Naming the outdoor community space at 45 Lakeport Rd. in Port Dalhousie

St. Catharines City Council has approved the name ‘Old Lock One Commons' for the outdoor community and event space at 45 Lakeport Rd. in Port Dalhousie.

City Council voted at its December 2025 meeting to endorse the City staff-recommended name following its direction in November 2024 that staff undertake a formal naming process. A permanent sign with the name, 'Old Lock One Commons,' will be installed in early 2026. The City will also host a ribbon cutting event for the space next spring.

Community Engagement

On May 23, 2025, the City launched the “Name This Space!” public engagement campaign on its engagestc.ca platform to solicit residents’ naming suggestions for the space near Lakeport Road, in the Port Dalhousie Commercial Core and Harbour Area Heritage Conservation District. The City received 209 suggested names for the space, including 'Old Lock One Commons,' or variations of it. Ultimately, 'Old Lock One Commons' won the popular vote with 96 votes, and City staff recommended the name to Council.

About this Space

The outdoor event space now named 'Old Lock One Commons' has a rich history, once serving as Lock 1 for the second Welland Canal, which operated from 1845 until 1935. The lock’s stone walls are still visible today and are a focal point of the stage and seating area created in 2018 with efforts from the Kiwanis Club of St. Catharines, National Trust for Canada, Port Dalhousie Beautification and Works Committee, Rankin Construction Inc., and various private donors. Today, Old Lock One Commons is used as a venue for outdoor concerts and community events, enjoyed by both residents and visitors.