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Rand Estate hotel faces wall of opposition at packed NOTL meeting

Benny Marotta's latest plan for the Rand Estate received a frosty reception Tuesday night, as not one public speaker backed his proposal to build a five-storey hotel on the historic site.

NOTL finally moves plans for former hospital site out of limbo

Council voted Wednesday to start a two-stage search for qualified proponents for 176 Wellington St., the former hospital site that has sat in town hands since 2017.

SORE marshals expert team against Rand Estate proposal for NOTL

When the Rand Estate hotel proposal came to council Tuesday night, Save Our Rand Estate came armed with lawyers, planners, engineers and other experts to articulate its questions and objections.

NOTLers sing their way to centre stage at Carnegie Hall

Daryl Novak and Laura Lynn Harry joined a handful of other Chorus Niagara singers last week to perform at the legendary concert hall as part of a special U.S. Memorial Day program.

Royal George Theatre demolition begins after court dismisses legal challenge

The Royal George Theatre's 111-year-old history is coming to an end: teardown of the theatre on Queen Street began today following the dismissal of a legal challenge that put its demolition on hold for two months.

Step inside the Wilderness at first public pathway opening this June

The organization behind the ongoing revitalization of a historic plot of land in Old Town is inviting the public to have a look at the work it's done so far to transform a forest that's seen better days into an urban oasis.

A husband’s message: Don’t feel guilty for needing help

Brian Crow does not describe his wife’s move into long-term care as a joyful occassion. But her move this year into the new building at Pleasant Manor has allowed her to access the care she needs, he says.

Experience the talent of NOTL’s artists at studio tours this weekend

The NOTL Studio Tour on Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7 will see the works of 29 visual artists displayed at 16 locations across town, with some opening up their home studios to invite people in.

Garrison Village market turns 20 in new square, but needs more farmers to grow

Niagara-on-the-Lake's annual farmers' market's organizer says it's waiting for more Niagara farmers to sign on, hoping to accommodate up to 40 vendors in its new, larger space.

Fort George resurrects the training camp that built Canada’s First World War army

Fort George National Historic Site brought Camp Niagara back from the dead last weekend, staging a full First World War re-enactment on the grounds where more than 75,000 soldiers trained before shipping overseas.

Workers Welcome concert 60 years of seasonal farmworkers in Niagara

The 2026 Welcome Concert marked the 60th anniversary of Canada's seasonal agricultural workers program and returned the Toronto Mass Choir to the stage for the first time since 2016.

NOTL Votes 2026: Gary Burroughs seeks to rejoin council, hopes to address ‘anger’ and distrust among residents

Ahead of this fall's municipal election, Coun. Gary Burroughs says Niagara-on-the-Lake’s next council needs to start by asking why some residents no longer trust town hall.

The battle begins again: Residents pack open house with questions about plan for NOTL’s Rand Estate

Resident concerns ranged from doubting the merits of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Comany deal and questioning why the NOTL community would have no access to the site.

Council kills St. Davids farm storage proposal — again

Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa attempted to use of his provincially given "strong mayor powers" to save the project, but failed when council voted against the proposal for a second time.

Reduction of NOTL council to seven members written into provincial law

It's official: get ready for two fewer seats at council's table by the end of this year. The Ontario government's plan to shrink municipal council is now enshrined in provincial law.

NOTL sends $95K in leftover grant money back to coffers

Niagara-on-the-Lake council rejected a plan Tuesday to spend $95,029 in leftover community and youth grant money, leaving the full amount with the town for now.

Tony Hendriks, Queen Street grocery store owner, named NOTL’s Citizen of the Year

Tony Hendriks is marking 36 years since he began working at the only grocery store that lives in Niagara-on-the-Lake's busy downtown core — his longtime efforts have not gone unnoticed.

Share why your neighbourhood’s the best in NOTL — it might be named Neighbourhood of the Year

The town is inviting residents to showcase their community spirit through the launch of NOTL’s Neighbourhood of the Year contest in celebration of Neighbour Day on Saturday, June 20.

Used book store to open in Virgil, in support of Farmworker Hub

Virgil’s Book Nook will celebrate its opening June 13 at Cornerstone Community Church, with all proceeds going to the Farmworker Hub, which helps out seasonal agricultural workers in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

NOTL Pickleball Club celebrates 10 years with members’ tournament

The game that was once the lesser-known cousin of tennis and badminton has become one of the fastest-growing sports in North America. The NOTL tournament is set for June 6.

New giant riverfront grape sculpture in NOTL

The sculpture, "Vinifera," features 110 polished steel spheres roughly the size of cantaloupes arranged along a vine structure to resemble oversized vinifera grapes.

‘It’s not one-size-fits-all’: Psychotherapist opens holistic wellness studio in NOTL

With six or seven instructors and roughly 35 classes a week, the studio directly addresses the mental health demand psychotherapist Stacey Stemplowski has watched grow across Niagara since COVID-19.

Four generations deep: Meyers Farms flower sale blooms again

The annual sale, which began in the early 1980s, runs Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. until late June.

NOTL man charged after police shut down illegal online cannabis service

A Niagara-on-the-Lake man is among three people charged after an Ontario Provincial Police investigation into an alleged illegal online cannabis dispensary led to the...

Niagara-on-the-Lake mayor moves to revive rejected proposal on protected farmland

A proposal for a storage hub on protected farmland that Niagara-on-the-Lake council already killed last month is back from the dead, with the lord mayor using his "strong mayor powers" to revive it.

No update on worker rescued from hole at Parliament Oak hotel construction site in NOTL

Firefighters and paramedics were on the scene for 45 minutes to rescue the 55-year-old man and provide him medical assistance, one witness says.

SORE says new Rand Estate plan ‘flies in the face’ of Ontario Land Tribunal ruling

Lyle Hall, member of Save Our Rand Estate, says this project proposed for the historic Rand Estate lands in Old Town is "a classic wolf in sheep's clothing."

No new candidates registered in NOTL election, one incumbent plans return

Several big questions continue to hang over the race, including whether the 2022-26 council table will largely stay intact or if NOTL voters will deliver a major political shakeup this year.

Virgil Stampede bets on families: Changing ride lineup helps create calmer atmosphere, organizers say

The Stampede celebrated its 59th year this past weekend, and an organizer says focusing on families and adding more children's rides has eliminated most security problems the carnival had in the past.

Caregivers in NOTL say they’re facing gaps, inconsistency in support services

Caregivers in NOTL say services meant to offer them reprieve while helping their elderly and sick loved ones are failing to provide the consistent care and stress relief they need.

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