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Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Opinion

Letter: Development control done for the right reasons

"The 2018-2022 NOTL council consistently strove to protect the natural and built heritage of Old Town, from our tree canopy and green spaces to our historic buildings and streetscapes," writes Terry Davis.

Opinion: Canada, a.k.a. Venezuela North?

"Now, upon seeing how the United States treats countries such as Venezuela when it plainly desires its resources, there can be little doubt that Canada might be an additional target on Donald Trump's radar," writes J. Richard Wright.

Arch-i-text: If development swallows up farmland, who will feed us?

"Food sovereignty and security must be considered paramount in all government policy. Otherwise, we may find ourselves as a banana republic — the beggars at the table," writes Brian Marshall.

The Turner Report: First the Fence, then the flood

"Soon the historic buildings behind the chain-link — some dating to the 1880s — will be razed. The excavators will move in. Then the erection of a 55,000-square foot complex with a six-storey height," writes Garth Turner.

The Forum: Santa Ford’s lump of coal: return to sender

"Wouldn’t our provincial government be wiser to support economic diversification? NOTL may aspire to be Napa North, but we lack their nearby Silicon Valley," writes Steve McGuinness.

Opinion: A letter to Santa, the nicest Canadian of them all

"The world has become a darker place, and it’s going to be a tough Christmas for you, just like everyone else," writes Keith McNenly.

Dr. Brown: How intelligent is AI and is AI conscious?

"Is AI intelligent? Sure. It is, and becoming as intelligent or more than most humans. Is AI sentient? Not yet, but on the way. And it won’t be long," writes Dr. William Brown.

Letter: O what a rent the envious Doug Ford made

"It remains possible that when more Ontarians find themselves out on the street, they may reconsider their votes in the past for Ford and his government," writes Kevin McCabe.

Letter: Chautauqua project preserves nature for the next generation

"As these new oaks will live for hundreds of years, this awareness will help maintain a stewardship state of mind in the community for many, many decades to come," write Leslie Frankish & Holmes Hooke.

Letter: What we found on a starry night in Queenston

"The night was getting on, and our tired eyes were still glued to the window, searching for that special house that would make the drive worthwhile. And there it was," writes Lucy Kovaliv.

Letter: Household trash dumping at McDonald’s must stop

"Surely the owner of this McDonald's could review this past week's security camera records, identify the paint can bandit and turn the data over to the police for prosecution," writes Samuel Young.

Letter: Joanne Young’s memory still lingers with us

"My wife and I were blessed to get to know her on a personal level as we had recently joined a Christian prayer group, which Joanne had long been a part of," writes Joost Vandelinde.

Letter: Jimmy Lai is a hero of democracy

"Mr. Lai's incarceration, for standing against tyranny and speaking in defence of freedom, is not just cruel and inhumane, but an affront to humanity," writes Ralph Nero.

Arts review: ‘White Christmas’ a heartwarming reminder of what truly matters in life

"Why is this production so satisfying? Irving Berlin's songs are pure genius. The orchestra sweeps and swirls us along. We unabashedly sing on request," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.

The Turner Report: First NOTL. Then the Dominion

"They’re here. They invaded November 11th. They stood among us. Being a tolerant, inclusive people, we let them. It’s what makes us Canadian," writes Garth Turner.

Bottom Line: What it takes to put together your last will and testament

"It’s shocking how many Canadians have not prepared a will or completed any basic end-of-life planning. No matter your age or wealth level, this is imprudent and irresponsible," writes Steve McGuinness.

Ross’s Ramblings: The word ‘love’ creates magical moments in our lives

"From Niagara-on-the-Lake to Hong Kong and eventually to Toronto, the word 'love' has suddenly been added to our vocabulary. And it happened so naturally, so quietly," writes Ross Robinson.

Dr. Brown: From tennis courts to Parliament, why aging matters more than we admit

"Diminishment, the loss of abilities which we take for granted ... comes to all of us in different ways and times. It’s how we manage that diminishment that counts," writes Dr. William Brown.

Arch-i-text: Putting into perspective how big the new Royal George would be

"The proposed size, massing and form of the building, considered within the context of the surrounding buildings, completely dwarfs everything else in the heritage district," writes Brian Marshall.

Letter: Cottage rentals keep NOTL’s economy going and its heritage intact

"It’s time to recognize reality: Niagara-on-the-Lake is a world-class tourist town that thrives because people want to visit, stay, and fall in love with it," writes Jason Clements.

Letter: ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ casting wasn’t racist

"We all should practice "kind love against hatred" and doing one's best. My late husband (racially mixed) did this," writes Elizabeth Oliver-Malone.

Arch-i-text: An ode to those who’ve given everything to their country

"On every Nov. 11 since that day, I have shared the evening with a bottle of whisky, those memories and the words that were written down that evening," writes Brian Marshall.

Letter: Press pause on changing the school board boundaries

"Within a span of just two to three weeks, the lives and daily realities of many children and families were upended by a decision made without their voices being heard," writes Priya Litt.

Letter: Many thanks for supporting our pumpkin patch

"We had a great crop this year with lots of beautiful pumpkins," write Reid & Gabrielle, Brook & Brandon, Peg & Steve Watson.

Bottom Line: Is this town council’s ‘final answer’ on the 2026 budget?

"This new budget process is more compressed and accelerated than in prior years. This change was imposed on May 1 when the province conferred strong mayor powers on our town without voter consent," writes Steve McGuinness.

Dr. Brown: How answers beget more questions in the world of science

"All models are provisional and, even if based on the best data available, might have to change in the light of new evidence," writes Dr. William Brown.

Letter: Family’s roadside memorial repeatedly vandalized

"It's hard enough to grieve Matthew's death every minute of every day and now we know a thief without a conscience or a heart has desecrated this hallowed ground," writes Colleen Franz.

Ross’s Ramblings: Should they call it ‘poppy love’?

"Especially in our current world, seemingly so divided and torn over so many issues, it was gratifying to learn that love for the poppy is universal," writes Ross Robinson.

The Turner Report: Why NOTL has a math problem

"NOTL is one of the few burgs in the nation allowing (and encouraging) the conversion of residential housing into 'unhosted' short-term rentals," writes Garth Turner.

Arch-i-text: The fallacy of progress

"It is extraordinarily disingenuous for an individual or corporation to suggest that the 'progress' they seek — or achieve — automatically confers benefits upon the society or community they operate within," writes Brian Marshall.

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