Over the Canada Day long weekend, there were several significant security issues at the Sun Retreats Sherkston Shores resort in Port Colborne. These issues were very serious and required the Niagara Regional Police Services (NRPS) to deploy additional resources, including its Public Order unit to the property.
I am deeply concerned about these security issues, which included a range of problems from possible armed persons, fights, sexual assaults, drug poisoning, and more.
On behalf of Council, today I brought together representatives from the NRPS, Port Colborne Fire and Emergency Services, By-law Services, and senior City staff to discuss what can be done to ensure similar incidents do not occur in the future.
As a result of this meeting, I plan to communicate to the management at Sun Retreats Sherkston Shores that critical changes must be made at their property immediately.
The City of Port Colborne will be using its by-law enforcement capabilities to the fullest extent, and continuing to partner with the NRPS to ensure this happens.
I also plan to re-assemble today’s group to speak directly with the management of Sun Retreats Sherkston Shores and other community partners, including the NRPS, to further communicate our concerns and disappointment with these recent events and discuss how situations like this can be prevented moving forward.
- Mayor Bill Steele, City of Port Colborne