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.
"I felt happy to still be curious, but at the same time, sad because my life has been so lacking in music. I know so little, but am able to lose myself in this world that is so foreign to me," writes Ross Robinson.
"Year after year, the Conservative government has underinvested in primary care, abandoned rural communities and advanced private clinics at the expense of our public health system. This trend must stop," writes Wayne Gates.
"For the sake of the heritage district, town residents and the Shaw, I hope they succeed in tabling a design that will work," writes Brian Marshall of the upcoming Royal George Theatre renovation.
"This is the Niagara Warehouse of Hope. Mary and her squeeze, Ted, started in their garage almost 40 years ago. She now operates out of the big structure a crew of believers built in a single day and ships containers around the world with the help of at least 150 volunteers," writes Garth Turner.
"U.S. President Donald Trump, with his focus on trade and tariff negotiations, poses significant threats to our town's economy. Local businesses must adapt quickly to protect profits and jobs," writes Steve McGuinness.
Fresh from scoring a bronze medal in June at the World Boxing Challenge in the Czech Republic, Mckenzie Wright is at the gym almost every day, training and learning, still hoping to make her Olympic dream a reality.
"All the stars seemed to have aligned. Terror, temperature and talented people. An enabling microclimate. Wine tourists from around the world, more than willing to open their wallets wide for this sweet treat, to be savoured here or back home, around the world," writes Ross Robinson.
"The Royal George eruption has folks again asking that eternal question: is this a place to live or a theme park for the tourists?" writes Garth Turner.
"Change within the heritage district is one thing, but the wholesale flouting of the heritage district guidelines — specifically designed to preserve its 'special character' — is a horse of a different colour," writes Brian Marshall.
"I support building a new theatre. Done right, it will bring new energy and vitality to Old Town and will make both the Shaw and Niagara-on-the-Lake a prized place to live, work and visit well into the 22nd century," writes David Israelson.
"Just like any garden, you need to have something that will catch and capture your attention and cause your eyes and mind to rest. Let your imagination go when dreaming of what your focus will be," writes Joanne Young.
"Every contribution, no matter how small, helps tell the story of a community connected through books, programs and people, painting a picture of how the library has touched lives over more than two centuries," writes Debbie Krause.
"If sub-systems in the nervous system can be created and connected with each other in meaningful ways, could a brain be created from its constituent systems?" writes Dr. William Brown.
"In our view, doing away with on-site warnings in favour of passive signs leaves a lot to be desired," writes editor emeritus Kevin MacLean. "We urge Niagara Region to revisit this policy."
The proponents of the Royal George Theatre redesign "are slavishly following the flawed protocols of the Venice Charter to produce a design which, in the view of several architects of my acquaintance, is utterly inappropriate within the context of the Queen–Picton historic district," writes Brian Marshall.
"Over the years we felt that our dream was slipping away as the town and council seemed to become more and more focused on tourists, and less so on the residents that chose to call NOTL home," says a former resident who wrote to Garth Turner this week.
"With careful selection and thoughtful placement, yellow foliage can transform your garden into a vibrant and welcoming outdoor space," writes Joanne Young.
"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.
"We know so little of our history, and so much of it is instructive. As a people, we have an amazing tendency to forget what we don’t want to remember," writes Ross Robinson.
"This isn’t about nitpicking. It’s about recognizing that Canada Day in NOTL isn’t just a party — it’s a platform. A chance to show the world who we are, and how much we care about this place and this country," writes editor-in-chief Richard Harley.
"This application risks undermining the district’s founding principles by demolishing three 19th-century buildings and significantly altering the streetscapes of both Queen and Victoria streets," writes Brian Marshall.
"We typically think of a hedge being kept trimmed to maintain a certain shape or height, so a more formal style. For a more relaxed or informal look, you can also let the plants grow into the shape and size that they want to be," writes Joanne Young.
