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Wednesday, March 4, 2026

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

Niagara Region chair’s new letter to province floats reducing NOTL’s council to six members

Zahraa Hmood -
Niagara Regional Chair Bob Gale has gone back to the province with more ideas for changing regional governance — which could see Niagara-on-the-Lake's representation at the regional table shrink to one vote.

‘We are going to be fighting tooth and nail’: NOTL council opposes forced amalgamation

The Town of NOTL took a stance against forcibly merging NOTL with other cities and towns in Niagara and argued that the municipality is in good place and can stand on its own.
Paige Seburn -

Royal George demolition still on hold after court delays judicial review

The court held a meeting Feb. 27 to determine next steps and schedule a new hearing date. The hearing is now expected to take place March 25.
Paige Seburn -

Head of Newark Neighbours food bank steps down

The manager of Niagara-on-the-Lake's only food bank says she's stepping down as the head of operations, with her replacement taking the helm effective immediately.
Niagara Now -

Canada’s first sake master: Masaki Sushi’s sommelier earns prestigious designation

Daniel Smeenk -
Yoshi Takaoka says reaching the master level required years of work and study beyond his previous certifications: "We need to know everything regarding sake."

One year later, ‘buy Canadian’ sentiment remains strong

Here in Niagara-on-the-Lake, while some business owners say shoppers have taken a greater interest in supporting all things Canadian, one says there are factors beyond what people choose to buy impacting the success of homegrown products.
Daniel Smeenk -

The Turner Report: The big threat. Did we bring it on?

"Turning us into a 'burb of the Falls or the pointy part of a big region would likely be the beginning of the end of NOTL. For all the bad decisions that have impacted us, this place is unique," writes Garth Turner.
Garth Turner -

Arch-i-text: Secord House, the Shaw and the struggle for Niagara’s future

"The regional government seems to be a bottomless hole into which taxpayers continually pour money and receive few practical benefits from having done so," writes Brian Marshall.
Brian Marshall -

NOTL nut farmer goes to South Korea for international expo

Daniel Smeenk - 0
Linda Grimo’s presentation, “Growing Chestnuts in Canada: Progress Through Perseverance,” focused on the recovery of chestnuts in North America after widespread disease.

Legion issues awards for art and writing to two NOTL schools

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 124 in Niagara-on-the-Lake presented awards Monday to students at St. Michael Catholic Elementary School and Royal Oak School for artwork and writing created to honour Remembrance Day.
Read more ...

News

Gale doubles down on governance reform after regional council launches review

Paige Seburn - 0
Niagara Regional Chair Bob Gale is not backing down from his push to rethink how Niagara is governed — even after councillors voted to rein in his amalgamation efforts and launch their own review process.
Read more ...

News

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.
Read more ...

Local

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Dr. Brown: Humanity’s evolution may come with a bit of editing

"The path to modern humans was never scripted because of the important role natural selection and chance play in the evolution of most species, including our own," writes Dr. William Brown.

Ross’s Ramblings: Another show-stopping musical from Niagara’s young thespians

"As a parent of two former Secord students, who between them performed in four great Secord musicals, last Saturday evening was certainly a trip down memory lane," writes Ross Robinson.

Opinion: Take it from me: amalgamation has no advantages

"There will be no advantage for amalgamation within adjacent municipalities to NOTL. We have a special place on this earth and we need to focus on maintaining and protecting our unique community," writes Richard Connelly.

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

‘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.

Local

NOTL Museum expansion inches forward after community open house

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.

Proposed five-storey residential building for Virgil faces some backlash

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.

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.

News

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

Daniel Smeenk - 0
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.
Read more ...

Rotary Club gets $3,470 donation from Peller Estates

0
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

0
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.

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

0
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.

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.

The Lake Report wins 26 more provincial awards

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.

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

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

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.

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