Christine Whelan, FEO, June 11, 2026, Volume 7, Issue 20
Fort Erie Healthcare SOS is kicking into gear these days, making sure they are seen and that their message is heard loud and clear.
Heather Kelly, a Fort Erie resident and one of the founders of the grassroots community advocacy group fighting to protect and expand local health services in Fort Erie, says they’re at the stage where they need more public support.
“Healthcare is important to everybody, but it’s not the first thing on their minds until they hurt themselves or become ill.”
A group of SOS members took the GO train on Thursday, May 28, to Queens Park to rally for healthcare and to let our government know that privatized healthcare is not wanted. They also called for Fort Erie’s Urgent Care Centre (UCC), located at the Douglas Memorial site, to reopen 24/7, along with maintaining the services currently being provided.
Heather shared, “We get a lot of encouragement at home, but when we saw all those people in Toronto fighting for the same cause, it was wonderful. The day strengthened us to go back at it. We’ll be meeting with the Town Council. We’ll continue to push them to get involved. We also want to see local businesses and organizations involved.”
Meeting with the Consultants
The group spoke with the consultants the Town has hired. “I had sent them a briefing on what we are about and the things we would like to see at the hospital. They have a limited mandate. They’re not going to hold big forums to hear from the public, so they’re relying on information from community groups, the Council, and maybe local businesses. These are the people we need supporting us.”
The consultants informed her that the provincial government wants to create a disconnect between urgent care, community care, health teams, and the hospitals. “They want hospitals to be separate entities,” Kelly said.
She mentioned the proposal that the Town is considering to add more beds. “They’ve closed so many of our beds. I think we’re left with somewhere around 45-55, which is almost the same number as in 1931, when the hospital first opened. But we have about five times as many residents now.” And the town is steadily growing.
“I think they’re onto something there. It might be a piece the Ministry will accept. As long as we don’t lose any other services we currently have, which is something Fort Erie Healthcare SOS is firm on.”
To learn more about Fort Erie’s Reimagining Project, visit the Town of Fort Erie’s website.
Banner Days
On May 27, a Banner Day was held at the corner of Garrison and Concession Roads. Heather explained, “We were having Banner Days once a month last year to show the community that we’re still out there, we’re still fighting for their healthcare needs.” After the colder temperatures, they resumed Banner Days last month.
“A lot of our volunteers came out. We got so many honks and thumbs up. I was really impressed with the high school kids who passed by at lunch. They were all hootin’ and hollerin’ in their cars, waving and fist-pumping. I don’t think we had one nasty comment all day.” She said that when they started this journey, they heard negative remarks from passersby.
Focus on the Patient
“It’s really about the care our community needs. I listen to our seniors, and they’re afraid. They can’t drive at night, so if they get ill in the middle of the night or have to go for a procedure, they’re going to have to rely on their kids or someone like a neighbour.”
One band-aid solution is to have volunteer drivers. “The need is there. I hear it from all the different service groups. It’s a real challenge to find volunteers, especially since the pandemic.” Adding, “And those are the people we are now having to rely on to get others to the care that they need.” Wheels of Hope, an organization with the Canadian Cancer Society that provides volunteer drivers for cancer patients in Ontario, now has only one volunteer left in Fort Erie.
“So much money is going into private care right now. If you need surgery, you can go to one of these private clinics for quicker service, without costing more than your OHIP card. But how far away are these clinics?” Heather says the privatization of healthcare is geared towards those who have the money and can travel.
“And there are so many mental health and addiction issues, and there’s nothing for them.” Kelly stated that we have to look at this from a patient-centred perspective, because the patient has been forgotten in many instances.
“Yes, we have these big, bold, brand-new hospitals. Very nice. But at what expense? How many small, rural hospitals have closed? How many nurses and doctors have now had to move out of these small, rural areas and into the larger centres because they know their patients can be referred and receive care?”
Heather says she never wants to blame the staff because they are definitely overworked and understaffed. “The administration is trying to meet the needs of the provincial government, and they just aren’t able to provide the care that is needed. Hospitals and staff can only do so much. It’s the patients who suffer.”
“Let’s make quality of care a priority. Let’s be able to say that everyone is taken care of, whether they’re homeless or millionaires. It shouldn’t matter. They should all receive the same kind of care.”
McMaster Program
McMaster University is seeking a home for its residency program.
“We believe it’s the perfect time to keep Douglas Memorial in the forefront. I spoke with the Town’s consultants about it and suggested they look into it further. I also sent a letter to the Mayor and the health committee on the Council because one of the things they need to be looking at is residency-type programs.”
Moving Forward
May 30, Fort Erie Healthcare SOS was at Ridgeway Farmers’ Market. “We’re going to have a booth once a month. We are also going to have a table at the Crystal Beach Waterfront Supper Market and a table at Strong Fort Erie Neighbours, just to make some of the groups aware that we’re still out there fighting.”
Sunday, July 5, is the anniversary of Niagara Health reducing Fort Erie’s UCC hours from 24/7 to 10:00 am – 8:00 pm. “We’re going to do a rally on that day, with one in the morning at the Port Colborne UCC and another at 1:00 pm. at the Fort Erie UCC. We’ll take some coffee and donuts in and say some ‘thank yous’ to the staff who are working that day to show our appreciation for their continued commitment to coming to work every day to take care of our needs, even though they are on the front line and receive the frustrations of patients who come in.”
Once a month, Fort Erie Healthcare SOS meets to plan next steps. In the fall, they’ll hold a book sale to raise money for their expenses, such as printing and banner-making.
“It’s an ongoing battle. We’re going to continue to battle.”
To stay in the loop about the efforts of Fort Erie Healthcare SOS, follow their Facebook page.
