2. Table of contents 1.) Introduction 2.)Welland Ontario, a brief history 3.)the social-conflict that lead to the fall of industry. 4.)photos 5.)Government programs, implemented to assist the community 6.)investment in affordable housing 5.)Wellness center and community food banks 6.) Conclusion

3. Introduction A brief overview  A once prosperous, culture rich town, expanding off of the profits of it’s thriving manufacturing, shipping and railway sectors, Welland Ontario was a place where anyone could live with a sense of security. With a population of 50,651 residents, Welland has been on a steady decline into poverty due to an economic crisis. Since 1991,welland has lost over 8500 manufacturing jobs caused by strategic downsizing, and moving industry to less expensive manufacturing facilities in other countries to boost profits. This movement of industry has left the city with a 8.8 % unemployment rate as stated by[Allan Benner, The Tribune January 12, 2014]. In respect to the volume of lay-offs and job terminations, this shift in the manufacturing sector has left the people of welland struggling to keep up with bills and taxes, resulting in many families loosing their houses and looking to the government of Canada for help. In response to Welland’s economic crisis, the Federal as well as the provincial government of Canada have implemented a number of social services to relieve financial strain from the affected populous. “ The second-career program” was created to provide funding for skills improvement, and the “ Affordable Housing Action plan for Ontario” to relieve the pressure of high rent in impoverished areas. In spite of the hard economic times that Welland is facing, the community banned together and opened the “Welland wellness complex” in 2007 to help youth socialize within the community by giving them a place to organize and partake in sports, recreation, and social events. The community of welland also offers food banks and shelters such as “The Hope Center” “Open arms mission” “The salvation army” and “The good food box” all to help the community that is in need of full-time, fair paying jobs.

4. A brief history  In the early 1900’s Welland had a population of 1697 people, and a not so impressive industrial complex. On April 14 1905, a man by the name of, Byron J. (Byron) McCormick organized a partnership with investors, former mayor David ross, and Welland Realty Co. to come up with a plan to utilize the plentiful waterways, railroads, and tap into the power producing Niagara falls. Soon after this decision was made, McCormick approached American investors and manufacturers to convince them on the benefits that a Welland based operation would have on profits. The slogan “Watch Welland grow” was adopted. The first brick for Welland's new manufacturing sector was laid on Nov. 3, 1905, by twine producer Plymouth Cordage, and the first product, a bale of binder twine was turned out 55 weeks later[William H. Lewis tribune]. It was almost overnight that the reputation off Welland spread, and within 30 years the population grew to a staggering 10709 people [statistics Canada]all of which came for the manufacturing jobs. Plymouth Cordage

5. Social-Conflict the fall of industry  As Welland’s industrial complex grew larger and larger, so did the appetites of its owners and investors. Foreign, as well as local owners and investors, that had a vested interest in the profits produced by Wellands industrial infrastructure, were looking for ways to boost the numbers that were coming in. The result of this greed was that companies such as “ Atlas Steel “ “Lakeside steel” and “John Deere” strategically began to downsize its labor force, replacing the working man with the working machine. This downsizing resulted in mass layoffs and terminations of positions within the companies, leaving the once secure labor force running to other facilities to regain employment. There was a time when there were so many jobs in welland, that if you got laid off or fired, you could find a new job the same day. All of this has now changed due to foreign owners, who invested no new money into the once prosperous facilities, instead ran them into the ground then just walked away. “The operation was profitable, just not as profitable as some of its other operations. Napper says, “they made that pretty clear — they’re making money here, but they can make more money elsewhere, specifically Mexico... it’s a business issue and they can make more money in Mexico. There’s no environmental laws... the wages are certainly a lot lower, they don’t pay benefits, all that stuff.”[ Canadian Labor Congress] With disregard of the working class family, the manufacturers began to close down, one by one and move elsewhere. Between 1991- 2001 over 6000 jobs were terminated in Welland[ Wayne Campbell, Tribune] putting the un-employment rate up to 7.3% as stated by statistics Canada in 2005. Just as people began to settle, the manufacturing sector of Welland took another hit with the closing of John Deere in 2009 leaving 800 plus people un- employed, GDX Automotive (now Henniges), with 850 workers unemployed, Energex Tube ( Lakeside steel) once employing 1300 people closed. Along with these plants, there were many other closures leading to a 8.8% unemployment rate in 2014[statisticsCanada2014] “ The corporate greed, has victimized the community and left everyone looking for help.

6. Before and Now John Deere Energex Tube Atlas Steel

7. Government programs implemented in the region  Since the fall of the manufacturing industry in Welland, The Federal as well as the provincial Governments of Ontario have implemented programs to offset the hardships that the people of welland have had to endure. The province of Ontario has created the “Second career program” a program designed to assist eligible, laid off workers with the funding required to attend college or post secondary institutions to upgrade skills and training. This program offers financial aid for tuition, books, transportation, and living allowance[ Niagara college website] The program has helped hundreds of people who would have otherwise gave up on a job search and kept those people off of Ontario works.

8. Investment in affordable housing With funding from the federal government of Canada, the Ontario government has recently put into action a 10 year plan called “ Investment for affordable housing in Ontario” this action plan is designed to pump $800 million dollars into the province to support communities such as Welland with more affordable housing options. The money will help to build new housing structures, and improve on existing ones. This program will benefit the elderly, people with disabilities, and people who are on assistance, allowing them to be able to afford to shelter their families[ investment in affordable housing for Ontario 2014]

9. Welland Wellness complex and food banks  Welland has many social programs to help the impoverished community. The welland wellness complex helps youth socialize within the community by giving them a place to organize and partake in sports, recreation, and social events, thus empowering the youth and unfortunate to motivate the community. The wellness center opened its new facility on September 9, 2011. the wellness center offers meeting rooms, a library, a billiards room, a gym, pool and spa, a wood working shop, a 400 seat theater and a computer lab to assist students who otherwise have no access to the internet or computers. The wellness center also offers 24 drop in programs for youth to promote a healthy, enriched, community based lifestyle[welland wellness complex].  Welland also offers 3 community food banks and shelters to help with families that can not afford to buy groceries. The hope center with its mission “We are committed to assisting and strengthening our community by attending to the basic needs of its vulnerable citizens. We also advocate to change the social structures that create their poverty, homelessness, and compromised health and well-being”[hope center mission statement] The Open arms mission, and the Salvation army. All of these food banks are community funded and work in co-operation to ensure the comfort of its citizens, by providing fresh, healthy meals and shelter for desperate patrons.

10. Conclusion A once prosperous, community that had a sense of guarantee, as well as financial, and employment security, welland Ontario has proven that it is not going down without a fight. Even though the greed of manufacturing Ceo’s and investors left the city with next to no manufacturing sector, and deteriorated infrastructure, the people of welland have pulled together and with the help of the provincial and federal governments of Canada to evolve with the change at hand. Although welland stands with an 8.8% unemployment rate, the people are taking part in the community efforts, utilizing the “second career program” as well as the food banks and subsidized housing and building themselves a future. There is talk about bringing industry back to welland, and living prosperously once again.

11. Citations  Citations  [Allan Benner, The Tribune January 12, 2014]  [William H. Lewis tribune]  [ Canadian Labor Congress 2007, communities in crisis]  statisticsCanada2014  Niagara college website 2015  investment in affordable housing for Ontario 2014  Welland wellness complex 2014  hope center mission statement 2014