COMMUNITY PROFILE

Mather Arch, Fort Erie1 2

FORT ERIECOMMUNITY PROFILE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR............................................................... 3

STRATEGIC LOCATION ................................................................................. 4

GENERAL DEMOGRAPHICS ..................................................................... 5

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE ..................................... 6

EMPLOYMENT INDUSTRIES AND TOP EMPLOYERS ...........................................................................................7-8

EMPLOYMENT RATES AND COMMUTING FLOW ........ 9

EDUCATION ...........................................................................................................10

INCENTIVES ............................................................................................................11

FORT ERIE REAL ESTATE AND PROPERTY TAXES ............................................................................................12

INVESTMENTS AND PROJECTS ................................................ 13-14

TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN FORT ERIE .............................. 15-16

FORT ERIE: A COMMUNITY OF COMMUNITIES ... 17-18

© Copyrighted 2019-2020 by Fort Erie Economic Development & Tourism Services. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy of information in this guide, Fort Erie Economic Development & Tourism Services cannot be responsible for any errors or omissions.

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MESSAGE FROM THE MAYORWayne H. Redekop

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Fort Erie is strategically located in the heart of one of North America’s busiest economic trade corridors and boasts bottom-line advantages and an open-for-business attitude. Niagara’s costs of doing business makes it one of Ontario’s most competitive centres for business with an unparalleled network of infrastructure for accessing North American

and international markets.

Fort Erie bolsters competitive tax advantages and effective, sustainable infrastructure, all of which fosters productivity and growth. When compared to other major border towns, Fort Erie’s property tax rates for residential, commercial office, commercial shopping, and large industrial are consistently top performers.

Prominent local, national and multi-national companies have set up shop in Fort Erie, all strategically positioned for further success and expansion thanks to our enviable location. From manufacturing and technology to commercial retail and knowledge-based sectors, Fort Erie is growing business, profits and a stellar reputation. Fort Erie’s sectors fuel economic growth and draw in talent to work and live in our thriving community, which can be enjoyed by residents of all ages.

Fort Erie bridges big city entrepreneurial opportunities with small-town charm and lifestyle. Quality of life is incomparable with its strong values, a dynamic work environment and easy access to modern amenities complemented by small-town ambience, warmth and welcome. Along with an array of historical sites, natural beauty and beaches, recreational trails, excellent fishing, birding and cycling, and a gateway to Buffalo via the Peace Bridge, there’s even more. Fort Erie has a number of historic vital communities – Bridgeburg, Old Fort Erie, Crescent Park, Ridgeway, Stevensville, Black Creek-Douglastown and Crystal Beach – that contribute to the town’s vibrancy and feature an array of commerce, professional services and exciting galleries, shops, and eateries.

Fort Erie’s communities have shared in the residential boom that has characterized the Golden Horseshoe real estate market over the past decade, and are experiencing record growth every year. In fact, the Town witnessed a record breaking first quarter in 2019 with residential development surpassing $17 million, almost triple the value reported in previous years!  

A wealth of information awaits you on these following pages and we hope that you come to share our vision of Fort Erie becoming a growing, prosperous, connected community of choice.

Yours very truly,

Wayne H. Redekop, Mayor

TRAVESE CITY

CLEVELAND

PITTSBURGH

FORT ERIE

DETROIT

Fort Erie's location is its greatest strategic advantage – with a market of 135 million people accessible within 500 miles.

MILWAUKEE

TORONTO

WASHINGTON

SUDBURY

COORDINATES 42 °54′N 78°58'W

TOTAL LAND AREA 167.42 sq. km.

2018 POPULATION DENSITY PER SQUARE KM: 194

ELEVATION: 179.80 m

SEASONS AND AVERAGE TEMPERATURES

January - March MAX MIN MEAN 1.4 C -7.62 C -3.13 C

April – June MAX MIN MEAN 18.45 C 7.82 C 13.15 C

July – September MAX MIN MEAN 25.43 C 15.55 C 20.53 C

October – December MAX MIN MEAN 9.87 C 2.32 C 6.10 CSource: Environment Canada, Fort Erie Climate Historical Data 2014-2018

PEACE BRIDGE: In 2018 5.2 million vehicles crossed the Peace Bridge. Second busiest border crossing between the U.S. and Canada. $40 billion in trade crosses every year. Source: Peace Bridge Authority. 2019.

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GENERAL DEMOGRAPHICS

AGE DEMOGRAPHICSFORT ERIE

24%

33%

24%

19%

0-19 20-44 45-64 65

Source: BMA Municipal Study. 2018.

AVERAGE AGE 46 YEARS OLD

POPULATION (2018): 32,354

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RAIL: Fort Erie is one of only two communities in Niagara that has a Class One railroad with a border crossing.

AIRPORTS: Fort Erie is located within a 100km radius from six international airports, the closest being the Buffalo Niagara International Airport within a 25 minute drive and Toronto Pearson International Airport within an hour and 20 minute drive.

LOCATED ON THE QEW: The 400-series highway starts at the Peace Bridge with 138km from Fort Erie leading straight to Toronto.

PUBLIC TRANSIT: Fort Erie Transit provides a local and affordable public transportation system that connects Fort Erie to its various communities and to neighbouring municipalities throughout the Niagara Region via Niagara Regional Transit.

GO TRAIN: Year round, seven days a week, GO services have been extended to St. Catharines and Niagara Falls. The Niagara Falls GO Train Station is less than a 30 minute drive from Fort Erie.

NEXUS: For only $50, Canadian and U.S. residents can get a five-year membership that allows pre-screened travelers expedited processing when entering the U.S. and Canada via land, air and water.

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This map is not to scale

USA

CANADA POPULATION WARD COMMUNITY (2018) 1 BRIDGEBURG 5,350 2 SOUTHEND 5,783 3 CRESCENT PARK 5,086 4 RIDGEWAY 5,194 5 CRYSTAL BEACH 5,519 6 STEVENSVILLE 5,422 BLACK CREEK/ DOUGLASTOWN

Total Population 32,354

POPULATION OF FORT ERIE

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FORT ERIE BUSINESSES & JOBS BY SECTOR

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Number of Businesses in Each Sector

Number of Jobs in Each Sector

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EMPLOYMENT INDUSTRIES ANDTOP EMPLOYERS

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TOP EMPLOYMENT INDUSTRIES

Work force of 14,725 and 55.5% of the population ages 25-64 have a post-secondary education.Source: Statistics Canada. 2017. Fort Erie Census Profile. Education Highlight Tables. 2016 Census. Catalogue no. 98-316-X2016001

26.2% ............... SALES & SERVICES

18.2% ............... TRADES, TRANSPORT & EQUIPMENT OPERATORS

16.0% ............... BUSINESS, FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION

9.6% ............... EDUCATION, LAW AND SOCIAL, COMMUNITY & GOVERNMENT SERVICESTOP

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CHANGE IN EMPLOYMENT INDUSTRIES

INDUSTRYFORT ERIE 2013-17 NIAGARA 2013-17

# change % change # change % changeMANUFACTURING 350 24.4% 1,799 11%

ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATION 179 36.2% 503 7%HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE 131 14.7% 2,843 15%

EDUCATIONAL SERVICES 128 33.7% 1,370 11%ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD SERVICES 88 12.3% 3,788 18%

CONSTRUCTION 86 16.6% 1,566 16%

Source: Statistics Canada. 2017. Fort Erie Census Profile. 2016 Census. Catalogue no. 98-316-X2016001

Source: Niagara Workforce Planning Board. 2019.

Manufacturing

Retail Trade

Public Administration

Arts, Entertainment and Recreation

Health Care and Social Assistance

Accomodation and Food Services

Transportation and Warehousing

Administrative/Support, Waste Management & Remediation Services

Other Services (Except Public Administration)

Construction

Professional, Scientific and Technical Services

Finance and Insurance

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

Utilities

Wholesale Trade

Information and Cultural Industries

Education Services

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting

Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction

Management of Companies and Enterprises

Undetermined

TOP 10 EMPLOYERS IN FORT ERIE

Canada Border Services Agency Rich Products Canada Airbus Helicopters Canada Livingston International Fleet Canada

Walmart Supercentre Abatement Technologies Barbican Fortis Ontario Fort Erie Race Track

Source: Niagara Region. Niagara Employment Inventory. 2018.

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GREATER FORT ERIE SECONDARY SCHOOL: GFESS opened its doors to 850 students in September 2017. It is the first new high school in 40 years to be built by the District School Board of Niagara. GFESS features technology program facilities including: manufacturing, construction, electrical, design, culinary, and cosmetology. GFESS is also home to the Meridian Centre of the Arts, a 500-seat theatre that is available to the community and user groups.

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EMPLOYMENT RATES AND COMMUTING FLOW

56.6% .................PARTICIPATION RATE

52.2% .................EMPLOYMENT RATE

7.6% .................UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

50.9% .................OF THE WORKING POPULATION IN 2015, WORKED FULL TIME

49.1% .................PART TIME Source: Statistics Canada. 2017. Fort Erie Census Profile. 2016 Census. Catalogue no. 98 316-X2016001

EMPL

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Fort Erie Niagara Falls Port Colborne Welland St. Catharines Thorold Niagara-on-the-Lake Hamilton

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WHERE FORT ERIE'S WORKFORCE COMMUTES FROM

TOTAL

% OF COMMUTERS

725505 465

31565 65 50

5670

TOTAL

% OF COMMUTERS

Fort Erie Niagara Falls St. Catharines Welland Port Colborne Niagara-on-the-Lake Thorold Hamilton

6000

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WHERE FORT ERIE RESIDENTS COMMUTE TO FOR WORK

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ATTAINMENT LEVELS: 55% of Fort Erie residents ages 25-64 have a post-secondary education.

Source Statistics Canada. 2017. Fort Erie Census Profile. 2016 Census. Catalogue no. 98-316-X2016001

BROCK UNIVERSITY: Established in 1964, Brock is home to more than 19,000 students and seven faculties. Brock boasts academic excellence and cutting edge R&D in world class facilities. Unique programs that Brock is well known for: Sport Management, Concurrent Education, Innovation & Commercialization: Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute, Institute for Scientific Computing, Environmental Sustainability Research Centre, Centre for Business Analytics, CPA/Goodman Institute for Interna-tional Issues in Accounting.

NIAGARA COLLEGE: Established in 1967, Niagara College operates two campuses, in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake. It is home to 9,000 full time students and 15,000 part time students. Niagara College is well known for: Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation, Canadian Food & Wine Institute, Agriculture & Environment Innovation Centre.

PROXIMITY TO SCHOOLS IN BUFFALO: Prominent private schools include Nichols School and Canisius High School. University at Buffalo is a Research I school, ranked #1 among public universities in New York State, while Canisius, Medaille and D’Youville Colleges are popular destinations for many Canadians enrolling in teaching programs.

EDUCATION

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Source: BMA Municipal Study. 2018

BROWNFIELD INCENTIVE PROGRAM: The Brownfield incentive program assists with the development of former commercial or industrial sites through tax freezes, access to tax rebate grants, and financial assistance for environmental studies.

DOWNTOWN CORE AREA COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN (CIP): Fort Erie offers commercial façade and residential intensification grant programs for the Downtown Core Areas of Bridgeburg, Ridgeway, Stevensville, and the Southend-Riverwalk. Since the program’s inception in 2014, $527,746 has been committed for 42 projects through signed agreements.

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NIAGARA GATEWAY ECONOMIC ZONE AND CENTRE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN (GATEWAY CIP): Receive property tax reductions of between 40% and 100% for five to ten years and grants toward Regional Development Charges for eligible projects in Fort Erie.

www.niagaracanada.com

INCENTIVES

NIAGARA FOREIGN TRADE ZONE: Fort Erie is the designated storefront location for the NFTZ to promote Niagara as a hub for international trade, help businesses integrate into foreign markets, and support business expansion into new markets. The NFTZ provides streamlined information on the Government of Canada’s tax and tariff export-related programs: Duties Relief Program, Drawback Program, Custom Bonded Warehouse Program, Export Distribution Centre Program, Exporters of Processing Services Program.

www.nftz.ca

FORT ERIE REAL ESTATE AND PROPERTY TAXES

*Source: Niagara Association of Realtors. 2019. Niagara – Municipal Summary.

**Source: Realtors Association of Hamilton-Burlington. 2019. 2018 year-end statistics.

***Source: Kitchener Waterloo Association of Realtors. 2019. Stats Report, December 2018.

****Source: Durham Region Association of Realtors. 2019. Housing Report, December 2018.

SOUTHERN ONTARIO RESIDENTIAL ACTIVITY

$369,063*

FORTERIE

AVERAGE SALE PRICES

IN 2018

NIAGARA

$405,691*

BURLINGTON

$733,641**

HAMILTON

$502,788**

$483,537***

KITCHENERWATERLOO

$593,902****OSHAWA

0

3.5

7

10.5

FORT ERIE WINDSOR SAULT STE MARIE SARNIA BROCKVILLE

2018 BORDER CITY PROPERTY TAX RATES

RESIDENTIAL

COMMERCIAL OFFICE

COMMERCIAL SHOPPING

INDUSTRIALLARGE

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2021 CANADA SUMMER GAMES: The Niagara Region has been named host of the 28th edition of the Canada Games which is Canada’s largest multi-sporting event. The Games will be hosted from August 6-21, 2021 across all 12 Niagara Region municipalities and will attract over 5,000 athletes and coaches to the Niagara Region. Fort Erie has been selected to host the sailing and parasailing events at Buffalo Canoe Club.

BAY BEACH: The $3.1 million revitalization project features a new accessible washroom facility complete with lockers, change rooms, foot wash showers and a new water bottle filling station. The renovation also includes a new play-ground, a pavilion and festival square, picnic areas and wheelchair accessible ramps to beach mats to provide ac-cess to the water’s edge.

CRYSTAL RIDGE PARK: The 22 acre park in Crystal Beach underwent significant redesign and improvements. Phase 1 is now complete and features a new open-air pavilion, an improved splash pad, new playgrounds, picnic areas, and multi-use and tennis courts. Phase 2 improvements are to include a multipurpose field for soccer, football and lacrosse, a tobogganing hill and two dog parks.

DOMINION ROAD: Completed in 2019, the 5.7 kilometers of aging pavement on Dominion Road underwent $22 million of roadwork and reconstruction.

INVESTMENTS AND PROJECTS

BUILDING PERMITS ISSUED AND TOTAL VALUE

Year Type of Building Permit # of Permits Issued Total Building Permit Value Residential 169 $49,053,300 Commercial 44 $7,234,300 Industrial 6 $27,135,000 Institutional 19 $2,797,100

Residential 168 $61,509,500 Commercial 32 $933,300 Industrial 6 $1,835,000 Institutional 9 $10,069,500

Residential 254 $81,769,000 Commercial 35 $2,328,500 Industrial 5 $791,000 Institutional 7 $185,000

Source: Town of Fort Erie Planning & Development Services. Report no. PDS 15-2019. Report no. PDS 17-2018. Report no. PDS 12-2017.

2018

2017

2016

FORT ERIE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY: Private investors purchased the former Fort Erie Elementary School and Secondary School to create the Fort Erie International Academy. For its inaugural year the school became home to 60 students in grades 7 to 12 in September 2019. The $95 million project aims to create an international educational campus at the two north-end sites, with plans to have approximately 900 students by September 2020.

GILMORE LODGE: In 2017, the Niagara Region purchased the 11 acre site of an abandoned mall for $4.2 million for the development of a long-term care facility. The new development will be replacing the aging Gilmore Lodge, which has been operating since 1988. The new facility will be larger and the site will feature green spaces, private residences, and a wellness centre. Once fully developed, the housing and institutional amenities are expected to fill out the entire 11 acre site. The expected completion date is by 2024.

GO TRAIN: Regular weekday GO Train service for commuters in Niagara Falls and St. Catharines started in January 2019, and beginning in August 2019, weekend service between Toronto and Niagara now runs year round. The Niagara Falls GO Train Station is less than a 20 minute drive from Fort Erie. Commuting from Niagara to Toronto has never been easier.

PEACE BRIDGE: The $100 million rehabilitation project came to completion in 2019. The project included the replacement of the bridge deck and structural steel, widening the bridge and sidewalks for pedestrians and cyclists, an observation deck, and adding new traffic control gantries, railings, and light posts. Peace Bridge Duty Free also underwent renovations. It now boasts 18,000 sq. ft. of retail space, making it one of the largest border-store locations in North America.

SOUTH NIAGARA HOSPITAL: The Provincial Government is committed to building a brand new 1.2 million sq. ft. hospital in the south end of Niagara Falls. This facility, to be the largest by far in Niagara, will be locat-ed only five minutes from the Fort Erie town line, and accessible within 15 minutes no matter where you are in town. Town of Fort Erie Council has committed $3 million in funding towards the South Niagara Hospital. The opening of the hospital is currently projected for 2026/2027.

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BAY BEACH: Long hailed as one of Fort Erie’s most popular tourist destina-tions, look no further for white sand, clear warm waters, and a relaxing day in the sun. Finish off an afternoon with a cool drink at one of the many restaurant patios.

RECREATIONAL TRAILS: Fort Erie’s recre-ational trails connect scenic nature, lush farmland, quaint villages, waterfront views and Niagara’s diverse regions. Along the way there is no shortage of attractions and places to stop. Walk, jog, bicycle, roller-blade, snow shoe or cross country ski, the outdoors can be enjoyed year round with Fort Erie’s recreational trails!

DISCOVERING HISTORY: From ancient artifacts dating back 11,000 years to the War of 1812 and the Fenian Raids, Fort Erie’s deep roots

and unique rich heritage are featured at Fort Erie’s many museums: Old Fort Erie, Mewinzha

Archaeology Gallery, Railway Museum, Ridgeway Battlefield Site, LaFrance Firefighters

Museum, Heritage Arts Sports Gallery and the Fort Erie Historical Museum.

SAFARI NIAGARA: This 150 acre nature park is home to over 1,000 native and exotic animals, reptiles and birds. The park also features interpretive educational displays, paddleboats, playgrounds, a splash pad, picnic areas and a high ropes course.

GOLF: There are a variety of golf ex-periences in Fort Erie. From executive par 3 and practice courses to beauti-fully manicured resort-style courses, Fort Erie’s local clubs offer beginners and enthusiasts alike challenging courses to enjoy and improve their game.

thingsto do in RECREATION AND

TOURISM

FORT ERIE RACE TRACK: Home to the famous Prince of Wales Stakes, the second jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown, the Fort Erie Race Track has offered the excitement of live thoroughbred racing for 122 years. On many race days the track hosts live music, food trucks, craft beer, a farmer's market, arts and crafts vendors and more. Parking and admittance is always free.

BOATING & FISHING: Lake Erie and the Niagara River offer extensive boating and fishing opportunities. With 8 boat launches and 11 public lake access points, there is no shortage of water activities and entertainment in Fort Erie. Anglers can delight in the abun-dance of fish. Set your hook for perch, walleye, bass and trout!

BOUTIQUE SHOPPING: The streets of Fort Erie’s

communities are lined with a wide selection of

unique boutiques and specialty shops that

feature trendy fashion, thrifty finds, home décor,

gifts and more!

FOOD & DRINK EXPERIENCES: Tantalize your taste buds! Choose from fine dining, quaint cafes, outdoor patios, a craft brewery, country homestyle, ethnic, or farm-to-table dining. You are bound to find tempting fare in Fort Erie. The freshest ingredients for creating your own culinary delights can be found at weekly farmer’s markets within Fort Erie’s communities and feature the best of renowned Niagara produce, baked goods, honey, cheese, and more!

NIAGARA RIVER PARKWAY: One of Fort Erie’s greatest advantages is its proximity to Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake, beautifully connected by the Niagara River Parkway. The Niag-ara Parkway is a scenic drive running parallel to the Niagara River 55 km (34 mi) from Fort Erie in the south, to Niagara-on-the-Lake in the north. The Niagara Parkway passes through several villages and several attractions along the river, including: Old Fort Erie, Queen Victoria Park, The Butterfly Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Finally, to the northern end of the parkway is Niagara-on-the-Lake, location of the world-famous Shaw Festival. When British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill visited Niagara Falls in 1943 he acknowledged that the Niagara Parkway is the “prettiest Sunday afternoon drive in the world.” We couldn’t agree more.

FORT ERIE

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FORT ERIE IS COMPRISED OF MANY SMALLER COMMUNITIES WHICH ALL HAVE THEIR OWN DISTINCT IDENTITY AND HISTORY.

Source: Fort Erie Museum Board. Many Voices: A Collective History of Greater Fort Erie. 1996.

Well before the Peace Bridge, there was Bridgeburg Station, which emerged where the International Railway Bridge connected Canada and the U.S. in 1873. Fort Erie’s downtown was the centre of commercial activity for many decades, and even today it remains a vibrant centre for commerce and professional services, with over 100 businesses.

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Historically known as a tourism mecca made famous in the late 1800s by its amusement park, Crystal Beach enjoyed a reputation as a destination like no other. Although the amusement park closed its doors a century later, Crystal Beach continues to be one of Niagara Region’s most popular tourist destinations due to its white sandy beaches at Bay Beach, fishing and boating opportunities, and boutique shops and services.

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Stevensville was home to a number of saw mills, lumber mills, and flour mills before four fires in the 1860s destroyed most of the village’s businesses. By 1886 Stevensville’s economy boomed with the addition of two rail lines bringing produce to city markets, sparking Stevensville’s commercial farming sector. Today, Stevensville still has a strong agriculture community along with a significant industrial zone. The community is also host to Safari Niagara, a 150-acre zoo and nature park that is home to more than 1,000 native and exotic animals and attracts more than 150,000 visitors annually.

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Garrison Road, named for the original military road in the area, is the commercial hub of Fort Erie, with major retail, grocery, dining and service amenities. Many of Canada’s best known retail and restaurant brands have locations in Fort Erie, and most can be found along this 4km stretch.

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Located mid-point between Fort Erie and Niagara Falls and named for the dark creek that meanders through the community, Black Creek was one of the first places to be settled by United Empire Loyalists in the late 1700s. By the mid-1800s, Black Creek had a bustling industrial sector and was a supplier of lumber and grain to Buffalo, NY before the mills were destroyed by a fire in 1886. In the 1950s Black Creek experienced a residential boom when Mr. A. Douglas developed a subdivi-sion which is locally known as Douglastown. Today, Black Creek-Douglastown is a growing community and an oasis for kayaking, canoeing and paddle boarding.

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Ridgeway is home to the famous site of the 1866 Fenian Invasion where Irish-American veterans from the U.S. civil war intended to capture the British Province of Canada and use it to barter with Britain for Ireland’s freedom. Today, Ridgeway is a close-knit tranquil community and features an abundance of galleries, shops, spas, eateries, a renown farmer’s market and a boutique movie theatre. RI

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660 Garrison Road, Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada L2A 6E2

OUR SERVICES INCLUDE:Site selection and location analysis

Connections to business resources and incentivesCustomized economic data and research

Due diligence support and advocacyFacilitating networking opportunities

Strategic matchmaking

Phone905-871-1332

Toll Free1-888-270-9151

Emailedtc@forteriecanada.com

Websitewww.forteriecanada.com

Economic Development & Tourism Services