The Greater Fort Erie Chamber of Commerce

 

MEDIA RELEASE

New Binational Television Program Kicks Off Thursday, Feb. 4!



The Binational Tourism Alliance is pleased to announce the launch of a new television show “The Cross-Border News”, on TVCogeco starting this Thursday, Feb. 4 at 6:00 p.m. 

Arlene White, Executive Director of the Alliance will host the program, which airs every Thursday from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.  This informative new series will complement the successful radio programs of the same title which air Fridays 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon on 1230AM WECK in Buffalo and Saturdays 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. on CKTB AM in St. Catharines.

The program kicks off with a historic look back at the ties that bind the Canadians and Americans who live, work and play in Binational Niagara.  Each week, the program will center on a specific cross-border theme from politics to culture, tourism infrastructure, education and well-known community landmarks.

“The Cross-Border News was developed to showcase the people, places and things that are happening in Binational Niagara,” advised White.  “We’ve had the pleasure of working with and learning from hundreds of binational partners for over 10 years and this is our opportunity to share the stories of the great work being done in our communities.”

 The Binational Tourism Alliance is a membership based, non-profit tourism and economic development organization that works with organizations and operators on both sides of the border to raise the awareness of the importance of cross-border regions like Niagara to the economy of North America and the different sectors that are involved in the development of our binational communities.

We are involved in advocacy, research, product development, marketing, training and information sharing with and on behalf of our more than 140 members from Manitoba to Plattsburgh, who in turn represent 7500 operators and organizations across the Great Lakes Region.

For more information about this new program and scheduled guests, contact Arlene White at 1-877-884-2736 x133 or arlene.white@btapartners.com

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MEDIA RELEASE

NIAGARA REGION, February 2, 2010 - Residents can now stay up to date on their Regional government by subscribing to the monthly e-newsletter, ‘Our Niagara e-news’.

‘Our Niagara e-news’ focuses on programs and services offer by Regional government, as well as highlighting important decisions made by Regional council.

“We aim to provide our residents with news they will find useful,” says Niagara Region Chief Administrative Officer Mike Trojan. “Public awareness of the services provided by the Niagara Region is an important goal for council. This e-newsletter is just one of the many ways we are trying to meet this objective.”
Recent e-newsletter stories have addressed issues such as when and where to get your H1N1 flu shot, Christmas tree pick-up schedules and an initiative to use a sugar beet juice compound to reduce the amount of road salt.

“Our Niagara e-news is a way for residents to learn how their tax dollars are put to work,” says Trojan. “This product allows the Region to show their transparency within the community. Tax payers have a right to know how their money is spent. We want Niagara region residents to know what we do and how we serve them,” he added.

The e-newsletter is the Region’s response to the results of a recently completed survey that indicated residents were interested in learning more about Regional government, in different formats, in print and online.

‘Our Niagara e-news’ is distributed the 15th of every month. Niagara residents can sign up to receive the e-newsletter at www.niagararegion.ca in either standard e-mail format or a text-only version for mobile devices. Residents can also connect with their Regional government in real time at www.facebook.com/niagararegion and www.twitter.com/niagararegion.

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Contact:
Daryl Barnhart
Web Content Coordinatorh
165 Bertie Street
Fort Erie, ON
Phone: 905-871-6577
Email: drgary@cogeco.ca
   

Eliud Herrera and James Eagles
Intercede International
201 Stanton Street
Fort Erie, ON
Phone: 905-871-0882
Email:
eherrera@Intercedenow.ca
jeagles@intercedenow.ca
 

January 20, 2010

FORT ERIE – Fort Erie organizations came together this week at the Fort Erie Multi Cultural Center to partner and coordinate efforts to help victims and families of the recent earthquake in Haiti.  The group represented Niagara Catholic District School Board (ESL), Casa El Norte, First Baptist Church, Central Avenue United Church, Matthew House, Bethel Pentecostal Church, Intercede International, the Fort Erie Multi Cultural Centre and the Town of Fort Erie.  They identified the needs in Haiti and those of the 167 members of the newcomer Haitian Community in Fort Erie.  It was recognized it would be helpful to coordinate local fundraising efforts and determine a point organization to receive funds. Also, to determine the needs of the local Haitian Community.  The large national and international aid organizations such as the Canadian Red Cross, World Vision, UNICEF, etc are set up to recognize and manage the needs on the ground in Haiti.  Locally, many Haitian families are trying to locate and reunite with family members.  Many local Haitians are foregoing food in order to redirect their scarce funds to pay for long distance telephone calls to Haiti in an attempt to connect with friends and family and determine the whereabouts of loved ones.  Many local Haitians have now discovered family, friends and relatives have died in the earthquake while those who survived are not having their most basic human needs met.

The group of organizations decided it would be best to coordinate local fund raising efforts through one agency.  The Fort Erie Multi Cultural Centre will receive cheques payable to the “Fort Erie Multi Cultural Centre – Haitian Family Reunification Fund” where these monies will be held in trust to assist Haitians living in Fort Erie to help reunite families and support local Haitian Community needs.  The first step is to enlist a coordinator to be located at the Fort Erie Multi Cultural Centre who will partner with a local Haitian coordinator to mobilize efforts to identify and document local Haitian people living in Fort Erie, reunification needs as well as other basic needs. Immigration requirements include the need to lobby the Federal Government to reasonably and responsibly accelerate immigration efforts to enable people to leave the misery of Haiti and reunite with their families in Canada and Fort Erie.

Contact was made with Mrs. Arlene Heron, mother of Vanessa Johnson, who is with Mission of Hope located outside Port Au Prince.  Brian Williams of NBC Nightly News recently profiled Mission of Hope demonstrated the significant amount of aid and resources distributed in such a short period of time to so many who are desperate for help.  Members of Vanessa’s family continue to live in Fort Erie.

Planning is already underway for a number of local fundraising events including Intercede International, “Help Haiti Heal” an international relief day on Saturday, January 30, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at All Nations Mission Centre, 3397 Garrison Road, Fort Erie; Pasta Night at the Italo Canadian Club hosted by Casa El Norte on March 11, 2010; Musicians Night at Crystal Chandelier on February 5, 2010 hosted by Elton Lammie. Many other events are planned at local churches and schools, including a Mission of Hope Fundraiser by Niagara Christian College and Pancake Tuesday at St. John South Adult Learning Centre.  An Interfaith Church Service will be held at the Leisureplex Banquet Hall on February 6, 2010 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Many opportunities are available to help Haiti. It is also important to reach out and help Haitians who have recently made Fort Erie their home, to reunite with their families and to help them cope with the unimaginable loss and devastation this disaster has caused for their people in Haiti.


For further information please contact:

Martha Mason, Director,
Fort Erie Multi Cultural Centre,
52 Jarvis St, Unit 2
Fort Erie, ON L2A 2S4
Phone: 905-871-3641 ext 31,
After Hours: 905-994-3599
Fax; 905-871-2231
email: mmason@firststepsincanada.com

Pastor Gary Page
First Baptist Church
165 Bertie Street
Fort Erie, ON
Phone: 905-871-6577
Email: drgary@cogeco.ca

 Eliud Herrera and James Eagles
Intercede International
201 Stanton Street
Fort Erie, ON
Phone: 905-871-0882
Email:
eherrera@Intercedenow.ca
jeagles@intercedenow.ca