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Monday, January 19, 2026

The Lake Report: Check out our weekly print edition for Niagara-on-the-Lake here.

Old Town heritage expansion draws concerns over overreach, costs and renovations

Paige Seburn -
Hundreds of Old Town properties could soon face new heritage rules — and residents are raising concerns about renovation costs, overreach and whether too many homes are being swept in.

Urban speed limit coming down to 40 km/h in NOTL

Mind your meter this winter, NOTL: the speed limit is coming down by 10 kilometres an hour in the town's urban areas, starting with St. Davids and Queenston this month.
Daniel Smeenk -

Town of NOTL turns to longtime planner to take over planning director role

The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake has tapped a familiar face to lead one of its most consequential departments.
Paige Seburn -

NOTL brings key local priorities to provincial talks, including proposed Glendale Eco-Park

Niagara-on-the-Lake is bringing its top priorities directly to the province this week as council and senior staff meet with provincial ministries at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference.
Paige Seburn -

‘One of the most Canadian things there is’: Niagara College students brave the cold for icewine harvesting

Daniel Smeenk -
The sun is rising over Niagara College's teaching winery, where dozens of students are huddled among the vineyards, readying for their first harvest of the year: icewine grapes.

Royal George Theatre tear-down gets thumbs up from NOTL heritage committee

Niagara-on-the-Lake's municipal heritage committee approved the demolition of the Royal George Theatre, with the tear-down of the 110-year-old theatre expected to start late next month.
Daniel Smeenk -

New $500 noise fine approved after enforcement concerns raised

The rule prohibits anyone from making or allowing sound or vibration at any time that is likely to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of people in the community.
Paige Seburn -

Town lays out updated policy for bylaw enforcement

The updated policy requires all complaints and inquiries — which can come from the public, town staff or councillors — to be documented.
Paige Seburn -

Niagara conservation authority strikes deal with feds over Niagara Shores Park

Daniel Smeenk - 0
People visiting Niagara Shores Park can expect some changes to it over the next five years, including a restored habitat, more trees, and what should be a better experience for visitors.

PHOTO GALLERY: Niagara-on-the-Lake’s big snow day

Southern Ontario was treated to a generous dumping of snow on Thursday, including Niagara-on-the-Lake — today, many are spending the day digging their way out of the major storm and preparing for a weekend of more snow.
Read more ...

News

Rules for special events in NOTL are ‘overly broad’ with ‘no teeth’ in enforcement, consultants tell council

Paige Seburn - 0
This new special events policy would reshape how events are approved, monitored and penalized in the town, with a focus on events that draw a large crowd and impact the community in other ways.
Read more ...

News

$568K culvert replacement at Line 2 Road will continue until this spring

Paige Seburn - 0
The Townline Road culvert replacement, costing the municipality more than half a million dollars, will keep a section of Line 2 Road closed for roughly four months of construction, which began last Monday.
Read more ...

Local

Year in Review, part 2: Politics and growth dominate, but plenty to celebrate, too

In the second half of 2025, development pressures, the Royal George Theatre rebuild and the Parliament Oak hotel project dominated the headlines in Niagara-on-the-Lake. But there also was plenty to celebrate.

Community Heroes: Making a difference

This year, The Lake Report has chosen to single out some of the individuals who have made it their “job” to selflessly give back to the community.

Insurance challenges take centre stage in heritage designation debate

The big takeaway in the town's latest report is that heritage designation itself does not affect insurance coverage; however, factors related to it could impact whether a property gets coverage.

How NOTL’s Donald Triggs, latest Order of Canada recipient, brought his vision for Canadian wine to life

On March 19, Donald Triggs, 82, will be appointed an officer of the Order of Canada in an Ottawa ceremony. “Let’s face it: receiving the Order of Canada is a highlight of my life,” says Triggs proudly.

Entertainment

Laughs on tap as Icebreakers Comedy Festival returns to NOTL

A bevy of giggles, goofs and good times will be had by comedy fans at the end of this month, when the 12th annual Icebreakers Comedy Festival returns to Niagara-on-the-Lake from Jan. 29 to 31.

Arts review: Bidding adieu to the Royal George with ‘A Christmas Carol’

"Some will mourn the final performances of 'A Christmas Carol' at the Royal George for the foreseeable future. Others will mourn the passing of the theatre itself," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.

Opinion

The Turner Report: Worries build as Shaw clams up

"How will heavy construction be handled during the next three summers when Queen is shoulder-to-shoulder with tourists, cars are everywhere and festival season arrives?" writes Garth Turner.

Arch-i-text: NOTL needs apartment buildings — but, the right ones

"This simplistic design approach to apartment buildings has dominated the sector for decades and has resulted in a quasi-institutionalized environment within the resultant neighbourhoods," writes Brian Marshall.

The Forum: Future councils will inherit a colossal financial mess

"This fiscal irresponsibility this term kneecaps our future councils, leaving them little manoeuvring room going forward," writes Steve McGuinness.

Entertainment

Arts review: ‘White Christmas’ a heartwarming reminder of what truly matters in life

"Why is this production so satisfying? Irving Berlin's songs are pure genius. The orchestra sweeps and swirls us along. We unabashedly sing on request," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.

Events

Today

News

New public works director says balance, communication key in first weeks on job

One of Jordan Frost's goals is to preserve natural heritage while maintaining existing infrastructure and avoid decisions in one department creating problems elsewhere.

Local

Council moves ahead on former hospital site amid pushback over pace

Niagara-on-the-Lake council is moving ahead with the recommended next steps for the former hospital on Wellington Street, but not without some debate over how quickly to move.

$568K culvert replacement at Line 2 Road will continue until this spring

A portion of Line 2 Road in Niagara-on-the-Lake will be closed until this spring for construction work to replace a culvert at Townline Road. Crews will provide a detour route around the site for traffic.

Embrace the winter chill at the Icewine Festival, back in NOTL this month

The NOTL Icewine Village runs Jan. 17 to 18 and Jan. 24 to 25 on Queen Street. Admission is free, with opportunities to taste wine and enjoy culinary pairings with a variety of icewines.

News

‘We see it as an incubator’: Foundation with NOTL roots eyes community-first future for former hospital

Paige Seburn - 0
Jim Burton says the former hospital at on Wellington Street was built by the community, for the community — and he wants it to remain a place for the people of Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Read more ...

NOTL’s ‘Newsmakers of the Year’: Developers, council face strong new challenger in residents association

0
"Will builders and developers have free rein to 'build, baby, build' here in NOTL and everywhere else in the province? The future of places like Niagara-on-the-Lake hang in the balance."

Year in Review: Growing pains, a grassroots movement, speed cam vandals and an iconic estate torched

0
From federal and provincial elections, Trump trade wars, a polar vortex, mysterious vandals who repeatedly cut down the Virgil speed camera and more, here are some of the biggest and best stories of the first six months of 2025.

‘Progress is inevitable’: Ford’s ‘Las Vegas North’ bid draws support mixed with questions in NOTL

0
From a town council perspective, Coun. Erwin Wiens called the announcement “super exciting” and praised the province for recognizing Niagara as a tourist destination, funding the Shaw Festival and exploring improvements to the Niagara District Airport.

Family with St. Davids ties remembered after fatal Highway 11 crash

Nicole Boyer, whose life included important years in St. Davids, her daughters Zoe and Pyper and the family labrador, Jasper, are being remembered following a fatal collision on Highway 11 in northern Ontario on Dec. 21.

New Foodland grocery store to open its doors on Jan. 29 in Garrison Village

Big changes are coming to the Garrison Village neighbourhood this year, and it all starts with the opening of a new grocery store at the end of this month.

‘I felt awesome’: Virgil soccer star gets surprise help from Hummel

"Our family has been supporting little kids' soccer in Niagara-on-the-Lake for decades," Rainer Hummel said, adding it was "not complicated" to decide whether or not to support the Dodd family.

Farmworker Hub calls for support as workers prepare to return

As migrant farmworkers prepare to return to Niagara-on-the-Lake, the Farmworker Hub NOTL hopes to welcome them with wellness bags of everyday essentials, offering some relief at the start of the season after a challenging year marked by Hurricane Melissa.

High-profile holiday B&Es among 36 cases reported last year in NOTL

Two high-profile break-and-enters in Niagara-on-the-Lake during the holiday season have brought crime into the spotlight for the sleepy rural town.

Order of Canada recipient and NOTLer says authenticity and go-getting key to her success

Mandy Rennehan has won many awards for her entrepreneurial success and outreach work — receiving the Order of Canada, however, feels different, she says.

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