Last weekend about 2,500 people rallied at H.H. Knoll Lakeview Park to protest the closure of Port Colborne General's emergency department. On Oct. 15 the mayor is expecting the same number of people to deliver that same message to Dr. Kitts personally.

"We had thousands of people expressing their disgust with the closure of Port Colborne General's emergency department at a public rally," said Badawey. "Those same thousands are now going to personally tell Dr. Kitts how they feel. And that, he can't ignore."

Badawey is urging local businesses to close for the two-hour period between 7 and 9 p.m. when Kitts will listen to what the people of Port Colborne say.

"It's important we have as many people out at Lakeshore as we can," he said. "Oct. 15 is for the people to speak."

Businesses in Fort Erie closed early last week so employees could attend the meeting there. Badawey hopes Port Colborne's business community will follow in their lead.

Donna Martens-Gamm, president of the Port Colborne-Wainfleet Chamber of Commerce, said having businesses support the effort to save the hospital speaks volumes.

The chamber sent out a survey to the business community to find out the impact of the emergency departments impending closure on the business community. Of the 177 businesses which responded to the survey, 93 per cent said the presence of hospital was important to their business, and 90 per cent said the presence of a 24-hour emergency room was important.

"To hear that Fort Erie businesses took the time to close early so their employees could attend speaks volumes," said Martens-Gamm. "This is our one chance to go out and speak our minds."

Bob Saracino, Port Colborne's regional councillor who organized a petition drive which saw nearly 16,500 people sign in support of keeping the ER open, said there will be thousands at the meeting. Since starting the petition drive he has heard from thousands of people, including some seasonal residents, that maintaining a 24-hour emergency room is a priority. He expects Lakeshore to be bursting at the seams with the number of people he expects to show up.

"And they can't ignore that," he said.

Last week the Fort Erie Leisureplex was bursting to the seams with 5,000 people in attendance at the public meeting there. Badawey is hoping for a similar response in Port Colborne.

The public meeting starts at 7 p.m. at Lakeshore Catholic. The school can hold about 1,400 between the gym and auditorium. A sound system will be set up outside the school for those unable to get inside.