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

With deadline looming, NOTL seeks more time to finish heritage designation

Zahraa Hmood -
The Town of NOTL is asking the Ontario government to give it three more years to finish designating as many heritage properties as it can before it's too late.

NOTL man charged with assault in attack on Garth Turner

An 80-year-old Niagara-on-the-Lake man has been charged with assault after Turner, was beaten and kicked by a motorist while walking on Centre Street.
Niagara Now -

‘Being gay was never a barrier’: Retired police couple finds peace, belonging in NOTL

Anna Lamanna and Tracey Peters came looking for a quieter life after decades of public service in demanding and often stressful environments. They found safety, small-town character and a strong sense of community.
Paige Seburn -

For Steve McGuinness, LGBTQ+ acceptance in NOTL came in ordinary moments

In Niagara-on-the-Lake, Steve McGuinness says that acceptance, for him, has looked like nights at the Shaw, wine country dinners, bringing his grandchildren to the Virgil Stampede and more.
Paige Seburn -

Adieu, Amélie: Château des Charmes winemaker to explore new horizons in France

Jill Troyer -
After 15 years at the helm of award-winning winemaking and innovation at Château des Charmes, Amélie Boury is packing up cherished memories and moving on.

St. Andrew’s Strawberry Fest sells out berries by noon

More than 5,000 residents and visitors returned to Simcoe Street for the annual, one-day, volunteer-run, start-of-summer festival, which supports the 200-year-old church.
Andrew Hawlitzky -

What’s happening in Niagara-on-the-Lake for Canada Day

The celebration of this country's foundation is set for next week, on Wednesday, July 1, and it's expected that downtown Niagara-on-the-Lake will be awash in a sea of red and white.
Niagara Now -

Opinion: Slow down, you’re movin’ too fast

"Whether it’s lane jumpers, high-speed tailgaters or mid-lining motorcyclists, everyone seems in a hurry," writes Kevin MacLean.
Kevin MacLean -

Drums at Ryerson Park welcome summer at the lake’s edge

Andrew Hawlitzky - 0
Drums, handpan music and a sunset over Lake Ontario marked Niagara-on-the-Lake's ninth summer solstice celebration on Sunday, after flooding washed out the larger Port Dalhousie event one city over.

Ready, aim, fire: Dads step behind the gun at Fort George for Father’s Day

For some, the idea of igniting a 19th-century-style weapon may be intimidating. But for Baird Tucker, it’s a “once-in-a-lifetime experience” he couldn’t pass up — especially in front of his son.
Read more ...

News

World Cup watch party set for NOTL this July

Niagara Now - 0
As soccer fans count down the days until the final match of the tournament, set for July 19, the Town of NOTL is inviting residents and seasonal farmworkers to gather for a community viewing of the championship match.
Read more ...

News

Vroom, vroom: Luxury cars and more return to NOTL for Niagara 5000

Niagara Now - 0
The luxury automotive and lifestyle event will take place Sept. 18 and 19 in Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake, featuring an expanded aviation, yacht, motorcycle and automotive display at the airport.
Read more ...

Local

Step inside NOTL’s most beautiful gardens this July

The self-guided tour will feature eight private gardens across Niagara-on-the-Lake, showcasing a variety of landscaping styles, flower beds, water features and garden designs.

$1.25M added to Mississagua St. project to replace aging sewer system

About 390 metres of concrete sewer pipe will be replaced as part of Mississagua Street's reconstruction starting later this year. Town staff said the additional work will not extend the project's timeline.

PHOTOS: Snowbirds fly one more time over Niagara

The nine-jet Royal Canadian Air Force demonstration team was in southern Ontario as part of a visit to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, drawing eyes skyward across the region.

Hovercraft service from Niagara to Toronto expects to get terminal permit by year’s end

Hoverlink says final permitting for an 18-acre South Shore waterfront terminal on Lake Ontario is expected to be completed in late 2026. The company still hopes to launch the service in 2028.

Entertainment

SPONSORED: Mozart & Mystique: An evening of elegance in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Following last season's sold-out Garden Party, the Niagara Symphony Orchestra is returning to the heart of Niagara-on-the-Lake for another unforgettable celebration of music, community and charm.

What’s on in NOTL this weekend: Strawberries, Father’s Day and summer’s debut

Niagara-on-the-Lake is cramming a lot into one June weekend: strawberry treats, live music, Father’s Day at Fort George and a summer solstice celebration, plus other fun activities.

Opinion

Opinion: The world’s first trillionaire and the rise of rule by riches

"Without hard boundaries including progressive taxation and dissolution of monopolies, oligarchy will continue to deconstruct society until elections, law, and truth become historical artifacts," writes Keith McNenly.

The Turner Report: Hitting the bottom in NOTL

"The economy has flatlined. Trump’s war went badly. Inflation is back, so interest rates won’t be falling ... But people still want houses. And, of course, everyone wants to live here," writes Garth Turner.

Arch-i-text: Half our vacation rentals are empty in slow season — that’s the problem

"Any correctly thinking council — one that represents the good of the town and its residents as opposed to commercial real estate investors — would support proper controls and a cap on the short-term rental market," writes Brian Marshall.

Entertainment

Music Niagara opens 28th season with young classical artists at the helm

A rainy Sunday afternoon provided an unlikely backdrop for Antonio Vivaldi's "Spring," as Music Niagara opened its 28th summer festival with a concert featuring emerging Canadian musicians.

Events

Today

News

End of Act I: Final demolition marks start of new journey for Royal George Theatre

The curtain falls on the Royal George Theatre. As the final section of its landmark Queen Street facade comes down, a building woven into generations of Niagara-on-the-Lake memories takes its final bow.

Local

Pilot error: Day 1 Air Canada bus leaves a little late after stop missed

After picking up passengers at Niagara Falls Marriott on the Falls, the bus scheduled to leave NOTL at 11:20 a.m. mistakenly headed toward Pearson before returning to the airport for its pickup.

Developer’s revised St. Davids townhouse plan stalls at council

The developer behind a new St. Davids subdivision came to town with a request to change its plans for a new block of townhouses and was met with disapproval from half of council, with questions about the proposal will impact St. Davids' already-strained stormwater system.

Hollywood moved in next door. Here’s what one NOTL resident says it’s like

Melanie Farquhar on Johnston Street has watched the shooting of the film adaptation of romance novel "Beach Read" next door for a week. She says it's been a front-row seat to something special.

News

NOTL may cut development charges to unlock $3M grant

Paige Seburn - 0
The program offers municipalities up to 90 per cent funding for eligible projects to support housing, but they must reduce residential development charges by 30 to 50 per cent, or more, for at least three years.
Read more ...

Tax, rate hikes eyed to close NOTL’s $13M infrastructure gap

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Council backed recommended long-term funding targets, which would mean tax and rate increases over the next five to 20 years in an effort to close that gap.

NOTL tells region its road needs are larger than they seem on paper

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One councillor questioned how much say the town has when regional work affects local traffic, saying the relationship between the region and NOTL appears to be a “top-down relationship.”

Pathstone Mental Health program ‘a godsend’ for bullied child, family says

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It’s been a tough few years for Mary, who is now 16. She’s dealt with unimaginable grief, depression, anxiety and bullying at the hands of classmates.

NOTL resident leads Pathstone campaign for kids’ mental health

The agency that helps Niagara young people struggling with mental health problems has launched a major new campaign to pay off the mortgage on its headquarters and free up millions of dollars to treat kids at the grassroots level.

NOTLer named one of Niagara’s top business leaders under 40

Life is busier than ever these days in this part of the province, but for Felicia Izaguirre Werner, the hustle and bustle of Niagara is a welcome sign of how much the place she's from has grown.

Second-hand bookstore opens in Virgil to support NOTL’s seasonal farmworkers

A new used bookstore in Virgil is turning readers into donors, with every book, puzzle and game sold helping fund programs for seasonal agricultural workers in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Shaw Guild opens eight private gardens for milestone garden tour

Visitors toured the gardens across Old Town and Queenston, with the biggest draw this year, and a new feature of the tour, being the McArthur Estate's garden.

Rain cancels farmworkers cricket match, but gathering proves bigger than the game

The annual Niagara-on-the-Lake versus Vineland farmworkers cricket match washed out Sunday for the first time in its roughly 35-year history, but the rain couldn't stop the good vibes.

$15K funding boost will send 47 children to free art camp

The Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre has secured a little more than $15,000 to allow dozens of children to attend the centre's summer art camp free of charge.