Multiple vertical columns of light over South-Southwestern sky prior to sunrise in Welland, Ontario.Having a smoke on my front porch; looking due South in darkness conditions prior to sunrise; watching an airplane's flashing lights travelling East-West when the plane ''went behind'' a vertical column of dim light extending into the sky; plane did not re-appear from light column; I then glanced a city block Westerly and viewed another 6-8 identical light columns; all columns were narrow in width (''telephone post'' width; they were completely straight and vertical extending into the sky with no apparent end; moon was 3/4 full and off to my South-Southwest; most of the columns were positioned mainly ''under'' the moon's position; Did not view any other crafts; I came back out 45 mins later and daylight was beginning and there were no signs of the light columns or anything that stood in their original positions.End of my observations.