Kevin MacLean, Author at Niagara Now

Budget’s tourism plan not enough, Gates says

New Democrat says his own idea, introduced in July, is a more effective way of helping tourist sector The Ford government's budget proposal for a tourism tax credit to encourage Ontario residents to

NOTL pros honoured by their peers

The two pros at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club have been honoured by their peers for their community work and promotion of the game. Head pro Billy Simkin and associate pro Ricky Watson were

Hydro rates rising Nov. 1, but customers have new pricing option

No one likes to pay more for electricity, but after months of flat-rate billing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hydro rates are rising as of Nov. 1. But, for the first time, customers

NOTL will examine residents concerns about Chautauqua traffic, CAO says

While the traffic and crowding concerns of Chautauqua residents certainly have “some merit” and will be examined, the town’s interim chief administrator is doubtful that limiting Shakespeare Avenue and Niagara Boulevard to one-way traffic is

Chautauqua residents want town to curb traffic, visitor headaches

A group of Old Town residents concerned about traffic and overcrowding in their neighbourhood near Ryerson Park is asking the town to take some aggressive steps to control the problems. Among the proposals

Fired hydro manager repays 77% of stolen money

A Niagara-on-the-Lake Hydro manager who was fired after stealing more than $250,000 is continuing to repay the money, the utility's CEO says. So far, 77 per cent of the money has been recovered, NOTL Hydro president

Golf: Watson’s 68 tops all competitors in NOTL pro-am

Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club associate pro Ricky Watson shot a 4-under 68 Sunday to lead all competitors at the club's annual men's pro-am tournament.

NOTL players compete in annual champions golf tourney

Players from the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club represented NOTL at the annual Champion of Champions tournament in Port Colborne on Saturday. It was a tough day on the links for a lot of the more

Fired hydro worker pays back 60% of stolen funds

A Niagara-on-the-Lake Hydro manager who was fired after defrauding the utility of more than $250,000 has repaid more than half of the money, so far, hydro's CEO says. “Sixty per cent of the funds have now

Hydro worker fired after $250K fraud discovered

A longtime employee of Niagara-on-the-Lake Hydro has been fired after admitting to setting up a fake invoicing scheme and defrauding the utility of more than $250,000, The Lake Report has learned. The former

Why they do it: Fraudsters are often desperately in need of cash, NOTL expert says

When workers defraud their employers, it typically is because they are desperate and in dire financial straits, says a NOTL forensic accounting expert. Having large debts or gambling and drug addictions are some

Popular NOTL beach passes 90% of E. coli tests

The water at Queen's Royal Beach passed E. coli tests 90 per cent of the time this summer, and only failed three times, regional statistics show. Data from the Region of Niagara, which

Golf: Women dedicate memorial tree for Elaine Lavery

WOMEN'S RESULTS: On Tuesday, the 18-holers completed the final round of their match play competition and Maria Townley won the “green” division, defeating Patty Garriock. In the “blue” division, Margot Richardson was consolation champion,

Editorial: The glass is at least half full

In an era when NOTL seems to be facing ever-more-polarizing times as animal rights activists and pro-carriage counterparts face off on the streets of town, we thought it might be time to sit

New boardwalk will help visitors connect to NOTL fort and lakefront

People will soon be able to trek alongside Lake Ontario and then take a walk on the boardwalk to visit Fort Mississauga. Parks Canada built a massive 600-metre breakwall and gravel roadway along

Talk of the Town: No water testing? ‘Why not?’

It has been well-documented that no public agency – neither the town, the region nor the province – regularly tests water quality at Ryerson Park in Niagara-on-the-Lake. By regional standards, the popular sunset-watching spot and swimming area,

Golf: Women cruise to big win over men in team competition

Clobbered. Routed. Thrashed. Beaten. Overmatched. Just not their day.

Shaw cancels remainderof fall season, hopes to stage ‘Christmas Carol’ for holidays

The Shaw Festival has officially pulled the plug on the last remaining shows that were planned for its 2020 season. The remaining fall performances of “Charley’s Aunt” and” Flush” were cancelled Wednesday, the festival said in a statement. “Never

Driver in fatal crash impaired by drugs, police allege

Police allege that a Niagara-on-the-Lake man was impaired by drugs when his car was involved in a head-on collision that killed 60-year-old NOTL resident Liz Hawley. Aubrey Blake Clements, 32, is charged with dangerous driving causing death,

Feds unveil $500K to boost NOTL tourism

Shaw to get $400,000 to stage outdoor performances The federal government has unveiled a $500,000 grant to support the tourism industry in Niagara-on-the-Lake in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The government

‘Aggressive’ driving led to fatal hit-run of farmworker

The driver who killed a Niagara farm worker in a hit-and-run last summer was tailgating, "driving aggressively" and passed a vehicle seconds before his pickup truck slammed into the woman who was walking along the dark, rural NOTL road.

Talk of the Town: Trees were cut down legally

When it comes to protecting trees in Niagara-on-the-Lake, residents are vigilant and concerned, especially when they see trees being taken down. In the past week, The Lake Report received several queries from residents concerned

COVID pandemic helping fuel NOTL market, realtors say

People who have been cooped up at home for months during the COVID-19 pandemic and find they need more space are one of the factors driving the Niagara-on-the-Lake real estate market to new

Editorial: Take care swimming at NOTL’s beaches

Tragically, a family's dog died last week shortly after swimming in the waters of Lake Ontario off Ryerson Park in NOTL. Exposure to blue-green algae was – and still is – the suspected

Editorial: Ambassadors program a novel idea

Kudos to the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, members of the Shaw Guild, particularly Laurie Harley and Cheryl Morris, and Couns. Wendy Cheropita and Gary Burroughs for working to establish an ambassadors program to meet and greet people who visit

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