Explore Historic Old Fort Erie and Revisit the Past

Are you interested in buying real estate in the Niagara Region? This summer, come and explore the historical diversity and beauty of Fort Erie. Soak up your Canadian history and see what it’s like to live close to so many national landmarks. Here are some amazing things to look forward to on your trip to Fort Erie:

The War of 1812 Reenactment

Did you know that Old Fort Erie is the site of the bloodiest battle in Canadian history? As the Napoleonic Wars caused friction between the British and the Americans, war was declared in 1812, which led to the battle at Fort Erie. British, Native, and American soldiers fought and lost their lives over this very spot. Visitors to the historic landmark get to see the battle reenacted in period clothing! Learn about Canadian history in a way you’ll never forget.

Heritage Trail
Fort Erie and the Niagara Region is an area rich in Canadian history, cultural icons and emblems of our heritage, but it doesn’t just stop at Old Fort Erie. If you’re a history lover or want to take your kids on an interactive tour of history, be sure to check out popular tourist destinations, such as the events below!

Laura Secord Homestead
Home to the famous heroine who travelled 32 dangerous kilometres to warn the British of an impending American attack during the war of 1812, the Laura Secord Homestead captures a moment in time. Lovingly restored to its former splendour by Laura Secord chocolate company in the 70s, the home now serves as a museum that gives costumed guided tours every summer.

McFarland House
Built before the War of 1812, the McFarland House is the oldest building in the region and impeccably preserved. It has served many political purposes, especially during the war, and now serves as a popular destination for tourists in the Niagara region. Experience true Georgian style and explore the house and its impeccable gardens.

Underground Railroad
The old fort wasn’t only used as battlefield. It was also essential to the freeing of African slaves by being part of the Underground Railroad network. Located just on the other side of Buffalo, Old Fort Erie was an important station for runaway slaves. Guided by abolitionists and sympathizers, escaped slaves were able to flee to safety on Canadian soil thanks to places like the Fort.

Fort Erie Racetrack
The Fort Erie Racetrack is proof that there’s more to experiencing history than taking a tour of historic monuments. Founded in 1897, the famous racetrack has been hosting thoroughbred races for 120 years. Whether you’re a fan of racing or you love to see the magic and pageantry of racing horses, a day at the racetrack is one of Fort Erie’s most beloved tourist destinations.

Enjoy Your Trip!
We hope you enjoy your visit to Fort Erie. While you’re here, why not stop by our office to discuss the real estate market and what we can do to find you the best home on the market.

5 Festivals to Discover in the Niagara Region This Summer

There’s nothing quite like enjoying the sights, tastes, and sounds of a summer festival. Community-run festivals give you an honest glimpse into the spirit of the city and its people. If you’re looking to buy real estate in the Niagara Region, come and experience what true regional life is like by attending one of the area’s many summer festivals!

Ridgeway Summer Festival: July 8–9

Described as a “spree of events” in downtown Ridgeway, this festival promises to have a little something for everyone. The 27th annual summer festival will kick off with music, food, and dancing. For the kids, there are pony rides, magicians, clowns, and Comi-Con actors. Adults can enjoy good eats, live music, merchant stalls, and the farmer’s market. The festival will end with its free annual Car Show and wrap-up party.

Fort Erie Friendship Festival: July 13–16

Fort Erie has been celebrating the peace and friendship between Canada and the USA for 31 years. The Friendship Festival is geared toward children and young families and features thrill rides, exotic animals, food trucks, fireworks, artisanal crafts, a car show, live music, a canine water sports competition, and even an all-Canadian pageant. The Fort Erie Friendship Festival promises good, honest fun for the whole family.

Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival: August 4–7
Get your boat shoes on and come to Port Colborne for a four-day celebration of the area’s strong nautical heritage. Every year the quaint marine town pays tribute to the St. Lawrence Seaway by gathering historical vessels along the canal and letting people of all ages discover the world of merchant ships. Try on your sea legs and climb aboard. Enjoy music, games, children’s entertainment, fireworks, and many other fun family-friendly activities!

Niagara-on-the-Lake Peach Festival: August 13
If you’re a true foodie who’s passionate about the local cuisine, then come and celebrate the local peach harvest of the summer’s happiest fruit. The Peach Festival promises an array of live music, a sidewalk sale of local wares and all the peach-flavoured baked goods, desserts, chutneys, and preserves you can eat. Plus, you can take home your very own fresh peaches from local farmers and marvel at the sweetness of a true Canadian peach.

Niagara Grape and Wine Festival: September 8–24
For this festival, you might want to leave the kids at home. You don’t have to be an avid wine collector or sommelier to enjoy a festival that celebrates Niagara’s most popular export. End your summer of exploration on a high note by attending the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival. The tradition of celebrating a successful harvest goes back to the beginning of time. Get involved with local tradition and sample wines from Ontario’s award-winning vineyards.

This summer, explore the Niagara region at the height of summer and be fully immersed in the culture and charm of the region. If you’re interested in a particular area, we’d be happy to show you all the beauty and potential that area has to offer. For further inquiries, check out our listings page or contact Kathy and Dave.

Housing Prices Are on the Rise in the Niagara Region

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After an illuminating sales meeting, we’ve learned some exciting news for prospective sellers in the Niagara Region. Since 2013, the growth rate has increased by 38% in the entire area. That means that if you bought a house in 2013 for $240,000, your house may now be worth $332,000. In other words, now is the perfect time to consider selling your home.

If you’re interested in learning more about the financial statistics of the current housing market in the Niagara region, we would be happy to have a chat with you and answer any questions you may have. Come in for a visit or give us a call! It would be our pleasure to show you how selling your home in the current market could increase your financial gain.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

RIDGEWAY FARMERS’ MARKET & ART BY THE MARKET … HISTORIC DOWNTOWN RIDGEWAY … SATURDAYS THRU OCTOBER, 2017

 

RIDGEWAY FARMERS’ MARKET & ART BY THE MARKET … HISTORIC DOWNTOWN RIDGEWAY … SATURDAYS THRU OCTOBER, 2017

RIDGEWAY FARMERS’ MARKET & ART BY THE MARKET … HISTORIC DOWNTOWN RIDGEWAY … SATURDAYS THRU OCTOBER, 2017

Its Ridgeway Farmers’ Market Time! Genuine local farmers will be at the Ridgeway Farmers’ Market selling farm-fresh foods every Saturday 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

It’s a sure sign of spring when Ridgeway Farmers’ Market is open for the season, delighting residents and visitors with just-picked produce, farm specialties like baked goods, maple syrup, honey, VQA wines, plus friendly, knowledgeable advice on how to prepare, store and enjoy their products.

Celebrating its 10th Season the Ridgeway Farmers’ Market is an outdoor market located along the Friendship Trail in downtown Ridgeway Ontario. The Ridgeway Farmers’ Market is a registered pure Farmers’ Market specializing in local farm fresh produce.
The vendors at this charming market are all local to the Niagara Region, whether you’re looking for produce, gourmet salad greens, herbs, jams, artisan breads, plants, cut flowers, honey, deli meats, cheese, gourmet salad dressings and vinegars or seasonal fruits and berries, you’ll find it all here.

Local business and community groups in every nook and cranny of Ontario are forming community partnerships with municipal governments and farmers, creating a resurgence in Farmers’ Markets that would make our ancestors proud. Ridgeway is an excellent example of this trend and is offered to the local community by the Ridgeway Business Improvement Area in partnership with the Town of Fort Erie, Art by the Market and many business sponsors.

Art by the Market will also open on May 6th showcasing local artist and artisans throughout the market season. Between the two events, there will be 60+ vendors in downtown Ridgeway each Saturday. Listen for local musicians to showcase their talents each market day!

Downtown Ridgeway is truly the spot to be on Saturdays May to October with much to see and do!

For more information about Ridgeway Farmers’ Market:
Mary-Lou Ambrose-Little, Market Supervisor
ridgewaymarket@gmail.com
http://www.historicridgeway.com
289-476-1311 x 5

Win Tickets To See Elton John Concert

 

Win Tickets To See Elton John Concert. Any new listing or sale of property will be entered into a drawing for two tickets for the Elton John Concert. Contact Kathy or Dave today for more details.

Fort Erie Fire Department Seeks New Recruits – June 2017

 

Fort Erie fire department seeks new recruits

For his first full month on the job, Fort Erie’s new fire chief, Ed Melanson, got a relatively light load of calls.

The Fort Erie Fire Department released its monthly response stats last week, revealing a total of 80 emergency calls, the bulk of which were medical assistance calls (26), smoke alarm activations (14), and car accidents (10). There were also four water rescues, four grass fires, six burning complaints and two structure fires.

As the busy summer season looms – where water rescues and backyard campfires tend to drive up the response numbers – the department is also looking to flesh out its roster of firefighters.

In recent years, the FEFD has only managed to recruit just enough new volunteer firefighters to cover the gaps created by older firefighters retiring from the force. With an aging force, the FEFD is looking to bolster those numbers to stave off any potential staffing shortfalls.

Alongside providing a powerful way to give back to the community, being a volunteer firefighter has a number of benefits such as expert training, professional development and an annual honorarium. Volunteer firefighters may be called upon at any time – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – to respond to various types of emergency situations. In addition, they will be required to dedicate a specific number of hours per month to training, fire station duties and meetings. Successful candidates must also complete a recruit training program followed by a 12-month probationary period, during which time the candidate will undergo ongoing training and testing.

Certain requirements must be met before candidates can apply, including:

-have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent;

-be at least 18 years of age;

-live full-time in the Town of Fort Erie;

-be self-confident, reliable and understand the importance of teamwork and cooperation;

-have the ability to read, understand and apply technical procedures and guidelines;

-possess a valid, unrestricted Class “G” drivers’ license; and

-provide a satisfactory police background check and medical/physical evaluation

Additional information about the recruitment process, qualifications, an application form and instructions can be found at www.forterie.ca/pages/volunteerfirefighterapplication

The application deadline for new recruits is June 30.

Source:  NiagaraThisWeek.com – June 7th

The Myth of Selling Your Home in a Specific Season

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ border_style=”solid”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” center_content=”no” last=”no” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=””][fusion_text]When it comes to real estate advice, don’t always believe what you hear. People love to speculate and give tips on ways to sell your home in the shortest amount of time with the highest profit. Sure, plenty of the false information that’s being spread around may have been true at some point, but in this ever-changing market, fact can quickly turn into fiction. One of the myths we’d like to discuss today is that of “selling seasons”.

Spring and Fall

What’s the myth? That the best times to sell your house are spring and fall. We acknowledge that this may have been true at some point, but modern housing trends point to the fact that every season is good to sell, even winter. The reason for that is that the selling market is much more aggressive than it used to be, especially in the Greater Toronto Area and Southeastern Ontario.

In fact, summer in the Niagara region is an amazing time to put your home on the market as the area experiences some of the most beautiful weather in the province. Places like Niagara-on-the-Lake and its surrounding vineyards are gorgeous all-year round and always have some festivities and activities to attract visitors, homebuyers, and tourists alike. Summer is no longer a time for the market to settle down.

This myth has been busted.

So, when is the best time to sell?

In short, the answer is now. In the past couple of years, the growth rate has been over 38% throughout the Niagara region, and this year the numbers are expected to continue climbing. Prices have never been at these levels, and home sellers are constantly earning a return on their investment. The opportunity is almost too good to pass up.

If you’re interested in selling your home, or if you’re curious to find out how much your house is worth today, contact Kathy and Dave to discuss current market trends and your property’s potential.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]