After decades in decline, Port Colborne is back on the rise.
The 2022 census data shows the first population increase in the City Of Port Colborne since 1971. (1)
What does this mean for the residents of the town as it relates to their home insurance?
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UNIQUE RISKS THAT PORT COLBORNE HOMEOWNERS DEAL WITH
Sure the seemingly constant raising and lowering of the Clarence Street Bridge (Bridge 21) can be a bit of a traffic nuisance for residents (especially when it was closed during the summer of 2021), but that isn’t the type of risk we’re talking about here.
A better example of something Port Colborne residents should be concerned with, especially when it comes to the safety and comfort of their home, is how lake effect wind and snow can wreak havoc.
Port Colborne experiences a beautiful warm season between June and September and an arguably equally picturesque autumn season thanks to their many green space attractions, including 21 parks.
But when it’s cold, it’s COLD. The winters in and around Port Colborne are often especially cold, snowy and windy thanks in large part to its proximity to the Lake Erie shoreline.
Due to the volatility of the lake effect, the areas that fall within it can be hammered by extreme weather events.
Most people in the Niagara Region know about the blizzard of 1977 that buried many municipalities in the area, including Port Colborne, but more recent examples include the heavy snow in 2022 that closed Meals on Wheels and shuttered the Port Colborne Public Library.
Heavy snow can damage roofs and eavestroughs, knock out power and break windows. Large amounts of melting snow can also cause basement flooding.
It’s for this reason that Port Colborne residents should make sure their home insurance policy fully protects them in these situations.
WHAT MAKES PORT COLBORNE A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE?
Port Colborne’s rich marine history can still be felt today thanks to the popular Sugarloaf Marina and continuing industry along the Welland Canal that connects Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
HISTORIC WEST STREET
Port Colborne boasts one of the best uses of their waterway with a popular promenade with many businesses lining West Street that attract visitors from all over the area including Walters and Neptunes Restaurant, Candy Safari and Canalside Restaurant.
BEAUTIFUL BEACHES
While Lake Erie may bring lake effect snow in the winter, it’s also one of the reasons that help make Port Colborne such a great place to live and visit.
With a PORTicipate Pass, Port Colborne residents can visit either Centennial – Cedar Bay Beach and the local hotspot Nickel Beach for free all summer long.
Visitors from outside the city can also purchase passes, but it’s suggested to do so early because they can go fast due to their popularity throughout the reg
POPULAR EVENTS
In addition to ongoing markets and other community-driven events, the Civic Holiday weekend draws the biggest crowds to downtown Port Colborne thanks to the famous Canal Days Festival, an annual 4-day event that has become a summer tradition for thousands of families in Southern Ontario and across the border.
HOW MUCH DOES HOME INSURANCE COST IN PORT COLBORNE?
While generally speaking homeowners in Ontario pay more for insurance (an average of $1,250) compared to other provinces (i.e. $924 in British Columbia and $870 in Prince Edward Island), (2) how much a specific home insurance policy costs depends on a variety of factors such as:
- How old is the home is
- What types of unique risks exist to your home or property
- Scope of the policy
- Home security features
- The replacement value of your home
- Whether your home insurance is bundled with auto insuranc
- What your deductible is set at
The best way to determine what you’ll pay is to get several home insurance quotes from reputable insurance providers who serve the area, like Erie Mutual Insurance.
Erie Mutual Insurance proudly serves the commercial insurance, farm insurance, home insurance and auto insurance needs of members throughout Southern Ontario including Haldimand, Niagara and Hamilton.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have about this or any other topic related to your insurance.
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SOURCES
1 – StCatharines.ca
2 – MoneySense.ca
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