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

NOTL Votes 2026: Residents talk election: what needs fixing, what’s worth keeping

Paige Seburn -
A hotel next door. A tax bill that makes you question what you’re getting. Parked cars that block your view of the road. For residents who shared their thoughts with The Lake Report, the municipal election comes down to decisions they can feel close to home.

Four years later, Niagara-on-the-Lake voters still concerned about development, taxes and transparency

In its Oct. 13, 2022 election edition, The Lake Report outlined the top issues facing voters, including regional taxes, overdevelopment, tourism management and transparency. Four years later, many of those same concerns remain part of the conversation.
Julia Sacco -

What the numbers tell us about voter turnout in Niagara-on-the-Lake these past two decades

Looking at the participation of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s eligible voters during the last four election cycles, turnout has tended to oscillate between either slightly less than or slightly more than half of the eligible population of electors casting their ballots.
Zahraa Hmood -

No endorsements: NOTL residents’ group won’t tell voters who to choose

The Niagara-on-the-Lake Residents' Association spent weeks putting election candidates in the hot seat. But when it comes to telling voters who deserves a seat at the table, the group is staying out of it.
Paige Seburn -

Editorial: Pros and cons of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s three mayoral candidates

Richard Harley -
"At the end of the day, we need someone who can get Ford to respect us until we can try again to vote him out. The question, I guess, becomes, what’s the best strategy?" writes Richard Harley.

Commentary: There’s no excuse for not voting in the municipal election

"So, what direction will NOTL voters choose? That’s impossible to predict but what we do know is it has never been easier to exercise your democratic franchise," writes Kevin MacLean.
Kevin MacLean -

What’s in a name? Candidate says town staff suggested she reverse her surname on ballot

Most people know this lifelong Niagara-on-the-Lake resident as Karen Taylor-Jones. But as a candidate for town council in the upcoming election, she is listed and will appear on the ballot as Karen Jones-Taylor.
Zahraa Hmood -

The Turner Report: This is how I’m voting

"If we elect the same people (and most are reoffering) we’ll get the same result. More hotels. More bending over for tourism. More construction. More old buildings razed. More density. More compromise. More loss," writes Garth Turner.
Garth Turner -

Look out for migrant workers: Advocacy group puts up new signs, urges drivers to be alert

Julia Sacco - 0
Giant reflective signs reading “Look Out For Migrant Workers” were installed at the meeting point and four other locations where seven migrant farmworkers have been killed or seriously injured.

Air Canada bus link to Pearson adding two more daily departures

After the launch of a new bus service this year that connects travellers to Toronto from Niagara, the service is set to expand to five from three daily departures starting mid-December, just in time for holiday travel.
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News

Get to know these historical spots in NOTL during Doors Open on Saturday

Niagara Now - 0
Doors Open Ontario will be hosted in town on Saturday, Oct. 17, with local sites offering free admission to guests to come inside and hear from knowledgeable guides about the living and built heritage of these places.
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News

Last market of the season for a new Garrison Village

Julia Sacco - 0
Laura Townsend, director of marketing for the Clayfield Hotel, said moving the market from the Garrison Village parking lot to the new greenspace has reinvigorated the market and attracted new visitors.
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Local

Muslim youth group holds 5K for Niagara hospitals

Rain was in the forecast and Thanksgiving dinner was on the calendar, but a few dozen people still signed up to run or walk for Niagara Health Foundation, which took them on a trek through several parts of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Driver charged after airborne crash into Niagara-on-the-Lake building causes $120K damage

A 27-year-old man is facing impaired and dangerous driving charges after police say his vehicle went airborne and slammed into a building early Wednesday morning, causing an estimated $120,000 in damage.

Road Rally raises $75k for Red Roof, new facility opening in 2027

The annual scavenger hunt event raised $75,000 for the respite care organization, allowing it to comfortably finish the project of rebuild its main facility, set to reopen the start of next year.

NOTL Votes 2026: Busy first advance poll reveals split views on what Niagara-on-the-Lake needs

Some voters came to town hall Wednesday morning convinced Niagara-on-the-Lake needs to change course. Others came because voting early was simply easier. And some came away thinking there is not much to fix at all.

Entertainment

Shaw review: The art of classical music in a century of transformation

"In the 18th century, instability, wars and social change were the norm," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson. "The function of music socially and politically was to represent the social values held by the royals, the aristocrats and the wealthy bourgeoisie."

Shaw review: Veteran stage actors reflect on their unpredictable and ephemeral world

Three longtime Shaw actors, Sharry Flett, Patrick Galligan and Sanjay Talwar, sat down to chat with theatre critic Anthony Chase about their journeys as actors and careers at the Shaw. The result? "They shared a love and total commitment to what they are doing," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.

Opinion

Arch-i-text: Get ready for fewer seats at the regional table

"If you are one of the approximately 191,000 Niagara residents that live outside the boundaries of the three large cities, you have just been marginalized as a perpetual member of the minority," writes Brian Marshall.

Ross’s Ramblings: This 13-foot-tall giraffe sculpture briefly lived on Queen St.

"He had the large sculpture placed in front of the Prince of Wales Hotel, but local leaders didn’t think it belonged at the corner of King and Queen streets. Much controversy ensued and Gerry the Giraffe was soon turfed," writes Ross Robinson.

Dr. Brown: What kicked off the start of our universe?

"Creation stories have been a feature of most human societies, and most have a beginning. So also with science although Isaac Newton’s universe had no beginning or end and was true for cosmology for the early 20th century," writes Dr. William Brown.

Entertainment

Shaw review: Uncovering the strides Jewish women made in theatre

"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.

Events

Today

News

Price is right: The couple behind a $10M Shaw donation who decided to keep Royal George’s name

Timothy and Frances Price have been attending plays at the Shaw Festival since the '80s, the same decade the theatre company expanded to putting on productions at the Royal George on Queen Street. "We enjoyed the town, we enjoyed the plays and the community," said Tim.

Local

Youth take centre stage at Niagara Regional Native Centre’s powwow

Youth took the lead at the Niagara Regional Native Centre’s annual powwow Saturday, connecting culture and celebration. “The powwow is a deep place in connection,” said Lou Davis, one of the event's youth co-ordinators. “I’ve been coming here since I was a fresh newborn and came into this world.”

NOTL Votes 2026: Final council forum gets personal over conflicts of interest

Five candidates seeking a seat on Niagara-on-the-Lake council found plenty to agree on Friday night. Infrastructure needs to catch up. Strong mayor powers should stay on the shelf. Residents should...

After death scare, Ron Planche’s life in photos comes to Niagara Pumphouse

Last December, Ron Planche was told he had one year left to live. Now, after finding out he's going to be OK, he's celebrating his second chance with an exhibition of his life's work in photography and photojournalism at an exhibition, on now until Oct. 29 at the Pumphouse.

News

Agriculture art installation set to be completed mid-October

Julia Sacco - 0
Ron Clavier’s Thanks for the Meal project has been more than a decade in the making, and in early September, the concrete foundation piles were laid for the first art installation in the series.
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Shaw Festival gives doctors a lesson in bedside manner

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The Theatre of Medicine brought physicians and medical educators together for workshops on eye contact, posture, vocal tone and first impressions. "It has the real potential to be part of their whole system of practice," said program director Alexis Milligan.

Alone and terrified in Cape Breton, a portrait painter discovers the forest

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Sherry Park spent six weeks living by herself in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. That adventure, which she called beautiful and terrifying, inspired her collection of landscape paintings on display now at the Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre.

Construction on St. Davids roundabout delayed to start in 2028

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The Niagara Region confirmed with The Lake Report that the St. Davids roundabout project has been delayed (and not cancelled), sharing it now hopes to complete its construction by the end of 2028.

Laura Secord student takes home Pumphouse scholarship

The Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre has awarded its 2026 art education scholarship to Laura Secord Secondary School graduate Emma Smith.

St. Davids roundabout delayed, not cancelled, says Niagara-on-the-Lake mayor

The mayor says the Niagara Region has advised the town that the St. Davids roundabout was deferred in its capital budget to prioritize other infrastructure investments: "The project has not been cancelled."

‘Not the work of one day’: NOTL marks National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Commemorative efforts in Niagara-on-the-Lake spanned from the raising of a flag outside town hall to education efforts at elementary schools and the museum, hoping to create a lasting impact on the public's awareness of all chapters of Indigenous history in Canada.

Niagara school board candidates on their aims, visions and Bill 101 concerns

The Lake Report asked the nominees for trustees what their top three priorities would be as a school board trustee, why they decided to run and what they would like to change or fix at the school board level.

NOTL prestige: Revé earns a place on Michelin Guide’s recommended list

This year's Toronto Michelin Guide, which was released Sept. 22, added 11 restaurants from southern Ontario to its "Recommended" list, including one new local dining spot: Revé, which opened in Old Town last year.

NOTL Votes 2026: No softballs for council hopefuls at residents’ debate

During the latest debate for council candidates hosted on Friday, the six participating candidates were asked about developers, post-flooding plans and their approach to strong mayor powers.