‘A big part of the personality of Clifton Hill is gone’

A prominent leader in Niagara Falls' tourism industry has died.

Charles (Charlie) Burland was president of Niagara Clifton Group, which owns and operates multiple properties and attractions on the north side of Clifton Hill.

He died Dec. 23 at the age of 54.

It is often noted that the strength of tourism in Niagara Falls was built on, and is fuelled by, the passion, perseverance and investment of generations of business leaders," said Janice Thomson, president and chief executive officer of Niagara Falls Tourism.

Charlie Burland will long be remembered as one of those leaders ... one of the industry stalwarts that loved this work and generously worked in collaboration with others."

In 2015, Burland was featured in a Niagara Falls Review story that celebrated his family's nine decades in the tourism business.

It is a living entity and it needs to be taken care of all the time," he said in an interview. I don't take many vacations."

Mayor Jim Diodati described Burland as a hard-working businessman with an abundance of joie de vivre."

He enjoyed everything he did. He was a big kid at heart.

The twinkle in his eyes on Clifton Hill will definitely be missed," the mayor said.

In 1925, Burland's grandfather, Charles Inglis Burland, purchased the property that is now the Travelodge hotel on Clifton Hill.

From there the building continued, with more motel rooms, gift stores, restaurants and attractions.

Charlie Burland started selling strawberries on Clifton Hill with two friends when he was seven years old.

He moved on to working in a stock room to fixing machines and giving people change at an arcade. He worked in maintenance, a haunted house, as well as restaurants and motels along Clifton Hill.

He said the keys to his company's success have been location and good employees.

Next to the asset of the land and the location, it's the employees that are the second most valuable asset that the company has," he said in the interview.

Elaine Wallis, co-owner of Signature Sign & Image, worked with Burland on a number of projects on Clifton Hill, including the Haunted House and the Fun House.

He was not only our favourite client for many years, he was our friend," she said.

He knew how to have fun, after all he'd spent his entire life growing up on Clifton Hill, the Street of Fun.'"

Harry Oakes is president of HOCO Ltd., which owns and operates many attractions, restaurants and shops on the south side of Clifton Hill.

Despite operating across from each other in a competitive business environment, he said he and Burland worked well together as they had a common goal: to enhance the Clifton Hill visitor experience.

I found we had a common understanding that we would both be successful in the long term if we worked together," Oakes said.

We communicated often on many projects and always dealt from a position of trust while making decisions. We did not need legal contracts - Charlie's word was good enough for anyone."

Over the years, the two businessmen developed a strong friendship.

I will miss the times we spent together discussing the previous weekend's activities on Clifton Hill," Oakes said.

Clifton Hill will not be same for me as Charlie was a big part of the personality of Clifton Hill."

Burland lived in Niagara-on-the-Lake with his wife and three sons. He spent 17 years as a volunteer firefighter with the Niagara-on-the-Lake fire department, retiring in 2020.

Alison Langley is a St. Catharines-based reporter for the Niagara Falls Review. Reach her via email: alison.langley@niagaradailies.com