At the final meetup of Niagara-on-the-Lake's mayoral candidates before the polls open on election day, Oct. 26, Erwin Wiens, Andrea Kaiser and Vaughn Goettler were divided on a variety of issues, including how a municipality is supposed to be run.
Early voting gave some Niagara-on-the-Lake residents peace of mind, while others saw it as an opportunity to make their voices heard ahead of election day.
The Lake Report asked more nominees for trustees what their top three priorities are, why they decided to run and what they would like to change or fix at the school board level.
The gloves came off on stage Thursday night when one Niagara-on-the-Lake council candidate accused two fellow candidates, both incumbents, of betraying residents over the Parliament Oak development.
At barely 14, NOTL's Kaige Zhu and Eli Perng already competed in tournaments far more intense and demanding than most recreational golfers will ever experience. But they're just getting started.
An opinion piece written by a Niagara-on-the-Lake town councillor, several stories, photos and columns by community contributors, and the journalism of staff members of The Lake Report have been singled out by the Ontario Community Newspapers Association in its annual awards.
"It would be helpful for everyone on all sides of this dispute, right or wrong, to lower the temperature, in print, online and in social media," writes David Israelson.
"In my crystal ball, at the 2030 Winter Olympic Games, I think we will have curling referees in black and white striped shirts, blowing whistles to signal infractions," writes Ross Robinson.
"The evidence that neanderthals created art has important implications and suggests that symbolic thinking antedates the emergence of modern humans by several hundred thousand years," writes Dr. William Brown.
"The problem with Ruller's actions is they are baseless, misleading and reveal a fundamental misunderstanding of the role of a free press," writes editor-in-chief Richard Harley.
"We’ve made progress here by working together as a community to open Niagara Long Term Care Residence. But let’s be clear: we shouldn’t accept any cuts to beds in long-term care in Niagara," writes Wayne Gates.
"It is fundamental to the job that the interests of the public are paramount and should be continually demonstrable in day-to-day performance," writes Brian Marshall.
"It turns out 'heritage' is, in fact, a hated word in the insurance biz, and that only a tiny sliver of companies (called "markets" by brokers) will even consider extending coverage," writes Garth Turner.
"This winter, like almost every other winter since we have been keeping accurate and useful meteorological records, has been cold. And this year, really cold," writes Ross Robinson.
"There are limits to what we can know, given that estimates suggest that 95 per cent of the universe is beyond what we can see," writes Dr. William Brown.
"The election’s this autumn. Betting is among senior members of the rebel NOTL residents rabble that the current monarch, Gary Zalepa, will be buried if he choses to run again," writes Garth Turner.
"The old hospital could become an adaptive reuse example to the world — provided the political will is brave enough to move forward," writes Brian Marshall.
"Prolonged really freezing temperatures, ice and persistent accumulations of snow had basically shut our town down. But our Fish Fry crew had thawed the haddock, and it just isn’t right to thaw it again," writes Ross Robinson.
"It’s common enough when we’re worried or upset for our feelings to be accompanied by an increase in heart rate, perhaps even a skipped or extra beat ... But what if, as some scientists suggest, the opposite happens?" writes Dr. William Brown.
"Doug Ford is forcing through the amalgamation of our local conservation authority — the conservation authority that protects so much of what we hold dear in Niagara," writes Wayne Gates.
"Existing tariffs are bad enough ... but hiking them to 100 per cent — and maybe ripping up the existing Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement this summer? That’s war," writes Garth Turner.
"Senior town staff and certain downline staff members were fully cognizant of the actual 'state of affairs.' However ... it seems that they failed to communicate these requirements to their heritage planners," writes Brian Marshall.
"Think about how tough life was for our ancestors. We cannot even imagine. How did they survive and prosper without all the things we take for granted?" writes Ross Robinson.
"It’s not hard to understand why our ancient ancestors might have created stories to explain and cope with the natural world that surrounded them," writes Dr. William Brown.
Every February, heart-shaped chocolate chip cookies start popping up across Niagara-on-the-Lake — and with them, a familiar show of community support for Red Roof Retreat.
"Old Town residents — on Victoria, Prideaux, Simcoe and Queen — can expect up to 50 trucks per day during various phases of the project. Dumps, flatbeds and tractor trailers," writes Garth Turner.
"I opine that the several municipal processes related to proposed and undertaken alterations of this important heritage property have been fundamentally flawed," writes Brian Marshall.
"Here was an example of the evolution of a novel technology in the hands of the three laureates in chemistry who reimagined how atoms and molecules might be arranged to the eventual advantage of humankind," writes Dr. William Brown
