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Thursday, April 2, 2026

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

Burton firm on community vision as town’s parking plan for former hospital looms

Paige Seburn -
As council signals a parking-focused future for the site, the James A. Burton & Family Foundation is holding firm in its vision for the old hospital.

Royal Oak’s future at former hospital site uncertain as costs, plans come into focus

As the town plans to redevelop the site of the former hospital at 176 Wellington St., the future of Royal Oak School, now operating inside the building, is increasingly uncertain.
Paige Seburn -

Parents call for safer school bus stops, better enforcement in NOTL

Safety concerns at school bus stops in Niagara-on-the-Lake are prompting growing concern from parents, particularly in rural areas where children must cross busy roads with limited infrastructure.
Daniel Smeenk -

Sports: Memorable performances for Wolves in provincial tourneys

Two rep hockey teams that competed in last weekend’s provincial championships encountered high-calibre opposition while turning in exciting performances.
Kevin MacLean -

NOTL Museum finalist in national ‘Next Great Save’ competition with $50K prize

Zahraa Hmood -
The Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum is among a dozen historical organizations up for a $50,000 prize in a national competition — which the museum plans to use to turn a 115-year-old house into its own research centre.

Board game nights aim to keep seniors’ minds sharp

From chess and cards to cribbage, Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit, participants can take part in a whole host of board gaming. The sessions will run Monday and Friday afternoons starting April 17.
Richard Harley -

Funding cuts put pressure on HIV, AIDS work — NOTL fundraiser steps in

Global funding for HIV and AIDS programs is dropping. A Niagara-on-the-Lake fundraiser is here to help — and is warning that shrinking international aid has left frontline groups with a fraction of the funding they once had.
Paige Seburn -

Opinion: Don’t it always seem to go? NOTL’s parking lot push

"Will NOTL’s council ever be ready to consider other options for this public property? Based on what we’ve seen so far, you don’t what you’ve got till it’s gone," writes David Israelson.
Submitted Column -

Comic Jeff Paul returns home to film first standup special

Richard Harley - 0
The Niagara-on-the-Lake native is set to record his first standup comedy special and second album at Navy Hall on April 11, marking what he calls a milestone moment in a career more than a decade in the making.

Big Brothers Big Sisters brings drag to Queen’s Landing to fund youth mentorship

The event brought together Pride Niagara drag performers and a youth-serving charity in a deliberate pairing, one that organizers say reflects a real overlap in the populations they serve.
Read more ...

News

Mini therapy horses help raise $6K for rescue reeling from brutal winter

Andrew Hawlitzky - 0
The Community Initiative for Animal Rescue ran the two-day fundraiser for Last Chance, which featured special appearances from three therapy miniature horses: Chewy, Houston and 2%.
Read more ...

News

Artist brings longings for Scotland to Niagara Pumphouse

Andrew Hawlitzky - 0
The exhibition, called "Cianalas," takes its name from a Scottish Gaelic word meaning a deep longing for a place or a strong sense of belonging to one. It runs until April 25 in the Joyner Gallery.
Read more ...

Local

Letter: This isn’t a fairyland for tourists

"You can’t have a happy, healthy, diverse town without realizing it is a town first, not a money-maker," writes Elaine McCaughey.

Nominations now open for NOTL’s Business Achievement Awards

From entrepreneurs to community leaders, Niagara-on-the-Lake residents are being invited to put forward nominations for the town’s annual Business Achievement Awards. This year's gala is set for May 20.

NOTL Museum expansion adds ‘another layer’ to town’s cultural identity: donor

For Brian Johnston — a chartered professional accountant by training and longtime real estate executive — a community’s strength lies not only in what it offers today, but in how well it understands its past.

Council reverses course on Paxton Lane, approves previously defeated plan

A Niagara-on-the-Lake subdivision proposal council had already rejected is back — and now approved — in a reversal that’s raising questions about cost, control and heritage protections.

Entertainment

Organist, retired pilot joins the Edison Singers

An affable, easygoing sort, Michael Bloss, is currently the music director at St. Mark’s Church in Old Town. And, up until this past fall, a full-time pilot for Canada’s leading air service company, Cargojet.

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.

Opinion

The Turner Report: A town where you don’t ask questions

"Is this still an artistic enterprise worthy of oodles of tax money, the sympathy of donors and exemption from all heritage rules? Or, has it become a non-tax-paying corporation heavy into real estate development?" writes Garth Turner.

Arch-i-text: What our buildings are saying — and why it matters

"If you go for a walk in your neighbourhood, look at the houses — what you’ll see on the streetscapes will begin to communicate its architectural language," writes Brian Marshall.

Dr. Brown: The nature of consciousness — and what it means for AI

"These days, the nature of consciousness is hotly debated by several competing groups, with no consensus or clarity emerging in the debates between them," writes Dr. William Brown.

Entertainment

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.

Events

Today

News

NOTL approves advertising rates, eyes $200K in annual revenue

Niagara-on-the-Lake council has approved a new advertising pricing chart and timelines, establishing a formal structure the town says could generate about $200,000 annually.

Local

Bridging the gap: NOTL opens new round of accessibility ramp applications

After installing its first round of accessibility ramps in Old Town last year, Niagara-on-the-Lake is expanding the StopGap program, opening applications for more businesses this spring.

Pop-up closet delivers essentials to those in need in NOTL

Niagara’s Mobile Closet rolled into Niagara-on-the-Lake for the first time Thursday, turning a church parking lot into a space where residents could access clothing and essentials with dignity.

NOTL council votes to cut two seats ahead of 2026 election

The town framed its decision as part of a broader effort to streamline local governance and respond to concerns raised by the province about municipal structures across Niagara.

News

NOTL pitches 150-space parking lot for old hospital site

Paige Seburn - 0
The town is studying a project to add 150 parking spaces to the spot, which could bring in up to $1.9 million a year, instead of opening the land to outside ideas — for now.
Read more ...

Court dismisses Royal George challenge, but appeal motions filed

0
A Divisional Court panel has dismissed a legal challenge against Niagara-on-the-Lake’s handling of the Royal George Theatre project, finding the town’s process was thorough and justified.

Restriction on use of town buildings in election campaigns sparks backlash

0
The town clarified existing rules that prohibit candidates from using municipal facilities and resources during the campaign period, making it clear that includes events organized by community groups, such as candidate debates.

No decision on Queen St. patios until next month

0
The lord mayor floated the idea of allowing temporary patios on Queen Street, until the Queen Street secondary plan, which the town is currently working on, is in force and effect.

Red Roof founder talks ‘humbling’ experience receiving medal from the Governor General

It was a surreal moment for Steffanie Bjorgan, to be surrounded by, as she described it, "some of Canada's best and brightest people," all gathered inside the country's most famous home.

Niagara Parks, telecom company look to install three towers in NOTL

Niagara Parks Commission chief operating officer Marcelo Gruosso said the tower at Queenston Heights Park is "not visible at all" because it's "back into the work yard" and not in the middle of the park.

Provincial parliamentarian will be busy as the legislature sits again

Ontario's members of provincial parliament were back at Queen's Park on March 23 for a new session of Ontario's legislature, and Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates says there is plenty to tackle.

Brock wrestling coach creates scholarship honouring the legacy of Kekoo Gatta

Zubin Gatta, Kekoo Gatta’s son and an assistant coach with the Junior Brock Badger Wrestling Club, said he is touched by the tribute: “He gave so much to the wrestling world in Niagara."

Horticultural Society has plenty of tips and tricks for the spring

Spring has officially sprung here on this side of the globe, and gardeners in Niagara-on-the-Lake are preparing to refresh raised beds and tend to perennials.

‘Looking for meaning’: Legion record show keeps vinyls spinning in NOTL

The show is deliberately kept affordable. Every record is priced at $20 or under, a contrast to larger shows where inventory can range from a dollar to several thousand.

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