Fort Erie providing $100K toward Wilson House hospice gardens
An additional $100,000 contribution to Willson House, a 10-bed hospice under construction in Fort Erie's north end, has been awarded by town council toward the creation of two therapeutic gardens.
Council's decision came after a presentation during its Monday meeting by Carol Nagy, executive director of Hospice Niagara, who asked the town to match the Ridgeway Lions Club's community fundraising efforts.
The town had previously committed $150,00 to the hospice project. With the additional funding, Fort Erie's total contribution will be $250,000.
Willson House is scheduled to open in late 2026 next to Gilmore Lodge on King Street. It will provide end-of-life care for residents in Fort Erie, with design features aimed at promoting accessibility and a connection to nature.
Nagy said limited space on the property led designers to focus on building two internal courtyards that will serve as therapeutic gardens. Both will be fully accessible, with one by a children's therapy centre and the other next to patient rooms.
'We went out for consultation with this community, and it was very important for people living here, as well as the Indigenous community, that they feel the outside come into the building,' she said.
'We know living in these rural areas that nature has healing properties and is so important to our health and mental health.'
Ridgeway Lions Club began fundraising for one of the therapeutic gardens in mid-2023. The club has raised $250,000, supported by donations, community events and a grant from Lions Clubs International of $77,544 (U.S.).
'This was a big thing for our (Lions) club to do for the community, for hospice,' said Ron Brummer, a member of the Lions Club.
To ensure both courtyards could be built, Nagy asked council to match the Lions' efforts with an additional $100,000.
An initial recommendation from town staff suggested referring the request to 2026 budget deliberations.
However, Nagy warned a delay could force Hospice Niagara to take out a loan to meet construction deadlines.
In response, councillors voted to pull the item from the consent agenda and approved the funding from the town's community health and wellness reserve.
'(Making) the decision sooner rather than later is best for you, that would be best for us to move forward,' Mayor Wayne Redekop said.
'This is a fantastic project for the municipality and we have been very supportive of it.'
Nagy said donations are still being accepted, and similar funding efforts are underway in other municipalities across the region.
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