Fort Erie

Fort Erie was the first British fort to be constructed as part of a line of communications along the Niagara River and Upper Great Lakes. The original fort, built in 1764, was located on the river's edge below the present fort. For the next 50 years, Fort Erie served as a supply depot and a port for ships transporting merchandise, troops, and passengers to the Upper Great Lakes.

Fort Erie has had a bloody history of battles. Visitors to the ruins included the Prince of Wales and Mark Twain.

The town was an important stop on the Underground railroad. Thousands of slaves hoping to escape the oppression of slavery gained their freedom by crossing into Canada via Fort Erie.

As the twentieth century approached, the Old Fort was used as a park and picnic area for local families.

In 1937 reconstruction began, jointly sponsored by provincial and federal governments and by the Niagara Parks Commission. The fort was restored to its 1812 period and officially reopened July 1, 1939. The fort and surrounding battlefield are owned and operated by The Niagara Parks Commission, a self-funding agency of the Province of Ontario.

Fort Erie grew as a city beyond the original fort. Today it is a bustling town on the border between Canada and Buffalo. A popular tourist destination is the delightful drive along the Niagara Parkway. The Parkway starts at Fort Erie and continues 56 kilometres north to Lake Ontario. Sir Winston Churchill described it as, "the prettiest Sunday drive in the world."

Fort Erie boasts a rich heritage and unique blend of rural and urban living. The town plays host to a number of renowned festivals and is home to miles of beautiful beaches. The Fort Erie Racetrack and Slots provides one of the most spectacular venues for thoroughbred horse racing in the world and is home to the Prince of Wales Stakes.

The "Old Fort", as locals lovingly refer to it, offers visitors a taste of life during the War of 1812. Battle re-enactments take place during the summer and draw thousands of visitors and participants to Old Fort Erie as well as the Ridgeway Battlefield Museum. Fort Erie is also home to the Fort Erie Railroad Museum.

The Mildred M. Mahoney Doll's House Gallery, believed by most Fort Erie natives to be haunted, is home to a fascinating world of miniature dollhouses. It houses' one of the world's largest collections of dollhouses in North America, there are 140 exhibits spanning two centuries and include rare masterpieces from England, Europe, the Orient, and North America.

Surrounded by miles and miles of sandy beaches and the clean, cool waters of Lake Erie and the Niagara River, Fort Erie is a water sports hotspot. There is windsurfing at Thunder Bay, jetskiing down the Niagara River, fishing in Lake Erie, sailing around Point Abino, kayaking up Black Creek, or just lying on one of the many fabulous beaches. During the winter months, hockey and figure skating take over the ice at Fort Erie's renowned Leisureplex, and ice fishing, snowmobiling, and skiing at the nearby Western New York ski resorts are popular activities.

Fort Erie

Population: 29,403

Age: Incorporated as a town in 1782

Location: 200 km south of Toronto

Highways: QEW, 3

Airports: John C. Munroe Airport, Hamilton, Ontario; Niagara Falls, NY; Buffalo, NY;

Public Transit: Fort Erie Transit Commission operates local bus service

Education: The District School Board of Niagara operates 13 elementary schools and two secondary schools; The Catholic District School Board operates five elementary schools, three private schools.

Emergency Services: Local policing as well as Niagara Regional Policing and 911 emergency coverage

Tourist/Cultural and Recreation Facilities: Five community centres, three ice arenas, six marinas, four theatres, one indoor swimming pool, one outdoor swimming pool, many tennis clubs private and public, four public golf courses, and two private golf courses