Year: 2023

Reminding residents that a public referendum is being held in #forterieFort to keep urgent care services open.

The voting locations will be in various locations throughout Fort Erie, Ridgeway, Crystal Beach and Stevensville.

For a the full list of locations, and dates/times please visit

Please Note: This is not a Town of Fort Erie event. For questions please contact Heather Kelley at 905-993-2078 or Sue Hotte at Niagara Health Coalition.

Photo of Fort Erie Urgent Care Douglas Memorial Site

Effective May 8, 2023 the Short-Term Rental Moratorium will be lifted beginning at 8:30 a.m EDT

At the Regular Council meeting held on April 24, 2023, Council passed a resolution to lift the Short-Term Rental (STR) Licencing moratorium effective May 8, 2023. This was done to address the lack of accommodation space for the 2023 season. By-Law enforcement will deal with all concerns related to breaches of by-law such as noise and nuisance.

On Monday, May 8, 2023 starting at 8:30 a.m. EDT, new applications will be received, with the applicable documents, online. 

Applications will be processed on a first-come, first- serve basis. 

Early submissions prior to May 8, 2023 will not be accepted. 

A maximum of 250 Short-Term Rental Licences can be issued in Fort Erie annually. Given the number of existing licences already issued, there will be approximately 55 remaining licences available for 2023 which will be subject the current By-law: Short-Term Rental By-law

Information regarding the application fee and required documents are listed below. 

The Short-term Rental Land Use Study is ongoing for more information on the Land Use Study, please click here.

Short-Term Rental licences are non-transferrable.

For more information on Short Term Rentals visit www.forterie.ca/pages/ShortTermRentals

Please find attached a copy of the Notice of Public Information Centre for the Point Abino Road South reconstruction project.

This information session will take place on Wednesday April 26, 2023 from 3pm to 6pm at the Ridgeway Fire Hall #4. 

The notice has be mailed to all residents within the project area and will be posted to the Town’s social media outlets as well. 

Addition details and information relating to this project can be found on the Town’s Let’s Talk web page by clicking on the link below

https://letstalk.forterie.ca/point-abino-road-south

Thank you Fort Erie staff for facilitating this discussion.

Please see information regarding the next Public Open House Re: Short Term Rentals.

For more information on the Open House and the Land Use Study overall visit: https://bit.ly/3NXtJHr

Ontario has announced an additional $200M to help combat homelessness in Niagara.

The funding, which is part of the province’s Homelessness Prevention Program and Indigenous Supporting Housing Program, will bring Ontario’s yearly investment to Niagara to $700M.

The funding will be used to help residents at risk of homelessness and support community organizations delivering supportive housing.

The Niagara Region alone will now receive $20M, an increase of 86%.

To Read the full article click here

“An 86% increase in Provincial funding is welcomed news and thank you Premier Ford. Now we must ensure that the Town of Fort Erie receives our fair share of funding.” Said Ward 5 Councillor Lewis

Check out the article ‘Discovering the Hidden Gems of Fort Erie’ that was featured in the Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, and the National Post. To view the full article click here.

Councillors clashed over a land-use study regarding short-term rentals in Fort Erie, unable to agree on whether the report should be presented at the end of May as planned, or if it should be moved up to a special council meeting on May 1.

“(The town’s) expedited path does not create a solution for 2023. The businesses are hurting, the people who have made investments in the community are hurting, it has affected the real estate market, and for those reasons and those reasons alone, I will welcome an expedited process,” said Coun. Tom Lewis. 

Lewis noted that for a recent hockey tournament held in Fort Erie, participants had to find accommodations outside the town due to a lack of hotels, motels and short-term rentals available for participants. 

The study, which focuses on where short-term rentals can be appropriately permitted, was initiated in August 2022. 

When the study is completed, council will be able to use the it to make decisions about what changes are necessary to the official plan and zoning bylaws.

To view the full article click here

Memorandum – Short-Term Rental Land Use Study Update and Options as presented in the Memo for TOFE Council on Monday April 3rd 2023.  To read the memo click here

What a great turnout tonight for the Fort Erie International Academy hockey game against Universel Gatineau. Tonight’s proceeds are in support of #everychildmatters. Thank you to the sponsors and those who attended. Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre.

During tonight’s Regular Council Meeting I asked Town of Fort Erie staff to prepare a memo for the April 3rd 2023 Council-in-Committee Meeting with options on how to advance the Short Term Rental (STR) Land Use Study recommendations for Council’s consideration. This is an important matter to TOFE residents, businesses and visitors. We are approaching the beginning of the 2023 Summer tourism season and we need a plan.

Memorandum – Short-Term Rental Land Use Study Update and Options as presented in the Memo for TOFE Council on Monday April 3rd 2023.  To read the memo click here