Hello! I am Tom Lewis, your Ward 5 (Town of Fort Erie) Councillor. I was elected on October 24th, 2022 to represent Ward 5. I was raised in Ridgeway/Crystal Beach, and love that I can continue to call this community “Home.” For several years I lived in Mississauga – Streetsville to be closer to work while continue visiting family and friends on weekends while we continued to use my Crystal Beach residence as a cottage. I always hoped to eventually return to Crystal Beach. In 2019, with my husband Alex by my side, we made Crystal Beach our full-time residence once again a move we have never regretted.
Growing up here, I always had a passion for community collaboration. At the age of 18, I successfully lobbied the Minister of Tourism to change the exit sign on the QEW to include the villages of Ridgeway and Crystal Beach. A year later I ran for the Town of Fort Erie Ward 5 seat in the 2003 election and was elected to this position; a position I held for a full term.
My campaign then was built on the principle of keeping Bay Beach lands public while encouraging development elsewhere along Erie Road and in the community. A lot of work was done by many like-minded people leading to our great Bay Beach facility today and the rejuvenation of Crystal Beach. During My first term on Council, I also served as the Town’s Vice Chair of Public Works (Infrastructure Services) and sat on a variety of town and community committees while proudly representing Ward 5.
After completing my term on Council, I received further first-hand experience in project management, communications, and public policy on a variety of projects and files. These opportunities allowed me to gain direct experience in the public (provincial government), private and not-for-profit sectors. This professional journey included being part of the team that worked on several large infrastructure projects such as the first two 10 MW wind farms, assisting Niagara Region in being designated the “Green Energy Capital of Canada.” I worked at the Ontario Legislative Assembly as Executive Assistant to the Chief Government Whip and also for the Ontario Public Service in several Ministers Offices (Seniors Secretariat and Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs) in various senior issues management and policy roles.
In the 2022 Municipal Election I ran for the seat I held in the early 2000’s the Town of Fort Erie Ward 5 council seat and was elected to my second term 19 years after the end of my first.
Today, I live in the historic village of Crystal Beach neighbourhood of Greater Fort Erie. When not working for municipality I run the Poultry Industry Council in Guelph and serve as their Executive Director.
I am a graduate of our local Niagara College of Applied Arts and Technology with a Certificate and Diploma in General Arts and Science. To learn more about my professional work and career visit my LinkedIn CV.