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

NOTL clarifies why it hasn’t declared emergency after back-to-back floods

Niagara Now -
Niagara-on-the-Lake is responding to what it says are misconceptions about municipal emergency declaration after two extreme rainstorms last week led to widespread flooding in town.

Covered, waiting, shut out or going it alone: NOTL residents face flood losses

Sunday’s deluge sent knee-deep floodwater through the Legion, destroying drywall, toppling freezers and damaging a century-old flag, photo albums and historical records.
Paige Seburn -

Two floods could mean two claims — and higher rates

The Lake Report contacted three local insurance brokerages after the first storm to understand the number and cost of claims, what water coverage means and how residents should respond.
Paige Seburn -

NOTL Votes 2026: Maria Mavridis hopes to keep the public informed next council term

Maria Mavridis, who was elected to council for the first time in 2022, is once again throwing her hat into the ring of this fall's election, hoping to serve another term.
Zahraa Hmood -

Peach festivals this weekend wrap up NOTL’s summer fruit season

Niagara Now -
Niagara-on-the-Lake's peach festivals are back this weekend, giving residents and visitors one more chance to savour one of the season's signature fruits before summer begins to wind down.

Old Town’s Cheese Secrets to close downtown shop after 17 years

The artisanal cheese store that occupies a small slice of Market Street in Old Town is closing up shop after being unable to keep up with the rising price of rent for businesses downtown.
Zahraa Hmood -

Ultra-marathoner kicking off 886-kilometre run in Queenston

Long-distance runner Adam Saltarelli will set off on his run from the Waterfront Trail under the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge on Saturday at 9 a.m.
Zahraa Hmood -

Behind the harvest: NOTL artist turns her brush to Niagara’s agricultural community

The exhibition features portraits of the people whose work contributes to Niagara’s agricultural and wine-growing industries. The opening reception is this Sunday.
Niagara Now -

What do a million sunflowers look like? Find out at NOTL farm this weekend

Richard Harley - 0
On Saturday and Sunday, Ryan Crawford will open his farm to visitors who want to walk among the flowers, all while raising money for Royal Oak Community School.

NOTL flood damage unknown as provincial relief remains vague

Now, after two major storms in six days, the full toll remains unknown and possible provincial assistance has no dollar amount, eligibility rules or application process.
Read more ...

News

NOTL Votes 2026: Andrew Niven seeks first elected council term

Paige Seburn - 0
Coun. Andrew Niven is running for Niagara-on-the-Lake council this fall, seeking voters’ support for the first time since he was appointed to the role nearly two years ago.
Read more ...

News

NOTL couple’s home stars in Hollywood production

Kevin MacLean - 0
When Hollywood came knocking, Brodie and Maria Townley were ready for their close-up. The upcoming romantic comedy "Beach Read," which shot in Niagara-on-the-Lake in June, highlights the Townleys’ heritage home at 123 Johnson St.
Read more ...

Local

Heritage Festival gives public first look inside museum founder’s home

Rain and flooding across Niagara could not keep an estimated 1,000 to 1,500 visitors from the NOTL Museum's annual Heritage Festival on Monday, where the public got its first real look inside the former home of museum founder Janet Carnochan.

Tornado warnings cut Art at the Pumphouse festivities short

Thunderstorms rolled over the Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre around 11 a.m. Sunday, forcing Art at the Pumphouse to close hours early and cancelling a full afternoon of demonstrations, live music and in-person sales.

Former German leader Angela Merkel visits NOTL Golf Club

Merkel and her family were on a private holiday to Niagara and the German embassy had arranged in advance with NOTL's Klaus Reif for her to visit the Reif Estate Winery for a tour and tasting.

NOTL’s Sports Wall of Fame welcomes two new inductees

The town is inducting Gary Friesen and Kurt Hamm into its Sports Wall of Fame at the Meridian Credit Union Arena in Virgil and will honour them at a ceremony on Friday, Aug. 21. 

Entertainment

Shaw review: Embrace your inner child with ‘The Wind in the Willows’

"Indulge the child within you. This joyous production is for all ages and it was pure delight to see children on the edge of their seats, parents and grandparents alert, all responding and laughing in anticipation of what was coming," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.

Shaw review: A thoughtful ‘Heartbreak House’ that never fully catches fire

"'Heartbreak House' is a profound examination of generational change, of dreams and ambitions shattered by war, of industry and government overturning social programs in favour of exploitation," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.

Opinion

The Turner Report: After the big storm, the big flush

"The storms helped us face facts. A massive assault on the sewer system should have been disclosed — before the toilets burped, sump pumps were overcome and basements filled," writes Garth Turner.

Arch-i-text: Addressing stormwater infrastructure issues, now and for the future

"While the current council does not bear full responsibility for the sad state of our infrastructure, its decision to greenlight development applications that rely on the same inadequate and failing infrastructure must be called into question," writes Brian Marshall.

Dr. Brown: ‘Behold, I make all things new’: Can we reverse aging?

"In a nutshell, that’s what rejuvenation is all about: making old cells, old systems, old organs including our brains, young again. Or at least, that’s the hyped hope," writes Dr. William Brown

Entertainment

Enjoy live music at Band in the Barn, returning July 31

The midsummer fundraiser will feature live music by Gumbo Stew, food from PigOut Niagara, beer and wine from Bella Terra Vineyards, Konzelmann Estate Winery and the Exchange Brewery, a live auction and dancing among the vines.

Events

Today

News

Niagara-on-the-Lake reels after storm floods homes, farms

By Wednesday afternoon, most of the flooding had receded, but the cleanup, repairs and steps to mitigate such problems when the next storm strikes has only begun.

Local

Animals rushed from flooded Niagara-on-the-Lake rescue farm

Fish washed onto the driveway and geese swam past them after floodwater swallowed an animal rescue farm in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The long journey home: Search for missing dog enters eighth week

Since May, the Ibbotson family and a team of volunteers have been searching for Luna the dog, who has been spotted by multiple people around town but hasn't successfully been caught and taken back home.

Volunteers step forward at 63rd St. Davids Lions Carnival

The St. Davids Lions Club has pulled off its family carnival for a 63rd straight year, and its club president says he could not be happier with the number of people who came out to the village fairgrounds.

News

Grade 6 student at St. Michael wins big in Legion contest

Zahraa Hmood - 0
Last fall, Dean Pagnotta wrote about these men and women who fought for Canada, each carrying out "a brave and heartfelt job," he wrote in a 335-word essay.
Read more ...

‘If negativity can grow so fast, positivity can too’: Joyous NOTL celebrates annual picnic

0
The picnic brings together members of a private Facebook group Mariah Reese started in 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, to push back against the negativity she saw taking over local online spaces.

Council rejects housing plan revived by strong mayor powers

0
Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa used his strong mayor powers to bring a rejected St. Davids housing proposal back for another vote last Tuesday, but council defeated it by an even wider margin.

Sports: Squash brings international athletes to NOTL

0
Young athletes from 38 countries are in Niagara-on-the-Lake this week to take part in the World Squash Junior Championship, a six-day tournament of more than 500 matches.

Ian Mell fundraiser collects tons of pet food, raises $1.4K

A fundraiser held in memory of Niagara-on-the-Lake businessman and animal lover Ian Mell collected 991 pounds of pet food and raised $1,416 for local animal rescues.

NOTL Museum’s Heritage Festival brings history to life

History isn't just preserved in Niagara-on-the-Lake — it's celebrated. On Monday, Castlereagh Street will once again become a living showcase of the town's past as the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum hosts its annual Heritage Festival.

Art at the Pumphouse returns this weekend with juried show, live demos

Paintings, pottery, photography and plenty of riverside inspiration will fill the Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre this weekend as its annual Art at the Pumphouse show and sale returns with more than just artwork on display.

PHOTOS: Severe flooding throughout NOTL after overnight storm

Residents of Niagara-on-the-Lake are dealing with the aftermath of a torrential downpour Monday night: several homes, roads and fields in the town are flooding, with the worst of it happening in rural residential areas and farmlands.

Shaw lands $750K grant, takes shows to Toronto

The Shaw Festival has secured $750,000 for its new Royal George Theatre as it prepares to take two Niagara-on-the-Lake productions to Toronto this fall. The RBC Foundation Community Spaces Grant will be provided over three years to fund a geothermal well system for the rebuilt theatre’s heating and cooling infrastructure. Expected to open in fall 2028, the new Royal George is designed to become North America’s first theatre to earn Zero Carbon Building Design certification. The geothermal...

Joyous NOTL picnic returns Saturday

Niagara-on-the-Lake residents are invited to bring a dish and pull up a seat as the Joyous NOTL summer picnic returns for its fifth year Saturday. The community potluck will run from noon to 2 p.m. July 25 at McFarland House, located at 15927 Niagara Parkway Recreational Trail. Guests are asked to bring something to share with the group. The annual picnic offers residents a chance to gather outdoors over food in one of the town’s historic riverside...