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

From Halifax to New York, 9/11 memories meet in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Paige Seburn -
The stories of Americans and Canadians who witnessed the attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001 came together Friday at Queen's Royal Park at a ceremony to mark 25 years since that day.

Police officer arrested for impaired driving in Niagara-on-the-Lake

An off-duty Niagara police officer was charged with impaired driving Thursday evening in Niagara-on-the-Lake, after fleeing a traffic stop and colliding with another driver in St. Davids.
Niagara Now -

New luxury hotel opens in NOTL, key planner addresses traffic concerns

The new four-storey hotel at Clayfield Commons in Niagara-on-the-Lake held its official ribbon-cutting Wednesday ahead of welcoming its first overnight guests Sept. 18.
Paige Seburn -

$25M for Royal George, but no Price on its name

The Royal George Theatre’s multi-million-dollar rebuild is getting a federal boost of up to $25 million, funded in part by donors Tim and Frances Price — who elected not to rename the theatre in their name.
Paige Seburn -

9/11 Remembered: The Canadian who helped stranded U.S. execs get home

Submitted Column -
John Scott shares how his wife, Michelle Scott, helped dozens of Americans who were in Canada the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, find their way across the border and home safely after all flights were grounded and airspaces closed.

NOTL Votes 2026: Karen Taylor-Jones calls for ‘right development, right place’

Karen Taylor-Jones was the catalyst for a protest outside Niagara-on-the-Lake town hall two years ago that took the town to task over its decision to greenlight a luxury hotel on King Street.
Zahraa Hmood -

NOTL Votes 2026: Adriana Vizzari vows to put families first

Adriana Vizzari wants another four years on Niagara-on-the-Lake council to finish what she started: making the town a place where young families can put down roots, especially in St. Davids.
Paige Seburn -

NOTL Votes 2026: What’s on voters’ minds?

As Niagara-on-the-Lake heads toward the Oct. 26 municipal election, residents are weighing what the town needs next — and what they do not want to lose.
Paige Seburn -

Niagara-on-the-Lake to mark 25 years since 9/11

Paige Seburn - 0
This Sept. 11 will mark 25 years since the terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people in the United States. Those in NOTL who remember where they were the day of the attacks say despite current political tensions between Canada and the U.S., honouring those who lost their lives that day will always be important.

School’s back in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and change is in the air

The backpacks are back, the classrooms are buzzing and Niagara-on-the-Lake students are settling into a new school year — with some getting used to a new school, too.
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News

This NOTLer found his calling at Red Roof Retreat — then, he came back

Zahraa Hmood - 0
Fifteen years after volunteering at Red Roof Retreat during high school, Robert Burciul is back as its program co-ordinator, as the charity prepares to open the doors to its new, 5,700-square-foot facility in January.
Read more ...

News

Healing Hike raises $50,000 to keep palliative care services free

Andrew Hawlitzky - 0
The hike replaced the annual Hummel Family Healing Cycle Ride — this year's fundraiser raised $25,000, which was matched by the Hummel family to total $50,000 for the organization.
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Local

Parking study to examine Old Town shuttle option

Does Niagara-on-the-Lake have enough parking, and is it in the right places? The town is collecting data to answer that question while considering how to manage tourism-related pressure.

Senior run over by own tractor in NOTL parking lot

A senior working on his own tractor in the Gales parking lot in Niagara-on-the-Lake was accidentally run over Friday afternoon and taken to hospital with non-life-threatening and non-life-altering injuries, police say.

Learn the history of farming in Niagara at NOTL museum lecture

The Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum's final lecture of the year will provide an intimate look at a time in history when Niagara's farmers were planting the seeds for the ever-growing agricultural landscape that exists today.

Mythology takes over RiverBrink grounds for third installation festival

Legends became reality at RiverBrink Art Museum this past weekend, as its riverside grounds were filled with myth-inspired art installations for its third-annual art installation festival.

Entertainment

Shaw review: Cerebral and intimate ‘Ohio State Murders’ is one to see

With quality performances from its two leads, superb production value and creative direction from Philip Akin, Adrienne Kennedy's story of love and betrayal is well-realized at the Shaw, writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.

Shaw Festival’s 2027 lineup will feature ‘South Pacific,’ ‘The Color Purple’ and more

The 65th season will feature Rodgers and Hammerstein’s "South Pacific," "The Color Purple," "Arsenic and Old Lace" and "Grimm Tales," among 11 productions across three theatres in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Opinion

The Turner Report: In NOTL, they’re sewing a better world

"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.

Arch-i-text: With Ford attacking democracy, this election is a big one

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.

Ross’s Ramblings: Want to know how far we’ve come? Look at water bottles

"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."

Entertainment

Shaw review: ‘Amadeus’ falls short of original play’s theatricality

"I left feeling detached, that form had superseded content, that the visceral theatricality that Shaffer so brilliantly offers by his gifts of storytelling had been denied," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.

Events

Today

News

NOTLer featured in this year’s Terry Fox Run campaign

Niagara-on-the-Lake's Terry Fox Run is set for Sunday, Sept. 20. At Simcoe Park, 17-year-old Megan Dyck and her mother, Amber, will speak about Megan’s experience battling cancer.

Local

Service dog unit seeks Niagara veterans, first responders needing PTSD support

After helping to raise $96,000 for the organization last year, Peter Warrack won an auction that gave him the opportunity to name a future service dog. On Wednedsay, him and his wife, Bonita Cawker, got to meet the puppy — which Warrack named after his wife.

Grace United festival market sells out early, funds church deficit

Volunteers sold donated produce, jam, chutney and baked goods on the sidewalk outside the Victoria Street church in Niagara-on-the-Lake and donated antiques at an estate sale inside.

Niagara 5000 car and aviation looks to raise $30,000 for children’s hospital

Niagara 5000 will return to Niagara-on-the-Lake for its third iteration, bringing rare supercars, private aviation, marine experiences and more back into town.

News

NOTL Votes 2026: St. Davids to host all-candidates debate on Sept. 17

Julia Sacco - 0
The St. Davids Ratepayers Association is hosting an all-candidates debate on Wed., Sept. 17, at the Lions Club, where lord mayor and council candidates will discuss issues affecting the community.
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Heritage Trail party almost doubles $10K goal

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A sold-out garden party in Niagara-on-the-Lake raised close to $20,000 for the Heritage Trail, almost doubling its fundraising goal as volunteers continue working toward the trail’s extension.

The sport of kings returns with Niagara Polo on Sept. 12

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The biannual Niagara Polo match will take place this Saturday at the historic Commons in Old Town, raising money for the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum.

Cars targeted across NOTL as residents report repeat incidents

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Stolen vehicles, smashed windows and people caught checking cars on security cameras have Niagara-on-the-Lake residents comparing notes after a string of incidents stretching from late last week into this week.

School starts next week, but promised child-care bus remains unclear

Several students are readying to switch schools this fall following a boundary change. However, one family is still waiting for an answer to a question it raised almost a year ago: what happens after the final bell rings?

Niagara Region reviewing NOTL’s steep policing bill

Niagara-on-the-Lake households are being charged hundreds of dollars more for regional policing than households anywhere else in Niagara — and regional government is now looking at whether there is a different way to split the bill.

Pucker up, help some pups: Young girl’s annual lemonade stand raises $10K for dog resuce

Since the lemonade stand began five years ago in 2021, it's raised more than $10,000 to support Niagara Dog Rescue, which helps homeless and unwanted dogs find a new home.

More hydro boxes set for makeovers as part of Pumphouse art competition

Twenty-nine artworks are in the running to become one of three tableaus that will be used to beautify three hydro boxes in NOTL — part of a project that’s seen 23 hydro boxes turned into public art so far.

Willowbank School of Restoration Arts celebrates 20th anniversary on Sept. 19

The School of Restoration Arts at Willowbank is celebrating 20 years since its foundation in 2006, with plans to invite the public onto its 13-acre property to tour the 19th-century Willowbank Estate.

Find your inner Picasso at Queenston art studio’s painting workshops

A local couple, who run an art studio and gallery out of the old Laura Secord school in Queenston, are hosting a three-day painting workshop for painters both aspiring and experienced.