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Friday, February 27, 2026

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

Gale’s amalgamation bid hits wall of opposition at regional council

Zahraa Hmood -
The region needs more time to consider the implications of amalgamating Niagara and closely examine the issues with Niagara Region's governance before making a decision, several councillors said.

‘Your voice gets smaller’: Amalgamation fears dominate tense council meeting

Councillors pressed Niagara Region's chair on the financial case behind the proposal to merge Niagara's municipalities. “You want to see the end of Niagara-on-the-Lake," said Coun. Erwin Wiens.
Paige Seburn -

Amalgamation won’t fix Niagara’s problems, Brock professor argues

The public policy expert says he's doubtful merging Niagara's cities and towns together will lower costs and make governance more efficient.
Daniel Smeenk -

Wild West of Wine: ‘We respect the ruling’ says Konzelmann after court permanently restricts outdoor events

Konzelmann's president says no outdoor events have been booked, scheduled or planned and none will be hosted or marketed unless the winery gets approval.
Paige Seburn -

Arch-i-text: Amalgamation costs less? Some researchers disagree

Brian Marshall -
"The published findings of this report resulted in the conclusion that while amalgamation was supposed to bring cost savings, smaller government and lower taxes, it didn’t," writes Brian Marshall.

Opinion: Amalgamation threatens NOTL’s unique identity and decision-making power

"We need to have the ability for local voices to make decisions that are best for the character and residents of the town," writes Wayne Gates.
Submitted Column -

Editorial: Niagara’s amalgamation gong show

"Let’s take a careful and thoughtful approach toward amalgamation. Niagara’s entire system of local democratic representation hangs in the balance," writes Kevin MacLean.
Kevin MacLean -

Dr. Brown: Filling in the gaps in the story of humanity’s origins

"The picture of human evolution, and indeed the evolution of most species, may look very different by the mid-century mark and beyond," writes Dr. William Brown.
Dr. William Brown -

Team Wine wins 19th Caps, Corks and Forks tiebreaker at Niagara College

Andrew Hawlitzky - 0
A sold-out room of 250 guests cast corks and caps course by course Saturday night at Niagara College’s NOTL campus, where Team Wine broke a 9–9 deadlock to win the 19th Caps, Corks and Forks.

‘We never received one complaint’: Native Centre board members speak out against misconduct allegations

Conflicting accounts are re-emerging at the Niagara Regional Native Centre, where current leadership is pushing back against allegations of intimidation and mismanagement.
Read more ...

News

NOTL Museum expansion inches forward after community open house

Daniel Smeenk - 0
The expansion of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum moved another step closer to reality Monday as the town hosted an open house to gather community input on the proposal.
Read more ...

News

Proposed five-storey residential building for Virgil faces some backlash

Daniel Smeenk - 0
The five-storey residential building, to be located at 1544-1546 Four Mile Creek Rd., would include 31 apartments and rooftop amenity space on the fifth floor.
Read more ...

Local

PHOTOS: Packed pub takes in Canada’s ‘heartbreaker’ loss against U.S. in Olympics men’s hockey final

It was broken hearts abound at the Sandtrap Pub and Grill, as patrons who came to watch the Olympics men's hockey final were met with the crushing disappointment of Canada's 2-1 loss against the United States.

‘This is existential’: Niagara-on-the-Lake not welcoming amalgamation idea, says mayor

Reactions are pouring in from across Niagara in response to letters sent this week from regional government chair Bob Gale backing the amalgamation of Niagara's municipalities. "We need all parts of the town coming together. This is existential," said Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa.

Rotary Club gets $3,470 donation from Peller Estates

The Rotary Club of Niagara-on-the-Lake is getting a big lift from Peller Estates Winery and Restaurant, to the tune of $3,470, raised through the restaurant’s Holiday House Tour silent auction the previous week.

Queenston Pottery shares love of sculpting with Valentine’s Day class

A lump of clay took shape as a pair of cats at Queenston Pottery as the studio ran a Valentine’s Day sculpting workshop with a morning family session and an evening date-night version with wine and charcuterie.

Entertainment

Icebreakers Comedy Festival returns to Prince of Wales

The Icebreakers Comedy Festival returned to the Prince of Wales last weekend, bringing nationally known comics back to a venue residents may have remembered from the festival’s early years.

Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder fights rare disease in NOTL filmmaker’s new documentary

Matt Finlin's latest documentary, "Matter of Time," will debut on Netflix on Feb. 9, the story of the fight to cure a rare genetic disorder called epidermolysis bullosa.

Opinion

The Turner Report: So much digging. So little telling

"The next month will bring the collapse of the theatre, the erasure of the historic barber shop beside it ... and geothermal drilling," writes Garth Turner.

Ross’s Ramblings: Did the black maple leaf jinx our Olympic hockey players?

"What was the point of having black maple leaves on the Canadian ice hockey sweaters? Was it Nike’s creative folks dictating to our national Olympic bosses?" writes Ross Robinson.

Dr. Brown: Filling in the gaps in the story of humanity’s origins

"The picture of human evolution, and indeed the evolution of most species, may look very different by the mid-century mark and beyond. That’s what makes the story so intriguing for me," writes Dr. William Brown.

Entertainment

Inside the last days of the Royal George, Niagara-on-the-Lake’s century-old theatre

On Saturday, the front doors opened for the last public entry into the Royal George before the careful work begins of taking apart the little theatre occupying a big place in the town's heart

Events

Today

News

Wine, Chocolate and Cheese passport offering a bevy of tastings until March 8

On Valentine's Day at Ravine Vineyard, reserved tasting slots kept staff busy through Valentine’s Day as a multi-weekend wine, chocolate and cheese passport began across Niagara wine country.

Local

Council roundup: New fill rules, parks plans, naming policy and Glendale extension

The site alteration policy shifts approval authority to the director of public works and infrastructure and expands enforcement tools.

Judge rules Konzelmann’s outdoor events violated rules, restricts winery from hosting events without approval

The judge issued a permanent injunction restraining Konzelmann from conducting or permitting “any use not permitted” by the zoning bylaw, including any outdoor events.

Niagara-on-the-Lake expands Old Town heritage district after cost debate

This expansion changes the boundaries of the area that defines the historic quality of Old Town, adding new homes and buildings to the district.

News

The Lake Report wins 26 more provincial awards

Kevin MacLean - 0
An opinion piece written by a Niagara-on-the-Lake town councillor, several stories, photos and columns by community contributors, and the journalism of staff members of The Lake Report have been singled out by the Ontario Community Newspapers Association in its annual awards.
Read more ...

How hundreds found freedom through the Underground Railroad and a home in Niagara

0
Within the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake once existed a community of people who escaped a life in captivity and worked to forge a new future for themselves and people like them.

Should survival swim lessons be mandatory for Ontario’s kids? Some say yes, absolutely

0
Peyton Leigh, a decorated swimmer from Garrison Village who's been in the water all her life, says that all kids should get a taste of some of the training she has received.

Visit the NOTL Museum for free all of February

0
The Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum is once again opening its doors to visitors this February, offering free admission from 1 to 5 p.m. until the end of the month.

Volunteers collect 679 pounds of pet food at Valentines Day drive for Newark Neighbours

Boxes of donated pet food, cat litter and pet beds were stacked up inside a Virgil garage last Saturday, where volunteers ran their second annual Valentine’s Day pet food drive for Newark Neighbours food bank clients.

Niagara-on-the-Lake to prioritize youth programs in grant funding after debate

A divide emerged over whether Niagara-on-the-Lake municipal funding should lean toward young residents or remain age-neutral at a discussion on Tuesday about updates to the town's discretionary grant policy.

NOTL Museum outlines $2M expansion plan at open house

If locals want to enjoy Free February at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum, there's no time like the present, because next February, the museum will be undergoing extensive renovations.

‘This is such a bonding experience’: Royal Oak School catches Olympic fever

For Brittany Nyenhuis, affectionately known as Mrs. N by her students, the game offered Royak Oak's pupils a chance to show their patriotism and learn about the role sports play in life and culture.

Mayor’s Dinner at Navy Hall raises $7K to fund Fort George student jobs

Beef-barley soup and “soldie-style bread” opened a three-course meal at Navy Hall as the Friends of Fort George staged the third annual Mayor’s Dinner.

Residents flock to Niagara College for winter gardening lessons at Seedy Saturday fundraiser

Outside temperatures sat around -17 C last Saturday, yet inside Niagara College’s teaching greenhouse, it might as well have been summer.

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