Power outage puts a damper on opening day at Bay Beach
May 17, 2025 at 5:56 AM
The sun was shining for opening day at Bay Beach on Friday, but the town’s plan to sell passes for the season did not get off to a great start.
That’s because two nearby Crystal Beach hydro poles were struck by lightning, causing a power outage in the area in the early morning hours.
Fort Erie Radio visited Bay Beach at about noon and was told by staff working at the entrance that season passes were not being sold due to the outage.
Crews working on Erie Road on Friday after a power outage that affected 1,200 customers across Greater Fort Erie. Credit: Kris Dubé | Fort Erie RadioAbout 1,200 customers were without power in the Greater Fort Erie area, affecting parts of Ridgeway and Crystal Beach, said CNP director of corporate customer service Kristine Carmichael.
All customers had their power restored by 1:42 p.m., she told Fort Erie Radio in an email.
But even though buying a $10 pass was not possible in the early afternoon, about a dozen people could still be found on the beach, walking about and relaxing in the sand.
Town staff at the entrance were allowing people enter freely.
A handful of visitors could be found at Bay Beach early Friday afternoon. Credit: Kris Dubé | Fort Erie RadioIt’s been a “long winter” for Kim Toste, a Mississauga resident who has owned a cottage in Crystal Beach for eight years, and frequents the beach regularly.
“As soon as we see some sun and the temperatures are in the teens, we’re here,” she said.
Toste said the shallow water and cleanliness of the beach are what she finds the most appealing.
“It feels like you’re away somewhere,” she said.
Lissie Teehee was at the beach with her daughter, admitting they were “very far away from home.”
They are from Oklahoma and are staying in Niagara Falls for a few days. Wanting to find a sandy spot to relax, a quick Google search landed them in Crystal Beach.
“It looked really pretty,” she said, adding the area is “very charming.”
Fort Erie Radio sent two emails to Town of Fort Erie communications staff to ask how the power outage had affected opening day at the beach, but no response was received by 4 p.m. on Friday.
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About The Author
Kris Dubé
Kris is a veteran journalist who has worked in Niagara for close to 20 years. He is also a lifelong resident of Fort Erie, a place he plans to call home and raise his family for many more years.
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