A coyote family has moved onto the site of the demolished Parliament Oak school. Five pups, I’m told.

“Nature always wins,” was Dorothy’s response, on hearing the news. At least something is alive and thriving where the town’s kids once played soccer.

Attempts this past week to learn the status of Benny Marotta’s five-star, 129-room, conference centre, wedding venue and grandiose hotel came up empty. Neighbours say plans for a big, underground parking garage are a fantasy.

There’s enough water below to float a passel of Porsches. Will the thing ever get built? A family of seven would like to know.

Well, the hotel decision sparked NOTL’s most recent citizen protest a year ago. But nothing came of it, other than a new residents association dedicated to throwing the current bums out. Now the Royal George eruption has folks again asking that eternal question: Is this a place to live or a theme park for the tourists?

As this edition of The Lake Report goes to press, the Shaw Festival cabal is hosting a “town hall” to explain why it wants to tear down five buildings (two on the main drag, three residential) and build a massive 51,000-square-foot, five-storey-tall stone-and-glass complex smack in the middle of the place.

Has the festival been stung by the outraged response of its neighbours to the Royal George rebuild? I asked Shaw boss Tim Jennings that question. He did not reply.

But others are finding their voice on this matter. So far, none in support, save the local Chamber of Commerce — interesting since three years of Queen Street construction could blow a hole through business.

As mentioned here last week, Shaw employees have been urged to flood local politicians with pro-Fat George template letters, but some people see that as employee coercion.

“What I appreciate most about your latest article was, very subtly, pointing out that they boast of ‘overwhelming support’ yet urge their employees to write in their support on top of it all,” writes a backstager who asks not to be identified. “I can say with confidence that the fear of reprisal is real among the festival’s employees.”

But the real grief is among the Old Town residents who see construction of this theatrical complex — higher, wider, denser, longer, taller than any other commercial building — as an assault on the very heritage that defines this weird place.

Just another step in the process of turning Niagara-on-the-Lake into the quaint backdrop for profit. Folks wonder how we elected people so willing to make it happen.

“A modern glass-and-stone structure does not belong in the very heart of a 19th-century streetscape,” Maria Vaneva told politicians last week as the Royal George plan was discussed.

“It does not belong beside our heritage homes on Victoria Street where the carriages pass. And it certainly does not belong in a designated heritage district protected under the Ontario Heritage Act and a National Historic Site of significant importance.”

Sam Young adds: “Our elected officials learn nothing from similar circumstances which have killed thousands of bucket list retirement towns and villages worldwide. All for the same reasons — tourism, tourism, tourism. While a necessary revenue lifeline, this will be the death of NOTL.”

“The theatre was welcomed by the community,” say Jim and Erika Alexander, “to house their business in NOTL and now the theatre is considering the destruction of our heritage district to accommodate their mis-guided vision — and that it is even being considered by our elected officials!”

Many, including Gienek Ksiazkiewicz, are asking why the Shaw can’t keep the old theatre as a low-use site (a museum or retail) and build their $85-million trophy theatre where the old hospital stood.

After all, that’s right across the road from the festival’s main location. Queen Street will not be ripped up. Half a residential block won’t be levelled. Lots of space for parking and, after all, the site’s already owned by the town.

Says Jennings in response (and this is his complete reply): “Thank you for the suggestion. That site was investigated previously and unfortunately, due to a quite wide range of issues, it was not a way forward for this project.”

The way forward, then, is the way of the Shaw. We are but props.

Garth Turner is a NOTL resident, journalist, author, wealth manager and former federal MP and minister. garth@garth.ca