"A&M are pumping their latest project. It’s a whopper. If the sisters get their way with local politicians (once again), the old Rand Estate will turn into a five-storey, 111-room luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel," writes Garth Turner.
"Should any future council enact an interim control bylaw, underwritten by a duly compliant study, it will be largely legally unassailable," writes Brian Marshall.
"Niagara-on-the-Lake should not be treated as an extension of a 'Vegas North' casino economy. We are not a desert entertainment strip," writes Keith McNenly.
"I have heard that during his 26 years as mayor, Henry Paffard advocated for the planting of over 1,000 trees. By any measure, that’s a lot of limbs and leaves and shade and oxygen. And with trees come squirrels," writes Ross Robinson.
"Regardless of differences of opinion over development projects, I recognize that public discourse should be conducted respectfully and without casting aspersions on others," writes Stewart Hall.
"When it comes to policy decisions on planning and bylaws, our lord mayor and councillors cannot resort to using this ill-conceived tool," writes Bob Bader.
"This October, we are electing more than just some maintenance of the status quo; we are electing a diplomatic shield to protect our town from political erasure," writes Judith Barnes.
"Pickleball has become an important part of our community’s recreational life. A dedicated indoor facility could support residents of all ages and abilities, provide year-round programming and potentially generate revenue," writes Ron Pychel.
"I would very much support Mr. Marshall’s call for requirements to build with permeable materials and to enforce lot coverages and setbacks to minimize impermeable surfaces in our town," writes Christine Earl.
"We must elect a blend of new with a very select minority and seasoned old-guard members, who can impart their knowledge and mentor the new rookie members to grow in their new positions," writes Samuel Young.
"Mr. Frost stressed that developments were important to the financial health of the town. Our taxes would jump significantly if they were not approved. The implication was this source of revenue was the driving and overwhelming factor to approve developments," writes Gienek Ksiazkiewicz.
"Let's get Niagara-on-the-Lake and its elected officials get us the answers we need and push the Ontario government to help. We need answers and financial help sooner rather then later," writes Paul Carey.
"We sometimes talk as though there are competing constituencies here: farmers versus townspeople, Old Town versus the other communities, tourism businesses versus residents, newcomers versus longtime residents. I think that framing gets us into trouble," writes Bruce Gitelman.
"Alexander and Hannah Jarvis Hamilton contracted John Latshaw to build Willowbank in 1834 and they moved into the property with six children in 1836 (five more children would join them later)," writes Elizabeth Oliver-Malone.
"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?"
"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.
"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.
"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."
"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.
"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.
"The power of ideas and force of personality is needed to break through the stratification and cynicism that can set in among 'veteran' politicians returning to office time and time again," writes George Herman.
"Should council fight every development request, even though the success rate for councils defending their denial is unlikely to succeed?" writes Ron Fritz.
"Throughout the search, I encountered remarkable kindness from people at the restaurant, grocery store, Tourist Information Centre and neighbours we met along the way," writes Tammy Wiens.
"Believing our town’s character was secure, more than half of the electorate sat out the 2022 municipal election," writes Judith Barnes. "This drop-off allowed a specific, tightly aligned group of politicians to take complete control of town chambers."
"The Niagara Warehouse of Hope is a well of optimism in a landscape growing more and more barren," writes Garth Turner. Last year, the group turned out thousands of items it donated to new mothers and children in need around the world.
Premier Doug Ford's "populist presentation" is "a facade behind which his government diligently works to centralize power, control and decision-making in the premier and cabinet ministers’ offices," writes Brian Marshall.
"Not that long ago, refillable water bottles became standard and accepted," writes Ross Robinson. "Usually cheap, usually plastic and colourful, and clutched by millions and millions of humanoids."
"The central villain in this climate tragedy is carbon dioxide generated by the burning of fossil fuels. Sophisticated climate models make that clear despite the claims of climate change deniers," writes Dr. William Brown.
