April 16, 2026, Volume 7, Issue 16
Fort Erie residents will have an opportunity later this month to learn more about the future of Douglas Memorial Hospital, and to have their voices heard, during an upcoming public forum hosted by Fort Erie Healthcare SOS.
The community-based advocacy non-profit is organizing the SOS Public Healthcare Forum to provide an update on ongoing efforts surrounding the hospital, while also inviting feedback from residents on how to strengthen access to public healthcare locally.
Organizers say the event will bring together municipal leaders, regional representatives, and voices from both the provincial and federal levels, alongside healthcare advocates. The discussion will highlight work completed to date, including advocacy efforts, consultant reports, and an emerging plan to reimagine Douglas Memorial as a sustainable, long-term healthcare facility.
The forum comes at what organizers describe as a critical moment. With healthcare identified as a priority in the Ontario government’s newly released budget, and Fort Erie’s mayor and town council having spent the past year advocating for improved local access to care, the session is expected to provide timely updates. Consultant reports are now helping to inform council’s direction, and residents will hear what “Reimagining Douglas Memorial” could look like, while also having the opportunity to respond.
Several featured speakers are scheduled to present, including Mayor Wayne Redekop, who will outline the town’s vision for the hospital’s future. Regional Councillor Tom Insinna will speak to transportation and EMS challenges affecting healthcare access, while Natalie Mehra of the Ontario Health Coalition is set to address public healthcare, privatization pressures, and what she describes as “disinformation” influencing public perception.
Provincial and federal perspectives will also be part of the discussion, with MPP Wayne Gates and MP Fred Davies expected to provide updates and broader context on healthcare access.
A key focus of the forum is public participation. Residents are encouraged to ask questions, raise concerns, share their lived experiences, and offer recommendations on how to ensure strong, local public healthcare for Fort Erie and surrounding communities.
“Long ER wait times and limited local access to care have been ongoing concerns for Fort Erie residents,” Fort Erie Healthcare SOS said in a statement. “This forum is about transparency, accountability, and ensuring the community has a voice in shaping the future of Douglas Memorial.”The SOS Public Healthcare Forum will be held on April 18 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Leisureplex Banquet Hall, located at 3 Municipal Centre Dr. in Fort Erie.
