Willson House hospice will break ground in Fort Erie next week

A new 10 bed hospice will begin construction in Fort Erie next week offering families care close to home.

Hospice Niagara will officially break ground on its third residential hospice, Willson House, on September 16 at 5:30 p.m., according to a Thursday news release.

Willson House hospice will be 16,000 square feet and located beside the new Gilmore Lodge long-term care home on King Street.

The facility is expected to open in late 2026 or early 2027, says the release. It is part of a regional plan to expand palliative care, adding 20 new beds between Welland and Fort Erie on top of the existing 10 in St. Catharines.

“Today marks a new chapter for the people of Fort Erie and the entire Niagara region,” said Carol Nagy in the release, executive director of Hospice Niagara.

The project follows the opening of a Walker House in Welland last August, and is all made possible through an $18 million capital campaign launched in 2021 with contributions from the Ontario government, Niagara Region, the Town of Fort Erie and community donors such as Willson International and the Ridgeway Lions Club.

“This hospice is being built through the vision and generosity of the community, and we are deeply grateful to partners, donors, ministry and local governments and the Town of Fort Erie for making this dream a reality,” added Nagy.

Hospice Niagara has provided end of life and bereavement services across the region for more than 30 years. Officials say demand continues to grow, with about 500 residents waiting for care on any given day.

Planning is also underway for a fourth hospice in Niagara Falls.

The groundbreaking ceremony will include a sacred ceremony led by the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre, followed by remarks and a community photo.

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