Job Gym to close Central Avenue site, continue service locally

A long-standing employment office on Central Avenue in Fort Erie will close March 31, but the Job Gym service itself will remain in the community, shifting to temporary locations as it searches for a new permanent site.

A Facebook post from Job Gym Employment Services published last week suggested it was shutting down in Fort Erie entirely. The John Howard Society of Niagara confirmed the program will continue operating locally through a combination of community partner sites, mobile meetings and virtual appointments beginning in April 2026.

The Central Avenue office has operated for more than 20 years, first as part of a federal employment insurance office and later as a full Job Gym location. The organization has given notice to its landlord and must vacate by the end of March, with no replacement site secured yet.

Interim executive director Deanna Villella told Fort Erie Radio the transition is happening faster than expected, leaving the organization to arrange temporary service points while continuing to look for a permanent home.

“We don’t want people to have to worry that they’re losing out on a service in their community or that services are going to change for them in a negative way,” she said.

Villella clarified that the wording in the original post did not clearly explain that only the physical site was closing, not the service itself, and that some staff would be temporarily based in Welland during the transition.

“When we put the post up, I think it wasn’t really explained probably as good as we could have done,” said Villella.

Clients will still be able to access in-person support within Fort Erie through partner agencies and scheduled meetings in community spaces, alongside phone and online services.

The organization is also offering to meet clients directly in locations that are easier for them to reach, including libraries and other public spaces, as it adapts to transportation challenges that have affected access to the Central Avenue office.

“If you can’t get to us, we will get to you,” said Villella.

Transportation barriers and shifting population patterns in Fort Erie were key factors behind the decision to leave the long-time site. Many clients now travel more frequently along Garrison Road and in surrounding communities, where services and shopping are concentrated.

Ontario Works, which had shared space at the Central Avenue location, has already relocated to Garrison Road, further reducing the practicality of the original site.

Villella said the new model may include multiple smaller locations across greater Fort Erie rather than a single central office, with the aim of reducing travel time for clients.

“I hope the advantage would be that we can reach more people because we’re closer to their communities,” said Villella.

Job Gym connects job seekers with employers, including opportunities that are not publicly advertised, and supports people who are unemployed, underemployed or seeking a career change.

“There is a hidden job market that employers don’t post publicly,” said Villella.

Temporary service locations in Fort Erie are expected to be announced before the end of March, with updates provided through the organization’s website and social media as it continues its search for a permanent space.

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