Quieter times: For active Niagara Health Emergency Departments, mid-morning on weekdays and early weekday afternoons tend to be less congested than evenings or weekends. Always call 9-1-1 or go immediately for life-threatening emergencies regardless of time.
Busier times: Active Emergency Departments across Niagara Health are typically busiest on Friday and Saturday evenings and during holidays. If your condition is non-urgent, consider visiting an Urgent Care Centre in Port Colborne or Fort Erie (open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) to reduce wait times at the main EDs.
About Niagara Health System - Niagara-on-the-Lake Hospital Site
The Niagara Health System – Niagara-on-the-Lake Hospital Site at 176 Wellington Street has a long history of serving the Niagara-on-the-Lake community, dating back to a six-bed Cottage Hospital that opened in 1920 following local fundraising efforts, and a 27-bed facility that opened on the current Wellington Street site in 1951. Over its history, the site provided inpatient care, hospice services, nursing facilities, and outpatient services to residents of this historic Ontario town. Patients in Niagara-on-the-Lake requiring emergency or urgent medical care should contact Niagara Health or proceed to the nearest active Niagara Health Emergency Department in Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, or Welland.
Do not go to 176 Wellington Street for emergency or urgent medical care — this is not an active hospital site.
For emergencies in Niagara-on-the-Lake, call 9-1-1 immediately or proceed to the nearest active Niagara Health Emergency Department.
Niagara Health operates active Emergency Departments in Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, and Welland — confirm the closest one based on your location.
For non-life-threatening concerns that cannot wait for a scheduled appointment, consider Niagara Health's Urgent Care Centres in Port Colborne or Fort Erie, open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Virtual urgent care is available through Urgent Care Ontario for residents who cannot easily travel to an active facility.
What to Bring
Government-issued photo ID (e.g., driver's licence or passport)
Ontario health card (OHIP card)
List of current medications, dosages, and prescribing physicians
Any relevant medical records or recent test results
List of known allergies
Insurance information if applicable
Phone charger or portable battery for waiting
Comfort items such as a sweater or snack for potentially long waits at an active ED
Parking
The 176 Wellington Street site includes on-site parking areas and is noted as wheelchair accessible. As this is no longer an active medical facility, no hospital parking fees apply. For parking at an active Niagara Health Emergency Department, please visit the relevant hospital site in Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, or Welland.
Getting There
Niagara-on-the-Lake is served by an On-Demand transit pilot service approved by Town Council, which replaced conventional local transit routes. Specialized transit trips can be booked into or out of Niagara-on-the-Lake, though trips within the town on specialized transit are limited. Patients travelling to an active Niagara Health Emergency Department should confirm transit connections via Niagara Transit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Niagara-on-the-Lake Hospital at 176 Wellington Street still open?
No. The Niagara Health System – Niagara-on-the-Lake Hospital Site is no longer an active hospital. The facility ceased hospital operations and ownership of the site transitioned to the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. The building is now used for community and municipal purposes. Do not go to this address for medical care.
Where should I go for emergency care if I am in Niagara-on-the-Lake?
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately. For emergency department care, the nearest active Niagara Health Emergency Departments are located in Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, and Welland. You can reach Niagara Health at (905) 378-4647 for guidance.
Is there urgent care available near Niagara-on-the-Lake without going to an emergency department?
Yes. Niagara Health operates Urgent Care Centres in Port Colborne and Fort Erie, both open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. These centres can treat non-life-threatening conditions and may have shorter wait times than a full emergency department. Virtual urgent care is also available through Urgent Care Ontario.
What was the history of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Hospital?
The Niagara-on-the-Lake Hospital has roots going back to 1920, when local residents fundraised to open a six-bed Cottage Hospital in the aftermath of the First World War and the 1918–1919 Spanish flu pandemic. A new 27-bed hospital was officially opened at the Wellington Street site on May 16, 1951. Over its history, the site served as a hospital, nurses' residence, hospice, and medical office space.
Who owns the former Niagara-on-the-Lake Hospital site now?
The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake owns the 2.32-acre property at 176 Wellington Street. The Town purchased it from Niagara Health after it was declared surplus. The site currently houses a community school, a small business, and a Niagara Regional EMS facility. The Town is working with planning consultants to determine future uses for the site, consistent with its zoning for public or institutional use.
How can I get transit to an active hospital from Niagara-on-the-Lake?
Niagara-on-the-Lake is served by an On-Demand transit service that replaced conventional local routes. Specialized transit trips into or out of Niagara-on-the-Lake can be booked for travel to active Niagara Health sites. Contact Niagara Transit to confirm available routes and connections to Emergency Departments in Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, or Welland.
Emergency departments use triage. Patients with more serious conditions are seen first, regardless of arrival time.
Wait times are estimates based on Ontario health data. Actual wait times may vary.
This hospital does not publish a live wait, so the figure above comes from our model rather than from its own feed. We publish how that model performs where it can be checked, at the hospitals that do publish. See the accuracy scorecard, or how we work the number out.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.
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