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Rewind: The top Niagara-on-the-Lake news stories this week

Kevin MacLean -
Canada Day takes over Niagara-on-the-Lake, from Queen Street to Fort George. A community mourns a migrant farmworkers killed by a hit-and-run driver. Plus, the race for the next lord mayor heats up.

Former NOTL administrator Marnie Cluckie joins Halifax’s regional council

Marnie Cluckie, who served as chief administrative officer for NOTL for almost three years, is set to become the Halifax Regional Municipality's chief administrative officer starting Sept. 23. 
Niagara Now -

PHOTOS: Cake parade packs Simcoe Park for Canada Day despite extreme heat

Niagara-on-the-Lake's annual Canada Day cake parade rolled into Simcoe Park on Wednesday behind an electric-converted Model T, drawing hundreds of residents, clad in red and white, for a slice of the town's signature cake.
Andrew Hawlitzky -

NOTL Votes 2026: Goettler draws applause with ‘full-time mayor’ pledge

Supporters gathered Saturday afternoon at the Line 6 hobby farm of mayoral candidate Vaughn Goettler and his wife, Lauren, to celebrate and support his candidacy for lord mayor of Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Richard Harley -

NOTL’s Senior of the Year says senior housing remains a pressing need

Zahraa Hmood -
Since starting the Senior Housing Advisory Committee, Cindy Grant says the group has secured support from the town and identified two potential sites for an independent living facility.

St. Davids firefighters donate $9,000 mower to Red Roof Retreat

The St. Davids Firefighters Association bought Red Roof Retreat a $9,000 riding mower Thursday, covering an equipment cost the charity says it cannot spare from its $4.3-million building project.
Andrew Hawlitzky -

NOTL Votes 2026: O’Connor says smaller council means more pressure — she’s ready for it

Incumbent O'Connor's campaign this year will build on the same themes she says guided her this term: trust in council, open decision-making, balanced growth and more.
Paige Seburn -

Canada’s World Cup breakthrough raises stakes for NOTL’s youth soccer club

For a sport that's often fought for attention behind hockey, baseball and basketball in Canada, this year's World Cup is giving soccer a boost that's being felt across the country — including by players and their families here at home.
Andrew Hawlitzky -

Fort George turns Canada Day into a walk through history

Paige Seburn - 0
At Fort George National Historic Site, the holiday was not just red-and-white flags: it was an immersive showcase of Canada's history and a first-time experience for many who've never been to NOTL before.

NOTLers share what makes them proud to be Canadian at Legion party

A variety of reasons to celebrate brought guests to the festivities at the Legion, but one sentiment united the party-goers: "I’m proud to be Canadian."
Read more ...

News

Strewn Winery hotel idea a ‘slippery slope’ to more development on NOTL’s farmland, critics say

Zahraa Hmood - 0
Plans to buy Strewn Winery and build a 58-room hotel on the site are being met with skepticism from some who argue the project could open the floodgates to a hotel being built on every winery in town.
Read more ...

News

Accused in hit-run death of farmworker released on bail

Kevin MacLean - 0
A 22-year-old man was released on bail Monday after a migrant farmworker from Mexico was killed in a hit-and-run while cycling in rural Niagara-on-the-Lake late last Friday night.
Read more ...

Local

Farmworkers mourn colleague and friend at roadside vigil

Those who knew Sínhue Garcia are grieving the loss of someone they say was a generous and caring person — and whose death has deepened fears about the rural roads farmworkers cycle every day.

Immigration cuts will gut Niagara farm labour, migrant workers warn

As the federal government moves forward on plans to continue cutting Canada's immigration levels, migrant farmworkers and their advocates pressed Ottawa for permanent residency at a Virgil rally.

St. Davids townhouse plan gets green light after earlier defeat

A plan for 18 on-street townhouses in St. Davids that hit a wall over stormwater concerns earlier this month is moving ahead after all.

NOTL could get faster way to fine illegal land uses

Niagara-on-the-Lake may soon get a faster way to deal with cases of land being used in ways that aren't allowed, including a retail shop opening on farmland where retail is not allowed.

Entertainment

Jazz Crawl hits all the right notes across Niagara-on-the-Lake

From vineyard sunsets to waterfront views, Niagara-on-the-Lake became one big jazz stage last weekend as music lovers travelled from venue to venue as part of the Niagara Jazz Festival's annual Jazz Crawl.

Arts review: From singalongs to studio spaces, Shaw rethinks the theatre experience

"Survival dictates new directions. 'Beyond the Stage' is expanding our experiences of theatre by allowing us to witness and explore exciting new paths," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.

Opinion

Editorial: Eustáquio has scored for Canada

"When Stephen Eustáquio fired the ball into the back of the net last Sunday in the dying moments versus South Africa, the adulation unleashed at outdoor watch parties, in pubs and in TV rooms across the country was heartfelt and possibly life-changing for some future football stars," writes Kevin MacLean.

The Turner Report: The adult in the room

"His colleagues at town hall, says Gary Burroughs, are too easily manipulated into big decisions. Like approving a massive hotel in the middle of a residential 'hood. Or (soon, he reckons) greenlighting a Ritz-Carlton hotel, spa and residences on the former Rand Estate. Together with the Terminal 4 Clayfield edifice in Garrison Village, these developments put NOTL into tourism overdrive," writes Garth Turner.

Arch-i-text: We don’t need to eliminate vacation rentals — just manage them

"Bit by bit, the legal underpinning by which a municipality can defensibly justify decisions to preserve its community in the face of a developer’s application are eroded," writes Brian Marshall.

Entertainment

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

The celebration of this country's foundation is set for this Wednesday — expect Niagara-on-the-Lake to be awash in a sea of red and white.

Events

Today

News

Wild West of Wine: Konzelmann ordered to pay neighbouring farm $41K in legal costs

A NOTL winery will have to pay a neighbouring farmer a little over $41,000 in legal costs after a judge found the farmer's court action was necessary to stop the winery from violating municipal rules.

Local

NOTL Votes 2026: Erwin Wiens enters mayoral race with pledge to protect town’s autonomy

Dozens of supporters filled Lakeview Vineyard Equipment Inc. on Lakeshore Road Monday evening as Coun. Erwin Wiens launched his campaign for lord mayor with a warning that Niagara-on-the-Lake has to keep control of its own future.

NOTL man, 22, charged after farmworker on bicycle killed in hit-and-run

A 22-year-old Niagara-on-the-Lake man is facing impaired driving and hit-and-run charges after a cyclist was killed in an overnight collision in town.

New Pumphouse art exhibition explores humanity’s bond with nature

As warm weather draws people outside to reconnect with forests, gardens and shorelines, a new exhibition at the arts centre is celebrating the emotional bond between people and the natural world.

News

Summer, with a cherry on top: St. Mark’s Cherry Festival returns this Saturday

Niagara Now - 0
The season of summer fruits continues this July with St. Mark's Cherry Festival, set for Saturday, July 4, offering up a bounty of fresh cherries and cherry desserts for all.
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Owners to sell Strewn Winery, possibly making way for new hotel

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Big changes are coming to Strewny Winery: after almost 30 years in business, the small winery is being sold and may become home to a new hotel with 58 rooms.

NOTL Votes 2026: Sandra O’Connor makes re-election bid official

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The Lake Report confirmed online Friday that Coun. Sandra O’Connor has officially filed to run again, after saying last month she was leaning toward another term at Niagara-on-the-Lake’s council table.

NOTL man charged with assault in attack on Garth Turner

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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.

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

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 Proud: ‘Being gay was never a barrier’: Retired police couple finds peace and belonging

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.

NOTL Proud: For Steve McGuinness, acceptance came in ordinary moments

For McGuinness, who is running for NOTL council, and his husband, Gary Guthrie, belonging has looked like nights at the Shaw, wine country dinners and bringing his grandchildren to the Virgil Stampede.

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

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.

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

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.