St. Catharines Armoury
{{Short description|Heritage building in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada}}
File:Lake Street Armoury St. Catharines 1.jpg
The St. Catharines Armoury is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. The building is currently used by the Canadian Armed Forces as a drill hall.{{cite web |title=Parks Canada Directory of Federal Heritage Designations |url=https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_fhbro_eng.aspx?id=4395 |website=pc.gc.ca |publisher=The Government of Canada |access-date=16 July 2022}} The armoury trains the Lincoln and Welland Regiment and serves the 10th Battery of the 56th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA.
== History ==
The armoury was built in 1905 to replace a previous drill-shed that was destroyed by an 1898 tornado. Before being paved over for use as a parking lot, grass outside the building was used for military drills.{{cite web |title=History from Here: The Lake Street Armoury |url=https://stcatharinesmuseumblog.com/2021/11/07/history-from-here-the-lake-street-armoury/ |website=St. Catharines Museum |access-date=16 July 2022}} The interior of the building has been used for local gatherings and events, such as a 1907 exhibition by the St. Catharines Horticultural Society.{{cite web |last1=Gannon |first1=Dennis |title=YESTERDAY AND TODAY: The armoury - a place to gather |url=https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/life/2018/10/12/yesterday-and-today-the-armoury-a-place-to-gather.html |website=St. Catharines Standard |access-date=16 July 2022}}
= Band =
File:Lincoln and Welland Regiment Association Band.jpg parade]]
The Lincoln and Welland Regiment Association Band used the armoury as a rehearsal venue for more than a century. They performed in local events and festivals. In December 2023, the military concluded that civilian bands could no longer be associated with the army, due to concerns about being confused with official military bands. In 2024, the band associated with the armoury was ordered to leave. The band renamed itself to remove its association with the regiment.{{cite web |title=Lincoln and Welland Regiment Association Band ordered to cease operations, vacate Lake St. Armoury |url=https://www.thoroldtoday.ca/local-news/lincoln-and-welland-regiment-association-band-ordered-to-cease-operations-vacate-lake-st-armoury-9375815 |website=Thorold Today |access-date=21 August 2024}} The band is composed of civilian volunteer musicians and does not receive government funding.{{cite web |last1=Walter |first1=Karena |title=Lincs and Winks band free to practise at arena leading up to liberation of Bergen op Zoom anniversary |url=https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/council/lincs-and-winks-band-free-to-practise-at-arena-leading-up-to-liberation-of-bergen/article_81b2028e-afa6-5ba6-a2b2-3e2e2a337d3b.html |website=St. Catharines Standard |access-date=21 August 2024}} Numerous volunteers were former members of the regiment.{{cite web |last1=Walter |first1=Karena |title=‘It almost feels like a divorce — a messy divorce for no reason’: Lincoln and Welland band ordered to vacate armoury, lose regiment name |url=https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/niagara-region/it-almost-feels-like-a-divorce-a-messy-divorce-for-no-reason-lincoln-and-welland/article_70c0e338-4b26-5fa3-aa18-743c4923b029.html |website=St. Catharines Standard |access-date=30 August 2024}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gftMNNSn_9M History from Here: The Lake Street Armoury at 81 Lake Street]
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{{St. Catharines}}
Category:Buildings and structures in St. Catharines
Category:Historic buildings and structures in Ontario
Category:Canadian Armed Forces
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