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NOTL Votes 2026: Mayoral candidates face off at jam-packed debate

Monday night's debate moved through 14 questions on growth, taxes, transparency, tourism, climate change and how the next mayor should lead. The forum also exposed clear differences in how each candidate would approach the job.

Fancy hats and sport of kings: Fundraiser draws huge crowd for Niagara Polo match

Niagara Polo returned to the historic Commons on Saturday, welcoming crowds to watch polo matches with players from the Toronto Polo Club.

The Lake Report again dominates national journalism awards

When the Canadian Community Newsmedia Award winners were unveiled Monday, The Lake Report garnered 22 more national awards, bringing its provincial and national total to 192 since 2020, when the paper started entering industry award competitions.

NOTL Votes 2026: Last-minute candidate Rick Mills wants development reined in

The lifelong NOTL resident is speaking publicly about what he sees as NOTL’s biggest threat: overdevelopment. "I think that it needs to be reined in — and reined in responsibly," he says.

NOTL backs $425K drainage plan after summer floods

After a summer of heavy rain exposed weak spots in NOTL's drainage system, councillors are backing a $425,000 push to find problems sooner.

PHOTO GALLERY: Niagara-on-the-Lake marks the start of another hot, hot summer

Looking at the seven-day forecast, it looks like the heat is here to stay, with a high of 30 C expected for a majority of the days in the first week of July.

Artist Barbara Polc makes Queenston Pottery temporary home for her paintings

The Visiting Artist Program launched last December for Queenston Pottery’s holiday show, and the success of that collaboration inspired its permanent place at the studio.

St. Mark’s ripens for its Cherry Festival on July 5

Hundreds of made-from-scratch cherry pies will tempt early risers when St. Mark's Anglican Church throws its annual community festival next week.

UPDATED: Hot enough for you? Water safety warnings elusive at Queen’s Royal Beach despite dangerous E. coli levels

The region has changed how it lets you know that water problems might be lurking at the local beach, including E. coli levels. And it is now up to beach-goers to figure it out.

NOTL celebrates Canada Day with art, music, fireworks and free fun

Niagara-on-the-Lake is set to celebrate Canada’s 158th birthday in style this Tuesday, with a full day of festivities ranging from fireworks to fine art and free museum access.

Residents share concerns about Royal George Theatre rebuild’s size, historical character

The new theatre being proposed would be noticeably larger and occupy more of downtown Old Town, moved slightly further north from its current location on Queen Street and seat around 360 people.

Native centre hopes for hundreds at Butler’s Barracks this fall

Both the annual powwow and the centre’s first-ever lacrosse tournament will take place on Saturday, Sept. 13 from noon to 5 p.m., free and open to the public.

Speed camera at Crossroads down for a third time in a less than a month

Niagara Region is looking into having extra reinforcements to help prevent more cameras from being vandalized, plus a closed-circuit TV to monitor the site.

NOTL gets private bus service for the season

FlixBus offers direct service to and from Toronto Union Station’s Bus Terminal, Rapidsview Park in Niagara Falls and 51 Queen’s Parade in NOTL, two trips per day, six days a week.

St. Andrew’s Strawberry Fest goes 40 years strong

Strawberries, sunshine and 40 years of neighbourly know-how drew more than 5,000 people to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on Saturday.

Visual art signs now permitted across NOTL’s roads

The definition of visual art under this new rule is "original pieces of art" such as paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography and inflation art, "used to reflect or engage the community.”

‘He feels seen’: Parents reflect as Royal Oak School marks 10 years

“Royal Oak has been truly transformative for our son,” said one parent whose child attends the school. “We’ve watched him grow in confidence, curiosity and kindness."

Local tulip farmer apologizes for weather-related spring festival dilemma

TASC Tulip Pick Farm's owner paid a visit to council to apologize for the tumult and establish a better relationship with the community going forward.

Niagara College beverage innovation program receives federal boost to help launch new products

More than 20 Canadian beverage companies are set to benefit from new funding to Niagara College aimed at helping small businesses bring new drinks to market.

Ironwood Cider House celebrates ‘rainbow registration’ certification this Pride Month

The cider house has joined more than 400 Canadian businesses that are "rainbow registered" — a certification signalling a location is a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community.

NOTL could see its first scheduled bus by next year, local bus service by 2035

The regional route will be more reliable, since buses run on a set schedule, unlike Microtransit, which can’t always be depended on due to high demand, says the Niagara Transit Commission's general manager.

As NOTL’s climate co-ordinator celebrates first 100 days, activists are hoping for more action

The Town of NOTL has a multi-pronged plan to tackle climate change locally, spearheaded by its new climate co-ordinator. But environmental activists like Lidija Biro say the municipal's efforts on the issue have been "minimal."

Driver pleads guilty to fatal hit-run — for second time

Deputy Crown attorney Todd Morris urged him to send Moore to jail for 12 months, while defence lawyer Jeffrey Manishen argued that a two-year sentence of house arrest was more appropriate.

With the vacation rental licensing freeze ending soon, NOTLers weigh in on future of rental rules

“Bed and breakfasts and country inns need to separate from other short-term rentals,” said Doug Johnson, who owned a bed and breakfast in NOTL for 19 years. “Bed and breakfast owners have to live in their place … If residents were bothering people, they were bothering me, too."

Empty shelves spark action from animal rescue fundraising group 

Tanya Rice is leading a porch-drop pet food drive over Canada Day weekend at 456 Line 2 Rd. to help restock supplies.

Butterflies released to remember loved ones lost last year

Merri-Lee Culbert, a bereavement coordinator at NOTL Palliative Care, shared how grief is a cyclical process. For this reason, the butterfly is a popular symbol for learning how to coexist with grief.

Dads get in uniform to celebrate Father’s Day at Fort George

Eight fathers had the chance to get in uniform and learn how to launch a cannon, before getting to do it themselves in front of an audience — who cheered them on.

NOTLers celebrate Pride at Simcoe Park potluck, say visibility mattes more than ever

"You want your kids to be able to be themselves in this community and feel like they're free to be who they are," says one parent.

Celebration of NOTL’s Loyalist heritage at flag-raising ceremony

The Niagara branch of the United Empire Loyalists got its name from Col. John Butler, a Loyalist who led a group to fight Americans on behalf of the British: "Were it not for him, there may not be a Canada."

Strawberry Social attracts packed crowd at NOTL Community Centre

“I’ve been coming since the beginning,” said Lucy Harder, one of the event attendees. “I love seeing people in the town coming together.”

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