Town funds second summer worker at Crystal Beach tourism hub

A Crystal Beach tourism booth has a second summer worker this year, after the Town of Fort Erie doubled its yearly grant to Advancing Crystal Beach (ACB) to $9,000 for a one-season trial.

The grant goes to the local non-profit ACB, which owns and runs the tourism hub on Erie Road. The town calls it the community’s “primary tourism information centre” and has paid student wages for the past five years.

The town told Fort Erie Radio in an email response that until this year, the grant only supports the employment of one weekend staff member “at a living wage,” or roughly $20 an hour according to the job posting.

The town said it’s waiting to see whether an extra worker during the peak tourism season improves the help Crystal Beach visitors get, and the results are expected to decide whether the second worker position returns in 2027.

One condition that comes with the grant is ACB has to sign a funding agreement “demonstrating that the funding was used specifically to support student wages” and hand back anything left over once the season ends.

ACB must also track visitor numbers all season and file a final report on who came and how the money was spent.

The hub hands out town material, including the Fort Erie visitor guide.

The town confirmed the grant pays only for booth staffing, with no link to ACB’s cash-only pop-ups, which sell discounted fruit and vegetables to about 200 people a month. It described the group as a separate entity and said it plays no part in how ACB’s board governs itself.

When the booth opened in May, ACB president Scott Boumeester credited the hub’s overhaul to five board members under 35 who led the project

“They bring different skill sets, different ideas, different get up and go,” Boumeester told Fort Erie Radio. “They push us, they challenge us, and they’ve got great ideas.”

Ward 5 Councillor Tom Lewis pushed for the grant increase to create more summer work for local students.

“It’s not only about just promoting the community, but it’s also giving youth the opportunity for employment,” said Lewis.

The hub is open on weekends through the summer.

ACB’s season-end report will tell the town if the second worker earns a second year.

Stay Informed

Events, offers, contests, and breaking news, all delivered straight to your inbox.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Subscribe