Calais Street is located on property that was acquired by War Time Housing Limited and was the first of many developments during the war years built to help house the influx of workers required in Welland for the war effort.

On September 6, 1944, the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division marched eastward with the objective of clearing the entire coastal area east of Calais. Le Havre, Boulogne and Calais were taken by the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division only after massive attacks with combined air and ground assaults. This street was named on February 1, 1943 to commemorate those who fought at Calais.