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Mayor at desk

As Mayor of Port Colborne, I am committed to ensuring our community and its visitors enjoy a safe, respectful, and vibrant summer season. With the summer of 2025 fast approaching, I want to share the steps taken to address concerns raised during previous peak weekends at Sun Retreats Sherkston Shores.

I’ve met with the Sherkston Shores management team, Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS), Niagara EMS, Port Colborne Fire & Emergency Services, City By-Law Services, and senior City staff. Together, we’ve developed a coordinated approach to ensure that the issues experienced during the Canada Day long weekend in 2024 are not repeated.

Thanks to this collaborative effort, Sherkston Shores is entering the 2025 season better prepared and more secure. Key measures already in place include:

  1. Stronger Entry Controls:
    Sherkston Shores now requires private renters to register in advance with their full name and birth date, and requests government-issued ID prior to arrival. Owners must also pre-register all guests. Day pass purchases remain unavailable to limit unmonitored access.
  2. Improved Perimeter Security:
    The resort has reviewed all fencing and access points and has installed additional fencing where needed to prevent trespassing.
  3. Enhanced On-Site Security:
    Security presence has been expanded, with third-party security teams ready to be deployed during long weekends and periods of high activity.
  4. Community Education and Awareness:
    The City is reminding families that Sherkston Shores is private property. Parents and guardians should not drop off teens or other individuals unless they are officially registered. Entering from unauthorized road ends or beach access points is trespassing.
  5. Continued Police Patrols:
    NRPS remains active in the area, continuing road patrols and RIDE programs to deter unsafe and impaired driving.
  6. Traffic Calming on Key Roads:
    The City, working with NRPS, has introduced traffic calming measures along Empire Road and Pleasant Beach Road to improve safety for everyone.

We’ve taken concrete action to address past challenges, and I will continue working with our partners to monitor progress throughout the summer. I’ve called a follow-up meeting for mid-September to evaluate outcomes and identify any further steps needed.

Our collective efforts demonstrate what’s possible when community partners come together with a shared goal. I look forward to a safe, enjoyable, and well-managed 2025 season at Sherkston Shores.

—
Mayor Bill Steele
City of Port Colborne