. Now in its 17th year of hosting charity concert events, she said that “Many people are getting to know about Thorold because of the Canal Bank Shuffle.”
“It’s a great committee,” said Council representative Nella Dekker, “and we are looking for any ideas or thoughts.” She added: “I’m still looking to get my little café at Lock 7, so we can get some treats and have a glass of wine while we watch the boats go by.”
For more information, visit www.thoroldtourism.com
