Fort Erie Advances Reimagining Douglas Memorial Initiative Following Consultant Report

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release

FORT ERIE, ON, September 29, 2026 – Fort Erie Town Council has advanced its strategic direction of the Reimagining Douglas Memorial Initiative and approved moving forward with the next phase of detailed work and business case development of a Community Health Hub model for Fort Erie.

At its September 28 meeting, Council received the Community Report prepared by Santis Health and, in principle, endorsed its recommendation to advance a phased Community Health Hub model centred on stronger primary and community care.

Council also directed staff to proceed with the next phase of the initiative, including service-model development, partner and funder engagement, site and facility due diligence, implementation planning and preparation of a detailed business case. Council approved up to $118,000 from the South Niagara Hospital - Health Care Reserve to support this next phase of work.

“This is an important step forward in protecting access to local health care for Fort Erie residents. Significant work remains, and Council maintains its position that the UCC at Douglas Memorial continues until a viable alternative is in place for our community.”
- Mayor Wayne Redekop

The Town launched the Reimagining Douglas Memorial Initiative in March 2026 in response to changes underway in Niagara’s health care system, including Fort Erie’s rapid population growth, increasing pressure on primary care and the planned 2028 closure of the Douglas Memorial site and its services, including the Urgent Care Centre.

The Town retained consultant Santis Health to build an evidence base, engage health care and community partners, and identify sustainable options for the future delivery of local health services. Work included an environmental scan, interviews with more than 20 stakeholder groups, reviews of comparable health hub and urgent care models, policy and funding analysis, and an independent assessment of the Douglas Memorial building and site.

Bringing these services together could improve access to routine and after-hours care, help more residents connect with primary care, support vulnerable populations and address lower-acuity health needs locally. It could also help preserve emergency department capacity at the new South Niagara Hospital for higher-acuity and time-sensitive care.

“This report provides a clearer path forward and next steps for a community health hub model. Council’s approval sets clear direction to develop the concept in greater detail, confirm partners and funding sources, and build a financially viable plan that can be brought back to Council.”
- Chris McQueen, Chief Administrative Officer

For media inquiries, please visit: Media Requests & Interviews

- 30 -

Backgrounder

Consultant report highlights

The Santis Health report identifies primary and community care capacity as Fort Erie’s central health care challenge. The report indicates that 12 local family physicians roster approximately 23,684 patients, leaving an estimated 13,542 residents unattached to a family physician. The challenge is expected to grow, with 39 per cent of local physicians expected to retire within five years.

The report also found that the Fort Erie and Port Colborne Urgent Care Centres collectively receive more than 27,500 visits annually, including 13,065 visits in Fort Erie. Many of these visits involve lower-acuity conditions that could be treated through accessible primary and community-based care when those services are available.

Based on the evidence gathered and stakeholder feedback, Santis Health identified a centralized, co-located and scalable Community Health Hub as the strongest pathway forward.

The proposed model could bring a range of services together in one location, including:

• Primary care, with extended after-hours and weekend access
• Allied health services
• X-ray and ultrasound diagnostics
• Mental health and addictions support
• Community and social services
• Visiting specialist clinics
• Laboratory services

The report also identifies a modern, team-based health care environment as a model that could help attract and retain new medical graduates and other health professionals as Fort Erie prepares for anticipated physician retirements.

The future of Douglas Memorial

The consultant’s report recognizes the important role Douglas Memorial has played in Fort Erie for generations and the attachment is real, meaningful and rooted in lived experience. It also notes that the building’s age, layout and location need to be realistically considered when determining its future.

Council has directed staff to further evaluate the Douglas Memorial site as a candidate for redevelopment, including potential community and social needs, housing and health services, while also considering other viable site options.

What happens next

Council’s decision does not represent final approval of a specific Community Health Hub, location or capital investment. The next phase will develop the information required for those future decisions.

Town staff will identify prospective health care partners and operators, explore governance models, further evaluate potential locations and develop preliminary capital and operating estimates.

The work will include planning for the transition leading up to 2028, with the goal of maintaining reliable access to local care as regional health services change. Staff will pursue provincial, federal, regional, philanthropic and partner funding opportunities and undertake additional community and stakeholder engagement as options become more clearly defined.

Once this work is complete, staff will return to Council with a preferred implementation pathway, partnership and governance model, refined capital and operating estimates, funding strategy, risk assessment and recommended project phasing.

Recommendation Report CAO-18-2026

Santis Health Report