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

NOTL Votes 2026: ‘Nobody up there would get my vote’: Sewage-hit resident interrupts St. Davids debate

Paige Seburn -
A St. Davids resident who stopped a Niagara-on-the-Lake all-candidates debate Wednesday to demand action on sewage backing into homes said not one candidate on stage had earned his vote.

Public park next to new development in Glendale may open this spring

Niagara-on-the-Lake unanimously backed a deal Tuesday that would let the developer behind Modero Estates build the development’s public park sooner, rather than wait for the town to take on the project later.
Paige Seburn -

NOTL Votes 2026: Growth can continue without losing town’s character, says Wiens supporter

About 100 people attended Wiens' campaign barbecue in Virgil, where supporters put development and property taxes at the top of their list of priorities for the next council.
Andrew Hawlitzky -

NOTL Votes 2026: Mayoral candidates face off at jam-packed debate

Monday night's debate moved through 14 questions on growth, taxes, transparency, tourism, climate change and how the next mayor should lead. The forum also exposed clear differences in how each candidate would approach the job.
Paige Seburn -

The Lake Report again dominates national journalism awards

Niagara Now -
When the Canadian Community Newsmedia Award winners were unveiled Monday, The Lake Report garnered 22 more national awards, bringing its provincial and national total to 192 since 2020, when the paper started entering industry award competitions.

Ravine winery proprietor hospitalized after truck struck by driver

A prominent NOTL businessman was hospitalized and is recovering from injuries this week after being rear-ended on Thursday by an accused drunk driver.
Zahraa Hmood -

The Turner Report: NOTL goes to war — sign war

"Signs matter in this process. They convey a message about the candidate. They remind you who’s running and show who supports them," writes Garth Turner. "Well, what do some of the current signs tell us?"
Garth Turner -

Arch-i-text: Change vs. the status quo? Notes from the mayoral debate

"In short, we have two candidates who, should they become lord mayor, will support and perpetuate the current system and one candidate who is willing to take what we’ve got and work toward something different," writes Brian Marshall.
Brian Marshall -

Fancy hats and sport of kings: Fundraiser draws huge crowd for Niagara Polo match

Julia Sacco - 0
Niagara Polo returned to the historic Commons on Saturday, welcoming crowds to watch polo matches with players from the Toronto Polo Club.

NOTL Votes 2026: Last-minute candidate Rick Mills wants development reined in

The lifelong NOTL resident is speaking publicly about what he sees as NOTL’s biggest threat: overdevelopment. "I think that it needs to be reined in — and reined in responsibly," he says.
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News

NOTL backs $425K drainage plan after summer floods

Paige Seburn - 0
After a summer of heavy rain exposed weak spots in NOTL's drainage system, councillors are backing a $425,000 push to find problems sooner.
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News

Jet boat settlement brings $330K dock deal, public river access

Niagara Now - 0
The settlement, valued by the parties at about $330,000, will see the jet boat company supply and install a new floating dock system for kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and more.
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Local

Niagara grape growers hopeful summer’s floods haven’t ruined fall harvest

Grape growers in town are beginning their fall harvest and, despite this bout of extreme weather vineyards experienced this summer, are optimistic about this year's yields.

Willowbank to celebrate 20th anniversary Saturday

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Willowbank will host a free community event Saturday, Sept. 19, from 1 to 5 p.m. The event will feature heritage demonstrations, an artisan market, activities for children and tours of the school’s Indigenous Love Garden.

New luxury hotel opens in NOTL, key planner addresses traffic concerns

The new four-storey hotel at Clayfield Commons in Niagara-on-the-Lake held its official ribbon-cutting Wednesday ahead of welcoming its first overnight guests Sept. 18.

Police officer arrested for impaired driving in Niagara-on-the-Lake

An off-duty Niagara police officer was charged with impaired driving Thursday evening in Niagara-on-the-Lake, after fleeing a traffic stop and colliding with another driver in St. Davids.

Entertainment

Shaw review: Uncovering the strides Jewish women made in theatre

"Who were these famous and groundbreaking Jewish women? What did they have to overcome to succeed? What drove them forward? Ambition, drive, resilience for certain," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.

Shaw review: Cerebral and intimate ‘Ohio State Murders’ is one to see

With quality performances from its two leads, superb production value and creative direction from Philip Akin, Adrienne Kennedy's story of love and betrayal is well-realized at the Shaw, writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.

Opinion

Ross’s Ramblings: Rick Hansen showed us how much is possible

"Rick Hansen had been paralyzed in a car crash when he was only 15 years old. The years have gone by, and if he had been bilingual English/French, he just might have been the Governor General of Canada. What a life to reflect upon."

Opinion: Royal George rebuild investments a ringing endorsement

"We have to be clear with every level of government — arts and culture are important and they need government support to thrive. Arts, culture and heritage bring people to Niagara-on-the-Lake, but that doesn’t happen by accident," writes Wayne Gates.

Dr. Brown: From COVID vaccine to black holes, Nobel Prize shows modern science’s marvels

"Thank goodness for prizes such as the Nobel Prize and now many other prizes which highlight the best of science — something urgently needed in these days of social media and ramped misinformation," writes Dr. William Brown.

Entertainment

Shaw Festival’s 2027 lineup will feature ‘South Pacific,’ ‘The Color Purple’ and more

The 65th season will feature Rodgers and Hammerstein’s "South Pacific," "The Color Purple," "Arsenic and Old Lace" and "Grimm Tales," among 11 productions across three theatres in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Events

Today

News

From Halifax to New York, 9/11 memories meet in Niagara-on-the-Lake

The stories of Americans and Canadians who witnessed the attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001 came together Friday at Queen's Royal Park at a ceremony to mark 25 years since that day.

Local

$25M for Royal George, but no Price on its name

The Royal George Theatre’s multi-million-dollar rebuild is getting a federal boost of up to $25 million, funded in part by donors Tim and Frances Price — who elected not to rename the theatre in their name.

Niagara-on-the-Lake to mark 25 years since 9/11

This Sept. 11 will mark 25 years since the terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people in the United States. Some in NOTL say despite current political tensions between Canada and the U.S., honouring those who lost their lives that day will always be important.

9/11 Remembered: The Canadian who helped stranded U.S. execs get home

John Scott shares how his wife, Michelle Scott, helped dozens of Americans who were in Canada the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, find their way across the border and home safely after all flights were grounded and airspaces closed.

News

NOTL Votes 2026: Karen Taylor-Jones calls for ‘right development, right place’

Zahraa Hmood - 0
Karen Taylor-Jones was the catalyst for a protest outside Niagara-on-the-Lake town hall two years ago that took the town to task over its decision to greenlight a luxury hotel on King Street.
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NOTL Votes 2026: Adriana Vizzari vows to put families first

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Adriana Vizzari wants another four years on Niagara-on-the-Lake council to finish what she started: making the town a place where young families can put down roots, especially in St. Davids.

NOTL Votes 2026: What’s on voters’ minds?

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As Niagara-on-the-Lake heads toward the Oct. 26 municipal election, residents are weighing what the town needs next — and what they do not want to lose.

School’s back in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and change is in the air

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The backpacks are back, the classrooms are buzzing and Niagara-on-the-Lake students are settling into a new school year — with some getting used to a new school, too.

This NOTLer found his calling at Red Roof Retreat — then, he came back

Fifteen years after volunteering at Red Roof Retreat during high school, Robert Burciul is back as its program co-ordinator, as the charity prepares to open the doors to its new, 5,700-square-foot facility in January.

Healing Hike raises $50,000 to keep palliative care services free

The hike replaced the annual Hummel Family Healing Cycle Ride — this year's fundraiser raised $25,000, which was matched by the Hummel family to total $50,000 for the organization.

Parking study to examine Old Town shuttle option

Does Niagara-on-the-Lake have enough parking, and is it in the right places? The town is collecting data to answer that question while considering how to manage tourism-related pressure.

Senior run over by own tractor in NOTL parking lot

A senior working on his own tractor in the Gales parking lot in Niagara-on-the-Lake was accidentally run over Friday afternoon and taken to hospital with non-life-threatening and non-life-altering injuries, police say.

Learn the history of farming in Niagara at NOTL museum lecture

The Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum's final lecture of the year will provide an intimate look at a time in history when Niagara's farmers were planting the seeds for the ever-growing agricultural landscape that exists today.

Mythology takes over RiverBrink grounds for third installation festival

Legends became reality at RiverBrink Art Museum this past weekend, as its riverside grounds were filled with myth-inspired art installations for its third-annual art installation festival.