Goose Island and the Interlake Tissue Mill are both located in St. Catharine's, Ontario. Over the course of many years we have seen drastic changes in both the locations of Goose Island and the Interlake Tissue Mill. Originally Goose Island was a small island situated in the middle of many canals of water. Prior to the development of the canals, the land was used for early settlement in the mid 1800's for post-war settlers looking for job opportunities and the ability to start a new life in the area. Although not confirmed, there is an assumption that Goose Islands name derives from the shape of the island after the channels were dug out; that it resembles the head of a goose. It has since ceased to be an island as the canals have all been filled in. It is now home to many residential areas as well as industrialized buildings such as the Interlake Tissue Mill. Remains of the island survived to this day, such as the bridge from the first Welland Canal, and a smaller walking bridge that crosses the Second Welland Canal in the South. The first purpose of Goose Island was to maintain water channel levels and harness this flow for mills and factories; hence the tissue mills within such close proximity. Much of the underlying land on Goose Island is made up of limestone and shale. Located in the small town of Merritton, The Interlake Tissue Mill, on Merritt St. in St. Catharines was built in 1912, and supplies 70 per cent of all the coffee filters used in North America, along with other paper products such as absorbent towels. This part of town was recognized as the industrial corridor and is mainly a product of advances in technology, specifically transportation and communication. Due to its pristine location, the Welland canals worked hand in hand with the success of this industrial sector. Interlake Tissue Mills also acquired another location on the intersection of Glendale and Merritt street in Merritton in the 1920's, but unfortunately burned down in 1961 and is now recognized as a local heritage site. What is left of the building is currently used as the Keg restaurant.

Municipality: St. Catharines, Ontario

Local area name: Merritton community

Other identifying names or descriptions Popular hiking and walking destination

Latitude and longitude: 43°08'03.51"N 79°12'21.41"W

Physical Dimensions

Length: 1.3 kilometers

Width: 313 meters

Surface Area: The island has a perimeter of about 2.96 kilometers and a surface area of about 0.3 square kilometers.

Elevation: 152 meters

The highest elevation of Goose Island is 161 meters and the lowest elevation is 129 meters.

Goose Island and the Inerlake Tissue Mill located are both located in the community of Merritton, St. Catharines. This 0.3 squre kilometer patch of land, leads into Mountain Locks Park and has served many functioning purposes over the years, but is now recognized as a local heritage site. With both walking and hiking trails and very few small homes. The Interlake Tissue Mill is still operating under the name of Dunn Paper supplies and the surrounding area is still recognized as a small industrial sector of the city. Unknown to many, Goose Island and the Welland Canals served as a major historic transportation corridor, forerunner to railways, highways, and high voltage power lines. This vital resource has played a significant role in the economic development of the Province of Ontario and Canada for over 150 years. It has contributed immensely to the economic growth and integration of Southern Ontario communities and has played a similar role for American states bordering the lower lakes. The landscape still retains its Goose head like structure, with small homes and buildings bordering the roads of Merritt St. and Ball Avenue West. Upon entering the landscape, it is difficult to make out where exactly Goose Island started and finished because the surrounding canals have been filled in, relocated and now cease to exist on the land.

Map 1:

This aerial image of Goose Island shows the current state of the landscape as it resides today. From this image we are able to see the forested landscape feeding from Mountain Locks Park into Goose Island. The first Welland Canal was previously located on Merritt St. and fed into Lake Ontario. The second Welland Canal was previously on the inside of Bradley St. and the only access to the island was from small walking bridges on Merritt and Bradley St. and a concrete bridge that crossed the first Welland Canal on Ball Ave W. The building marked Dunn Paper was the original Interlake Tissue Mill that took part in the industrial revolution in Merritton.

Goose Island is shaped from the construction of the first and second Welland Canal. Its shape is merely a product of the urban development that occurred around it. The original landscape of Goose Island covered a land mass of about 20-25 acres and even though it battled rising and lowering water levels due to the opening and closing of the canals, it didn't suffer much physical change. Canalside industries were a major economic influence on the area and greatly impacted how the land was used. These industries and the building of the canals required physical changes to the land which impacted the underlying ecology, and the living organisms and plant species on top. This deciduous forested area of the Niagara Region was impacted by the construction of these industries due to deforestation and relocation of plant and animal species. These forested communities grow in a series of layers, starting with the canopy layer at the top which act to protect and sustain the lower lying layers; the canopy layer includes trees which dominate the landscape and control the underlying environment (Hough, 2004). Beneath the canopy lies under-storey trees such as shrubs which grow as a result of the environment provided by the canopy layer. The lowest level on the forest floor are the ferns, mosses and herbaceous plants such as fungi which are protected and influenced by the canopy layer (Hough, 2004). These plant species have been impacted by the construction on the land by being ripped up, relocated or forced to no longer exist. Upon visiting the landscape, it is not uncommon to see invasive species of trees and shrubs as a result of infrastructure taking place on Goose Island. Although the landscape was not heavily developed and modified, the construction of the first and second canal brought changes to the species of animals which migrated to Goose Island. The development of the land has brought about more animal species such as skunks and foxes which were not commonly spotted before. The arrival of these species raises awareness towards the transmission of diseases between animals and humans such as rabies which primarily derives from these animals (Hough, 2004). The canals also brought in foreign aquatic species due to its interconnection with Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Wildlife such as foreign algae, white perch, starry stonewort and other aquatic species were introduced to the area through the result of human development. This proliferation of canals did not always negatively impact the environment, in fact it allowed for aquatic species to establish themselves in fast-flowing streams (Hough, 2004). In his text, Hough states "The ability of wildlife to survive urban pressures depends on the complexity, productivity, size and shape of habitat. It also depends on the intensity and type of public use and the varying degrees of restriction imposed on the site." (Hough, 2004) showing that plant and animal species are constantly battling urban development from human interference and only the strongest species will survive this influence.

Upon first development, Goose Island was constructed by hand for the success of the surrounding region. It is neighboring to the Niagara escarpment, meaning it has also undergone glaciation and glacial melt. The landscape is subject to elevation changes due to the mountainous escarpment nearby and evidence of sandstone, limestone and clay are prevalent here. Sandstone is more commonly found near the shores of the Great Lakes, but due to glacial melt, backwash of sandstone is also found in other parts of the Niagara Region. Unstable sandy soil has also been a factor in the relocation and reconstruction of the Welland Canals. The area around and on Goose Island is not subject to major capillary rise/fall from affected water cycles because it has not been as heavily developed as other regions (Wessolek, pg 166). When the first and second Canal went under demolition, they were filled in with topsoil and gravel from nearby dumps and sites along the Niagara Region, maintaining the current underlying soil that existed here for thousands of years. Goose Island is in close proximity to the Niagara escarpment, so it gradually slopes downward in elevation as you get closer to Lake Ontario. The most significant change to the landscape would have been after the melting of the Iroquois glacier and the creation of large limestone and sedimentary rock and some layers of soft shales and sandstones that happened some 300 million years ago (Brown, Middleton & Vaughn, 2010). This transformation of the landscape was the beginning of the Niagara escarpment and the surrounding areas (Goose Island).

Goose Island is situated in between a major change to the underlying watershed in the St. Catharines and Niagara Region. The formation of the first and second canal played a major role in the hydrological changes that occurred on Goose Island. According to Alberti, "Humans are fundamentally altering hydrologic processes through a range of behaviors: we are consuming more water, changing land cover, building artificial infrastructures, and introducing both point and non-point source effluents." (Alberti, 2008). The construction of the canals greatly benefited the success of the mills bordering the canals, including the Interlake Tissue Mill. Nearby Goose Island and the Mill is a large rapid that passes through the first canal channeling thousands of gallons of water every minute. This influx of water pouring through the area raises the natural watershed of the underlying landscape. There are beneficial impacts from this increase in water throughout the area, both environmentally and economically. After the destruction of the first and second canal, humans once again affected the watershed in the area by reducing the amount of water passing through the landscape every day; affects of this change are not well seen nor are they detrimental to the success of the area. Alberti states that, "Changes in land cover associated with urbanization affect the hydrological cycle by altering precipitation, evaporation, evapotranspiration, and infiltration, as well as radiation flux" (Alberti, 2008). but this is not specific to the area around Goose Island and Interlake Tissue Mill.

Overall the climate throughout St. Catharines and the Niagara Region is fairly consistent throughout history; from 1985 – 2015 the area has experienced peak heat temperatures in the month of July and coldest temperatures in the month of January. The month of April has produced the highest precipitation in the area as well. Since Goose Island is located in between two large bodies of water (Lake Ontario and Lake Erie), and near the Niagara Falls, the landscape is known to have higher than average wind speeds and precipitation, compared to more urbanized areas such as Toronto. This is caused by differences between city and countryside elements such as: materials used in urban and non-urban environments, the much greater aerodynamic roughness of built-up areas than in the countryside, the prodigious amount of heat energy pumped into the city atmosphere from heating and cooling systems, factories and vehicles, problems resulting from precipitation, and air quality (Hough, 2004). Goose Island and the Interlake Tissue Mill were once recognized as St. Catharines industrial sectors, but it is still on the cusp of being an urban landscape, due to the large amounts of rural land in the surrounding region. This small industrial sector can affect micro-climates in the area by increasing the amount of air pollution around the Mill's. Hough states that "Leaves can take up or absorb pollutants such as ozone and sulphur dioxide too significant levels" (Hough, 2004). This shows the balance between the thriving plant ecosystem and the success of the industrial sector in the region. These plants also assist is the absorption of the newly introduced increase in water volume throughout the area. This increase in water throughout the area can also potentially impact the amount of annual precipitation (rain/snow) found within these parts; having increased from more water volume passing through due to the construction of the first and second canal. Human activities in the area have the potential to affect the microclimate by increasing air pollution, resulting in higher annual temperatures and also increasing precipitation; human development on Goose Island and the Interlake Tissue Mill can also redirect wind, changing the evaporation, moisture and transportation rate of plant species and fallen sediment.

Goose Island, the Interlake Tissue Mill and the town of Merritton have a rich history which dates back to the 1780's, where European settlement took place. Prior to this settlement the dominant group surrounding the Niagara Region were First Nations people, specifically the Iroquois tribes. The Iroquois tribes were dominant in the area along with other First Nations people and dominated the land for hundreds of years prior to European settlement some 11,000 years ago (InfoNiagara 2019). United Empire Loyalists aspiring to be farmers came to the town once recognized as Merritton in the 1780's and are responsible for the influx of prosperity throughout the area, starting with the first and second welland canal, which is why Merritton is recognized as the "Boom Town" (Taylor, 1990). Other European settlers decided to reside in the area including but not limited to French, Irish and British settlers. These European settlers are responsible for the creation of industries in the area including the canals, railways and mill's which started the industrial success of the area for decades to come.

Currently there are multiple sources allowing the general public to further their knowledge on Goose Island, the Interlake Tissue Mill and surrounding landscapes. Located on 1932 Welland Canals Parkway in St. Catharines is the St. Catharines Museum which provide locals and tourists with a vast understanding of the history of the landscape, both culturally and physically. The museum provides guided spirit walks throughout the area and multiple exhibits inside the museum. It includes a Welland Canal Viewing Platform which allows visitors to see firsthand how vessels pass through the canals to travel along the Great Lakes; also includes gift shops, galleries and room rental spaces for hosting events. Exploring the city's deep heritage is made easy with this local museum. It is easy to contact and access these resources simply by visiting https://www.stcatharines.ca/en/St-Catharines-Museum.asp or by contacting members of the museum through Facebook and Twitter. Tour St. Catharines also offers interactive walks throughout the 2^nd Canal Mountain Locks walking tour which provides visitors/tourists with a firsthand look at how the landscape has changed over time. These interactive walks are guided by a local tour guide who is knowledgeable about the artifacts, trails and history of the landscape. These tours take approximately 1 ½ - 2 hours to complete and is a moderately difficult walk.

Since the area surrounding Goose Island and the Tissue Mill have been so successful over the years, many of the human built environments remain to this day. Remanence of the first and second Welland Canals, and all the previous locks can be seen on Goose Island simply by taking a walk throughout the landscape's perimeter. Changes to the Interlake Tissue Mill are not visible due to reconstruction and development, but the original building of the Interlake Tissue mill stands and operates to this day (under new ownership). Many buildings once serving the industrial sector of the town are now recognized as local heritage sites even after redevelopment such as the Interlake Tissue Mill – responsible for much of North Americas coffee filters, modern day The Keg (once a subdivision of the tissue mill) and even local restaurant Johnny Rocco's.

The area is most well known for recreation and leisurely activities currently as it serves to provide locals with hiking/walking and bike trails. White markers from the Bruce Trail lead into the landscape but Goose Island consists of unmarked trails because it is fairly easy to navigate. These are all formal activities which require no permission or guidance to access. The area of Goose Island also serves as a small residential area for locals – many of which have a long history in the town.

Once a product of the booming industrial sector of St. Catharines, Goose Island is now full of privately-owned property belonging to the residents of the area. Large companies still own the Mill's that currently operate and the local trials which feed into the landscape are owned and maintained regionally by Niagara Parks and the provincial government of Ontario. William Hamilton Merritt was a large contributor to the land and owned a rather large amount of it in the 1800's when developing the first Welland canal. The area is accessible to the public and requires no permission or authority to visit – as long as you are not trespassing privately owned land. Since Goose Island was previously much smaller and surrounding by water, the land has changed since urban development took place with the building of homes, roads and trails on the land. It is still located under the municipality of St. Catharines and the public land is maintained by the city.

Goose Island and the Interlake Tissue Mill act as a hybrid urban landscape. Previously with only one major task the landscape now serves to provide shelter for plant, animal and human life. Urban landscapes are particularly complex systems because they incorporate interaction between human agents and ecological processes (Alberti, 2008). Alberti addresses a hierarchy theory which provides a "Theoretical framework for modeling complex systems conceptualized as nested organizational hierarchies that emerge from the interactions among system components" (Alberti, 2008). We can apply this theory to the study of my local landscape by understanding that humans are at the top of this hierarchy. We are the primary reason for ecological, topographic, environmental and economic changes in the landscape. Once our actions have been applied (flooding surrounding land on Goose Island, developing factories and Tissue Mills) all other components in our built environment begin to change. It is interesting to see how much human development can change a landscape, from creating a complex system of canals and locks, to repairing the land by filling in the water with soil and other sediments and returning the landscape to its natural form. My landscape now serves to provide housing, activities and recreation for locals, along with job opportunities at the local mills. These changes over time have contributed to the economic success in the area by retaining jobs, allowing people to both live and work locally.

For further inquiries about this landscape feel free to contact or visit:

St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Center:

The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Center :

1932 Welland Canals Parkway,

St. Catharines, ON L2R 7K6

Open year round from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m

website: https://www.stcatharines.ca/en/experiencein/Wellan...

Phone Number:(905) 984-8880

OR

Tour St. Catharines as part of the St. Catharines Heritage Community c/o Planning and Development Department:

City Hall, P.O. Box 3012

L2R 7C2

Phone: (905) 688 - 5600 ext. 1719

Alberti, M. (2008). Advances in Urban Ecology. Retrieved from

https://lms.brocku.ca/access/content/group/676acec3-1dd2-42f4-9a6e-38c5e54fbe4f/Additional%20Course%20Readings/Alberti%2C%20M.%202008.%20Advances%20in%20urban%20ecology.pdf

Brown, D et al (2010). The Land Between the Lakes – An Overview of the Niagara Region. Retrieved from https://lms.brocku.ca/access/content/group/676acec3-1dd2-42f4-9a6e-38c5e54fbe4f/Additional%20Course%20Readings/Brown%2C%20D%20et%20al_2010-The%20Land%20Between%20The%20Lakes_Niagara%20Birds-1.pdf

Climate & Weather Averages in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/canada/st-catharines/climate.

Dowd, Holly (2013). Niagara Region – Welland Canal National Historic Site Application. Retrieved from https://notl.civicweb.net/document/4521

Goose Island. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://brocku.niagaragreenbelt.com/listings/53-historic-a-heritage-sites/800-goose-island.html

Hough, Michael. (2004). Cities and Natural Process: A Basis for Sustainability. Retrieved from https://lms.brocku.ca/access/content/group/676acec3-1dd2-42f4-9a6e-38c5e54fbe4f/Additional%20Course%20Readings/Hough%20Ch1.pdf

Marzluff, John M. (2008). Urban Ecology. Retrieved from https://lms.brocku.ca/access/content/group/676acec3-1dd2-42f4-9a6e-38c5e54fbe4f/Additional%20Course%20Readings/Marzluff%2C%20John%20M.%202008.%20Urban%20ecology.pdf

MERRITTON HISTORY. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2, 2019, from https://www.merritton.com/2010/08/merritton-history-part-1.html.

NOTL Exploring the Past First Nations & Aboriginals - An Introduction. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2, 2019, from http://www.infoniagara.com/niagararegion/notl/index.aspx.

St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre. (2014). Retrieved October 31, 2019, from https://www.stcatharines.ca/en/St-Catharines-Museum.asp.

Taylor, R, Robert. (1990). Merritton, Ontario: The Rise and Decline of an Industrial Corridor. Retrieved from https://www.erudit.org/fr/revues/scientia/1990-v14-n1-2-scientia3118/800303ar.pdf

Wilkinson, John. (2010). Living on Merritton's Goose Island. Retrieved from http://www.merrittonmatters.ca/newsletters/MM-Winter11.pdf

Wilkinson, John. (2010). Merritton's Goose Island. Retrieved from http://www.merrittonmatters.ca/newsletters/MM-Spring10.pdf

Welland Canal. Plan of land on Goose Island in the Village of Merritton proposed to be leased to Fred Grenville 22 June 1916. (1970, January 1). Retrieved from https://dr.library.brocku.ca/handle/10464/10774.

Goose Island. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://brocku.niagaragreenbelt.com/listings/53-historic-a-heritage-sites/800-goose-island.html

Reynolds, E. (2012, March 27). What did he expect? Fox given traditional stinky seeing-off by smelly skunk. Retrieved from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2121040/What-did-expect-Fox-given-traditional-stinky-seeing-smelly-skunk.html.

Fungus On Azalea Bushes: ... Questions: azalea bushes have moss/fungus/disease-(pic links included: fungas: Azalea bush, Azalea shrub, Fungi. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/491314640569468407/.

Old Welland Canal near boundary between Thorold and Merritton Ontario, Interlake Tissue Mills in background . (n.d.). photograph, Merritton.

Interlake Tissue Mill. (n.d.). photograph, St. Catharines. Retrieved from http://bmd.stcatharines.library.on.ca/en/3397724/data

Goose Island Rapids. (n.d.). photograph, St. Catharines. F.H. Leslie Ltd. Retrieved from http://bmd.stcatharines.library.on.ca/en/3246099/data

Jocsak, J. (n.d.). Geese roam the Welland Canals Parkway Trail north of Carlton Street . photograph, St. Catharines

This Local Landscape Report was prepared by Michael Vergadis for the Brock University course GEOG 2P94: Human Dominated Ecosystems on November 7, 2019.

All copyrights for cited material rest with the original copyright owners.