Evan Saunders, Author at Niagara Now

Ortona: Remembering Canadian sacrifices during the liberation of Italy

First in a series In a small seaside town in Italy in 1943, Canadian soldiers gave their lives fighting to free the country from the Nazis during the Second World War. It was

‘Best team in the country,’ Thunderhawk alumni reminisce about early days

Meridian Credit Union arena was filled with fond memories on Saturday as Thunderhawk alumni gathered to reminisce about their early lacrosse-playing days in Niagara-on-the-Lake. “It is the best team in the country,” alumnus

Town was unaware Lawson Signcrafters could fill ShopNOTL order

The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake did not know that NOTL’s only sign-making business was capable of filling its order for ShopNOTL banners, a spokesperson says. As reported last week, Taylor Lawson of Lawson Signcrafters

NOTL volunteers make quick work of dangerous garage fire

Weekend crew was dousing rural blaze within 12 minutes, deputy chief says A weekend garage fire on Concession 2 Road was the perfect venue for Niagara-on-the-Lake’s volunteer firefighters to show their stuff. At

‘Two different worlds,’ advocate fights to help Indigenous people caught up in legal system

Jessica Riel-Johns spends every day fighting to reduce the number of Indigenous people in the Canadian justice system. “I actually really enjoy my job. I like working with the individuals that we come

Clerk leaving NOTL after six months on the job

Ralph Walton, clerk for the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, has resigned after six months on the job. Lord Mayor Betty Disero confirmed Walton’s last day would be July 14. Disero said she could not

‘This is why I moved here,’ Cherry Festival makes for a sweet Saturday

Who doesn’t love a cherry pie? The St. Mark’s Anglican Church Cherry Festival took place on July 9 and proved a sweet success. Cherry pies were completely sold out within the first few

‘We have to do better’: Ravine raises donations for residential school survivors

Canada Day has become a complicated time of celebration and moral reckoning. With the continuing discovery of children’s bodies buried on residential school properties across the country, more people have started to use

Canada Day cake about setting NOTL apart and bringing people together

For 18 years, Willow Cakes & Pastries owner Catharine O’Donnell has been making the mammoth cake for the Canada Day parade. This year she focused the design around kids. “I went with an

Pickleballers looking to future after ‘disappointing’ court ruling

‘This club is not going anywhere,’ president says The pain of having Virgil’s outdoor pickleball facility closed for two years by a court order is still very raw, but the incoming president of

NOTL Cherry Festival returns on Saturday

Get ready for cherries. The St. Mark’s Anglican Church Cherry Festival is coming back in full swing this Saturday. “We love to do it and interact with people and watch the happiness that

Frustrated stone mason angry with town’s handling of gateway project

For the past year, master dry stone craftsman Dean McLellan has been working on the new Niagara-on-the-Lake gateway project. He had leveraged his relationships with Willowbank School of Restoration Arts and Upper Canada

Shop local? NOTL’s only sign maker says he’s ignored by town

Virgil resident Taylor Lawson doesn’t understand why the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake didn’t use his sign company for its ShopNOTL campaign. “It just seems like in the last couple of years there’s no point

Celebrating together: Canada Day in NOTL

It was full steam ahead for Canada Day celebrations this year, with events taking place across Niagara-on-the-Lake to celebrate the country’s 155 anniversary. There was one thing as common as the colours red

Police investigating rocks through car windows

A series of car windows and one home window were smashed across the Niagara region last week in a destruction spree that has no reported motive. Niagara Regional Police Services have launched multiple

Open air burn gets out of hand in NOTL

An open air burn got out of hand on Wednesday morning, prompting Niagara-on-the-Lake firefighters to respond. “We’re not 100 per cent sure (what is burning). It could be greenhouse waste but we gotta

Tennis tournament a sweltering success

The Niagara-on-the-Lake Tennis Club hosted its mixed doubles tournament on June 25, a tradition going back to the 1970s and the earliest days of the club. “The event was played last weekend in

Archeological company offers to dig up buried headstones in historic black cemetery

Jim and Marilyn Russell have done a lot of work in the Negro Burial Ground in Niagara-in-the-Lake over the last two months — but there’s still a long way to go. Russell was

Top Gun NOTL: Dreams of a high-flying career

NOTL cadet program lauded for inspiring love of aviation Air cadet Shay Vidal has some high-flying dreams. Being a member of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s 809 Newark Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron has shaped Vidal’s

Ladies Auxiliary returns with Junk in the Trunk

One person’s junk in a trunk is another person’s treasure in a trunk. Or, something like that. The Ladies Auxiliary Junk in the Trunk sale saw the all female arm of Royal Canadian

‘Time to smell the roses,’ Arsenault drops out of council race

After briefly entering his name in the running, Coun. Norm Arsenault has decided to withdraw from the upcoming municipal election. “I found myself working on Saturday and Saturday night and I thought to

Motorcycle ride raises funds for residential school justice

A long line of motorcycles descended on the Niagara Regional Native Centre on Sunday for the second annual Residential School Children’s Ride for Justice. “It’s been a long day. But it’s been an

NOTL’s 2% hotel room tax begins July 1

It’s been simmering a long time on the back burner, but NOTL is finally ready to serve up its municipal accommodation tax. Niagara-on-the-Lake’s long-awaited and hard-fought hotel tax is set to begin on

Heritage experts say NOTL is a leader on conservation

Preserving the character of Niagara-on-the-Lake may be a tough battle for some councillors and residents but it seems the town is getting widespread recognition for its efforts. During a special council meeting on

Navy’s oldest ship makes harbour in NOTL

Grand sailing vessel HMCS Oriole is part of mission to recruit 1,000 sailors Perhaps one of the greatest old sailing vessels in the world called Niagara-on-the-Lake its home this past weekend. The HMCS

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