“I humbly submit these solutions to restore and preserve the existing theatre, bring it up to code, and maintain the historic character of Queen Street,” writes Yimlei Molly Yep, retired architect.
“If the town had done its due diligence, it would have found that scores of other municipalities in Canada and the U.S. did studies that resulted, in many cases, in changing plans for location,” writes Rick Gallant.
“Why does a rehearsal hall and other amenities have to be built at this location, causing the demolition of three historic homes?” writes Ann Goodin.
“Please, kindly return them to us so we can return them to their rightful owner,” writes Fernando Vieira.
“I am confident that participating businesses will not only see increased foot traffic but will also be recognized for their leadership and goodwill in fostering a more inclusive community,” writes Cheryl Katz.
“40 kilometres an hour, 24-7, all year round, for a school closed for a large portion of that time due to school hours and summer closures doesn’t make sense,” writes Charles Goddard.
“I hope the festival team will rethink their design for the new theatre. Not the push to make the new space fully accessible and incorporate accessible washrooms … but the overall look and feel of the facility,” writes Terry Davis.
“Royal Oak prides itself on being a community school, but is it really a community when you have to pay to be a part of it?” writes Lauren Bubnič.
“The design for the theatre is a matter of taste, but it sure beats the Dairy Queen. Also, it enhances the look and feel of the old town by adding some much-needed class,” writes Mike Henry.
“Rebuilding the Royal George close to the Festival Theatre would create a genuine ‘cultural district’ in the town,” writes James Webber.
“What most of the committee realized during the Shaw’s presentation was that the new building was going to destroy heritage houses and turn Victoria Street into a service road for trucks backing into a loading dock,” writes Wayne Murray.
“No more mistakes. Distracted driving kills. Stop making excuses to play Russian roulette with children’s lives and follow the flipping rules,” writes Lani Parkinson.
“On the one hand, we have the traffic camera at Crossroads School and, on the other, we have the dangerous E. coli levels at Queen’s Royal Beach (and, likely, the much-ignored Ryerson Park beach),” writes Bruce Dickson.
“We’ve spent decades designing roads that prioritize speed over safety — wide lanes, big turning radii, fast-moving arterials. It’s no surprise people treat them like highways,” writes Frank Hayes.
“All of this will come at the expense of the historic ambience and lack of stewardship responsibility to maintain one of Canada’s most unique communities,” write Jim and Erika Alexander.
“Let’s remember: this was a temporary solution for a temporary crisis. If there’s now a desire to make patios permanent, then we must follow a proper planning process,” writes Coun. Maria Mavridis.
“It’s hard to feel any sympathy for the region when it comes to this issue. Regardless, they are a cash grab! Plain and simple,” writes Yousaf Shaikh.
“Why are our tax dollars now going to repair and upgrade the irrigation and municipal drainage system that has not been maintained properly for years and should be paid for by those that benefit from it?” writes Kip Voege.
“I would like Niagara-on-the-Lake to be a partner in tackling these issues, which can affect any of our friends and family members, no matter who they are or where they come from,” writes Steven Soos.
“Peace — first within ourselves, then within our families, our communities, our countries and finally in our increasingly small and fragile world — seems well worth the effort,” writes Hugh Church.
“In a small community such as Niagara, where everyone knows everyone, businesses that rely on work directed to them from both governmental bodies and developers within the region are not going to want to upset their sources of income,” writes Gienek Ksiazkiewicz.
“We can lament the fact that the properties close to Queen Street are no longer suitable for single-family houses, but the community has to decide what the best alternative use is,” writes Wayne Murray.
“Wrought iron and striped awnings come to mind, rather than the rough-looking backyard lean-to appearance they currently represent,” writes Ann Handels.
“We believe that prioritizing senior housing isn’t just a seniors’ issue — it’s a community issue. It’s about keeping families together, supporting caregivers, and making sure that long-time residents don’t have to leave the place they love as their needs change.”
“The people can be consulted but not, on the whole, trusted, and all the participation must be, implicitly, for the change. A sort of Manufacturing Consent Lite,” writes Jeremy Langton.
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