Pelham, Ontario

See also: Pelham
Pelham
Town (lower-tier)
Town of Pelham
Pelham
Coordinates: 43°02′N 79°20′W / 43.033°N 79.333°W / 43.033; -79.333Coordinates: 43°02′N 79°20′W / 43.033°N 79.333°W / 43.033; -79.333
Country  Canada
Province  Ontario
Region Niagara
Formed 1970
Government
 • Mayor Dave Augustyn
 • Federal riding Niagara West—Glanbrook
 • Prov. riding Niagara West—Glanbrook
Area[1]
 • Land 126.42 km2 (48.81 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 16,598
 • Density 131.3/km2 (340/sq mi)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Postal Code L0S
Area code(s) 905, 289, 365
Website www.pelham.ca

The Town of Pelham (2011 population 16,598) is located in the centre of Niagara Region in Ontario, Canada.

The town's southern boundary is formed by the Welland River, a meandering waterway that flows into the Niagara River. To the west is the township of West Lincoln, to the east the city of Welland, and to the north the city of St. Catharines. North Pelham contains the picturesque Short Hills (see attractions). Two important creeks have their headwaters within Pelham; Coyle Creek, which flows south into the Welland River, and Twelve Mile creek, a spring-fed stream that flows north into Lake Ontario.

History

Pelham Township was part of Welland County since the late 1780s. The Town of Pelham (est. 1970) derived its name from Pelham Township which was so named by John Graves Simcoe in the 1790's. Simcoe gave names to the Townships of Niagara that were created to provide land for Loyalist refugees, disbanded troops former rangers and others after the British defeat in the Revolutionary War (which ended in 1783) . At the beginning , the townships were only numbered and not named. The policy of Simcoe was to adopt township names from England. Pelham was named after the Pelham family though it unsure which particluar Pelham family member it is attributed to - either Henry Fiennes Pelham-Clinton (nephew to 2 Prime Ministers and considered powerful and influential) or Charles Anderson Pelham (a quiet MP that spoke only once in 26 years in the House of Commons). (source Alun Hughes , Brock University 2013 copyright - The Naming of Niagara's Townships)

From the top of the Fonthill Kame Delta hill, a unique topographical feature, ( Ontario Geological Society 1970) and ANSI protected site ( Area of Natural Scientific Interest - ANSI) on a clear day it is possible to see Toronto, Hamilton and western New York state. At one time a ski tow was installed on the north side of the Kame Delta Hill on what is now Lookout Point Golf and Country Club ( est. 1922) , but it was a commercial failure and no longer operates.

In 1970, the Town of Pelham unified five historical communities: Fonthill, Ridgeville, Effingham, North Pelham and Fenwick into a single town covering 126.42 square kilometres. This integration brought together a mix of farming (agriculture) and growing commercialism.

Attractions

The Comfort Maple Tree is estimated to be Canada's oldest surviving Sugar Maple tree, approximately 500 years old. Named after the Comfort family on whose land the tree was located and the Comfort family deeded the area of the tree to the Niagara Peninsula Conservation authority. It has been designated a Conservation site for its biological and historical significance. The Comfort Maple is located in the village of North Pelham.

Short Hills Provincial Park, located along the northern border of Pelham, is a wildlife preserve of 6.6 square kilometres. It once consisted of a valley filled with sedimentary deposits and glacial till, until Twelve Mile Creek sliced through, forming the "Short Hills." In addition there is also St. John's Conservation area, which has a fish pond and a set of trails.

Pelham is a good location for avid golfers, having a steadily growing number of golf courses. The town's oldest course, Lookout Point Golf and Country Club, was founded in 1922 by a group of Welland businessmen. (Its name has been shortened to Lookout Point Country Club.)

Notable people from Pelham

Steve Bauer grew up in Fenwick winning a silver medal at the 1984 Olympics in cycling and later became a professional cyclist. He wore the yellow jersey at the Tour de France during several years of racing in France in the 1980s. There is a series of walking and biking trails throughout the municipality which are named after him.

World Golf Hall of Fame inductee Marlene Streit also grew up in Pelham, belonged to the Lookout Point Golf and Country Club, and has a park in the Town's core named after her.

CTV's morning show Canada AM's weather and sports man, Jeff Hutcheson currently lives in Fenwick.

Former NHL enforcer Matt Johnson was raised and lived in Fenwick Ontario, although his birthplace is listed as Welland Ontario, as this is where the local hospital is located.

Natalie Mastracci, Silver Medalist for rowing at the 2012 Olympic Games went to St. Alexander School in Fonthill, Ontario

Lacrosse player Mike Accursi is from Pelham.

Government

The Town is divided into three wards, each of which elects two councillors to sit on Town Council for a period of four years. The Mayor is elected separately and also serves a term of four years. After serving 2 terms from 2006-2014 mayor Dave Augustyn was reelected for a 3rd term and will serve 2014-2018. Additionally a regional councillor is elected to represent Pelham at the Regional Municipality of Niagara government-level.

Demographics

Census Population
1971 9,997
1981 11,104
1991 13,328
2001 15,272
2006 16,155
2011 16,598

According to the Canada 2011 Census:

According to the Canada 2006 Census:

Sports and recreation

Pelham's sports include:

Pelham's clubs include:

Climate

Climate data for Ridgeville
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 17.0
(62.6)		 19.5
(67.1)		 26.0
(78.8)		 32.0
(89.6)		 31.0
(87.8)		 33.0
(91.4)		 35.5
(95.9)		 35.0
(95)		 33.9
(93)		 29.4
(84.9)		 25.0
(77)		 20.0
(68)		 35.5
(95.9)
Average high °C (°F) −1.8
(28.8)		 −0.8
(30.6)		 4.3
(39.7)		 11.4
(52.5)		 18.5
(65.3)		 23.1
(73.6)		 25.8
(78.4)		 24.7
(76.5)		 20.5
(68.9)		 14.0
(57.2)		 7.3
(45.1)		 1.3
(34.3)		 12.4
(54.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) −4.9
(23.2)		 −4.1
(24.6)		 0.6
(33.1)		 6.9
(44.4)		 13.6
(56.5)		 18.5
(65.3)		 21.4
(70.5)		 20.6
(69.1)		 16.5
(61.7)		 10.3
(50.5)		 4.3
(39.7)		 −1.7
(28.9)		 8.5
(47.3)
Average low °C (°F) −8.1
(17.4)		 −7.4
(18.7)		 −3.2
(26.2)		 2.4
(36.3)		 8.6
(47.5)		 13.9
(57)		 17.1
(62.8)		 16.4
(61.5)		 12.6
(54.7)		 6.6
(43.9)		 1.2
(34.2)		 −4.6
(23.7)		 4.6
(40.3)
Record low °C (°F) −25.5
(−13.9)		 −24.4
(−11.9)		 −21
(−6)		 −11.7
(10.9)		 −3.5
(25.7)		 2.8
(37)		 5.0
(41)		 5.0
(41)		 1.1
(34)		 −3.9
(25)		 −12.2
(10)		 −26
(−15)		 −26
(−15)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 67.5
(2.657)		 58.2
(2.291)		 70.7
(2.783)		 76.4
(3.008)		 79.4
(3.126)		 89.9
(3.539)		 73.3
(2.886)		 84.4
(3.323)		 96.7
(3.807)		 79.1
(3.114)		 82.9
(3.264)		 86.3
(3.398)		 944.6
(37.189)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 31.5
(1.24)		 30.6
(1.205)		 52.4
(2.063)		 71.2
(2.803)		 79.0
(3.11)		 89.9
(3.539)		 73.3
(2.886)		 84.4
(3.323)		 96.7
(3.807)		 78.9
(3.106)		 72.7
(2.862)		 57.2
(2.252)		 817.7
(32.193)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 36.0
(14.17)		 28.7
(11.3)		 18.3
(7.2)		 5.3
(2.09)		 0.4
(0.16)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0.2
(0.08)		 7.2
(2.83)		 29.1
(11.46)		 125.1
(49.25)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 10.5 8.7 9.1 10.5 10.5 10.2 8.4 8.8 9.6 9.8 10.8 11.4 118.4
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 4.7 3.8 6.9 9.7 10.5 10.2 8.4 8.8 9.6 9.8 9.3 6.7 98.5
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 6.3 5.3 2.9 1.0 0.07 0 0 0 0 0.03 1.7 5.6 22.9
Source: Environment Canada[2]

Communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 2011 Census Profile
  2. ↑ Environment Canada—Canadian Climate Normals 1971-2000. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
 Lincoln St. Catharines
West Lincoln Thorold
Welland
   Pelham  
Wainfleet
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