The old section of the Welland Canal, bypassed when the current canal was built in the 1930s, now serves as one of Canada's premier flatwater paddling venues. The Welland International Flatwater Centre hosts international canoeing and kayaking competitions — it was used for the 2013 ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships and the 2015 Pan American Games rowing and canoe sprint events. The 2,200-metre course is purpose-built for sprint racing and is significantly calmer than the active canal.
Outside of competition season, the facility is accessible for recreational kayaking and canoeing. Watching athletes train in the early morning, with the flat water and the old industrial landscape on both sides, is a surprisingly compelling scene. The centre is about four kilometres south of downtown.