FORT ERIE (October 11, 2022) – At the October 3, 2022 Committee meeting, Council received a final report on the implementation and achievements of their 2018-2022 Corporate Strategic Plan. While the global pandemic did impact some forward movement on key initiatives, the Strategic Plan continued to provide overarching direction for multi-year financial strategies, drive annual budgets and operational work plans.
“It is amazing to see all of the projects that have been completed over the past four years, even with two of those years limited by a global pandemic. The Council and staff have worked diligently during this term to make sure that Fort Erie meets its fullest potential and continues to be an even more welcoming, prosperous, connected community of choice for all,” stated Mayor Redekop.
The five Strategic Priorities that encompassed the Plan were:
Strategic Priority 1: Optimizing Health, Housing & Social Well-Being through Service Access and Healthy Lifestyles
Strategic Priority 2: Sustainable Infrastructure for the Future
Strategic Priority 3: Attracting Interest and Investment through Strong Advocacy & Promotion
Strategic Priority 4: Promoting Business, Economic Growth and Employment Opportunities
Strategic Priority 5: Managed Growth through Responsibility, Stewardship and Preservation
Each priority had a strategic objective and key initiatives put in place to help realize Council’s mission and vision for the term. In all, 17 key initiatives were developed. Some completed priorities that were highlighted in the report include:

• Completion of a Housing Needs Study and $250,000 in supplemental funding to fund programs/initiatives and creation of a related reserve;
• A pilot project to licence and regulate Short Term Rentals in 2019 led to a full licencing and inspection program with annual revenues of $200,000;
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• $3.0 million in funding committed for the construction of the new South Niagara Hospital and $300,000 towards the new 160-bed Regional Long Term Care Home Facility, opening in 2023;
• $150,000 over 3 years for the new Niagara Hospice build at the Long Term Care site;
• Investments of over $1.3 million since 2018 for Physician Recruitment, Retention and Medical Education and the establishment of a Community Health and Wellness Reserve;
• Newly reconstructed Bay Beach site that provides an accessible, clean and safe waterfront attraction;
• Several new playgrounds: Beaver Creek Park Playground, Stevensville Mini-Park Playground, Spears Park and Albert Street Park playgrounds and completion of Crystal Ridge Park Phase 2;
• Planning and design for a new splash pad and playground at Sugarbowl Park with construction slated for 2023;
• Transition from a full-sized conventional transit bus to On-Demand smaller passenger vehicles;
• Approval of transit services transitioning to a Regional model effective January 1, 2023;
• Largest community impact made during the term was the purchase of the former YMCA building for $1, including equipment, and entry into a long-term lease/ operating agreement with the Boys and Girls Club of Niagara for the Centre;
• Successful funding of $7.4 million under the Province’s Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance Program for the 2019 October storm impacts;
• Capital Infrastructure Projects between 2019 and 2022 totaling over $61 million for existing assets and over $11 million for new assets related to growth;
• Completion of a new Fire Station No. 4, which amalgamated two stations and services both the Crystal Beach and Ridgeway area;
• Record-breaking years for building permits being issued, which in 2021 valued over $258.8 million;
• Completion of an Industrial Urban Area Boundary Expansion Site Assessment Study and lands for expansion were included in the Region’s new Official Plan;
• Establishment of an Industrial Land Development Reserve Fund;
• Transitioning from an arms-length Economic Development and Tourism Corporation to an in-house model with more focus on small and medium-sized businesses;
• Many shop local campaigns, including Instagram Live events, and the creation of an online business map were a result of assisting businesses through COVID-19;
• New online public engagement platform, Let’s Talk Fort Erie was introduced;
• Over 50 new businesses opened in 2021 and 2022; and
• Detailed Climate Change report and funding in the 2022 budget for initiatives and studies related to Climate Change;