Niagara-on-the-Lake’s winter sculpture tradition was first captured in image during the First World War, when Polish soldiers stationed at Niagara Camp crafted playful snow figures in Simcoe Park.
"It reflects a distinctly Canadian understanding of professionalism: that public trust rests not only on rules, but on conscience," writes Stuart McCormack.
"Governments could channel 'happy death' through the entire medical and social system, and take minimum responsibility for these programs," writes Kevin McCabe.
"Will builders and developers have free rein to 'build, baby, build' here in NOTL and everywhere else in the province? The future of places like Niagara-on-the-Lake hang in the balance."
From federal and provincial elections, Trump trade wars, a polar vortex, mysterious vandals who repeatedly cut down the Virgil speed camera and more, here are some of the biggest and best stories of the first six months of 2025.
From a town council perspective, Coun. Erwin Wiens called the announcement “super exciting” and praised the province for recognizing Niagara as a tourist destination, funding the Shaw Festival and exploring improvements to the Niagara District Airport.
Nicole Boyer, whose life included important years in St. Davids, her daughters Zoe and Pyper and the family labrador, Jasper, are being remembered following a fatal collision on Highway 11 in northern Ontario on Dec. 21.
Big changes are coming to the Garrison Village neighbourhood this year, and it all starts with the opening of a new grocery store at the end of this month.
"Our family has been supporting little kids' soccer in Niagara-on-the-Lake for decades," Rainer Hummel said, adding it was "not complicated" to decide whether or not to support the Dodd family.
As migrant farmworkers prepare to return to Niagara-on-the-Lake, the Farmworker Hub NOTL hopes to welcome them with wellness bags of everyday essentials, offering some relief at the start of the season after a challenging year marked by Hurricane Melissa.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
