The City of Thorold, which takes in the communities of Allanburg and Port Robinson, owes its existence to the building of the first Welland Canal in 1824. Today, it's the site of the Flight Locks, which raise ships higher and over a shorter distance than canals elsewhere worldwide. For a long time it enjoyed great prosperity due to the paper and pulp mills that sprang up around the canal, but this industry, though it remains, is no longer the pre-eminent local employer. Neverthless, reminders of the earlier days can be seen in the many heritage buildings and homes that grace the downtown area.
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