"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.
"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.
"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.
"Niagara-on-the-Lake is not meant to be a town of lockboxes and absentee landlords. It’s a place to live," writes editor-in-chief Richard Harley. "And while tourism is part of that identity, it should not come at the expense of neighbourhoods."
"U.S. President Donald Trump, with his focus on trade and tariff negotiations, poses significant threats to our town's economy. Local businesses must adapt quickly to protect profits and jobs," writes Steve McGuinness.
"All the stars seemed to have aligned. Terror, temperature and talented people. An enabling microclimate. Wine tourists from around the world, more than willing to open their wallets wide for this sweet treat, to be savoured here or back home, around the world," writes Ross Robinson.
"The design for the theatre is a matter of taste, but it sure beats the Dairy Queen. Also, it enhances the look and feel of the old town by adding some much-needed class," writes Mike Henry.
"The Royal George eruption has folks again asking that eternal question: is this a place to live or a theme park for the tourists?" writes Garth Turner.
"What most of the committee realized during the Shaw’s presentation was that the new building was going to destroy heritage houses and turn Victoria Street into a service road for trucks backing into a loading dock," writes Wayne Murray.
"No more mistakes. Distracted driving kills. Stop making excuses to play Russian roulette with children's lives and follow the flipping rules," writes Lani Parkinson.
"Change within the heritage district is one thing, but the wholesale flouting of the heritage district guidelines — specifically designed to preserve its 'special character' — is a horse of a different colour," writes Brian Marshall.
"I support building a new theatre. Done right, it will bring new energy and vitality to Old Town and will make both the Shaw and Niagara-on-the-Lake a prized place to live, work and visit well into the 22nd century," writes David Israelson.
"On the one hand, we have the traffic camera at Crossroads School and, on the other, we have the dangerous E. coli levels at Queen's Royal Beach (and, likely, the much-ignored Ryerson Park beach)," writes Bruce Dickson.
"Just like any garden, you need to have something that will catch and capture your attention and cause your eyes and mind to rest. Let your imagination go when dreaming of what your focus will be," writes Joanne Young.
"If sub-systems in the nervous system can be created and connected with each other in meaningful ways, could a brain be created from its constituent systems?" writes Dr. William Brown.
"In our view, doing away with on-site warnings in favour of passive signs leaves a lot to be desired," writes editor emeritus Kevin MacLean. "We urge Niagara Region to revisit this policy."
The proponents of the Royal George Theatre redesign "are slavishly following the flawed protocols of the Venice Charter to produce a design which, in the view of several architects of my acquaintance, is utterly inappropriate within the context of the Queen–Picton historic district," writes Brian Marshall.
"Over the years we felt that our dream was slipping away as the town and council seemed to become more and more focused on tourists, and less so on the residents that chose to call NOTL home," says a former resident who wrote to Garth Turner this week.
"We’ve spent decades designing roads that prioritize speed over safety — wide lanes, big turning radii, fast-moving arterials. It’s no surprise people treat them like highways," writes Frank Hayes.
"With careful selection and thoughtful placement, yellow foliage can transform your garden into a vibrant and welcoming outdoor space," writes Joanne Young.
"All of this will come at the expense of the historic ambience and lack of stewardship responsibility to maintain one of Canada’s most unique communities," write Jim and Erika Alexander.
"Let’s remember: this was a temporary solution for a temporary crisis. If there’s now a desire to make patios permanent, then we must follow a proper planning process," writes Coun. Maria Mavridis.
"We know so little of our history, and so much of it is instructive. As a people, we have an amazing tendency to forget what we don’t want to remember," writes Ross Robinson.
"This isn’t about nitpicking. It’s about recognizing that Canada Day in NOTL isn’t just a party — it’s a platform. A chance to show the world who we are, and how much we care about this place and this country," writes editor-in-chief Richard Harley.
"This application risks undermining the district’s founding principles by demolishing three 19th-century buildings and significantly altering the streetscapes of both Queen and Victoria streets," writes Brian Marshall.
