"I thought, I think people should do a petition," she said.

Mellen immediately called town hall in search of answers around the legality of drafting an effective cause and found more than she was looking for. Days later, Mellen is the co-ordinator of the town's official petition which will be presented to the Local Health Integration Network as it reviews the Niagara Health System's hospital restructuring plan.

"We wanted to have one official petition," said Mayor Doug Martin, who said staff have been busy receiving calls from concerned residents wondering if a petition has been started.

"There have been a lot of people calling," he said.

The petition is being circulated throughout the community in an effort to present residents with an opportunity to have their voices united as one. Those signing the document object to the recommendations in the plan that will reduce services at Douglas Memorial Hospital and demand that the NHS continue to provide the current level of services at Douglas Memorial to the residents of Fort Erie.

Martin said the Niagara Health System's plan to streamline services and cut costs shouldn't mean an end to hospitals in smaller communities.

"Without the emergency room, we lose the blue 'H'," he said.

Martin said he supports new services planned for the new hospital in west St. Catharines, but not at the expense of existing services in Fort Erie.

The petition to save the hospital will be available for signing throughout retail locations in Greater Fort Erie, including in The Post's office at 1264 Garrison Rd., Unit 7, and at the Town Hall.

Mellen plans on collecting more than 10,000 signatures.

For more information, call Mellen at 905-382-5910.