Submitted Column, Author at Niagara Now

Opinion: We need to fix the home care supply crisis

“Forcing people already dealing with an out-of-control affordability crisis to pay out of pocket for needed medical supplies is outrageous,” writes MPP Wayne Gates.

Opinion: Niagara’s hospital system is in crisis

After reading Kevin MacLean’s article on his experience in the emergency room at the St. Catharines hospital, Wendy Cheropita shares the trials of her own “waiting game”: “What I didn’t know was what lay ahead of me. This was my first visit in 10 years.”

TOWN NOTICE: Notice of complete application and open house

An open house is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 2 at 5 p.m. regarding a modificaton to an approved draft plan for the Harvest Creek Condominium.

Opinion: Glendale secondary plan update proposes even taller buildings

“Residents only want a community that mirrors the other four settlement areas that make up Niagara-on-the-Lake. Is this too much to ask for?” writes Steve Hardaker.

Opinion: Oligarchs are beholden to the bottom line, not democracy

“The greed, fear and lack of moral character of some oligarchs having hundreds of billions in wealth, have direct consequences on the freedoms the rest of us enjoy,” Keith McNenly writes.

Opinion: Tree protection in NOTL is an embarrassment

“If everyone is given permission to remove their mature native trees with such carelessness, then we will continue to see a decline in Niagara’s limited canopies,” writes Sean Parkinson.

The Brock Chronicles: Part 6: Brock’s Monument through the years

“Brock’s Monument atop the heights at Queenston acts as a reminder, not only of the endurance of the structure itself but also of the memory of the people and actions which shaped the outcome of Canadian history,” writes Andrew Laliberte.

Tough year for Lake Ontario marathon swimmers

“So, next time you pass the swim plaque down near the gazebo in Queens Royal Park, stop for a minute with a bit of reverence,” writes Tony Chisholm. “These were the successful lake swimmers.”

Opinion: National Newspaper Week is about supporting journalism

“In a world where misinformation travels faster than truth, newspapers and their websites keep Canadians informed, connected and engaged in communities from coast to coast,” writes Paul Deegan.

Monarch butterflies emerge before migration for south

“As I watched this new creature fan its delicate wings before its journey south, I was reminded of how fragile and precious our natural world is.”

The Brock Chronicles: Part 4: The destruction of Brock’s first monument

In the fourth installment of The Brock Chronicles, Amanda Gamble writes about how Brock’s Monument in Queenston Heights became a popular destination for visitors coming to Upper Canada — and the ensuing public outcry when it was destroyed in 1940.

Opinion: The eerie irony of Trump’s political debut — on the Magna Carta’s anniversary

“If democracy is defeated in the United States by election of an authoritarian as president, the free democratic world could re-enter a pre-Magna Carta era, a time of unprecedented presidential power not constrained by rule of law,” writes Keith McNenly.

The Brock Chronicles: Part 3: The funerals of Brock, Macdonnell and the first monuments

In the third installment of The Brock Chronicles, Andrew Laliberte shares how Sir Isaac Brock’s death in the Battle of Queenston Heights inspired an outpouring of grief — and commemorations both in Upper Canada and back home in Britain.

Who turned out the lights? NOTL power outages explained

“I am hopeful this summer’s spike in outages were just bad luck in timing but we will continue to invest to improve and strengthen NOTL’s electrical system,” writes Tim Curtis, CEO of NOTL Hydro.

The Brock Chronicles: Part 2: Battle of Queenston Heights

“For the British forces that day … approximately 20 lost their lives. However, the losses of Brock and Macdonnell made the British victory less triumphant,” writes Andrew Laliberte about the Battle of Queenston Heights in the War of 1812.

Part 6 of Jodey’s Journey: Reflections on NOTL growing up as a community

“I think we do a lot of dressing up of how tolerant we are of others. We feel good giving to charity. But inclusion is a whole different art,” writes Jodey Porter.

Part 5 of Jodey’s Journey: Arriving home and learning to navigate around NOTL

“None of the worlds we live in are worlds where blindness is understood — and, believe it or not, Niagara-on-the-Lake is really bad for blind people’s accessibility,” writes Jodey Porter.

The Brock Chronicles: Part 1: Who was Brock?

“Throughout the 10 years that Brock was stationed in Canada, he continued to rise through the ranks and make a name for himself as an able and empathetic leader,” writes Amanda Gamble.

Opinion: Most Canadians support a centre/left viewpoint

“With all the political to and fro of late, a federal election could soon be in the offing. And there have been hints of one coming soon in Ontario,” writes Keith McNenly.

Part 4 of Jodey’s Journey: The dogs who will make a difference in so many lives

“This is a family, make no mistake, and the dogs and people and teachers and managers and historians and funders all move together toward a single goal: freedom,” writes Jodey Porter.

Award-winning Canadian author helps build new worlds in NOTL

Julie Czerneda, an eight-time award-winning author, will be at the NOTL Public Library on Sept. 19 to promote her latest book.

Sports: NOTL players win gold at Canada Senior Games

Players from NOTL and across the Niagara region brought home the gold from the Canada Senior Games in Quebec City from Aug. 26 to 30.

Part 3 of Jodey’s Journey: Learning to walk — and live — with Doc

“When people see guide dogs with their partners walking down the street, it looks so simple,” writes Jodey Porter. “You just cannot imagine how wickedly and brutally difficult all this is to learn.”

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