The Welland Canal Memorial Monument in Merritt Park commemorates the labourers who built the Welland Canal, a critical waterway for the Niagara Peninsula. Funded by a $76,000 grant from the Millennium Bureau of Canada, this monument honours the multicultural workforce that contributed to the canal’s construction. Designed by the late artist and sculptor Bas Degroot and completed by Mylinda and Bill Jurgenson, the monument features five bronze statues and a unique light show by Welland Hydro. This tribute symbolizes the community’s gratitude and the significant impact of multiculturalism on Welland’s development.