Port Weller West in St. Catharines in Niagara Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Charles A. Ansell Park

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 7, 2024

1. Charles A. Ansell Park Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Au début des années 1900, l'entrepreneur Charles Ansell quitte l'Angleterre pour venir s'installer au Canada. Il lance sa carrière dans le secteur bancaire mais rejoint rapidement les rangs des cadres du chantier naval de Muir Brothers Shipyard à Port Dalhousie où il occupe le poste de Directeur général.

En avril 1946, il acquiert un chantier naval abandonné, situé en amont de l'Écluse 1 du 4e canal Welland, et fonde le chantier naval de Port Weller dont il assume la présidence jusqu'à son décès en novembre 1957. Malgré un décès prématuré survenu alors qu'il était dans la cinquantaine, sa mission et sa vision a assuré l'immense succès de l'entreprise. Aujourd'hui, Port Weller est le seul chantier naval canadien en opération dans la région des Grands Lacs.

Charles Ansell a été couronné de succès en tant qu'entrepreneur et bâtisseur d'un chantier naval de classe mondiale mais ce sont ses oeuvres philanthropiques qui restent en mémoire et que l'on célèbre encore aujourd'hui. Tous se souviennent de sa grande générosité et de son humilité. À l'époque de la Grande Dépression, il renfloua de sa poche les fonds d'organismes

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de bienfaisance et d'assistance sociale pour venir en aide aux familles démunies de la région de Ste Catharines. Il lui arrivait même de jouer au Père Noël en descendant du haut d'un grand pin sur la rue principale de Port Dalhousie pour faire la distribution de cadeaux auprès des enfants. Son engagement et son dévouement au service public est légendaire dans la région de Niagara.

Emigrating from England in the early 1900s Charles Ansell began his business career in the banking industry. He soon moved on to Muir Brothers Shipyard in Port Dalhousie, eventually becoming General Manager.

In April 1946, he purchased a little used dry dock above Lock One of the Fourth Welland Canal and founded Port Weller Dry Docks. Serving as its President until his untimely passing in his mid- fifties in November 1957, Charles Ansell began a legacy of expansion and foresight that made the shipyard a powerhouse. Today, Port Weller is the only Canadian Shipyard on the Great lakes.

While his acumen as a businessman and his skill as a builder of an extremely successful shipyard won him recognition, Charles Ansell is best remembered for his quiet philanthropy.

Charles A. Ansell Park Marker (centre of photo) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 7, 2024

2. Charles A. Ansell Park Marker (centre of photo)

The tales of his generosity are legendary. Whether secretly augmenting public welfare assistance for St. Catharines area families during the Great Depression, descending from a large pine tree on Port Dalhousie's Main Street as Santa Claus to distribute gifts to children or directing funds to a diversity of charitable organizations, Charles Ansell had a life long commitment to public service in Niagara.

The Only Canadian Shipyard on the Great Lakes

Erected 1999 by The Rotary Club of St. Catharines.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Rotary International, and the The Welland Canals series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1946.

Location. 43° 12.851′ N, 79° 12.768′ W. Marker is in St. Catharines, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It is in Port Weller West. It can be reached from Bunting Road, on the right when traveling north. The marker is in Charles A. Ansell Park, accessible from the parking lot at Bunting Road and Parnell Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Bunting

Entrance to Charles A. Ansell Park at Bunting Road and Lakeshore Road image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 7, 2024

3. Entrance to Charles A. Ansell Park at Bunting Road and Lakeshore Road

Road, St Catharines ON L0S 1T0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe

and in Niagara Canada.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Port Weller Dry Docks (here, next to this marker); The Battle of Vimy Ridge/The History of Vimy Oak Trees (here, next to this marker); Hélice John O. McKellar Propeller (within shouting distance of this marker); The Welland Ship Canal Construction Railway (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome To Malcolmson Eco-Park (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Welcome to Malcolmson Eco-Park (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Mary Malcolmson (approx. 0.7 kilometers away); a different marker also named Welcome To Malcolmson Eco-Park (approx. 0.7 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map

The Port Weller Dry Docks, 2024 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 7, 2024

4. The Port Weller Dry Docks, 2024

of all markers in St. Catharines.

Regarding Charles A. Ansell Park. Port Weller Dry Docks formerly occupied the land to the east, across the canal from here.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 199 times since then and 23 times this year. Last updated on June 10, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 13, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.