The city of Port Colborne, Ontario, will officially open the 2026 Welland Canal shipping season with its annual Top Hat Ceremony on Sunday, March 22, 2026. This long-standing event at Lock 8 Gateway Park marks the arrival of the first ship and the start of spring activity on the water.
The morning starts at 8:00 AM with a pancake breakfast hosted by the Port Colborne Fair Trade Committee. The formal ceremony begins at 9:00 AM, where local leaders and residents gather to meet the captain of the first vessel heading down the canal.
The tradition began in the early 1970s during the time of Mayor John Buscarino. As part of the event, the ship’s captain signs an official registry and is presented with a historic beaver fur top hat that dates back to the late 19th century.
The antique hat has been on loan from the Port Colborne Historical & Marine Museum since 1999. While the captain wears the original hat for the ceremony, they also receive a keepsake version to keep as they continue their journey through the canal.
