Development continues apace in Niagara-on-the-Lake and whether it was the ongoing saga of Parliament Oak and its planned hotel, the new “airport terminal” hotel in the Village plaza or sundry other projects from Glendale to Old Town, the spectre of growth hung heavy over town throughout 2025.

In response, a new grassroots residents association has sprung up to try to make people’s voices are heard, especially as there is a municipal election barely 11 months away.

Council debates and decisions of the past three years, coupled with new provincial rules that make developing property less onerous, will continue to change the face of NOTL over the next few years.

And residents no doubt will continue to let their feelings be known.

But that’s not all that made news here in 2025. We also endured federal and provincial elections, Trump trade wars, a polar vortex and scorching summer temperatures. And the vandals who repeatedly cut down the Virgil speed camera remain a mystery.

Here are some of the biggest and best stories of the first six months of 2025.

JANUARY

Jan. 9 edition: A new hotel located planned for the Garrison Village plaza beside Shoppers Drug Mart will be part of the Hyatt Hotel family’s line of boutique hotels, the project’s developer announces. Set to open in spring 2026, the Clayfield will have 60 rooms and 42 vacation rental apartments.

A fixture in Old Town for more than 20 years, Willow Cakes & Pastries decides to close its storefront operation and focus on online and mail-order production. A Willow café inside Regal Florist & Garden Centre in Virgil proves to be a popular option for Willow’s longtime fans.

Columnist Brian Marshall says the Town of NOTL has had a Climate Change Adaptation Plan for nearly three years but has not implemented any of the action plans it calls for.

Jan. 16: Housing prices in Niagara-on-the-Lake, like many other communities, are in the stratosphere and “affordable housing” is a buzz phrase embraced by many politicians. When it approved Glendale’s secondary plan in January, town councillors discussed the need for more affordable homes in NOTL. It’s unclear how those sentiments might translate into reality.

NOTL’s popular (with some) on-again, off-again temporary patio program is on again. For now. But in March council cancels it and on April 29 councillors unanimously vote to kill the program.

Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa steps into the lion’s den in St. Davids to host the first of a series of open house sessions. And he gets an earful from people opposed to the region’s planned roundabout in the village.

Jan. 23: The first weekend of the annual Icewine Festival is a chilly one. And area farmers, concerned about the deep freeze accompanying the polar vortex that is blanketing Ontario, warn that the extreme cold could affect grape buds.

The town settles a dispute with developer Rainer Hummel, allowing him to divide a historic property at 187 Queen St. into two properties. Heritage advocate Gracia Janes is among those extremely critical of council’s decision.

Jan. 30: In the wake of the return of Donald Trump to the White House, Premier Doug Ford calls a snap election for Feb. 27, claiming he needs the new mandate to go up against Trump. Few buy his schtick but they re-elect Ford anyway.

In statements delivered in a St. Catharines courtroom, relatives of 84-year-old Nestor Chemerika express their profound sorrow, anger and grief over his death caused by a hit-and-run driver. NOTL native Richard Alan Moore, then 38, pleads guilty to the criminal charge of failing to stop at an accident causing death. Later in the year he will be sentenced to 11 months in jail.

The Ontario Land Tribunal rejects developer Solmar’s appeal of an earlier ruling regarding plans for the Rand Estate. The tribunal had said Solmar’s plans “do not represent good planning in the public interest.”

FEBRUARY

Feb. 6: Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa’s latest open house again attracts residents who are unhappy with the way he and council are handling NOTL’s affairs. Many complain their concerns are being ignored.

With Donald Trump’s threatened tariff war looming, NOTL business operators are bracing for fallout, but some, like grocer Tony Hendriks say consumer are pushing back and are trying to buy Canadian-made products — or at least not purchasing items from the U.S.

Town chief administrator Marnie Cluckie left for the bright lights of Hamilton in December 2023 and the town has been unable to replace her more than 13 months later. Some candidates who were offered the job have turned it down.

Feb. 13: Doug Ford campaigns in NOTL, stopping at the Niagara District Airport, where he promises increased border security and says the province will give the Shaw Festival $35 million to help rebuild the Royal George Theatre.

Niagara hospitals are seeing an alarming spike in flu cases, with a growing number of patients requiring hospitalization — including several who are in intensive care.

Forget about a real estate boom in time for the traditional spring housing market, warns columnist Garth Turner. Not going to happen. So, be patient.

Feb. 20: A $100,000 donation from the Wise Guys Charity Fund will help Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Red Roof Retreat with major expansion plans, says executive director Steffanie Bjorgan.

“Dragons’ Den” star Arlene Dickinson is on hand for the annual Keystone Awards, which honour a number of NOTL entrepreneurs, including John and Adam Hawley, builders of the Village residential and commercial development in Old Town.

The Lake Report once again wins more awards than any other publication, taking home 19 prizes in the Ontario Community Newspapers Association’s annual contest.

With her sights set on the Olympics, NOTL swimmer Peyton Leigh, 17, is taking her talents to the University of Miami, where she’ll compete for the Hurricanes.

Feb. 27:  A wave of auto vandalism appears to sweep across NOTL as numerous vehicles are damaged in driveways and at the Pillar and Post hotel over the previous few weeks. As well, thieves broke into several cars and stoles valuables. Police are investigating.

The Wayne Gretzky Estates winery, owned by Andrew Peller Ltd., takes some heat, especially on social media, over the Great One’s appearance at Donald Trump’s victory party. While some people call for a boycott of the winery’s products, others think it’s no big deal.

MARCH

March 6: Incumbent New Democrat MPP Wayne Gates sweeps to re-election, taking nearly 55 per cent of ballots cast in the provincial election. Gates beat his nearest opponent, Ruth-Ann Neiuwesteeg, by almost 11,000 votes.

Seven NOTL residents — Steffanie Bjorgan, Tony Chisholm, Lt.- Col. (Ret.) Al Magnacca, Joe Pillitteri, Dorothy Soo-Wiens, Art Viola and Peter Warrack — are awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in a ceremony in Niagara Falls. MP Tony Baldinelli presents the medals.

There’s no municipal election in 2025 and town taxes soar almost 8 per cent, increasing about $112 on an average home assessed at $546,000. With an election coming in 2026, many residents hope for a smaller hike down the road.

March 13: As The Lake Report marks International Women’s Day, NOTL women offer a defiant “elbows up” in the wake of Trump’s tariff war. Women gathered in Simcoe Park for an annual group photo to mark the occasion.

In a remarkable fiscal turnaround, the Shaw Festival goes from a $5.7-million loss a year ago to a $768,000 surplus, thanks in large part to a record $12 million in private funding and donations.

Vineland Growers, a major agricultural co-op on East and West Line, unveils plans for an expansion of its operations. The co-op sells about $120 million in fresh Niagara fruit annually.

March 20: Amid environmental concerns, NOTL councillors approve a draft plan for a 28-acre industrial subdivision on Townline Road in Glendale. The project still needs final council approval once all conditions are met.

Carter Simpson, 31, wins two bronze medals and a fourth-place finish in the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Italy.

The U13 NOTL Wolves rep team wraps up its season with a runner-up finish in the Niagara District Hockey League championship. The Wolves lost two extremely close games to the champions, the Haldimand River Kings.

Marathoner John Bobrel earns the Six Star medal, a rare sports award honouring runners who compete in the world’s original six major marathons: Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York and Tokyo. The 68-year-old, retired from his career as head electrician at the Shaw Festival, ran the Tokyo race on March 2.

March 27: “The Wild West of Wine,” an investigation by The Lake Report, finds that the Ferox by Fabian Reis winery appears to be operating in violation of town bylaws, bringing NOTL’s winery zoning requirements and enforcement practices into question.

 A judge refuses to throw out a $2-million defamation suit filed by developer Benny Marotta against a NOTL man who made critical comments about him on social media. In late May, Stewart Hall’s lawyers ask the Court of Appeal to dismiss the case, saying the presiding judge made several serious errors.

Is the third time the charm? After PM Mark Carney calls a snap election, Liberal Andrea Kaiser will face off against Tory Tony Baldinelli for the third time when NOTLers go to the polls on April 28.

APRIL

April 3: About six weeks after making a campaign promise to give the Shaw Festival $35 million for the Royal George Theatre restoration, Premier Doug Ford sends Tourism Minister Stan Cho to town to again commit to delivering the goods. The government shuts down Queen Street to stage a made-for-the-media ceremony outside the theatre — on April Fool’s Day.

After a story in The Lake Report lets the community know that Bikes for Farmworkers desperately needs bicycles to refurbish for seasonal workers, dozens of two-wheelers roll into the old Virgil public school to fulfil the need.

April 10: The province plans to expand its “strong mayor powers” to smaller municipalities, including NOTL, a move that would allow the lord mayor to unilaterally do things such as appointing a chief administrator, proposing the municipal budget and vetoing some bylaws.

Tourism NOTL plans to spend heavily on marketing the town to visitors, with $400,000 earmarked for advertising and promotion. Almost half of that total could be spent on media trips and so-called influencers.

With 40 wins and only two losses all season, the NOTL Wolves U18 rep team had hopes of winning a provincial championship as they headed to Georgetown for the Ontario Minor Hockey Association finals. The Wolves played well but came up short by the narrowest of margins, but still had a phenomenal season overall, said coach Adam Whyte.

April 17: The historic Glencairn Estate on the Niagara River Parkway in Queenston is destroyed by fire. A news photo published by The Lake Report shows a large red gas can near the scene and investigators later say that arson is suspected in the blaze.

Drawings depicting the future Clayfield hotel and new Foodland grocery store in the Village plaza in Old Town are released. Some residents are critical of the hotel’s curved glass and concrete look, saying it looks like an airport terminal.

It seems no one wants to take on the challenge of being NOTL’s chief administrator. Well over a year after Marnie Cluckie left for Hamilton three possible successors have all rejected offers to join the town. The search continues.

NOTL senior Margot Devlin completes her 20th marathon, this time running through the cobblestoned  streets of Paris. And for good measure, while she’s in Europe, she will race on April 27 in the London Marathon for the sixth time.

April 24: The Ontario Land Tribunal issues a final order dismissing developer Solmar’s appeals related to plans for the Randwood Estate. In October 2024, the tribunal ruled that Solmar’s proposal for a 172-unit subdivision on the estate required significant revisions before approval could be granted.

Easter came late this year and the annual Kinsmen and Niagara Nursery School Easter egg hunt outside the NOTL Community Centre was a huge hit. It also raised about $15,000 for the nursery school.

The federal election campaign is winding down and candidate signs are everywhere, and mostly where they are not allowed. NOTL only allows signs on private property but as a story in The Lake Report shows, most signs are on public land. The town has removed a few signs but is taking an “education first” approach instead of punishing offenders.

MAY

May 1: Conservative Tony Baldinelli is victorious over Andrea Kaiser for the third time, outpolling his Liberal challenger and cruising to victory in the snap federal election called by PM Mark Carney.

Council revises rules for how revenue from the municipal accommodation tax, with all funding in 2025 and 2026 restricted to town-led tourism infrastructure projects. Starting in 2027, the new rules mean 20 per cent of the tax windfall will go to town infrastructure projects, 20 per cent for a new grant program for public and town-led projects under $100,000, and 60 per cent for grants to projects over $100,000.

A decade of songs, stories and standing ovations fills the NOTL Community Centre as the Yellow Door Theatre Project celebrates 10 years of bringing youth theatre to town.

May 8: Terrible weather wreaks havoc on the opening weekend of the viewing the millions of blooms at the TASC Tulip Pick Farm in rural NOTL. Heavy rain, mud, cars stuck, frayed tempers and long traffic jams spoiled what organizers had hoped would be the debut of a positive new attraction.

The town decides to use more than $1.3 million in municipal accommodation tax revenue to reconstruct part of Mississagua Street, including the road, storm sewers and better street lighting.

Is NOTL still “wine country”? With dozens of wineries, the answer is yes, but Tourism NOTL sparks controversy in some quarters by dropping the words “wine country” from its new tourism strategy.

May 15: About 300 people fill the auditorium at the community centre as the NOTL Residents Association officially holds its first public gathering. The group aims to create a unified voice for residents, encourage reasonable development and advocate for the interests of residents.

The Niagara District Airport is preparing for major upgrades and looking at ways to fly more travellers to more places in Canada and North America — but officials caution it’s still early and they need public feedback to shape the next 20 years.

It’s still considered a pie-in-the-sky idea by many, but Hoverlink Ontario has taken a big step forward by securing docking access near Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport. The service, to depart from Port Weller, is still at least two years away from launching.

May 22: Virgil Stampede organizers deliver another spectacular holiday weekend extravaganza as huge crowds turn out — and the Virgil Business Association event raises more than $100,000 for charity.

Councillors respond to criticism that they’ve mocked residents and sometimes appear to be using their phones in the middle of meetings. They say the claims are unfair and that councillors respect constituents.

A new seasonal kiosk on Queen Street is helping the NOTL Ambassadors better connect with people and promote what the town has to offer, says Laurie Harley, one of the leaders of the program.

May 29: The traffic camera near Crossroads Public School returned but it didn’t last long. Vandals, who have never been identified, cut it down again, for the umpteenth time.

Council agrees to consult with stakeholders over density limits and cottage rental numbers, after a lengthy debate about the state of the short-term rental industry in town and its impact on the community.

The Niagara Thunderhawks hosted its annual minor lacrosse tournament and all four NOTL teams made it to the finals, with the U13 team winning gold thanks to a 10-4 win over St. Catharines.

Before the Bank of Canada governor decides whether to raise or lower the key short-term interest rate, he hears from a panel of experts, including NOTL economist Ted Carmichael.

JUNE

June 5: A fifth portable is coming to St. Davids Public School in the fall as enrolment keeps climbing — and some parents say enough’s enough — it’s time the school board stepped in to balance the load with nearby schools.

The Niagara Foundation is raising $1 million to preserve and restore the Wilderness, a historic property at 407 King St. in NOTL. The next phase of the project will involve clearing overgrowth, removing invasive species and hazardous trees, and restoring the grounds.

Gleeful kids line up at Crossroads Public School’s annual home show and fun fair for the chance to dunk principal Kate Fish. It’s one of the highlights of the weekend event.

Playing in the Business Women’s league, Erin Howe-Hull notches the first hole-in-one of the season at the NOTL Golf Club, sending her drive on the 167-yard par-3 ninth hole right into the cup. “It was all very exciting,” she says later.

June 12: NOTL is considering expanding the heritage conservation district around many buildings in the area of Queen and Picton streets. The aim would be to preserve the historical look and feel of that part of town and protect it from significant alteration.

For the first time, the annual Ride to Conquer Cancer starts in NOTL as 400 cyclists pedalled from Peller Estates to Hamilton and back, raising a record $20.6 million for cancer research.

Members of the Polish community gather to remember 26 soldiers who died of influenza at Camp Kościuszko in NOTL more than 100 years ago. They are buried in a section of St. Vincent de Paul’s cemetery that is officially Polish territory and known as Haller Army Cemetery.

The NOTL Public Library holds a big bash to kick off celebrations of its 225th anniversary. Among the wide range of activities, Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa was on hand to read to children.

June 19: Irrigation systems are the lifeblood of the farms that produce major crops in NOTL and they’re badly in need of upgrading. But Niagara Region has earmarked up to $500,000 to help NOTL farms, an amount that will be “transformational,” says Coun. Erwin Wiens.

No one really likes speed cameras and someone seems to have a real hate on for the one near Crossroads Public School — it’s been chopped down twice in the past two weeks. And by next week it will be cut down again.

Most people he talks to are unaware of the details regarding the planned expansion of Shaw’s Royal George Theatre, writes columnist Garth Turner.  Many are shocked when the find out about the sheer size of the new building, he says. In the coming months, the project sparks a lot of loud public debate.

June 26: Finally. After a 17-month search for someone to step up and fill the Town of NOTL’s top administrative role, the municipality hires former councillor and fire chief Nick Ruller for the role.

With Canada Day and the Cherry Festival just around the corner, the 40th annual Strawberry Festival kicks off summer and some 5,000 people flock to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church for bountiful berries, a barbecue and delicious shortcake.

Temps hit the high 30s and swimmers try to cool off in Lake Ontario. However, NOTL’s only monitored beach, at Queen’s Royal Park, is unsafe due to high E. coli levels. But no signs warn beach goers to stay out of the water. They’ll only find out if they check Niagara Region’s website. As an investigation by The Lake Reportanalyzing summer-long testing data will show, the water will be unsafe for most of the season. And in July, it was safe on only 10 of 31 days.

Next week: A look at the headlines from July to December.