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

‘More than a pub’: NOTL’s Irish Harp celebrates 20 years in business

Paige Seburn -
Somewhere between the pints of Guinness, first dates, live music and hard times that followed, the Irish Harp Pub became a second home for many in town.

NOTL clarifies why it hasn’t declared emergency after back-to-back floods

Niagara-on-the-Lake is responding to what it says are misconceptions about municipal emergency declaration after two extreme rainstorms last week led to widespread flooding in town.
Niagara Now -

Covered, waiting, shut out or going it alone: NOTL residents face flood losses

Sunday’s deluge sent knee-deep floodwater through the Legion, destroying drywall, toppling freezers and damaging a century-old flag, photo albums and historical records.
Paige Seburn -

Two floods could mean two claims — and higher rates

The Lake Report contacted three local insurance brokerages after the first storm to understand the number and cost of claims, what water coverage means and how residents should respond.
Paige Seburn -

Peach Festival draws more than 16,000 to NOTL

Maddy Gordon -
With a fruity aroma on Queen Street and guests in peachy attire, NOTL was painted orange for the Peach Festival on Friday and Saturday, with one of the biggest turnouts the Chamber's leader has ever seen.

Old Town’s Cheese Secrets closes downtown shop after 17 years

The artisanal cheese store that occupies a small slice of Market Street in Old Town has closed up shop after being unable to keep up with the rising price of rent for businesses downtown.
Zahraa Hmood -

NOTL couple’s home stars in Hollywood production

When Hollywood came knocking, Brodie and Maria Townley were ready for their close-up. The upcoming romantic comedy "Beach Read," which shot in Niagara-on-the-Lake in June, highlights the Townleys’ heritage home at 123 Johnson St.
Kevin MacLean -

Sports: NOTL reclaims title in showdown with Toronto Hunt Club

The Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club and the Toronto Hunt Club have a long history of competition and last Saturday it was NOTL's turn to play host to their big city counterparts.
Kevin MacLean -

Council splits with heritage committee over Rand Estate’s next steps

Paige Seburn - 0
NOTL council stopped short of committing to the heritage committee’s recommendation that the developer save specific historic features identified in an Ontario Land Tribunal ruling from almost two years ago.

NOTL still tallying damage two weeks after first flood

The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake still cannot say how many properties or basements flooded, what the damage will cost or whether municipal infrastructure failed.
Read more ...

News

NOTL church celebrates 200 years with 37th annual Peach Festival

Andrew Hawlitzky - 0
The parish, founded in 1826, is celebrating its 200th anniversary, and the annual peach festival is one stop in a season of bicentennial events being held this year.
Read more ...

News

Witness the sport of kings at Niagara Polo on Sept. 12

Niagara Now - 0
Niagara Polo, an afternoon of charity polo matches held to raise money for the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum, is set for Sept. 12. Teams from the Toronto Polo Club will play two four-chukker polo games, while spectators watch from the sidelines at the Commons.
Read more ...

Local

What’s old is new again: Stratus embraces a 8,000-year-old winemaking method

Guests got their hands dirty with clay under the tutelage of local potter Valérie Bélisle. They made their own miniature amphoras, in the shadow of Stratus' own wine filled vessels, while tasting select wines.

Behind the harvest: NOTL artist turns her brush to Niagara’s agricultural community

Nancy Wardle puts the people behind Niagara's harvest on canvas in a new portrait exhibition, arguing that residents admire the region's farms while often overlooking the workers who sustain it all.

Penner’s cuts rebuilding costs for NOTL flood victims

The Virgil hardware store has introduced special pricing on cleanup and construction materials for people affected by this summer's floods.

300 classic cars rev up to Kinsmen’s 26th Show and Shine

A night of rain threatened the outdoor grounds of the Kinsmen Club of Niagara-on-the-Lake's biggest fundraiser, but the fields dried in time and more than 300 classic cars rolled into the 26th annual Show and Shine on Sunday.

Entertainment

Shaw review: Once maligned, author Edna Ferber shines again

"She sought unusual locations where ordinary people built empires against the odds and where strong, smart women overcame gender, convention and adversity," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.

Shaw review: Embrace your inner child with ‘The Wind in the Willows’

"Indulge the child within you. This joyous production is for all ages and it was pure delight to see children on the edge of their seats, parents and grandparents alert, all responding and laughing in anticipation of what was coming," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.

Opinion

The Turner Report: Storms remind us who town’s real Ruller is

"Democracy takes a hit when the one assuming that role refuses to speak on the record, be interviewed, or allow underlings to comment," writes Garth Turner.

Arch-i-text: Our stormwater drains and ponds need proper care

"Without proper maintenance," writes Brian Marshall, "in a short period of time, a drain can lose its effectiveness to manage water and help to prevent flooding."

Dr. Brown: In anti-aging quest, the brain is the biggest obstacle

"Rejuvenating the brain might hold the line or possibly slow decline a bit, but not return our brain back to where it was when we were 20. That’s way beyond the science as it exists," writes Dr. William Brown.

Entertainment

Shaw review: A thoughtful ‘Heartbreak House’ that never fully catches fire

"'Heartbreak House' is a profound examination of generational change, of dreams and ambitions shattered by war, of industry and government overturning social programs in favour of exploitation," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.

Events

Today

News

Hummel family pledges $125K to Niagara Pumphouse

The art centre's board chair says this donation will help it expand its programs, support artists and improve the spaces the centre shares with the public.

Local

What do a million sunflowers look like? Find out at NOTL farm this weekend

On Saturday and Sunday, Ryan Crawford will open his farm to visitors who want to walk among the flowers, all while raising money for Royal Oak Community School.

NOTL flood damage unknown as provincial relief remains vague

Now, after two major storms in six days, the full toll remains unknown and possible provincial assistance has no dollar amount, eligibility rules or application process.

NOTL Votes 2026: Maria Mavridis hopes to keep the public informed next council term

Maria Mavridis, who was elected to council for the first time in 2022, is once again throwing her hat into the ring of this fall's election, hoping to serve another term.

News

NOTL Votes 2026: Andrew Niven seeks first elected council term

Paige Seburn - 0
Coun. Andrew Niven is running for Niagara-on-the-Lake council this fall, seeking voters’ support for the first time since he was appointed to the role nearly two years ago.
Read more ...

Peach festivals this weekend wrap up NOTL’s summer fruit season

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Niagara-on-the-Lake's peach festivals are back this weekend, giving residents and visitors one more chance to savour one of the season's signature fruits before summer begins to wind down.

Ultra-marathoner kicking off 886-kilometre run in Queenston

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Long-distance runner Adam Saltarelli will set off on his run from the Waterfront Trail under the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge on Saturday at 9 a.m.

Heritage Festival gives public first look inside museum founder’s home

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Rain and flooding across Niagara could not keep an estimated 1,000 to 1,500 visitors from the NOTL Museum's annual Heritage Festival on Monday, where the public got its first real look inside the former home of museum founder Janet Carnochan.

Tornado warnings cut Art at the Pumphouse festivities short

Thunderstorms rolled over the Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre around 11 a.m. Sunday, forcing Art at the Pumphouse to close hours early and cancelling a full afternoon of demonstrations, live music and in-person sales.

Former German leader Angela Merkel visits NOTL Golf Club

Merkel and her family were on a private holiday to Niagara and the German embassy had arranged in advance with NOTL's Klaus Reif for her to visit the Reif Estate Winery for a tour and tasting.

NOTL’s Sports Wall of Fame welcomes two new inductees

The town is inducting Gary Friesen and Kurt Hamm into its Sports Wall of Fame at the Meridian Credit Union Arena in Virgil and will honour them at a ceremony on Friday, Aug. 21. 

Niagara-on-the-Lake reels after storm floods homes, farms

By Wednesday afternoon, most of the flooding had receded, but the cleanup, repairs and steps to mitigate such problems when the next storm strikes has only begun.

Animals rushed from flooded Niagara-on-the-Lake rescue farm

Fish washed onto the driveway and geese swam past them after floodwater swallowed an animal rescue farm in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The long journey home: Search for missing dog enters eighth week

Since May, the Ibbotson family and a team of volunteers have been searching for Luna the dog, who has been spotted by multiple people around town but hasn't successfully been caught and taken back home.