Toronto Blue Jays fans filled Niagara-on-the-Lake pubs Friday night as Toronto opened the World Series with an 11-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, Canada’s first appearance in the championship since 1993.
Across town, residents and visitors gathered at the Sandtrap, the Irish Harp and the Olde Angel Inn. What started as a sports event felt more like a national moment. With the Jays facing an American team in a year marked by political tension and trade disputes, fans in Niagara-on-the-Lake described last Saturday what the win meant for them.
At the Sandtrap Pub & Grill, Luke Skubel, a lifelong fan from Virgil, said he has waited his whole life for this.
“I’ve been a Jays fan since I was born. I’m really happy to see this happening,” said Skubel. “As a Toronto fan, it’s nice to see these young guys that they’ve developed come up.”
Skubel said he’s drawn to players like David Shattery, a quiet contributor off the bench, because they reflect the kind of steady work that Canadians take pride in.
“It feels good to have something to celebrate again,” said Skubel.
Sitting next to him was Jays fan Anthony Nicoletti, visiting from New York, who said the atmosphere in Niagara-on-the-Lake showed how much the series means to fans on both sides of the border.
He joked that seeing Toronto beat a powerhouse like the Dodgers gave Canadians “something fun to hold over America.”
“Coming from the stateside perspective, I think it means a lot to this area right now,” said Nicoletti.
“If I were Canadian, I’d love to rub a little salt in America, just a little banter back and forth, not serious.”
The good-natured rivalry comes at a time of strained Canada–U.S. relations, as President Donald Trump imposed a new 10 per cent tariff on Canada on Saturday due to an Ontario-sponsored ad, which aired during the World Series.
Across NOTL, the night carried the tone of cautious confidence rather than spectacle.
At the Irish Harp Pub, local resident Thomas Comrie said the evening wasn’t only about rivalry or patriotism, but about seeing people come together again.
“It’s been a rough few years for the Jays,” said Comrie. “I think people just wanted a reason to sit beside each other again and feel good about something that isn’t politics or news.”
He said watching Addison Barger hit a pinch-hit grand slam, the first in World Series history, was “a moment you don’t forget.”
The championship continued on Saturday at the Rogers Centre, with the Dodgers clinching the win 5-1 over the Blue Jays — the two teams are now tied in the series.
Game 3 is set for tonight at Dodger Stadium, kicking off at 8 p.m.
Whether the series ends in triumph or heartbreak, the Jays have already given the NOTL fans something larger to hold onto.
If you’re a Jays fan in Niagara-on-the-Lake, we’d love to see how you’re celebrating Toronto’s long-awaited return to the World Series.
Email photos from your watch party, your favourite NOTL pub, your living room — or anywhere else — and we’ll publish a selection of them.
Send your pictures to editor@niagaranow.com with “Blue Jays” in the subject line. Feel free to use your smartphone and select the largest digital size.
Include the full names of the people in the photo, where it was taken and any other information you’d like to share.
