Jill Troyer, Author at Niagara Now

January’s frigid nights perfect for icewine harvest

When the temperature plunges to -15C overnight, most of us snuggle deeper into our duvets.

Restaurants adapt to yet another lockdown

With a weary sense of deja vu, NOTL restaurateurs have once again closed their doors to indoor diners and turned their focus to takeout food. Chairs are empty, cardboard cartons are piled on

Up In Smoke: Tweed Farms closes massive NOTL cannabis facility

The Tweed Farms cannabis growing operation on Concession 5 in Niagara-on-the-Lake closed on Friday and 30 employees were permanently laid off. Tweed Farms is owned by Canopy Growth, which has been cutting costs in

Soggy September keeps harvest plans fluid

A 'stunning' year for some grapes, but picking conditions are tricky Heavy rainfall in September has created challenging conditions for the annual grape harvest. “It puts pressure on growers,” says Gavin Robertson, winemaker

NOTL wineries say new government aid program is a big help

Operators will know soon if they receive up to $200,000 in relief Wineries and cideries that qualify for a one-time grant from the provincial government to help offset financial impacts to their businesses because

Hollywood-style film shoot comes to NOTL winery

Chateau des Charmes on York Road has been transformed into an opulent mansion set in the idyllic Napa Valley for the film shoot of a new drama series for the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).

Newborn foals a source of joy in difficult year for NOTL stable

Two adorable new arrivals are bringing big smiles to everyone at Red Ribbon Stables, and even drivers passing by the paddock on Concession 6 can’t resist slowing down for a better look at the new filly and colt scampering about under their moms’ watchful gaze.

Top chefs’ asparagus tips

Cooking with asparagus

Hooked on Hiking: Trails should come with a warning: ‘Hiking may be addictive’

It started small. A long stroll on the Upper Canada Heritage Trail in Niagara-on-the-Lake, or through the Commons and along the Parkway. It seemed so innocent. COVID lockdowns and restrictions made outdoor walking more appealing

Virgil woman honoured by Niagara Bruce Trail Club

Margaret Northfield has been named Volunteer of the Year by the Niagara Bruce Trail Club, but her passion for the trail and her efforts to support the club date back much further. “Margaret’s

‘I got the Shot’ — Disappointed it wasn’t sooner, but happy to have vaccine

About 100,000 daffodils are about to bloom in nine different gardens around Niagara-on-the-Lake. The bulbs were planted in support of people touched by cancer and the force of energy behind the gardens was Sheila Hirsch-Kalm.

Life in the Pandemic: Finding ways to help others

Even when organized activities are suspended, NOTLers find ways to have an impact Editor's Note: Life since COVID-19 has changed things for all of us. We’ve experienced hardships, heartaches and challenges, but also new

First icewine harvest for Brock co-op students

Grape growers and winemakers weren’t the only ones nervously checking the weather forecast all winter.

Cold weather triggers icewine harvest

Early Thursday morning, in the pre-dawn gloom, with snowflakes gently drifting down, the magic moment arrived. It's the moment Niagara winemakers and grape growers wait for every winter. The temperature plunged to -8C and it was finally

Life in the Pandemic: Frustration but also resilience and hope

Editor's Note: Life since COVID-19 has changed things for all of us. We’ve experienced hardships, heartaches, and challenges, but also new and sometimes unexpected reasons to be thankful. This new Lake Report series

Life in the Pandemic: Some silver linings

Niagara icewine harvest will be late and smallest ever

Mid-January marks the time of year in Niagara when ice wine grapes typically are harvested. The temperature must drop to -8 C before the frozen grapes can be picked to make the sweet wine that

Life in the Pandemic: She’s coping but asks, Where is the vaccine?

Editor's Note: Life since COVID-19 has changed things for all of us. We’ve experienced hardships, heartaches and challenges, but also new and sometimes unexpected reasons to be thankful. This new Lake Report series will share

Life in the pandemic: Death, disruption and maybe ‘the best Christmas present ever’

EDITOR'S NOTE: Life since COVID-19 has changed for all of us. We've experienced hardships, heartaches and challenges, but also new and sometimes unexpected reasons to be thankful. This new Lake Report series will share some of the stories of

Fort Erie SPCA complaints prompt review by town

Accusations highlight lack of oversight for shelters across Ontario Fort Erie town council has voted to expedite a budget request for $30,000 to get a legal and veterinarian review of a potential animal welfare

Harvest time: Behind the scenes bringing in the grapes

Early mornings, long days and always at the mercy of Mother Nature

Hot summer means ‘tremendous’ wines, NOTL growers say

Deep into the 2020 harvest, growers and winemakers alike agree the quality of grapes in Niagara is excellent this year. While COVID-19 has wreaked havoc elsewhere, conditions in the fields have conspired to

NOTL winery Queenston Mile’s Taco Bell partnershipdraws international media attention

In a world grown weary of COVID-19 case counts and bleak economic outlooks, Queenston Mile winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake gave us all something to smile about last week. The story was irresistible to international media, garnering

NOTL wineries making most of a difficult season

NOTL wineries lost time early in the tourist season when they were largely shut down, but they've made the most of the opportunities they've had since then. Wineries large and small have adapted to serve guests safely as

Early reviews for laser bird control system are positive

Growers keen to see if system could replace bird bangers and netting Harvest time in the vineyards in NOTL is a beautiful season, but it’s also synonymous with the resounding booms of

Author's Latest