The City of Thorold council recently voted to sell the former Port Robinson Fire Station 3, designating it as surplus property. In response to community feedback, the council decided that the property would not be sold to just any buyer. Prospective buyers will need to submit offers, with council members selecting the buyer who presents the most beneficial community use plan. The proceeds from the sale will be directed towards initiatives in Port Robinson, a community situated south of Thorold, adjacent to the Welland Canal.
Having served for 67 years, the fire hall held numerous holiday celebrations but ceased operations in 2021 due to structural and air quality issues, as outlined in the city’s 2024 fire emergency services review. Although the land was initially put up for sale in September, the city took down the listing a month later following community surprise over the lack of prior consultation.
A public information session was held on Oct. 21, during which residents and city councillors expressed their preferences for the future of the closed fire hall. Councilor Ken Sentance highlighted the community’s desire for the property to be sold to the most suitable buyer rather than simply to the highest bidder. City Councillor Jim Handley mentioned interest from potential buyers such as Niagara’s Shriners Club and the local fire suppression company, Niagara Regional Fire Protection.
Residents even expressed a wish for the site to be reopened as a fire station, with the city setting up an online questionnaire for community input on the property’s future use. Following concerns of rushed proceedings, the questionnaire was briefly closed but later reopened until Nov. 11. Residents advocated for involvement in the buyer selection process and suggested selling the property through a local realtor.
Various ideas were proposed for the property’s future, including transforming it into a community center, library, historical site, or museum. Upham, a former volunteer firefighter who spent 20 years at the station, reminisced about organizing fundraisers and community events, emphasizing the sentimental value of the fire hall to him and his family.
Awarded for firefighter bravery in 2000, Upham reflected on his family’s deep connections to the station, with his daughter also becoming a volunteer firefighter. Handley recalled the station’s role in hosting community events like street dances and holiday festivities, underlining its significance to the neighborhood.
The former fire station’s volunteer firefighters formed marching bands that participated in various local parades, adding to the station’s legacy. Handley noted that residents and firefighter families could rent the lower floor of the fire hall for personal events, stressing the importance of any future development aligning with the neighborhood’s character.