RCMP officials say they foiled an illegal attempt by three foreign nationals to enter Canada at Fort Erie last month Officials say three people were spotted crossing into Canada from the United States along the Fort Erie train bridge on April 13 where a car was waiting for them on the Canadian side One person was taken into custody immediately while a second migrant fled on foot but was later apprehended A third migrant managed to flee in the waiting car which nearly struck several RCMP border agents the driver of the vehicle and the migrant turned themselves in to police was found to be ineligible to enter Canada and was subsequently returned to the United States by the Canada Border Services Agency the driver of the vehicle and Cadenas’ wife is facing charges of dangerous operation of a vehicle and conspiracy and failing to report under the Customs Act The RCMP Niagara-on-the-Lake Border Integrity Unit is part of a group that assists the CBSA in detecting and preventing cross-border smuggling between ports from Cobourg on Lake Ontario to Port Burwell on Lake Erie WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Mark Carney will have to navigate a delicate balance during his first in-person meeting with Donald Trump today A planned peaceful vacation has spiralled into a prolonged two-month ordeal for Ontario man David Bennett who remains stranded in the Dominican Republic despite having all criminal charges against him.. A Canadian man arrested on vacation has been proven innocent Melissa Nakhavoly with why he is still being held in the Dominican Republic Warmer temperatures but showers are expected on-and-off for the next few days Meteorologist Natasha Ramsahai has your seven-day forecast Ontario Premier Doug Ford calls on Prime Minister Mark Carney to prioritize a list of projects including the proposed Highway 401 tunnel Monday is calling for rain and thunderstorms Stella Acquisto has the long-range forecast listen to NewsRadio Toronto live anytime and get up-to-the-minute breaking-news alerts weather and video from CityNews Toronto anywhere you are – across all Android and iOS devices TorontoNews3 foreign nationals returned to U.S. after caught crossing Canadian border in Fort ErieBy Bryann AguilarOpens in new windowPublished: May 01, 2025 at 10:34AM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved You will also start receiving the Star's free morning newsletter Mounties say the migrants were spotted crossing the border as a vehicle waited for them on the Canadian side FORT ERIE - The RCMP say three foreign nationals were arrested after attempting to enter Canada last month via a train bridge in Fort Erie They say one person was apprehended immediately and a second person was arrested after escaping on foot Police say the third migrant managed to enter the waiting vehicle which then allegedly nearly struck several members of the RCMP’s border patrol team at the scene The RCMP say the Cuban national and the driver of the vehicle The man was assessed by the Canada Border Services Agency and returned to the United States while his wife faces charges of dangerous operation of a conveyance conspiracy and failing to report under the Customs Act This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 1 Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Spreading limited resources thin by continuing to staff urgent care centres in Fort Erie and Port Colborne will put all of Niagara Health’s emergency services at risk Focusing on urgent care centres in Fort Erie and Port Colborne will not address health-care gaps Based on the author’s interpretations and judgments of facts I want to acknowledge the heartfelt advocacy expressed in recent opinion pieces and news articles about the urgent care centres in Fort Erie and Port Colborne We all want the same thing — for all Niagara residents to have access to timely But we owe it to the community to talk honestly about what’s really needed We recognize change can feel like loss — especially in communities that have seen the evolution of health services over decades But clinging to outdated models won’t improve care it prevents us from moving toward something better: a stronger more connected system that actually meets people where they are Access to primary care is the most effective way to keep people healthier That’s not just our position — it’s the direction of health-care leaders across the province is leading Ontario’s new Primary Care Action Team with a mandate to connect every Ontarian to primary care within five years She compares it to the public education system — every child is guaranteed a school in their community and we should expect the same for health care Philpott’s action plan builds on a proven model that reduces inappropriate emergency department use improves mental health access and ensures people get care before their needs become emergencies That’s where our energy needs to be and it’s where Niagara Health is focused We are working closely with the Niagara Ontario Health Team — Équipe Sante Ontario Niagara local family physicians and the Region to support expanded access to family doctors We’ve supported proposals for expanded local diagnostic imaging services and offered to work with municipal leaders and local physician leaders to transfer the UCCs and imaging services ahead of the new south Niagara hospital opening in 2028 Recruiting doctors and health-care professionals is not something the hospital can do alone communities must be places people want to live A sustainable system also means concentrating limited resources where they can do the most good — not spreading them so thin that no one gets what they need Keeping the UCCs open at all costs puts emergency services across of the entire Niagara region at risk That’s a risk we cannot take — and it’s not responsible to suggest otherwise We remain committed to working with local leaders focused on care and driven by what matters most: the health and well-being of the people we serve We believe in a strong health-care future for south Niagara — one that includes modern hospitals But that future will look different than today The new south Niagara hospital will be a state-of-the-art facility designed to serve a growing Its success — and the sustainability of health care in this region — depends on municipalities providers and hospitals working in partnership Lynn Guerriero is president and CEO of Niagara Health Fort Erie resident Russ Young writes that he hopes incoming MP Fred Davies will be helpful Staff of outgoing Liberal MP Vance Badawey stepped in when others didn't Staff of outgoing Liberal MP Vance Badawey stepped in when others didn’t Re: ‘I always ran like I was five points behind’: Davies ends Liberal control in south Niagara we have a new MP in Conservative Fred Davies as he seemed to dodge interviews and followed his leader Pierre Poilievre’s demands With our former MP Tony Baldinelli we had nobody helping us in Fort Erie When Conservatives had a lead in the polls months ago it seems Liberal incumbent Vance Badawey gave up I like Badawey and trust him but he ran the weakest campaign l have seen When l informed him about a Donald Trump election sign in rural Welland in January I do thank Badawey’s staff for helping my partner and l with CPP OAS and GIS when our Niagara Falls MP wasn’t being helpful Re: Carney leads Liberals to a stunning turnaround People criticize former prime minister Justin Trudeau for his working relationship with Mark Carney the worst being false accusations from Donald Trump and his MAGA team but he knew we were going to have problems with this fellow and had the foresight on how to deal with him president Lyndon Johnson once said: “Power goes where power is.” As former governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England Carney understands power because he had to deal with it I am convinced he is the one to lead us through the greatest economic crisis in our history Re: Niagara leaders weigh in on strong-mayor powers Premier Doug Ford’s expansion of strong-mayor powers includes to eight more Niagara municipalities It is interesting to note the throne speech didn’t mention anything about governance reform in Niagara as a priority Ford criticized Niagara for having too many politicians The premier noted 126 politicians across Niagara is too many Now citizens are watching these local politicians vote themselves pay raises while approving unsustainable property tax increases More concerning is this governance structure supports a duplication in government services which also costs taxpayers millions more than it should we should focus on reducing the administration in place to get housing approved This can be time-consuming and frustrating for builders We welcome letters from our readers. Send them to letters@niagaradailies.com address and phone number for verification purposes Opinion articles are based on the author’s interpretations and judgments of facts, data and events. More details The RCMP on Thursday said three foreign nationals were apprehended in Fort Erie in relation to an April 13 incident at the International Railway Bridge that connects Fort Erie and Buffalo Several recent attempts to enter Canada via the railway bridge that connects Fort Erie with Buffalo have been thwarted by the Niagara-on-the-Lake RCMP Border Integrity Unit Police have thwarted yet another attempt by foreign nationals to illegally enter Canada at a cross-border train bridge in Fort Erie According to the Niagara-on-the-Lake RCMP border integrity unit three people were spotted crossing the International Railway Bridge on April 13 where a car was waiting for them in Fort Erie One person was taken into custody at the scene while a second fled on foot but was later apprehended A third person managed to flee to the waiting vehicle which police said nearly struck several RCMP border agents who had responded to the incident The driver of the vehicle and the migrant turned themselves in to police April 23 was found to be ineligible to enter Canada and was returned to the U.S the wife of the man who was returned stateside was charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle The Niagara-on-the-Lake RCMP border integrity unit supports four CBSA ports of entry and now maintains a “24-7 presence” at the railway bridge “The strategic deployment of (officers) between the Ontario ports of entry has proven to be a successful tactic in preventing illegal migration into Canada,” RCMP Supt Niagara-on-the-Lake RCMP Border Integrity Unit arrested several people trying to enter from the The unit has arrested several people attempting to make illegal entry into Canada since this new initiative began A Cuban national was arrested in mid-March after running across the bridge The CBSA deemed he was ineligible to enter Canada Hamilton police arrest two people after downtown standoff Ontario to table budget on May 15 amid impacts of U.S. tariffs ‘Sharp rise’ in Ontario measles cases with 223 new infections since last week Three foreign nationals arrested after crossing border in Fort Erie, Ont.: RCMP Ontario man arrested in Dominican Republic still stuck after charges dropped: family Man charged after Hamilton city worker struck, killed by vehicle last month Niagara fire officials are investigating after an overnight house fire near Garrison and Buffalo Road in Fort Erie Crews could be seen battling the flames just before 1 a.m The fire appears to have burned through the roof of the home Fire officials will be investigating to determine the cause and estimated cost of the damages READ MORE: Police searching for man after armed robbery at St. Catharines convenience store Kids are doing pretty cool things to help save the planet business coach and host of the Rise Together: Empowering This Mother’s Day pamper mom with some extra TLC Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate the women who have shaped Mainly cloudy with showers/thunderstorms today and a cooler high of 10°C CHCH-TV started broadcasting in 1954 and is proud to be the news leader for Hamilton and the surrounding Halton and Niagara regions Copyright © 2025 CHCH. All Rights Reserved. ZWD Niagara-on-the-Lake RCMP Border Integrity Unit arrested several people trying to enter from the U.S The RCMP has identified a new spot along the U.S which unauthorized foreign nationals are using to enter Canada The Niagara-on-the-Lake RCMP Border Integrity Unit has arrested several people attempting to enter via the Fort Erie train bridge since April 13 when three foreign nationals were spotted crossing to a waiting vehicle on the Canadian side the RCMP said it currently maintains a 24/7 presence at the railway bridge as part of its active patrols along the border in the area on land water and in the air to disrupt cross-border criminal activity “The strategic deployment of RCMP .. has proven to be a successful tactic in preventing illegal migration into Canada,” said Supt officer in charge of the national police force’s border integrity in Ontario In response to Washington’s tariff threats over President Donald Trump’s unfounded claim that Canadian fentanyl was flooding into the U.S. Ottawa has implemented a $1.3 billion ongoing plan — including new equipment and hiring of 1,000 border officers — to beef up border security one person was arrested at the scene while another was apprehended after escaping on foot A third hopped in the waiting vehicle and fled though the individual and the driver both turned themselves in 10 days later Police said a Cuban national was sent back to the U.S after an assessment by border agents found him ineligible to enter Canada faces charges for dangerous operation of a conveyance as well as conspiracy and failing to report under the Customs Act No information was immediately available about the other two migrants it has processed 56 per cent fewer asylum claims compared to the same period in 2024 Of the 8,655 asylum applications processed so far Officials have removed 641 people to the U.S Fort Erie town council has approved awarding an additional $100,000 to the Wilson House hospice matching community donations to build two therapeutic gardens that will support patients and their loved ones A pair of therapeutic gardens at the new hospice site will offer accessible healing spaces for patients and families An additional $100,000 contribution to Wilson House a 10-bed hospice under construction in Fort Erie’s north end has been awarded by town council toward the creation of two therapeutic gardens Council’s decision came after a presentation during its Monday meeting by Carol Nagy who asked the town to match the Ridgeway Lions Club’s community fundraising efforts The town had previously committed $150,00 to the hospice project Fort Erie’s total contribution will be $250,000 Wilson House is scheduled to open in late 2026 next to Gilmore Lodge on King Street It will provide end-of-life care for residents in Fort Erie with design features aimed at promoting accessibility and a connection to nature Nagy said limited space on the property led designers to focus on building two internal courtyards that will serve as therapeutic gardens with one by a children’s therapy centre and the other next to patient rooms “We went out for consultation with this community and it was very important for people living here that they feel the outside come into the building,” she said “We know living in these rural areas that nature has healing properties and is so important to our health and mental health.” Ridgeway Lions Club began fundraising for one of the therapeutic gardens in mid-2023 community events and a grant from Lions Clubs International of $77,544 (U.S.) “This was a big thing for our (Lions) club to do for the community Nagy asked council to match the Lions’ efforts with an additional $100,000 An initial recommendation from town staff suggested referring the request to 2026 budget deliberations Nagy warned a delay could force Hospice Niagara to take out a loan to meet construction deadlines councillors voted to pull the item from the consent agenda and approved the funding from the town’s community health and wellness reserve “(Making) the decision sooner rather than later is best for you that would be best for us to move forward,” Mayor Wayne Redekop said “This is a fantastic project for the municipality and we have been very supportive of it.” Nagy said donations are still being accepted and similar funding efforts are underway in other municipalities across the region Niagara Regional Police have arrested a driver involved in a single-vehicle crash after he was found in possession of a gun and various types of drugs The driver of the vehicle that struck a street post had a Glock pistol and various drugs A gun and drugs have been seized by police as a result of a single-vehicle crash in Fort Erie Niagara Regional Police responded to the area of Garrison Road and Helena Street where the driver of a grey Buick struck a street post and flipped over 234.6 grams of suspected cannabis and $100 in cash in his possession Police said the combined value of the seized drugs is about $18,000 A 21-year-old Fort Erie man faces numerous drug and firearm-related charges as well as charges for possessing proceeds of crime and for violations of the Cannabis Act A young Niagara Falls man has pleaded guilty to a charge of impaired driving causing bodily harm in relation to a November 2023 crash in Fort Erie she will never recover from her injuries,” the Crown says a Crown attorney presented a judge with a group of photographs of the victim of an impaired driver because the young woman could not attend the proceedings in person The before photos were of a smiling 18-year-old The after photos were of the same young woman Her head is covered in stitches after a portion of her skull was removed to alleviate swelling to her brain The Niagara Falls woman has had “hundreds of procedures surgeries and tests” since the fall of 2023 after she was ejected from a vehicle when it crashed into a tree in Fort Erie said assistant Crown attorney Michael Lucifora “Her condition is just short of a vegetative state,” he told the judge She cannot communicate in any significant way and requires constant multidisciplinary care from medical personnel and family she will never recover from her injuries,” the Crown said the individual who was behind the wheel that fateful night pleaded guilty to a charge of impaired driving causing bodily harm He was 17 at the time of the crash and cannot be identified under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act a BMW X3 left the roadway on Dominion Road near Kraft Road and struck a tree the vehicle was travelling 142 km/h five seconds before the crash and just under 100 km/h at the moment of impact She was taken to a Hamilton hospital with critical injuries including a multi-compartmental intercranial hemorrhage and several fractures to her spine The driver and a 19-year-old male passenger were taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries A blood sample taken from the offender at hospital two hours after the crash indicated he had more than twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system Court heard the offender and two male friends had been at Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort earlier in the evening then went to a nearby restaurant before returning to the casino The trio then purchased alcohol from an LCBO store and they picked up the victim and drove to Crystal Beach One of the males later demanded to be taken to his home in Fort Erie because he said the offender was “driving like an idiot.” The crash occurred soon after he was dropped off Judge Janet Booy ordered a presentence report be prepared Victim impact statements will be read in court at that time “I know this is extremely difficult … words cannot express how difficult,” the judge told the victim’s family Alison Langley is a Niagara Falls Review reporter Sign in Join now, it's FREE! One individual was apprehended immediately a second migrant escaped on foot and was later apprehended A third migrant managed to enter a waiting vehicle nearly struck several of the RCMP Border Integrity Members who were responding was transferred to the Peace Bridge port of entry in Fort Erie After being assessed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) the subject was found to be ineligible to enter Canada and was subsequently returned to the US She has been arrested and faces charges for Dangerous Operation of a Conveyance (Sec. 320.13 of the Criminal Code) Conspiracy and Fail to Report under the Customs Act (Sec. 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code) Members of the Niagara-on-the-Lake RCMP are actively conducting patrols along the border in this area on land water and air to disrupt cross-border criminal activity The RCMP is committed to working with our partners to protect the residents and communities of Canada Our collaboration with local police partners and the CBSA continues to provide positive results for Canada Fort Erie shifts from Niagara Falls riding to the new Niagara South riding Niagara South riding candidates Liberal Vance Badawey Fort Erie is now part of the Niagara South riding with Port Colborne Fort Erie residents will cast their votes in the newly formed Niagara South riding in next month’s federal election This change follows recent federal electoral redistribution which redefined several electoral boundaries across the country Fort Erie was part of the Niagara Falls riding Welland and Thorold were included in the Niagara Centre riding The Niagara South riding encompasses Fort Erie adjusts electoral boundaries to reflect population growth and maintain effective representation The creation of the Niagara South riding is part of the effort to ensure each member of Parliament represents a roughly equal number of constituents who previously served as mayor of Port Colborne for 14 years and represented Niagara Centre for 10 years said Fort Erie’s change represents a strategic opportunity “rather than a challenge.” I will ensure the town receives the federal attention and investment it deserves along with a strong voice advocating for its interests particularly in health care,” if re-elected April 28 Badawey said he has laid the groundwork for Fort Erie particularly as the Douglas Memorial urgent care centre is slated to close in 2028 “I have initiated discussions with the mayor CAO (town chief administrative officer) and local stakeholders recommending the development of a critical care pathway (identifying) Fort Erie’s health-care priorities and establish(ing) action plans,” he said Badawey said Fort Erie’s role in the Niagara Ports Trade Corridor is a key economic priority as one of Canada’s most recognized trade and transportation networks “With over $4.1 billion in export activity Fort Erie must be fully integrated into this trade corridor,” he said Redekop said the new riding has similarities to the previously established electoral map presenting possible challenges due to its size and population “I don’t really have any comments regarding the changed federal electoral boundaries,” he said “The new riding is geographically large and the population is greater than the target population for a federal riding Niagara South is now the largest riding in the Niagara region Fort Erie’s MP is required to represent more constituents than all but a handful of MPs across the country,” Redekop said NDP candidate Chantal McCollum said she has focused her campaign on raising awareness about the riding change and connecting with Fort Erie residents “I realize not everyone uses social media but that’s one very easy way to communicate,” McCollum said I tell people when I’m at functions and talking to them that Fort Erie is now part of Niagara South.” McCollum said she has attended local events including those organized by the Lions Club and Fort Erie health-care groups to better understand the community’s needs “I’m quite supportive of keeping the urgent care (centre) open in Fort Erie and I think the federal government has a role to play.” McCollum said the geographical position of Fort Erie makes health-care access especially important “With that community being a bit more isolated it’s crucial that residents have access to primary care,” she said She said her goal is for a collaborative approach between different levels of government on health care for municipalities at risk “I think there’s a big opportunity here for MPs to be working with the province to be working with municipalities that are going to be impacted,” McCollum said “We need to work together and try and come up with policies that will benefit folks especially in a place like Fort Erie.” McCollum said she plans to meet with Redekop soon to discuss health care and other local issues has also been campaigning to Fort Erie voters “Fort Erie has had a strong Conservative voice in Ottawa for the past twenty years,” he said “It has been a pleasure to introduce myself to the voters of this community over the past year People’s Party of Canada candidate Peter Taras who ran in the 2021 election in the Niagara Falls riding said he has maintained connections in the town “We are going to be going door to door but also in Port Colborne and Thorold,” he said Taras said he is focused on supporting local businesses and strengthening Canada’s relationship with the United States — despite current tensions between the countries referencing Fort Erie’s position as a border town “America has always been our best friend,” he said “A lot of our politicians who are overreacting and calling America an enemy I think this is very harmful to our local businesses.” Taras said trade and economic co-operation with the U.S is vital to the region’s prosperity and for municipalities most effected “We have more in common with the United States than with any other country in the world like where we come from in Britain,” Taras said “I think it’s very foolish to be calling them our enemy and vilifying them.” Taras said his campaign has been active to ensure voters understand the riding change and that his team has put up signs in each municipality you will see that the signs are in those towns I think they will know when I show up at their door and explain it to them.” Fort Erie firefighters respond to a blaze at a duplex on Garrison Road early in the morning on Good Friday The duplex on Garrison Road may have to be torn down A fire that started in the garage of a converted duplex on Garrison Road in Fort Erie last week spread into the second floor of the main structure firefighters were called to 1473 Garrison Rd. where they found flames had reached the roof Fire Chief Mark Schmitt said about 30 firefighters responded in five fire trucks and a command vehicle The fire was brought under control within about an hour it had consumed about one-third of the structure — a single-family home that had been converted into a duplex One occupant of the home was looked at by paramedics as it was initially believed there were injuries Schmidt said the damage estimate has been put at $600,000 He said the structure may have to be demolished I would assume it would probably be a teardown,” he said Mike Zettel is a reporter for Niagara This Week PSW Melchora Gillis was recognized for her compassion and commitment She is one of six in Niagara honoured by Home Care Ontario Melchora Gillis was recognized for her compassion and commitment She is one of six in the region honoured by Home Care Ontario Melchora Gillis says she’s just doing her job but to those people around her she’s doing something extraordinary a personal support worker based in Fort Erie is one of six Niagara recipients of Home Care Ontario’s Home Care Hero Award The awards are a part of a provincewide recognition that honoured 122 home-care professionals this month “I feel like I don’t deserve it because I didn’t do much,” Gillis said “I’m just helping other people out who cannot help themselves And I give credit to (Home Care Ontario) because they’re doing a very fine job by helping other people that cannot help themselves.” distributed during Home Care Ontario’s Home not Hallways campaign Award recipients were nominated by patients co-workers and others who witnessed what the organization calls “acts of everyday heroism.” Gillis’s nomination came from two of her colleagues who highlighted her empathy her daily impact on clients and their families is clear Gillis worked in a dental office for many years while living in Toronto and Mississauga she began volunteering and later working as a PSW “I’ve been doing this for more than two years now,” she said “I do volunteering to help other people Gillis said that while workers are doing their best more help is needed to make sure vulnerable people aren’t falling through the cracks “I do think the government has to give more respite to the people who need more help,” she said “Quite a few of our clients don’t get it There needs to be more help on that front.” She said the strain is felt deeply in Fort Erie where the demand for support far outweighs the resources available “So many,” she said when asked how many people are affected “Even though we’re helping them Home Care Ontario’s Not Hallways campaign calls for $2.1 billion in investments to expand home-care services across the province This would include funding for increased care hours A statement from the organization said this “home first” approach will allow older adults to age at home Gillis said she’s grateful for the opportunity to do this work but for all the people who are working in the health-care profession And I want to thank everyone for giving me a chance to speak up.” Niagara South candidates — People’s Party of Canada candidate Peter Taras far left; Christian Heritage Party candidate David Vedova far right; and NDP candidate Chantal McCollum meet during an all-candidates forum hosted at Stevensville Memorial Hall in Fort Erie Chantal McCollum addresses the crowd at the Niagara South all-candidates forum on April 10 at Stevensville Memorial Hall Liberal incumbent Vance Badawey addresses a crowd at the Niagara South all-candidates forum April 10 at Stevensville Memorial Hall Niagara South candidates met April 10 for the all-candidates forum hosted at Stevensville Memorial Hall in Fort Erie PPC candidate Peter Taras speaks at the all-candidates forum CPC candidate Fred Davies addresses the crowd The impending closure of the urgent care centres in Fort Erie and Port Colborne emerged as a topic of focus Candidates vying to represent the newly formed riding of Niagara South took to the stage Thursday night at a spirited all-candidates forum tackling issues ranging from housing affordability and health care to immigration and cross-border trade held at the Stevensville Memorial Hall in Fort Erie featured five candidates: Liberal incumbent Vance Badawey People’s party candidate Peter Taras and Christian Heritage Party candidate David Vedova Housing affordability emerged as a central issue with candidates offering divergent solutions framed housing as a human right and advocated for increased access to affordable housing “It’s a staggering figure that there’s 10,000 families on the waiting list for affordable housing right now,” she said ”(The NDP) has a $16-million national housing strategy that would work with the provinces and give them the tools to give everybody the tools to build homes faster.” emphasized removing barriers to construction ”(The CPC) want to incentivize municipalities to free up regulations,” he said “We need to cut red tape and prepare the market for the construction industry to build houses and new subdivisions,” Davies stressed calling for a quicker permitting processes and reduced red tape to boost supply dismissed federal housing interventions as ineffective “The housing crisis was completely foreseeable and preventable (PPC leader) Maxime Bernier was warning about this crisis with his Dec “One aspect of the PPC plan is a moratorium on immigration until the housing price is stabilized and stresses on our institutions are relieved.” The discussion shifted to health care with Vedova advocating for a more holistic approach to medicine ”(CHP) believes in a holistic and life-affirming approach to health care one that treats the root causes of illnesses and upholds the dignity and sanctity of every human life,” he said Both Davies and Badawey focused on Niagara Health’s planned closures of urgent care centres in Port Colborne and Fort Erie Badawey said he “simply won’t take no for an answer.” “I fought in the past and continue to fight to preserve urgent care centres and expand health-care services,” he said “I’ll continue to do so because your access to care and safety is not negotiable.”  McCollum and Taras took opposing views on health care with McCollum advocating for public health care and Taras pushing for more private options for Canadians “The Canadian Health Act has a number of principles including that our health-care system has to be universal emphasizing “the (PPC) wants to encourage public and private service delivery making sure every citizen has access to health care.” Candidates also tackled questions about the Canada-U..S border and trade relationship which remain key issues in a riding with deep trade and tourism ties to the United States Davies criticized the lack of attention to Canadian industries citing his own personal experience as a business owner “We have to be responsible for reorganizing our entire economy,” he said “We need to look at the interprovincial trade barriers we need to start being reliant on (Canada).” Vedova noted the United States’ dependency on Ontario electricity “One of our greatest assets is our abundant supply of energy our natural gas and oil to meet growing energy demands,” he said “This gives Canada significant leverage and we must use it wisely,” Vedova said noting the need to protect Canadians against the possible negative impacts of the trade war who serves as a co-chair of the Canada-U.S highlighted his experience advocating for border infrastructure and cross-border collaboration our location within the North American market (taking) full advantage of our advanced manufacturing strengthening domestic resilience ensuring that vulnerabilities don’t happen,” he said Thorold — was created through the latest federal redistribution in 2022 and is being contested for the first time on Saturday at an under-construction townhouse on Butternut Crescent in Fort Erie Saturday-morning fire at development under construction being investigated by police Niagara Regional Police and the Fort Erie fire department are probing a suspicious fire at a townhouse under construction on Butternut Crescent in Fort Erie on Saturday morning “It was a very aggressive and very fast-moving fire,” said Fort Erie deputy fire chief Chris Smith who noted the department got the call just before 7 a.m “Our crews did an excellent job to keep the fire to the affected home.” No one was in the building at the time and there were no injuries “There were no displaced residents in the adjacent homes,” said Smith He said the cause of the fire is undetermined and the blaze burned the new home to its foundation Damage is estimated at more than $1 million Police said two adult males were arrested in connection with the fire The townhouse is part of a Blythwood Homes development Blythwood vice-president Alexa Mills was on the scene of the fire early Saturday morning who noted they company had not had any previous problems or issues at the site Mills said the home hit by fire is one of 110 new townhomes bungalows and single detached homes the Niagara Falls company is building in the development She said 100 of the homes have been completed and the final 10 are under construction A $116,000 grant from Earth Day Canada’s Charged for Change program will help Fort Erie expand its EV charging network as part of its climate action goals Crystal Ridge Community Centre and Library as well as the Jarvis Street and Crystal Beach public lots Fort Erie is moving forward with a plan to expand electric vehicle infrastructure after securing a $116,000 grant backed by Earth Day Canada’s Charged for Change program in partnership with Aviva Canada will fund the installation of four double-headed Level 2 EV charging stations in high-traffic areas across the municipality The chargers will be installed in the parking lots at town hall and Crystal Ridge Arena and Library and the public parking lots on Jarvis Street and in Crystal Beach Town staff said the locations were selected to provide equitable access across Fort Erie and to support both residents and visitors “Installing the electric vehicle (EV) chargers is a significant step forward in supporting sustainable transportation options across Fort Erie,” said chief administrative officer Chris McQueen in a statement “By strategically placing them at key community hubs we ensure availability to residents and visitors alike.” The project builds on Fort Erie’s broader environmental goals which include reducing emissions from transportation and municipal operations The town’s draft climate change action plan outlines a proposed framework for increasing energy efficiency Mayor Wayne Redekop said the new charging stations reflect the town’s commitment to long-term sustainability “This grant allows us to expand our efforts to combat climate change,” Redekop said in a statement “It’s encouraging to see our community take tangible steps towards continued sustainability (enhancing) local charging infrastructure.” Next steps for the project will include planning and co-ordination for charger installation with more details expected to be shared as timelines are finalized The April 28 federal election will see the votes split up differently among the municipalities that make up the eastern end of the Niagara Peninsula Niagara-on-the-Lake’s riding will no longer include Fort Erie and will be comprised of just NOTL and Niagara Falls reflecting that change: Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake This all comes after the abolition of the Niagara Centre riding which has been replaced by a new riding called Niagara South It will include Fort Erie and most of the old Niagara Centre riding Thorold and Port Colborne also will cast their ballots in Niagara South Catharines that used to be part of the Niagara Centre riding now belong to the Niagara West and St The new voting map was created by the independent electoral boundaries commission as part of a major redistribution of ridings in 2023 while NOTL’s population was 19,088 and Niagara Falls’ was 94,415 Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Fort Erie town council is moving forward with an amended plan to address the housing crisis by implementing a community improvement plan Plan includes implementing a new community improvement plan offering grants to support new affordable housing builds The Town of Fort Erie is moving forward with an amended plan to address the housing crisis by implementing a Community Improvement Plan (CIP) focused on affordable housing an intermediate policy planner for the town outlining the town’s possible affordable housing CIP programs A 2024 housing needs study conducted by the town found that home ownership remains out of reach for many residents with only those in the top income percentiles able to afford homes The study also showed that 40 per cent of renter households struggle with high rent and a large share of residents over 60 will need housing in coming years Antonio noted they consulted with the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing “The first was a recommendation that council adopts an affordable housing CIP as recommended by staff,” Antonio said “The second was that council advocate to the Region to partner with the town on the housing (CIP).”  The town’s proposed Affordable Housing CIP includes three programs: Mayor Wayne Redekop raised concerns about the proposed plan pushing for an amendment ensuring that if the region provides funding for a social housing project in Fort Erie that at least 50 per cent of the units must be occupied by local residents with some raising concerns about its feasibility Ann-Marie Noyes of Ward 6 questioned whether the town could legally impose such a restriction “I understand it’s the taxpayers’ money going toward it I would love it to be Fort Erie residents,” she said “But I don’t know if putting that control on is doable if we’re looking at a growth of 10 to 20,000 people in the next several years.” Redekop responded that the proposed amendment applies only to regionally funded social housing “If we’re going to be putting money into it people from Fort Erie should have an opportunity to live in (affordable housing),” he said “It’s got nothing to do with any type of private construction for us to get additional housing units.” Redekop also emphasized the need for the town’s legal team to review the amendment before it is finalized Chief administrative officer Chris McQueen said Niagara Region faces challenges in aligning housing incentives across 12 municipalities but the region has opted to assess requests individually “If the region wished to contribute money then I think again on a case-by-case basis we’d be able to put some parameters in place,” McQueen said we’re not wanting to distance affordable housing units from coming into Fort Erie.” Two additional amendments were also carried A second amendment from Redekop ensures that if a for-profit developer submits a co-application with a non-profit the for-profit must still meet larger scale development targets ”(Fort Erie) and Niagara Region’s official plan outline that larger scale developments be subject to 20 per cent affordable housing and 10 per cent of owner units to be affordable,” Antonio explained “The targets would be lessened if they were to submit a co-application.”  limits staff approval authority for CIP funding Staff may approve grants under the Additional Dwelling Unit and Affordable Housing Study programs as well as up to $100,000 under the Affordable Housing Per Door Grant Any funding between $100,000 to $500,000 would require council approval The three amendments brought forward were carried advancing the CIP program to the bylaw stage Council is set to review the amended bylaw on Feb Great Fort Erie Secondary School teacher Afshin Keyvani surrounded by his students and fellow volunteers at the St Paul’s Anglican Church community lunch on April 12 Fort Erie teacher Afshin Keyvani and his students have been serving free community lunches once a month What started as a one-time extracurricular activity has grown into a monthly tradition of giving back for Greater Fort Erie Secondary School culinary teacher Afshin Keyvani and his students Keyvani has been leading a group of students to St Paul’s Anglican Church to serve free meals to the community once a month throughout the school year “It started becoming like more of a mission for me,” Keyvani said in a phone interview learning about compassion and about seeing the problem that we have in our society being (one of) the richest countries in the world but still (having) homelessness and lack of nutrition for people.” Keyvani and his students prepare the food at GFESS Students show up in the early hours of the morning and spend the day setting up tables we started getting more donations from local stores adding the event has become a meaningful experience for the students who volunteer some of them bring their siblings from other schools in the community,” he said “And one of the church members brings his grandson (to help) Keyvani emphasized the non-denominational nature of the program “We don’t want it to be a religious-based activity,” he said Paul’s) to use the kitchen to help the community The last lunch of the school year was this past weekend “This is the last one because it goes by the school year and my availability,” Keyvani said “We’re going to start again in September or October and we do six or seven months of (this initiative).” It’s a hands-on experience demonstrating empathy and civic responsibility it’s a warm meal and a sense of community connection “This is what we (have been) doing for the last eight to 10 years the program’s success is a reminder of the good that can come from small The high school’s next special event is on April 30 Volunteers at Community Living Fort Erie will be honoured at the school’s Pomegranate Restaurant with students pitching in to help host the event Burdett Thomas Sisler is days away from celebrating another birthday friends and family are invited to attend this special occasion Doors will open at the Fort Erie Legion Branch 71 at 1:00 pm The guest of honour will make his grand entrance at 1:30 Peter Cotton will be piping him in upon arrival Tim Hortons will be supplying donuts and coffee “We’ll make about 100 sandwiches When asked if he was looking forward to his party “I have waited five years for this.” Norm explained that when his dad was 105 years old he told Norm that he would make it another five years When asked how he feels about being the oldest man in Canada “I’ve never stayed in one place for too long,” he said I have always found work and always had some kind of job he still managed to work for the Canada Border Services Agency for 30 years and lived through two pandemics Burd is a World War II veteran and is a member of the Fort Erie Royal Canadian Legion Branch 71 He is also believed to be the oldest living World War II veteran in Canada and the 6th oldest World War II veteran in the world my family is privileged and grateful for each moment we have with him Our minds are truly blown that he has achieved such a milestone.” Burd now resides at Garrison Place in Fort Erie and has five children Please come out and wish the oldest man in Canada a Happy Birthday on Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at the Fort Erie Legion Branch 71 Fort Erie Observer © 2025 All rights reserved Celotto was a proud member of the Onondaga Beaver family from Six Nations of the Grand River Buffalo police charge a 34 year-old man in connection with a double homicide that claimed the life of Celotto and his partner last week were found dead in their home in Allentown a member of the Onondaga Beaver family from Six Nations attended Lakeshore Catholic High School in Port Colborne A suspect has been charged in the death of him and his partner Friends and family of a former Fort Erie man are in mourning after the Indigenous artist was killed in a double homicide that also took the life of his partner in Buffalo a member of the Onondaga Beaver family from Six Nations of the Grand River was also an advocate for causes close to his heart He grew up in Fort Erie and attended Lakeshore Catholic High School in Port Colborne Buffalo police responded to a call about a man with a knife on St Officers arrived to find a man cutting himself police found the bodies of Celotto and his partner The Erie County medical examiner determined both men died from blunt force trauma The suspect was detained and taken to Erie Country Medical Center under police supervision for an injury to his neck He was arrested after being discharged from hospital on March 7 friends and the broader Fort Erie community Sophia Mafaje said her best friend had an incredible impact on everyone that knew him “He would always find a way to help you,” she said in an interview Monday helping you move or giving you a couch to sleep on.” Mafaje noted Celotto’s artistry as one of his passions “When he moved to Buffalo and he was with his partner Mikey was a really big artist in the Buffalo community so together they would do a few things,” she said “Jordan had a side business where he would create LGBTQ+ art and sell stickers shower curtains and other things to support the cause,” she said “I would say (his identity) was part of his advocacy the Indigenous community isn’t as celebrated there,” Mafaje said “Not that Canada doesn’t have things to work on The advocacy was with his partner in Buffalo “His Indigenous name translates to ‘Brightest Star,’ and that’s exactly what he was,” Mafaje said “The world is less shiny without him in it.” with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder He remains in custody as the investigation continues Buffalo police have not yet released further details about a possible motive Erie County District Attorney’s Office alleges Chiclana on the morning of the murders entered the couple’s shared apartment through a basement window Chiclana is to appear in court Thursday for a felony hearing I hope Mickey Harmon and Jordan Celotto continue to be remembered for their positive impact on our city’s Allentown neighborhood and LGBTQ+ community,” Erie County district attorney Mike Keane said in a statement Fort Erie councillors have approved a town budget that will result in residents paying 4.95 per cent more on the town portion of their property tax bills this year Combined with Niagara Region and education taxes residents will be paying seven per cent more overall in property taxes this year Fort Erie residents will be paying seven per cent more on their overall property tax bills after town councillors approved a budget aimed at keeping the local tax increase below five per cent During councillors’ budget committee meeting on Jan corporate services director Johnathan Janzen provided an explanation Town taxes will account for 43 per cent of the total bill with 46 per cent going to Niagara Region and 11 per cent to education The town’s operating budget for this year totals $36.9 million and as a result residents would pay 5.33 per cent more in local taxes But Mayor Wayne Redekop questioned the 5.33 increase pointing out budget projections from 2024 included a target of 4.95 per cent “Have there been considerations on how to get that 5.33 to 4.95?” he asked and suggested ”$120,000 in either savings or on our expense side or increases to our revenues would get us to 4.99 per cent.” “I assume it would be an extra $140,000 to get us to 4.95 per cent,” he said Redekop then proposed another $135,000 be cut from the budget through a combination of reduced spending and adjusted revenue projections Redekop expressed confidence in the town’s fiscal management emphasizing the 2025 amended budget strikes a balance between affordability and future investments “It’s 4.95 per cent but it includes 2.07 per cent going directly to our capital infrastructure needs,” he said we’re talking about a budget increase that’s less than three per cent at a time when costs have gone up George McDermott expressed his support for keeping the local tax hike under five per cent “I think it’s incumbent on all of us to always be wary of who pays the rate who can’t pay the rate,” he said so I appreciate the mayor trying to get this down to 4.95.” A fire that broke out at a townhouse construction site burned the structure to the foundation The damaged estimate is pegged between $400,000 to more than $1 million Two people were seen leaving the scene as smoke billowed from the structure Two men have been charged after reportedly having been seen leaving the scene of fire at a townhouse construction project in Fort Erie over the weekend Fort Erie firefighters and Niagara Regional Police were called to the area of Allen Trail and Whispering Woods Trail responders saw a row of townhouses engulfed in flames Deputy fire Chief Chris Smith described the blaze as “aggressive and very fast-moving.” He said crews were successfully able to contain the damage to the affected building The cause was undetermined as the blaze burned the structure to its foundation Police said shortly after smoke was seen billowing from the townhomes Officers located two men a short distance away and placed them under arrested A 36-year-old Fort Erie man has been charged with breaking and entering in order to commit an act of mischief causing more than $5,000 in damage and failing to comply with his probation order Catharines man was charged with breaking and entering in order to commit an act of mischief causing more than $5,000 in damage Police said the preliminary damage estimate is $400,000 Smith put the damage at more than $1 million Anyone with information is asked by police to call 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009700. Information can be submitted anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or by going to CrimeStoppersNiagara.ca The townhouse building is part of a Blythwood Homes development Blythwood vice-president Alexa Mills previously told Niagara this Week the destroyed building is among 110 townhomes bungalows and single detached homes the Niagara Falls company is building there Fort Erie councillors stress that with a shortage of doctors the urgent care centre at the former Douglas Memorial Hospital acts as a primary care safety net and needs to continue operating once the new south Niagara Falls hospital opens in 2028 Councillors and town staff addressed a hospital system board meeting to advocate for continued urgent care centre services Fort Erie officials are continuing their push to maintain the urgent care centre (UCC) at the former Douglas Memorial Hospital fearing that without it emergency departments in neighbouring municipalities and paramedics will become the only immediate health-care option for the community of 36,000 residents councillors and staff expressed encouragement over feedback they received following their address to a Niagara Health board meeting Jan and chief administrative officer Chris McQueen They sought support for the continued operation of the UCC following the expected opening of the south Niagara Falls hospital in 2028 a service town officials have repeatedly referred to as the community’s “primary care safety net.” The statement said town representatives received encouraging feedback with a commitment to continue discussions on local health-care solutions the need for a UCC and the future of the Douglas Memorial site Christensen underscored the importance of preserving the urgent care facility in the statement “The mayor’s presentation reiterated that continuation of the Douglas Memorial Urgent Care Centre as a comprehensive health-care ‘safety net’ is one of Fort Erie’s top priorities,” she said we intend to focus our efforts on the upcoming provincial election to gain a commitment from political parties and local candidates.” Fort Erie councillors have been adamantly pushing for Niagara Health and the province to support the town’s efforts in keeping the uUCC open At this year’s Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference it was a top priority for the town’s delegation to push for health-care support George McDermott said closing the UCC would be a short-sighted move on the part of Niagara Health “There’s so much growth happening it’s not going to take much time for their new emergency room to get loaded,” he said “They’re going to need those urgent care centres but they don’t want to pay for it.” The Town of Fort Erie has taken a major step towards increasing affordable housing options with the adoption of its Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan The new community improvement plan includes financial incentives aimed at boosting affordable housing availability Fort Erie has taken a major step toward increasing affordable housing options with the adoption of its Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan (AHCIP) Councillors approved the initiative with proposed amendments on Feb and passed the implementing bylaw on Monday introducing financial incentives aimed at boosting affordable housing availability as highlighted by intermediate policy planner for Fort Erie A housing-needs study that was led by the town in 2024 found for many residents home ownership remains out of the question AHCIP aims to provide a mix of rental and ownership opportunities to accommodate the projected population growth for Fort Erie It hopes to make it easier for developers to invest in affordable housing by offering financial incentives and greater flexibility in development options offering up to $500,000 per project to encourage development and revitalization efforts In a statement released by the town Tuesday Mayor Wayne Redekop emphasized the importance of the initiative stating that the adoption of AHCIP represents a key step in making Fort Erie more inclusive and accessible “By investing in these incentive programs we are working to ensure that individuals and families have access to safe affordable housing options,” he said the town has endorsed initiatives to promote affordable housing and aligns its efforts with Niagara’s regional programs such as the Homeownership Program and the Niagara Renovate Program Applications for funding through AHCIP and more information can be found on the town’s website Fort Erie town councillors attended the annual Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference to discuss health-care services infrastructure and cross-border economic concerns The delegation also addressed border concerns infrastructure needs and climate change resiliency during meetings with provincial officials Health-care concerns took centre stage as Fort Erie leaders attended the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference last week The delegation attending the convention was made up of chief administrative officer Chris McQueen The leaders sought solutions to infrastructure needs the impending closure of the urgent care centre operated out of the former Douglas Memorial Hospital by Niagara Health a vocal advocate for maintaining local health-care services underscored the community’s struggles during an interview on Wednesday “We have 8,000 Fort Erie residents that are not receiving any health care at all,” he said “We’ll be at 40,000 residents by the time (South Niagara Hospital) is built (projected in 2028) He said shifting patients to emergency rooms at the larger regional hospital in Niagara Falls would not be a sustainable solution “That’s a lot of people going up and down the highway in the winter When you don’t have a 24-7 direct bus to the hospital everyone is going to have to pay ambulance fees to go,” he said Currently the urgent care centre at Douglas Memorial does not act as an emergency room but treats less medically complex situations such as illnesses and injuries that require immediate attention Patients with more serious medical situations such as heart attacks have to be taken to one of Niagara Health’s emergency departments located at sites in St Christensen described the proposed closure of urgent care services as an “abandonment” of Fort Erie residents “Health care is a huge priority because of the needs we’re facing right now with the proposed closing of Douglas Memorial in 2028,” she said “Council has a really clear position on this that (the closure) won’t serve the residents of Fort Erie and is in fact an abandonment of the residents.”  Christensen also pointed out Fort Erie’s demographic reality demands local health-care services “We have 86,000 tourists in addition to our 36,000 population so we need good health care here,” Christensen said “We need support for infrastructure and servicing to ensure that we’re serving our residents.” Health-care advocacy is nothing new for Fort Erie which has faced decades of battles to retain local health services Both McDermott and Christensen spoke about past challenges which included previous provincial government attempts to limit health-care access and the ongoing centralization of health services in Niagara “I have been involved in health care since 2011,” McDermott said whether it’s the Liberals or the (Conservatives) Christensen added local advocacy has been relentless “Fort Erie has been fighting for health care for over 20 years,” she said “But it’s more recently that we’ve been advocating for the retention of the funding that currently flows to Douglas Memorial UCC to ensure that we have comprehensive primary care in this community Fort Erie’s delegation addressed other pressing issues during the ROMA convention This included infrastructure development to meet provincial housing and employment targets shoreline protection against climate change impacts and cross-border economic concerns “I think it’s very important for the town to continue to advocate in each of its areas that it’s touched by the province,” Christensen said “We want to ensure that we are treated as a gateway to Canada with all of the implications.” She noted Fort Erie’s proximity to the U.S border places the town at the centre of broader economic issues such as potential tariffs and trade disruptions from the U.S we have many industries that are dependent on cross-border trade and the potential impact of tariffs,” she said “We want to make sure that in all of these cases that we are at the table to talk about these issues.” Fort Erie’s leaders remain committed to advocating for their community’s needs McDermott stressed their work doesn’t end with the ROMA convention “That’s what politicians have to look forward to,” he said “We’re the hardest workers on health care and we’ll never take ‘no’ for an answer.” officers observed a row of town homes under construction fully engulfed in flames The Fort Erie Fire Department began efforts to extinguish the fire Investigation revealed that shortly after smoke was seen billowing from the townhomes two males were observed exiting the structure Officer’s were able to locate the two males a short distance away and place them under arrest of Fort Erie faces charges of break and enter to commit mischief over $5,000 and fail to comply with probation order Catharines faces a charge of break and enter to commit mischief over $5,000 There were no injuries reported as a result of the fire The preliminary damage estimate was assessed at $400,000 Magin and Batt were released on Form 10 – undertaking’s and are expected to appear at court on April 11 at the Robert S.K Welch Courthouse located at 59 Church Street in the City of St Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the investigating officers by calling 905-688-4111 Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477.  Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest The draft plan for a property off Rebstock Road for the Niagara on the Beach development was approved by Fort Erie on Monday but only after rooftop terraces were banned for the 90-unit townhouse project Town council has approved the Niagara on the Beach development with amendments banning rooftop patios and short-term rentals A dispute over rooftop patios took centre stage Monday night as Fort Erie town councillors voted to prohibit them for the proposed Niagara on the Beach development The draft plan for the property development off Rebstock Road was approved but only after councillors added an amendment banning rooftop terraces on the 90-unit townhouse project followed concerns that the developer’s latest design deviated from an agreement reached through the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) on Feb said he was “disappointed” M5V Developments Inc had altered agreed-upon peaked roof designs to incorporate rooftop patios “I know we’ve done considerable studies in the area,” Lewis said “We’ve had some developers work with the municipality to build modern houses that reflect the character of the community My understanding was very clear from my perspective the peaked roofs were part of the compromise.” The OLT settlement had scaled the project back from an initial proposal of 154 units to 90 units Councillors recalled extensive negotiations to reach that settlement and expressed frustration that the rooftop terraces were introduced after the fact and now something’s been slipped in.” who chaired the planning committee during negotiations acknowledged concerns over deviating from the OLT agreement he initially suggested council retain final approval over site plans rather than outright prohibiting rooftop terraces “I’m a little befuddled over the legal definition of minor versus major challenges,” Dubanow said I’m also sensitive to the concerns we have with regard to the settlement and potentially leading to further litigation.” Councillors ultimately sided with Lewis’s amendment voting unanimously to uphold the original understanding of peaked roofs and prevent rooftop terraces A secondary amendment banning short-term rentals in the development was also added “This approval is the final step in a process that has been ongoing for nearly four year,” said Rocco Vacca Vacca said OLT already ruled on the project and warned that further delays could result in an appeal from the developers Despite the tensions over the design changes with nine blocks containing 16 block townhouses and 74 back-to-back townhouses Fort Erie Healthcare SOS will continue to fight for the continued operation of services at the Douglas Memorial site If Niagara Health is not able to run Douglas Memorial then funding should be transferred to a local entity that can We are asked why we are fighting to save our urgent care centre in Fort Erie and are told it’s a done deal Fort Erie Healthcare SOS has been pushing back against this notion Fort Erie council has adopted a similar program to help save services currently available at the Douglas Memorial site They are appealing with Niagara Health to transfer the moneys already allocated to run Douglas and allow the town to manage daily activities to keep services available to residents “It takes a village” is a proverb often attributed to raising a child We must consider a person’s life from start to end One of the attributes that has kept Canadians apart from other countries is our ability to consider not just our needs but the needs of others We decided a long time ago health care was a given and the nation’s health depended on the health of its citizens Doctors diagnose and evaluate and prescribe care to make us well or to get us to our next stage of life as comfortably as possible The doctor prescribes a course of treatment and sends us home to follow medical advice the person can do this for themselves or with the help of family There are times when the person’s illness is not evident and may require more than a quick diagnosis and medication There are times where the person cannot care for themselves and does not have a support system at home Here is the crux: even if everyone had their own personal physician the doctor and patient still require help and support from a team available 24-7 The team helps with diagnosing and setting out a course of treatment following that course and altering it where needed helping the patient reach stability and assisting in any ongoing therapy or counselling but we learn to adapt to move on with our lives And some have families of their own to take care of A hospital was once that aforementioned village a place that allowed the patient to be treated with dignity and respect while doctors technicians and specialists created a plan Doctors come and go to check on patients and if patients are lucky they may have a family member or a friend willing to help support them Family close to the hospital can make quick trips it is left up entirely to the hospital staff a patient is sent home to finish the course of healing Home care helps us look at our houses or apartments to make recommendations on how we can safely move within our home this can be an expense the person has not prepared for Other issues arise when patients return to their homes as well such as getting to a doctor’s appointment if they no longer drive or if they have a relapse A patient may have to consider if they need long-term care to address ongoing issues or needs counselling and all ongoing supports are a necessity Our community in Fort Erie deserves to have our urgent care restored and our little hospital of 55 beds remain open and available for when the need arises Hospitals were built to meet the needs of the people Reopen the space currently available at Douglas and hire back the staff Save Our Hospital SOS is a group of local volunteers that will continue to make sure our community voices are heard and we will continue to promote Douglas Memorial as a pillar of our health-care system We can be an example for other small rural hospitals losing their funding Heather Kelley is a Fort Erie resident and member of Fort Erie Healthcare SOS Heather Kelley is the founder of Fort Erie Healthcare SOS Court appoints law firm to represent Hudson’s Bay workers, retirees GO Transit expands Niagara service with more trains May 17 Don Davies named interim NDP leader after Jagmeet Singh’s election defeat Grimsby jewelry store reopens after third robbery this year Bryan Adams to help kick off Departure Festival, a reimagined Canadian Music Week Israeli ministers approve plan to expand operations, seize Gaza Strip A fire in a home in Fort Erie has caused nearly $450,000 in damages Fire Chief Mark Schmitt says it happened shortly before 1 p.m Wednesday at a home on Queenston Boulevard at Joseph Street The homeowner was inside but got out safely The cause of the blaze is under investigation READ MORE: Murder charge upgraded after man dies days after Niagara Falls assault Emily Vukovic went birding at Urban Nature Store in Ancaster To celebrate Mother’s Day and raise funds for Halton Women’s Place A beautiful and powerful new piece of jewelry has joined Lofttan‘s collection The IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s is taking place at the ‘Women of Soul’ is a captivating production that is revitalizing timeless soul A $116,000 grant from Earth Day Canada’s Charged for Change program backed by Earth Day Canada’s Charged for Change program in partnership with Aviva Canada “Installing the electric vehicle (EV) chargers is a significant step forward in supporting sustainable transportation options across Fort Erie,” said chief administrative officer Chris McQueen in a statement The project builds on Fort Erie’s broader environmental goals The town’s draft climate change action plan outlines a proposed framework for increasing energy efficiency Mayor Wayne Redekop said the new charging stations reflect the town’s commitment to long-term sustainability “It’s encouraging to see our community take tangible steps towards continued sustainability Fort Erie firefighters extinguish a blaze at a Queenston Boulevard home Wednesday afternoon The fire chief said the Queenston Boulevard blaze caused an estimated $400,000 to $450,000 in damage Officials say there was no serious injuries following an early afternoon fire at a Queenston Boulevard home Wednesday Fort Erie Fire and Emergency Services responded to the fire at 31 Queenston Blvd. just before 1 p.m Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the residence Initial reports suggested a woman may have been inside but she got out of the building and was taken to hospital by Niagara Emergency Medical Services as precaution Both the woman and a dog were evacuated safely without serious injury Fire Chief Mike Schmitt said the blaze caused an estimated $400,000 to $450,000 in damage The cause of the fire is unknown and under investigation Firefighters remained on scene for several hours to ensure the fire was fully extinguished and to assess the extent of the damage to the property Fort Erie resident Burd Sisler will be turning 110 on April 14 A public celebration of Burd Sisler’s 110th birthday is scheduled for April 13 at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 71 on Garrison Road from 1 to 4 p.m “I don't think I've ever heard a president acting the way this one is,” says Burd Sisler “I don’t think I’ve ever heard a president acting the way this one is,” says Burd Sisler The person believed to be Canada’s oldest living man has a message for U.S “I’d like to go down there and tell him what to do,” said Fort Erie’s Burd Sisler “I don’t think I’ve ever heard a president acting the way this one is Sisler is an ideal person to talk to about ongoing tensions between the United States and Canada His dad worked for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co “(Sisler’s dad) was sent to start the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co That’s the only reason he came to Canada (at the age of three).” 22 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren He has lived through two pandemics — the 1918 Spanish flu and COVID-19 — and endured the Great Depression including nearly 30 years as a customs officer with Canada Border Services Agency Sisler today lives at the Garrison Place retirement residence and enjoys spending his days reading Norm said in addition to reading and watching TV his father does Sudoko puzzles and crosswords Sisler is familiar with Trump’s ongoing tariff and annexation threats against Canada “I’m kind of sorry to see (prime minister) Justin Trudeau go I knew his father and both of them were acting for Canada — I always got that feeling,” he said Norm said his father is the oldest known living man in Canada, based on Gerontology Wiki which also lists Sisler as one of the oldest living Second World War veterans in the world According to its website Gerontology Wiki is a collaborative encyclopedia about gerontology A March 3 CBC story reported the man believed to be Canada’s oldest living Second World War veteran died last month 12 at the Broadmead Care’s Veterans Memorial Lodge in Saanich on British Columbia’s Vancouver Island Norm said his father was never “much of a drinker.” Sisler said the only time he got drunk was when he was discharged from the military “Wine hits me quite fast,” he said with a laugh Sisler said he once had a cigarette and didn’t like it The doctors tell me that my lungs are like a 15-year-old’s.” Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates has known Sisler for many years with Sisler having nominated Gates to be the NDP candidate in the riding during the last three provincial elections “Burd is well known in the community from everything that he’s done — everybody loves him,” said Gates “I started seeing him a lot at (Royal Canadian Legion) Branch 71 and (Sisler would say) a lot of the same things about the war that my dad did Gates said he used to visit Sisler at his Fort Erie home and still visits him at Garrison Place They’re fascinated with his brain — he’s so smart It’s just been a really nice experience for me to have such a good friendship with him and obviously now with his family as well.” Norm said the family is holding a public celebration for Sisler’s 110th birthday April 13 from 1 to 4 p.m He said Tim Hortons is donating three dozen doughnuts and 100 cups of coffee Melchora Gillis says she’s just doing her job but to those people around her she’s doing something extraordinary is one of six Niagara recipients of Home Care Ontario’s Home Care Hero Award “I feel like I don’t deserve it because I didn’t do much,” Gillis said “I’m just helping other people out who cannot help themselves And I give credit to (Home Care Ontario) because they’re doing a very fine job by helping other people that cannot help themselves.” distributed during Home Care Ontario’s Home not Hallways campaign co-workers and others who witnessed what the organization calls “acts of everyday heroism.” Gillis’s nomination came from two of her colleagues who highlighted her empathy “I’ve been doing this for more than two years now,” she said more help is needed to make sure vulnerable people aren’t falling through the cracks “I do think the government has to give more respite to the people who need more help,” she said There needs to be more help on that front.” “So many,” she said when asked how many people are affected Home Care Ontario’s Not Hallways campaign calls for $2.1 billion in investments to expand home-care services across the province A statement from the organization said this “home first” approach will allow older adults to age at home Gillis said she’s grateful for the opportunity to do this work And I want to thank everyone for giving me a chance to speak up.” Fort Erie town council has voted to keep parking free at municipal lots in business improvement areas responding to concerns from local businesses about potential fees Businesses have been voicing concerns shoppers would have to pay for parking though the town was exploring paid resident passes for overnight parking Municipal parking lots in Fort Erie’s three business improvement areas (BIAs) will remain free after town council passed a motion aimed at supporting local businesses and residents The decision follows concerns raised about potential paid parking changes The concerns appeared to be the result of a misunderstanding: the town was exploring paid parking passes to allow residents to park overnight in the lots when they’re otherwise empty The motion introduced Monday sought to clarify the issue who introduced the motion with Ward 1 Coun emphasized the economic struggles businesses have faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing financial climate “Businesses in the BIAs rely on customers who drive to their locations to support local commerce,” Lewis said during Monday’s council meeting The motion ensures that municipal parking lots in Bridgeburg Crystal Beach and Ridgeway BIAs remain free of charge for shoppers and directs staff to prepare a report on additional parking options Concerns over paid parking for patrons of the town’s BIAs surfaced in February when Crystal Beach business owners voiced opposition to potential fees for parking in municipal lots to park there during daytime hours,” the business stated in a social media post stating discussion about paid parking had “run away from the station” and needed clarification that the parking in the Fort Erie BIAs should remain free of charge for business patrons.” “I wanted to bring this motion forward so that was made very clear,” he said Council also discussed the issues of overnight parking which is prohibited in all municipal lots in Fort Erie Lewis suggested exploring options for overnight parking to generate additional revenue and provide solutions for residents without designated parking spaces “There may be some residents who do not have parking spots with their units that they live in mainly because there’s just no space,” he said noting Crystal Beach and Jarvis Street areas are particularly affected Nick Dubanow proposed amending the motion to include overnight parking permits for residents and their visitors He said some residents struggle with the town’s ban on street parking in the winter “The challenge comes up in the winter,” Dubanow said “Many residents who had family over for the holidays were agreeable that if there was an option available to utilize an underutilized space Mayor Wayne Redekop clarified the locations of municipal lots in Crystal Beach for possible parking options and suggested better signage to indicate intended use He also supported keeping at least one parking lot designated for patrons of the Crystal Beach BIA “If we look at proper signage that says ‘business patron parking only we all know where we’re going,” Redekop said Councillors unanimously passed the amended motion ensuring that parking in BIAs remains free of charge for shoppers while also exploring further options for overnight and resident parking permits A staff report is expected to provide additional details on the proposed additional parking measures in the coming weeks An animal control officer with Humane Society of Greater Niagara responded to a call from a property owner on Niagara Parkway about an injured bald eagle on New Year’s Day The large bird of prey was found with a wing injury on a property along Niagara Parkway An animal control officer with Humane Society of Greater Niagara had an unusual start to the new year on Wednesday when he responded to a call about an injured bald eagle Travis Chorney said the humane society received a call about the eagle from a property owner along Niagara Parkway “It was there for a few hours throughout the day and they noticed it wasn’t leaving or flying away Chorney said this particular bird had an injury to its wing which is unusual as the large birds the humane society typically encounters have leg injuries “But this eagle wasn’t able to get airborne,” he said Chorney said he was able to assess it had an injury to its right wing He took it to The Owl Foundation in Lincoln where its specialists were able properly diagnose and treat it He said the vet there told him the way the eagle was behaving suggested it may also have either avian flu or lead poisoning something further monitoring will be able to confirm The Owl Foundation is a registered charity that helps birds of prey that are injured or orphaned get back to a condition in which they can survive on their own and be released “They’re a great resource to have,” Chorney said “They’re much more knowledgeable than we are at the humane society when it comes to birds of prey.” Fort Erie has been granted a Bee City designation which recognizes municipalities that commit to protecting pollinators and biodiversity The town has committed to protecting pollinators and biodiversity Fort Erie has joined a growing number of municipalities across Canada with council approving a designation emphasizing the town’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability and the protection of pollinators On Monday night, Fort Erie town councillors voted unanimously in favour of the “Bee City” designation. Municipalities can achieve this designation, part of Bee City Canada’s national initiative by joining their mission of fostering healthy pollinator habitats and protecting biodiversity Fort Erie joins 48 other communities in Ontario that have embraced the program The goal of becoming a Bee City is to establish and maintain habitats that support pollinators within municipal or First Nation boundaries Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop expressed his enthusiasm for the designation highlighting the importance of the initiative for the town’s environmental strategy “This is an important initiative which builds upon the work that’s been going on in this community,” he said “The things that we’ve done to protect and preserve our natural heritage is part of a piece that moves us forward.”  Redekop also pointed to Fort Erie’s natural heritage inventory as a key component of the community’s ongoing environment efforts He emphasized that the Bee City designation would further solidify the town’s leadership in preserving and enhancing local biodiversity encouraging further environmental progress “I hope we don’t just stop here,” he said “We can look at other things like the birding community and other things to promote ecotourism.” The approval of the Bee City designation is expected to bring a range of benefits to Fort Erie including increased protections of biodiversity and opportunities for the community to get involved The Bee City initiative also aligns with the city’s broader environmental and community goals for 2025 “I think that (Fort Erie) is the pre-eminent community in Niagara in terms of environmental issues,” Redekop said “This helps us continue on down that road.” A Niagara police officer is in hospital after responding to a domestic disturbance call in Fort Erie on Saturday Niagara Regional Police responded to reports of a domestic incident in Fort Erie Saturday An officer was hospitalized after an incident involving a suspect The officer was involved in an incident with an individual in the area of Spears Road North and Gilmore Road A Niagara police officer is in hospital after responding to a domestic disturbance call in Fort Erie Saturday The officer was involved in an incident with an individual in the area of Spears Road North and Gilmore Road at about 3:30 p.m. Niagara Regional Police (NRP) said in a release The officer was transferred to an out-of-region hospital where he was last listed by the NRP as being in stable condition It was not immediately known how the officer was injured Police said a suspect was arrested at the scene and was sent to an area hospital in stable condition The incident is being investigated by Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) which investigates incidents involving police where there has been a death serious injury or allegations of sexual assault the NRP said it is “prohibited” from releasing further details Anyone who may have witnessed this incident or has information is asked by police to call 905-688-4111, ext. 1005610 or the SIU directly at 1-800-787-8529