"Now people who flock to see old, quaint, authentic and irreplaceable architecture are greeted by a fine example of the Mississauga Industrial school of design," writes Garth Turner.
"Properly executed, the restoration of this vital and unique piece of heritage will stand as a lasting legacy bequeathed to all Canadians," writes Brian Marshall of the restoration of the David Secord House.
"Bradley’s political style was as effective as his personal style was, well, dull. He was modest, polite, thoughtful and hardly ever used the teacher voice he had at his disposal. He didn’t need to," writes David Israelson.
"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.
"It sounds great to treat as early as possible, but the drug had better be not only effective, but safe and free from troublesome side effects in patients who are clinically well," writes Dr. William Brown.
Patriotism came with a message at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 124’s Canada Day celebration, where “Canada is not for sale” shirts, a new fixture in this year's national holiday, made a statement among the sea of red and white.
"The new Royal George will be a bigger, grander complex than the current one. It has to be, by law, but more importantly, it will offer far more to the communities it serves and most especially to our friends and neighbours here in Niagara," write Tim Carroll and Tim Jennings.
"It was no surprise that our main street sidewalks were full of people of all ages doing their best to eat their gelato treats and ice cream cones 'n cups before the heat wave cheated them," writes Ross Robinson.
"'Tons of Money' has a strong farcical plot, fine performances by a talented cast, stunning set and 1920s costume designs ... It simply needs to more cohesively come together," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
"Building more of the same type of homes faster will do nothing but add to the current glut on the market of properties that a significant segment of our society simply cannot afford or, in other cases, do not want," writes Brian Marshall.
"By removing the flowers as soon as they are done, the plant produces more flowers to produce more seeds. So, deadheading produces more blooms," writes Joanne Young.
"In all, four heritage buildings will be offed. The iconic Queen streetscape will be forever altered, the 120-year-old Royal George erased, trees sacrificed and apparently you have nothing to say about it," writes Garth Turner.
"I support the Shaw’s overture for redevelopment of the Royal George. However, it must be done sympathetically, within context and not at the expense of the Part V heritage district," writes Brian Marshall.
"But as we move into early summer, we start to lose some of that magic of spring and need to add in some shrubs that will extend interest and colour into summer," writes Joanne Young.
Ross Robinson writes about watching game five of the finals between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers this past weekend at Butler's Sports Bar, and asks just how much love Canadians have for the sport — or, if some of them just follow the Leafs.
"Their bold foliage, which comes in a variety of greens, blues and golds, makes them ideal for creating structure and contrast in shade gardens," writes Joanne Young.
"It’s never a good thing when normally docile folks believe councillors are in the pockets of developers, that the town’s government is anti-family or that public matters are shielded from, well, the public. But here we are," writes Garth Turner.
