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Thursday, January 15, 2026

Opinion

The Turner Report: Worries build as Shaw clams up

"How will heavy construction be handled during the next three summers when Queen is shoulder-to-shoulder with tourists, cars are everywhere and festival season arrives?" writes Garth Turner.

Arch-i-text: NOTL needs apartment buildings — but, the right ones

"This simplistic design approach to apartment buildings has dominated the sector for decades and has resulted in a quasi-institutionalized environment within the resultant neighbourhoods," writes Brian Marshall.

The Forum: Future councils will inherit a colossal financial mess

"This fiscal irresponsibility this term kneecaps our future councils, leaving them little manoeuvring room going forward," writes Steve McGuinness.

Ross’s Ramblings: Some Winter Olympic levity to loosen up the world

"Are we getting better when compared to other nations? Perhaps, but there are so many more events now. Many more opportunities to grab a medal," writes Ross Robinson.

Dr. Brown: Intelligence, whether human or AI, evolves the same way

"AlphaFold2 was like a loyal grad student who learned under the tutelage of humans at Google — not human of course, but a student nontheless and perhaps deserving of a share in the prize," writes Dr. William Brown.

Ross’s Ramblings: From the crankiness of Niagara to the kindness of Vietnam

"Reading between the lines of The Lake Report, I could feel big doses of anger, crankiness, know-it-allness, frustration and shortness," writes Ross Robinson, using his recent trip to Vietnam to reflect on what it means to be happy and kind in a world full of strife and sadness.

Arch-i-text: A primer on property heritage designation

"Sometimes the easiest way to determine the importance of a property to the character of its area is to consider what would happen to that character if the property were to be demolished or significantly modified," writes Brian Marshall.

Dr. Brown: Religion, humanity and a god too small

"Looking back at the roadmap to modern humans, the evidence suggests that we are but a way station to other species in the future and as susceptible to extinction as any other hominin before us," writes Dr. Williams Brown. "In short, if there is a God, that God lets life play out with little interference."

Letter: Time for Peller to cut ties with disgraced Gretzky

"Gretzky has clearly become too controversial to serve as a positive celebrity endorser of a Canadian winery’s products, at a time when we’re organizing “buy Canadian” campaigns to support our economy against the escalating trade war declared by Trump," writes Steve McGuinness.

Letter: Canadians should boycott U.S. products if tariffs levied

"The fact is that many Americans do already feel we are the 51st state," writes Richard James.

Letter: Town should spruce up community centre cafe

"The cafe is owned by the town and upgrading the facility doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive," writes Peter Warrack.

The Turner Report: Calling up the troops for Stu’s Rangers

"It’s not a happy time to be an elected person in this bucolic burg. It seems that historic protest outside town hall last summer was more a harbinger than a one-off eruption," writes Garth Turner.

Arch-i-text: Ford’s overture and what lies ahead for everyday Ontarians

"Sure, the premier and his local sycophants may point to grandiose promises of investments in Niagara’s infrastructure — most of which have not, to date, materialized — but, how does that translate to the health of your family’s pocket book?" writes Brian Marshall.

Letter: How can amalgamation not save money?

"Let our regional government evolve, Mr. Gates, and stay out the debate, unless you want to introduce a private members bill — if re-elected," writes Derek Insley.

The Turner Report: When freedom to speak was no freedom at all

Regular addicts may recall my encounter with NOTL Museum. It was a fine summer day. A heritage festival was in full swing out on the...

Letter: I confess! I took down two trees. Should I be stoned to death now?

Dear editor: I have been following closely the issues around cutting down trees on one's own property in the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. The town's "prohibitions" are...

Editorial: Gates is a candidate for the people

There’s a provincial election Feb. 27. Despite that, you might not have heard much about this riding's candidates running this year — because most of...

Growing Together: Invite these exciting new shrubs into your garden

From weigelas and hydrangeas to lilacs and sweetspires, Joanne Young shares her favourite new cultivars that'll make a welcome new addition to your garden this spring.

Letter: Why not make old hospital a showcase of Canada?

Dear editor: Regarding the idea of converting the old hospital into yet another community hub, why not convert the hospital into a showcase of all...

Opinion: Doug Ford’s track record speaks for itself

David Israelson Special to Niagara Now/The Lake Report I guess I should be pleased that Doug Ford came to Niagara District Airport on Feb. 8 to...

Letter: Time to put Ford regime in the past

Dear editor: Great editorial by Kevin MacLean, "An unnecessary provincial election," on Jan. 30. We do not need a provincial election but we do need a...

Letter: Carmichael ignored Trump’s character in opinion piece

Dear editor: The back-to-back opinion articles in last week’s Lake Report, “Other nations beware, Canada is a test for Trump" by Keith McNenly and “Canada...

Letter: Lord mayor must hear residents’ voices, not just listen

Dear editor: Lord Mayor Gary Zalepla apparently believes that the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is listening to the concerns being expressed by its taxpayers. And in...

Letter: We should expect more from town on climate issue

Dear editor: Thank you for reporting on Lord Mayor Zalepa’s response to my question at the recent Virgil village meeting. I submitted the question on...

Dr. Brown: Immortality, Oliver Sacks and me

"No other species, except probably the neanderthals, dwelt on the hereafter and some version of immortality in their creation stories," writes Dr. William Brown.

Arch-i-text: Points of interest and infrastructure

Writing about the stormwater infrastructure management plans for hte upcoming Parliament Oak hotel, Brian Marshall writes, "Should the municipality construct and own that pipe, legal experts opine that the town could bear all or a part of that liability."

The Turner Report: Spring housing market? Fuhgeddaboudit

The house on the corner is still for sale. A year now. They got an offer the other day for 90 per cent of...

Arch-i-text: Maj. David Secord’s old home — what happens when it goes wrong

"For over a decade now, this once gracious stone home has been owned by a developer and allowed to deteriorate in a fashion that can only be described as a textbook case of demolition by neglect," writes Brian Marshall of Secord's historical home on Paxton Lane, built circa 1799.

Growing Together: These new perennials are worth planting

Every year, there are countless numbers of new plants being released to tempt us gardeners. These new and improved varieties have been tried and tested for several years before being released for sale. Joanne Young reviews some of the new, exciting releases.

Opinion: Amalgamation of Niagara’s border communities will lead to increased taxes and fewer services 

Wayne Gates Special to Niagara Now/The Lake Report Local Conservative politicians have been pushing for the provincial government to prioritize municipal amalgamation in Niagara. It’s a...

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