Class 3 - 1st place - Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report, February edition

Pillar and Post hit as wave of vandalism, thefts sweeps NOTL

Julia Sacco Local Journalism Initiative The Lake Report

The seemingly endless stream of car vandalism in Niagara-on-the-Lake continues and residents are urging police to do something.

VOTE

Staff The Lake Report

It’s time to vote in the provincial election.

If you’re voting on election day, Feb. 27, in Niagara-on-the-Lake, there are four locations at which you can cast your ballot: The community centre (14 Anderson Ln.), the Centennial Arena (1565 Four Mile Creek Rd.), the St. Davids & District Lions Club (1462 York Rd.) and Bethany Mennonite Church (572 East & West Line).

You can also visit the Elections Ontario website, elections.on.ca, to find which polling station is recommended for your address.

Before visiting a polling station, ensure you have either your voter card and/or a government-issued piece of ID with your municipal address on it.

You can still vote if you are yet to receive your voter information card as long as you bring a valid piece of identification.

When casting your vote, you will have the choice between seven candidates in NOTL’s Niagara Falls riding.

Joedy Burdett, Independent; Gary Dumelie, New Blue Party; Wayne Gates, NDP; Shafoli Kapur, Ontario Liberal; Ruth-Ann Nieuwesteeg, Progessive Conservative; Andrew Soifert, Ontario Party; and Celia Taylor, Green Party of Ontario

This time, multiple cars parked at the Pillar and Post Hotel & Spa were among those left damaged Monday morning. In total, 10 vehicles were vandalized.

And this isn’t the first time, general manager Ryan Murray told The Lake Report.

Pillar and Post a property of Vintage Hotels and Murray said each Vintage Hotel property has experienced vandalism in recent months.

throughout Niagara-on-theLake,” he said.

“This is the second time at the Pillar but it has happened numerous times elsewhere through our properties and obviously

“This is the second time at the Pillar but it has happened numerous times elsewhere through our properties and obviously throughout Niagara-on-theLake,” he said.

Guests have gone outside with the intention of driving home and found their windows smashed in, Murray said.

Red Roof skates toward expansion

unveiled major plans to expand its services, including a new state-of-the-art accessible

Families laced up their skates and hit the ice

Tuesday morning for a family skate in Virgil that offered a sneak peek at Red Roof Retreat’s upcoming expansion plans in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

On Feb. 25 at the Meridian Credit Union Arena, the retreat unveiled its plans for a new, fully accessible two-storey building to meet the growing demand for family support programs for individuals with special needs.

and

The retreat plans to move from its current 1,100-square-footbungalow on Concession 6 to a state-of-the–art, 5,700-squarefoot fully accessible two-story building.

Red Roof, which has served

over 300 families, will begin construction in Sept., with a targeted opening in Sept. 2026. The red barn, which gave the retreat its name, will also be

Continued on Page 5

Gretzky winery takes flak after criticism of #99

Paige Seburn Local Journalism Initiative The Lake Report

Following national criticism of hockey icon

Wayne Gretzky, a debate has erupted in town about

whether his name should be removed from Andrew Peller Ltd.’s Wayne Gretzky Estates winery.

Some argue Gretzky’s past comments and affiliations with U.S. President Donald Trump make him

unfit to represent Canada and Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Others counter that Gretzky remains a national icon and removing his name from the winery would be an unrealistic move.

In an interview with The

Lake Report, Virgil resident

Steve McGuinness said a business bearing the famed hockey player’s name could hurt the town’s economy.

“It’s going to be a drag on

Councillors debate ‘buy Canadian’ policy

Niagara-on-the-Lake councillors want to focus on supporting Canadian goods and services amid the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.

On Feb. 1, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods effective Feb. 4, which have since been delayed into March.

In response, Coun. Sandra O’Connor put forth a motion during Tuesday night’s council meeting aiming to put more support behind Canadian-made goods and services, which was passed unanimously.

The motion asks federal and provincial governments to “remove any impediments” to municipalities preferring to purchase from Canadian companies for capital projects and supplies.

The motion creates a temporary policy that prioritizes Canadian-made goods and services where possible. According to the motion, “all else being equal, preference will be given to pur-

chase goods and/or services firstly from Niagara-onthe-Lake based businesses, secondly from businesses located in the Region of Niagara and thirdly from Ontario owned businesses.”

The city of Welland introduced a similar rule earlier this month.

“We can support our sovereignty as a nation, our borders that our ancestors fought for in 1812 and protect Canadian jobs,” O’Connor said.

Coun. Gary Burroughs suggested reaching out to NOTL businesses to acknowledge the work that is being done.

“We understand there’s challenges and we’re there for them,” he said.

Coun. Erwin Wiens noted Canada and the United States have had a great relationship from 1814 up until now.

“Will we sunset this if the relationship changes in four years?” Wiens asked.

O’Connor said things change and motions can change, so it will be kept into consideration.

“It’s our economy and we’re about to have our economy attacked, so I just want to make sure we can pivot later on if we need to,” Wiens said.

Copies of the motion are to be sent to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier Doug Ford and other government officials.

juliasacco@niagaranow.com

Read more online at niagaranow.com

Vehicle break-ins surge across NOTL

Andrew Hawlitzky

The Lake Report

A neighbourhood watch is being put together for the Chautauqua area, after the latest string of NOTL vehicle break-ins struck the small community on Friday night.

On Feb. 15, several vehicles were broken into by two individuals reportedly dressed in all black and driving a dark-coloured sedan.

Police are reviewing security camera footage captured between 4:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. to try to identify the perpetrators.

This surge in NOTL break-ins has raised wider concerns over community safety and property damage. Affected residents are facing costly repairs and a growing sense of vulner-

ability as police work to deter further incidents.

Weston Miller, president of the Chautauqua Residents Association, released a statement on Saturday about the incident.

“It saddens me to see such senseless crime continue to take place in the neighbourhood”

A resident on Vincent Street reported their vehicle was broken into during Friday’s spree.

Despite the robbers not taking any valuables, the resident had to pay over $350 to repair the broken window.

The resident filed a report with the police and provided several photos.

“I encourage everyone to continue to install cameras. Even one perfect angle can be enough to catch these guys,” said Miller.

Last holiday season, a 15-year-old suspect from St. Catharines was arrested for similar vehicle break-ins and window smashing occurring between Dec. 21 and 31.

These incidents resulted in significant property damage estimated at more than $40,000.

Several neighbourhoods, including Old Town, Chautauqua and Niagara on the Green, were hit by the teen, police say.

The Friday night incident appears to be unrelated to the holiday break-ins.

In an email, Niagara Regional Police said the matter is still in its early stages and they are actively investigating.

The town of Niagara-onthe-Lake is urging residents to lock all vehicle doors, turn on outdoor lighting,

park in garages if possible and avoid leaving valuables in plain sight.

“It’s so unfortunate and disheartening. I’ve lived in this neighbourhood my entire life. I grew up here. I know it sounds like a cliche, but it’s true. When I was growing up we didn’t even lock our doors,” said Miller.

The Chautauqua Residence Association is seeking volunteers for its neighbourhood watch program which will be discussed at the board’s next meeting.

Police say residents should report all instances of break-ins. Those with no information on the suspect can report it online at niagarapolice.ca, while those who do, such as a video, can call the non-emergency dispatch number 905-688-4111. andrew@niagaranow.com

Police ‘won’t even show up’ without video evidence

Continued from Front Page

“It’s happened to locals but it’s also happening to people from Buffalo, from Toronto and from further. It’s -20 outside can’t get home,” he said.

Murray and staff at the hotel are in the process of gathering security footage to send to police.

“Police won’t even show up to a report if there isn’t video of it,” he said.

“There’s little to no response to something that’s dramatically affecting the residents of Niagara-on-theLake as well as our visitors who just aren’t going to come back.”

Murray would like to see an increased police presence in town along with a quicker response time, he said.

“Niagara-on-the-Lake is wonderful because it’s such a safe and sort of out of the way town, we don’t normally have issues like this,” he said.

“As such, we don’t have a lot of police presence because we don’t need it. However, we really do need it now.”

The string of vandalism seems like somebody has made note of NOTL’s low police presence and is taking advantage of it, Murray said.

Pillar and Post isn’t the only hotel that was hit Sunday night either.

Hazel Viola, front desk attendant at the Oban Inn confirmed a car was vandalized at their property that evening too.

“It’s happened four times already,” she said

in an interview, detailing vandalism occurring before New Year’s, on New Year’s Eve, on Feb. 14 and just last Sunday.

On Sunday evening, one car had windows smashed in but nothing was stolen.

The car belonged to a police officer who was staying as a guest, Viola said.

Going forward, Viola would like to see more police patrolling, especially at night.

Employees who leave around 11 p.m. don’t see any police and don’t feel especially safe, she said.

“(We need) more patrolling, more awareness. We are the hospitality business and we see on Facebook, there’s a conversation,” Viola said.

“We can see some of our guests join in the conversation who are victims of that incident and they don’t want to come back.”

Resident Karen Taylor-

Jones had her outright stolen on Sunday night.

Parked outside 300 Davy Street, Taylor-Jones’ 2010

Jeep Grand Cherokee was missing for two nights before she noticed it gone.

“I parked it at about 4:30 or 5 o’clock on Sunday, locked it, went inside and went up and didn’t go out until this morning,” she said in an interview Tuesday afternoon.

Two other vehicles in the parking lot were smashed in, but only Taylor-Jones’ was stolen, she said.

“You don’t know which direction to go because the police haven’t had time to look for it. I don’t even know what to do,” she said.

Taylor-Jones thinks whoever the perpetrator is has the operation well planned out, she said.

An increased police presence would help, TaylorJones said.

“We pay more taxes for the police in this whole

region. We get two cars and everybody else has got the rest of them,” she said.

“And if you call them, it’s 20 minutes to half an hour before they get here.”

The Lake Report reached out to Niagara Regional Police in regard to Sunday night’s string of vandalisms.

Constable Luke Lindley confirmed uniform members responded to “approximately eight property damage related calls for service,” around at 8 a.m. on Monday.

Initial investigation research suggests several vehicle windows were smashed throughout the night.

The investigation is ongoing and officers continue to complete reports and gather evidence, Lindley said.

In a media release Monday, police confirmed past incidents have been reported across the region including in Grimsby, West Lincoln, Lincoln, Pelham, Wainfleet and Niagara-on-the-Lake, primarily in the early morning hours of Feb. 13.

More reports of car break ins were reported in the comment section of a post on Facebook group NOTL 4 All.

Officers are looking for video surveillance to help put together a solid timeline of events. Those with footage or recordings are asked to contact the lead investigator by calling 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1009922.

Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. juliasacco@niagaranow.com

Voters have mixed opinions at early polls

Andrew Hawlitzky

The Lake Report

Residents called Premier Doug Ford’s decision to hold a snap election unnecessary as they left NOTL’s advanced polling station Feb. 22.

Interviews at the NOTL Community Centre indicated voters have mixed opinions about Ford’s framing of the election as a mandate to counter Trump’s tariff threats and hyperlocal concerns around health care, grocery costs and inflation.

“It seems more like a power grab — I don’t think it will really do anything for anyone but Ford,” said retiree Margaret Ellis. Ellis said her intention to vote for NDP incumbent Wayne Gates was done out of support for democracy rather than an expectation of significant change.

Ellis supports several points in Gates’ election platform, such as reducing gas and grocery costs and putting money in the hands of workers.

“We have so many young workers who I know who’ve been really struggling …

if there’s one thing no one needs, it’s tax cuts for wealthy people.”

Shinaya Patel said while she doesn’t feel the snap election was necessary, everyone in Canada should take advantage of it to pick the best candidate “otherwise, we’d be just as bad as the U.S.”

Patel’s priorities in this election are improving NOTL’s access to health care, lowering grocery costs and resisting American threats to Canada’s sovereignty.

“Who is Trump to dictate,

or have any control over Canada’s politics? I never thought I’d see this much talk of U.S. politics in Canada,” said Patel.

Most provincial candidates have criticized U.S. trade policies with Canada and have pushed residents to support local businesses to prevent knock-on inflationary effects.

“Let me be very clear: Trump’s trade war is no joke. It’s an attack on working people, and border communities like ours are feeling the impact more than anywhere else,” said Gates.

Progressive Conservative candidate Ruth-Ann Nieuwesteeg has endorsed Ford’s platform on combating tariffs but has said relatively little regarding Trump. She was unavailable to comment in response to a request from The Lake Report.

Retiree Michael Karagiannis voted for Nieuwesteeg on Saturday and voiced his perspective on U.S. trade policies.

“Trump is an extreme in every way, but he’s still doing the right thing.”

Karagiannis said his biggest concerns during this election are reducing inflation and the cost of grocery prices. He also supported Nieuwesteeg’s proposal to eliminate Niagara’s twotiered municipal councils.

Nieuwesteeg has called Niagara’s two-tiered municipal governance model “too costly.”

When the snap election was announced on Jan. 27, Gates called it “unnecessary and expensive.” Elections Ontario announced the budget for the election will be $189 million.

Polls open on Thursday, Feb. 27.

andrew@niagaranow.com

Stolen signs returned

Andrew Hawlitzky

The Lake Report

All is right again after three youths on quads were caught stealing election signs from yards in the Chautauqua neighbourhood.

The two youths, who were not named, were recorded on several home security systems and were swiftly caught and ordered by police to return the signs.

The signs were for New Democrat Wayne Gates, who is the incumbent candidate in the Feb. 27 provincial election.

Residents first discovered several political lawn signs missing Feb. 13, which sparked immediate concern about potential vandalism and interference in the electoral process.

Weston Miller, president of the Chautauqua Residents Association, sent an email to members requesting footage from door cams.

“It is unfortunate that I have to write this, however it has been brought to my attention that this afternoon approximately between 2 to 3 p.m., multiple Wayne Gates lawn signs were stolen from houses in Chautau-

A camera captured one of the alleged culprits.

qua,” wrote Miller.

“The suspects are described as two males, who appeared to be teenagers, riding two ATVs (one black in colour and one red/ pink).”

Miller sent an email update on Friday expressing gratitude for the rapid local response.

“I am happy to report that all three of the individuals involved have been identified and directed by the police to put back the stolen signs,” said Miller.

Police Const. Jesse Vujasic said police spoke to the parents of the youth.

“Two youths were located and cautioned over the thefts of the signs. The youth’s parents were spoken to and were told to return the signs to the rightful owners.”

Red Roof unveils expansion plans at skate day

Continued from Front Page

fixed up with new siding and updated inside. A new covered pavilion will be built for year-round activities as well.

“This new home allows us to build our capacity and provide a truly accessible home,” said executive director Steffanie Bjorgan.

“It’s just a wonderful upgrade to celebrate our 25th anniversary.”

The skate was part of Red Roof’s “All You Need is Love” campaign — their campaign to engage the community and raise funds to better support those with accessibility requirements.

“There’s just no way to address that unless we get bigger,” she said.

Among those at the skate was long-time supporter Coun. Tim Balasiuk, who sees the retreat as a vital part of town and beyond.

“It (Red Roof) definitely needs to grow because they provide such great services for the community at large, not just Niagara-on-theLake,” he said.

Services like the petting zoo, he said.

The petting zoo and farm visits give children a chance to interact with animals while allowing parents to leave their kids in a safe environment. Balasiuk said this lets parents take time for themselves and get things done, knowing their children are having a positive experience.

“Because, it’s a busy life,” he said.

During the skate, which was free, attendees could sip on warm drinks, enter a draw, learn more about Red Roof’s mission and programs and meet the retreat’s staff, board members and clients. Donations were welcomed.

Bjorgan has always been committed to making the retreat’s facilities available to the entire community, said Coun. Maria Mavridis

Mavridis said about seven years ago, Red Roof worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Lord Mayor’s youth advisory committee to get funding from a private donor for a drop-in centre offering mental health therapy for youth.

Although the program only lasted two years due to funding, Mavridis said it illustrates how Bjorgan has always been dedicated to including the community in the retreat’s efforts.

Bjorgan said there’s a deep connection between the retreat and the community of Niagara-on-theLake.

“This community is like no other. They’re just so connected to great things going on in their neighborhood,” she said.

Red Roof could have been built somewhere else, but Bjorgan said they want to grow where they’ve always had support.

“This is home. We want to stick with the people that have stuck with us,” she said.

The town’s unwavering support over the past 25 years makes it clear Red Roof should continue to grow here, she said.

Bjorgan saw the skate as a chance to show how even small acts of support can make a big difference for families in need.

“For every family we support, that’s huge,” she said. “It’s a ripple effect.”.

Because families supported by Red Roof feel more stable and supported, which makes it easier for them to give back and stay engaged in their community, Bjorgan said.

“That’s a win-win,” she said.

To stay updated on Red Roof’s expansion, you can follow the retreat on social media and visit the website for more information and ways to donate.

paigeseburn@niagaranow.com

NOTL author holds book signing

Robin Cellar gets her copy of Jim Smith’s book “Reflections” signed by the author. Behind Smith is his daugther Julie Smith-Jones and her husband Tim Jones. DAVE

St. Davids Fire Hall nears end of breakfast series

Andrew Hawlitzky

The Lake Report

It was a full house at the St. Davids fire hall on Saturday, as the St. Davids Firefighters Association hosted its monthly breakfast fundraiser.

The firefighters hold breakfasts on the last Saturday of each month to raise funds for community causes including local minor sports, St. Davids Public School and Red Roof Retreat.

Residents filed in to enjoy a hot meal, welcomed by association president Steve Roy.

“Minor sports is the main one that we always do every year, but we help wherever we can,” said Roy.

The season’s first event in October drew overwhelming crowds with a steady line forming outside which the firefighters struggled to keep up with.

“There are guys in the

Send a letter to the editor to editor@niagaranow.com

parking lot at 7 o’clock waiting to come in, they love coming in a bit early.

We don’t start until 8 a.m. But they’ll come in and have a coffee,” said Roy.

The initiative has oper-

ated for years, with firefighters volunteering as early as 6 a.m. to prepare meals.

Adults pay $12 and kids pay $6, with proceeds going to support local community organizations including a $1,000 donation to the Terry Fox Foundation earlier this month and $1,000 to NOTL Minor League Lacrosse last April. Roy noted the breakfast series will likely conclude in either March or April. Despite the seasonal series ending, the association anticipates resuming monthly breakfasts next fall.

“We really appreciate everybody’s support, it’s great. We live in an awesome community here. We couldn’t ask for more,” said Roy. andrew@niagaranow.com

Speed cameras back on Niagara Stone Road in May

Paige Seburn

Local Journalism Initiative

The Lake Report

The speed camera by Crossroads Public School will be active again in May. The camera is installed on Niagara Stone Road between Concession 6 and Four Mile Creek Road. A “Coming Soon” sign is already up to give the required 90-day notice before enforcement starts.

When active, the camera will capture speeding vehicles then mail tickets to registered plate holders. Fines will apply but no demerit points will be issued.

The speed cams caused a flood of mixed reactions — and waves of tickets — when they were first put

into place in spring of 2024.

The Lake Report heard from dozens of readers who received tickets — some for going 51 km/h.

The camera is located in a school zone, where the posted speed limit is reduced

to 40 km/h during school hours. Based on the tickets received, the threshold for a ticket is anything above 10 km/h over the 40 limit.

The automated speed enforcement program, designed to protect schools, parks and high-pedestrian areas, has been successful in lowering speeds, says the Niagara Region.

Speeding violations have dropped 67 per cent and average speeds are down 13 per cent because of speed cameras, according to the region’s website.

Tibor Toka, supervisor at Trius Restaurant — which sits along the stretch of Niagara Stone Road where the new speed camera will be installed — said speeding has long been an issue in the area.

“I was driving home on Niagara Stone Road, basically around the school area. Then a car passed me at about 130 km per hour, then rolled over at the roundabout,” he said. “But they safely got out.”

Toka said safety is a concern on that road due to heavy traffic from cars, cyclists, and pedestrians, especially since many nearby roads have no sidewalks.

“It’s one of the most visited places, so it’s good to be slower,” he said. “It could save a life.”

For speed camera locations, you can visit www. niagararegion.ca/living/ roads/vision-zero/automated-speed-enforcement.aspx. paigeseburn@niagaranow.com

Gretzky winery under fire after national criticism of #99

Continued from Front Page

sales,” he said, referencing the backlash Gretzky faced after being named honourary captain of Team Canada.

Gretzky, who was born and raised in Brantford, Ont., is a dual citizen of Canada and the United States.

He, along with his wife, Janet, attended Trump’s inauguration in January and was photographed at the U.S. president’s election victory party at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.

In one photo with Larry Glick, executive vice-president of the Trump Organization, he can be seen wearing a white and gold “Make America Great Again” hat.

“It rubbed me the wrong way. I think it rubbed a lot of people the wrong way,” McGuinness said, adding that Peller should rebrand to avoid financial losses.

Fellow resident Steve Long pointed to the former Trump International Hotel and Tower in Toronto, which saw a sharp decline in reservations following Trump’s first election win in 2016 before eventually rebranding to distance itself from Trump’s name, now going by the St. Regis Toronto.

However, some like Peter Anthony commented offering a different perspective, raising how many tourists stop at the winery’s “prime location” without being aware of the

name on the marquee.

“Who cares what Gretzky does? His name sells,” commented Blair Cowanetti.

Long has been spreading the hashtag #NotSoGreatOne to rally support against the winery’s association with Gretzky and argued the issue is not just about hockey — it’s about character.

“You have to have skill, you have to have character and if one of those falls off the rails, you’re not

‘the Great One’ anymore,” Long said.

By supporting controversial political figures, Long said Gretzky is undermining the positive image he built in Canada and contradicting the values many people in the community hold dear.

Gretzky should be replaced by someone who defends Canada rather than aligning with Trump, Maria Magisano commented.

But Gretzky publicly sharing his “American conservative views” is nothing new, commented Katie Wiens.

“I remember the winery’s opening when he made proTrump comments,” she said in her comment.

It’s unreasonable to expect him to represent Canada in all aspects of his life, commented Archie Spagnolo, who pointed out how Trump has always been a businessfocused figure who speaks without a filter.

She said Gretzky — like

other celebrities — won’t change that.

McGuinness, who passes the winery daily, said he feels compelled to “avert his eyes” when seeing Gretzky’s name, which reminds him of the hockey player’s perceived support of Trump.

Others refuse to go there, like Denise Cotter — who commented that a difference of opinion is one thing, but supporting a leader who wants to end democracy in our country is unacceptable.

Unlike his now-closed Toronto restaurant, the winery is “the biggest and largest financial footprint that Wayne Gretzky has in Canada,” Long said.

Long said changing the winery’s name would send a strong message and remove one of the last significant ties to Gretzky’s brand in Canada.

But some residents caution a rebrand could have negative effects on the town’s economy and the winery’s tourism appeal.

“If they (America) want to retort with a full-on ‘Blame Canada’ movement, the repercussions will far outweigh who’s name is on a bottle of wine,” Frank Liotta commented. “Wouldn’t fare well for our very tourist-driven border town.” He also warned a rebrand could harm employment.

“Good, hard-working (and local) Canadians will lose their jobs,” he commented.

Wiens said most visitors don’t even visit because of his name, anyway.

“It’s just a more modern, inviting winery to bring family and friends and partners to, with a younger vibe compared to the more traditional wineries,” she said.

Several attempts to reach CEO Paul Dubkowski or president Patrick O’Brien from Andrew Peller Ltd. through the Wayne Gretzky winery and other means were unsuccessful before press time.

paigeseburn@niagaranow.com

Final open house with lord mayor, and a summation of them all

Julia Sacco Local Journalism Initiative

The Lake Report

Throughout January and February, the lord mayor hosted visits throughout each of Niagara-on-theLake’s villages in hopes of connecting with residents about the town’s key goals for the year.

Rounded up with a final open house in Queenston last Thursday night, Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa made presentations on heritage designations, NOTL’s trade relationship with the United States, infrastructure, the town’s strategic plan and budget updates.

A guide to understanding many of the points Zalepa has made throughout his open house visits can be found in the town’s official plan, he said.

Zalepa took guests through a timeline for the town’s plan and outlined where residents could offer feedback.

“This is a really key thing, as residents you want to give input into where things should be and how things should look and where services should be — the official plan drives

almost all of that,” he said.

Open houses will continue take place for residents to chat with planners on upcoming development proposals, Zalepa said.

“This is really important

EXPERIENCE

AMICA STONEY CREEK

work,” he said.

When people bring in an application for development, they are guided by the existing planning documents, Zalepa said.

“If the document that advises them is not meeting the community’s needs, you get angst, you get stress,” he said.

Zalepa urged residents to come out to future open houses and read draft versions of the official plan, which will be made available on the town website.

Heritage designations have also taken up a big part of what council’s directives are, Zalepa said during his recent presentation.

“The province has been driving a review of heritage properties,” he said.

New guidelines make it so that if you do not review your heritage properties by a set deadline, they will be removed from the town’s heritage list.

“That’s a risk for a town like ours, we have quite a

few properties — almost 400 on the total list,” Zalepa said.

Zalepa also responded to pre-written questions about the heritage process, which he said is done through a bylaw.

“Council has identified there are a significant amount of properties that we want to review over the next few years,” he said.

A resident asked Zalepa about the possibility of homeowners not knowing their properties are in line for designation.

In late January, The Lake Report spoke with Frank and Donna Lynn Fraser in Queenston, who are fighting the heritage designation of their home at 4 Walnut St., which they say was carried out without their knowledge.

Zalepa said it is not council’s intention to assign designation without homeowner approval.

“Council is not in the process of forcing designation upon anybody,” he said,

noting that owners will be contacted before their homes being reviewed.

“What we don’t want is to jeopardize properties falling off the list, because that’s not in the community’s best interest,” Zalepa said.

Zalepa outlined how NOTL plans to navigate incoming tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

NOTL council is working with the Border Mayor’s Alliance, a group of 60 mayors across Canada with borders on the United States, Zalepa said.

“We’re working together to start the plan for what impacts could be to our businesses,” he said.

Eighty businesses and 1,700 jobs are tied to NOTL businesses selling goods to the United States, Zalepa said.

“We’re partnering with some really good people to develop proper strategies to prepare for things like that.”

juliasacco@niagaranow.com

We could tell you what makes Amica Stoney Creek different from other senior living residences. But we’d rather show you. Visit our residence and see how you can live independently, with professional, personalized care that’s always there if you need it. Call us to book a tour at 905-664-8444.

Andrew Hawlitzky The Lake Report

After the closure of Ruffino’s Pasta Bar & Grill last September, Ryan Crawford and his family are still keeping things going in Niagara-on-the-Lake with their daily farm stand, selling fresh sourdough bread and vegetables.

Ryan Crawford and family’s Itty Bitty Farm Stand offers all-Canadian daily sourdough bread sales and larger Saturday bakes following their restaurant Ruffino’s closure last September.

The week after COVID began in March 2020, Crawford launched Itty Bitty Farm Co., selling leftover vegetables from his restaurant he didn’t want to

go to waste.

“Now that we’ve changed gears since closing the restaurant we started, I decided on Saturdays let’s put out a bunch of different varieties,” said Crawford.

On “Sourdough Saturday,” the micro-bakery expands its offerings to include sourdough, rye and whole wheat loaves and bagels, along with specialty items such as pasta, sauces, preserves and seasonal fresh vegetables.

Crawford recommends arriving between noon and 1 p.m. on Saturdays because many popular varieties sell out fast.

A smaller selection is available daily at the stand including their specialty sourdough loaf, “La Roxanne.”

The bread starter, named “Roxanne,” was developed by Crawford as a chef school assignment in 1999. He’s been using it for more than 25 years.

According to Crawford, he sings “Roxanne” by The Police every time he bakes bread.

Baking at Itty Bitty Farm Co. is very much a family affair. Crawford works closely with his wife and two-year-old daughter, who “helps make bread once in a while.”

The Itty Bitty Farm stand is located at 104 Niagara St. Everything’s Ontario. Everything’s Canadian. It’s as local as possible — nothing is American on the stand and it’s baked fresh every day,” Crawford said. andrew@niagaranow.com

Five NOTL hotels in Canada’s Top 100

Paige Seburn Local Journalism Initiative

The Lake Report

Five Niagara-on-the-Lake hotels have earned spots on U.S. News & World Report’s 15th annual list of the best hotels worldwide — and each ranked in the top 100 in Canada.

The 2025 list features 31,000 properties across more than 400 destinations and includes 498 in Canada.

U.S. News evaluated hotels with four to five-star ratings and recognized some three-star hotels in select locations.

Rankings were based on a property’s industry awards, hotel class ratings and guest reviews.

To qualify, each one had to fit in U.S. News’ definition of

a hotel or resort and have at least 20 guest reviews at the time of evaluation.

White Oaks Resort & Spa placed highest among the NOTL rankings at number 25 of Canada’s Top 100 and number four among the country’s top 25 resorts — an achievement the hotel credits to its commitment to excellent service, said CEO Ameer Wakil.

“This achievement is a true testament to our dedicated team, whose passion and hard work create unforgettable stays for our guests,” he said.

Ashley Brown, director of brand and creative strategy, said this recognition affirms the resort is on the right path with its mission — To treat every guest and team member like they’re the key

to their success.

“This mantra empowers our internal culture and fuels the personal connections and experiences we create for each and every guest,” Brown said, which Anna Corman, director of human resources, seconded.

“Who could have imagined when we first opened our doors in 1978, that we would one day receive such an incredible honour — while staying true to the family values that built us?” said Dave Cassidy, director of hotel and conference operations.

Harbour House ranked second highest of NOTL rankings at number 54, with Pillar and Post Inn & Spa at number 63, Queen’s Landing at number 95 and the Oban Inn at number 97.

paigeseburn@niagaranow.com

The Lake Report OPINION

Publisher: Richard Harley

Editor-In-Chief: Richard Harley

Managing Editor: Zahraa Hmood

Editor Emeritus: Kevin MacLean

Design & Layout: Richard Harley

Advertising: Megan Vanderlee

Contributors: Denise Ascenzo, Dr. William Brown, Penny-Lynn Cookson, Linda Fritz, Patty Garriock, Steve Hardaker, Andrew Hawlitzky, Brian Marshall, NOTL Museum, Ross Robinson, Julia Sacco, Paige Seburn, Kyra Simone, Tim Taylor, Jill Troyer, Garth Turner, Dave Van de Laar, Janice White, Joanne Young and many more members of the community

The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.

Your Lake Report is the proud winner of 112 national and provincial awards for journalism and advertising excellence.

#17: Start a book exchange at your local post office or mail pickup area. Leave a note of inspiration for the next reader.

This tiny column gives tips to help promote kindness in our lives and spread joy and happiness.

Contributed by Patty Garriock

“I believe the true function of age is memory. I’m recording as fast as I can.” - Rita May Brown

HOW TO GET IN TOUCH

Email: Letters: editor@niagaranow.com

Story Ideas: editor@niagaranow.com

Advertising: advertising@niagaranow.com Phone Newsroom: 905-359-2270

Advertising Department: 905-932-5646 Office Address

496 Mississagua St., NOTL, Ontario, Canada. Mailing Address PO Box 724, Niagara-on-the-Lake, L0S1J0

Have a lead on a story?

Call 905.359.2270 or send an email to editor@niagaranow.com

Tourists can’t read signs?

Once again, to the shock of absolutely nobody, tourists are pictured frolicking on the ice at Queen’s Royal Park beach, where Lake Ontario meets the Niagara River — where the currents run quickly and the frigid water is unforgiving. Despite the clear sign to stay off the ice, these thrill-seekers are seen here putting their lives in peril for a cool selfie or two. Unfortunately, it seems like a matter of time before someone faces the consequences of their actions. Who will be to blame? DAVE VAN DE LAAR

Opinion

Calling up the troops for Stu’s Rangers

At first there were but a few. Later, a couple of dozen. And then they doubled.

As the lord mayor was enduring verbal rotten tomatoes at his latest town hall meeting, the revolutionary forces were growing at the same time. No wonder. The peasants are miffed at tax hikes double the inflation rate, local politicians playing footsie with absentee Airbnb owners and, above all, unwanted development.

Like, who asked for a honking big hotel to be erected in the middle of an Old Town residential ‘hood? Or hulking highrises to mushroom up in Glendale? And God forbid we discuss St. Davids’ notorious, evil roundabout.

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.

Underneath the thriving tourism and wine economy

is a citizenry wondering why developers always seem to get their way, why there aren’t any rentals in town, why property taxes have popped 15 per cent over two years, why town staff has swelled and why — to be heard — people had to stand outside and yell.

So, what’s needed?

“Change,” says Stuart McCormack. The one-time councillor, retired lawyer and emerging populist commander has decided it’s time to fight. “Twenty months to the next election,” he reminds. And so the NOTL Residents Association has been born. Stu’s Rangers. Look out.

Fifteen soldiers a month ago have turned into 30. Facebook page, social media and branding are coming. Some folks are offering financing.

“Clearly if people are willing to put money on the table,” McCormack says, “it tells you there’s obviously an issue, something that’s resonating in the community as to what’s going on and what’s not going on.”

The Rangers have a mission statement now. They have an org chart and a vision.

Goals include more transparency from council. A reliable and balanced budget. Protection of heritage buildings, the environment and agriculture. A more diverse economy. Appropri-

Residents frustrated over development, like the Parliament Oak hotel, may have a new vehicle soon to bring political change. FILE

ate growth. Tourism we can manage. And, hey, more young people — which means affordable places for families to live.

Says the foundation document: “We expect integrity, transparency and accountability from councillors, council staff and those seeking or holding contracts with them.”

The next step, McCormack says, is another org meeting. April, probably, Then an invitation for all residents to attend a broad open house, and see how many recruits muster up. After that, it’s all about preparing for the next election.

“If we’re dissatisfied with the current council and really want to effect change, we’ve got to find those who are willing to run. We’ve got to let people know about the job, to tell them what it is, how much

work is involved, that it’s not a part-time thing. We need to identify candidates now. If you’re not happy and want change, and if you’re not prepared to do it, do you know someone who is?” So, it begins. A battle for more open, responsive, appropriate governance for a wee town under pressure with 3.5 million visitors, lots of friendly, silky horses, $7-a-cup gelato, Manhattanpriced hotel rooms, cool houses, ravenous developers, Airbnbs galore and too many old, rich people (if you can ever have too many).

The mobilized citizens will identify candidates, endorse the good ones, hold public meetings and do report card rankings of local officials. They’re also committing to pumping out independent reports on the budgets, policies and tax edicts that flow from town hall.

It’s ironic those who have the most lasting, immediate and profound impact on citizens are usually inexperienced, unqualified, barely compensated and, like our Lordly Mayor, part-time. The commander says we can do better. “There is obviously an issue. It’s time.” Forward. To arms.

Garth Turner is a NOTL resident, journalist, author, wealth manager and former federal MP and minister. garth@garth.ca

LETTER OF THE WEEK

Town should spruce up community cafe

Dear editor:

Spring is coming and so is the need for a muchneeded spring facelift for our community cafe and hub, Sweets and Swirls. Delivering delicious nourishing sustenance with a smile and kind word come rain, snow

or shine over the past 14 years or so, the time is now to equip our beloved community resource with the infrastructure to continue doing so going forward.

The cafe is owned by the town and upgrading the facility doesn’t have to

be complicated or expensive. Simply moving the existing counter forward four feet, enlarging the refrigerated display space and opening up the serving hatch and storage space should do the trick.

A lick of paint and bingo. It’s not rocket sci -

ence. Maybe one of our councillors who regularly frequent the cafe may wish to champion this initiative — after all, what a great way to interact with the electorate.

Let’s make it happen.

Peter Warrack NOTL

We should boycott U.S. products if tariffs levied

Dear editor:

This is a further comment on the article by Ted Carmichael, “Canada should limit retaliation to potential Trump tariffs,” two weeks ago.

Firstly I entirely agree with the sentiments expressed in Brian Emes letter (“Letter: Carmichael ignored Trump’s character in opinion piece,” Feb. 13). For someone with extensive experience in the financial sector, I was puzzled that Mr. Carmi-

chael portrayed Canada as a hand-wringing supplicant rather than the U.S.’s largest trading partner.

He feels we should act fast to get the Trump administration to the table for a redo of NAFTA, but this is what we did in 2018 — and now, he has torn it up. He feels we should not boycott American products unless they do the same to us but that is precisely what they are planning- they

won’t buy our steel or aluminum with a 50 per cent tariff or our auto parts with a 25 per cent tariff.

He feels we can charm our American friends with our world-class wine and hospitality — that may work if they are from Ohio, but if they are from California, not so much.

The fact is that many Americans do already feel we are the 51st state.

OK, our banknotes are a different colour and most

everything is cheaper, but a small indication of this occurred last summer when I was in our post office standing behind an American couple who were trying to mail a letter with American stamps on it, while the staff were patiently explaining that mailing a letter in Canada with American stamps on it won’t work. They were still baffled.

Richard James NOTL

Time for Peller to cut ties with disgraced Gretzky

Dear editor:

The recent victory by Team Canada in the inaugural 4 Nations hockey tournament was tainted by Wayne Gretzky’s appearance as the ceremonial team captain.

This week’s riddle is “Jeopardy!” style. Category: SCIENCEY STUFF

A spiraling football is an example of an object displaying the angular type of this.

Last issue: SUMMING UP THE SPIELBERG MOVIE Clue: Amity Island has a very, very big tourism problem.

Answer: What is Jaws?

Answered first by: Lynda Collet

Also answered correctly (in order) by: Margaret Tarnowski, Sue Rautenberg, Al Brockway, Sarah Boccia, Claudia Grimwood, Sheila Meloche, Catherine Clarke, Michelle Wallis, Margie Enns

Email answers to editor@niagaranow.com, with your name, for a chance to win a $25 Irish Harp Pub gift card every week. (Subject line: Riddle me this) *REMEMBER TO PUT “WHAT IS” FOR JEOPARDY QUESTIONS!

It was an unsuccessful attempt to rehabilitate his reputation, mortally wounded as a result of his close association with U.S. President Donald Trump. That ill-advised association eroded all goodwill toward him, tracing to his native roots in Brantford and his past hockey glories.

Gretzky has stubbornly refused to repudiate or renounce Trump over his recent threats to Canadian economic security and territorial independence. Instead, when given an opportunity

to champion Canada after being publicly endorsed by Trump to run as the governor of the 51st state, Gretzky remained silent. He appears more loyal to the despotic leader of his adopted homeland now than to Canada, where he got his start. There’s still a winery/distillery here in Virgil bearing the Gretzky name. Does Peller, the corporate owner/ operator, plan to rebrand it now? Why continue to pay a royalty to promote local products under that brand name when Gretzky has clearly become a drag on tourist visits and sales?

Why continue to stand with a man aligned with a bully trying to intimidate our great nation into submission? 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.

Celebrate this Mother ’s Day with wine from Konzelmann, including our famous Pe achwine and Cabernet Ro sé

Trump’s appeal among American tourists and wine consumers is also fading fast, according to recent polls gauging presidential approval ratings.

Just as Ontario Premier Doug Ford has vowed to tear up a rural satellite internet services contract with Trump ally Elon Musk’s satellite company, Peller should be tearing up their royalty contract with Gretzky. We want to be proud of our local businesses and not ashamed of them. Failing to successfully rebrand could have negative impacts on the job security of our local workers, as sales and visits plunge.

In all ways, the Gretzky brand name has clearly ceased to add value as a business asset, so now would be an opportune time to erase that name from the estate and label. Shareholders, suppliers and customers need to exert pressure on the board and officers to do the right thing, as a conscientious corporate citizen of Canada.

At this point I am not yet calling for a boycott of Peller products, pending management’s reaction.

Steve McGuinness Virgil

Character goes beyond the good ol’ hockey game

Dear editor: Wayne Gretzky’s grandfather immigrated to Canada to flee Russian oppression. His grandmother was of Ukrainian descent.

Canada welcomed them with open arms and afforded them a wonderful lifestyle.

Imagine if they could see their grandson now: Friendly with a guy who threatens

Canada’s sovereignty; and a guy who cuddles up to a murderous war criminal who rains destruction and death on their homelands. Think about that. History will remember

Love games? Join us for fun events every week at the Irish Harp Pub. Details at www.theirishharppub.com

him as the #notsogreatone. It’s time to boycott all of Wayne Gretzky’s restaurant and alcohol brands, now and forever.

Steve Long NOTL

OPINION

A primer on property heritage designation

Brian Marshall Columnist

Nearly every week, a resident of Niagara-on-the-Lake asks how they can designate their property. While in past articles this columnist has spoken to the desirability of designation, we have never actually taken a look at the process of evaluating a property vis-à-vis designation.

Let’s begin by stating that a building does not have to be “old” in order to be designated. In fact, any property constructed prior to 40 years ago (1985) can qualify for a Part IV — a single property — heritage designation in the province of Ontario.

However, in order to do so, the property must meet at least two of the nine threshold criteria defined in Regulation 9/06 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

These criteria fall within three general categories. The first category considers

the design and/or physical value of the property, the second category addresses the property’s historical and/ or associative value, and the third category examines the contextual value — that is the property’s relationship(s) to its setting and its meaning to the community.

Realistically, looking at the process of evaluating your property’s heritage value needs to begin by understanding the criteria upon which it will be judged.

So, let’s do a quick and dirty examination of the criteria captured within each category.

The first criterion reads:

“The property is a rare, unique, representative or early example of a style, type, expression, material or construction method.”

The parameters of “rare” can be local, regional, provincial or national, while “unique” is one-of-a-kind (only survivor or a prototype). A “representative” property can be loosely considered as one of a similar group of visually (e.g. Georgian) and/or functionally related buildings (workers cottages etc.).

Finally, the term “early” has nothing to do with historical age, but rather, the date of its design and construction considered within the local popular period of its style,

Columnist Brian Marshall says this three-building cluster in Old Town’s dock area which would meet and exceed the threshold for heritage designation.

type, expression, et al.

A “style” — within the legislation — can be considered shared characteristics that constitute the visual presentation of a building or landscape typical of a defined group, time or place.

The term “type” speaks generally to properties serving the public — such as hospitals, parks, schools, courthouses, etc.

Interestingly, the legislation separates “type” from “expression” with the latter term relating to buildings, monuments and heritage landscapes which speak to a way of life, belief and tradition — like churches, for example.

The next criterion is: “The property displays a high degree of craftsmanship or artistic merit.”

Broadly speaking, “craftsmanship” relates to the quality of execution or technical skill displayed in the worked materials and/or construction of the property, whereas “artistic merit” considers the property through the screen of the creative process and its value as a work of art either in today’s context or at the time of its creation.

We can understand the term “high degree” to mean craftsmanship or artistic merit at a quality or intensity well above the norm.

The final criterion in this category asks if: “The property demonstrates a high degree of technical or scientific achievement.”

Here, the word “achievement” may be interpreted as innovation(s) or breakthroughs in the techniques of

construction, the materials incorporated in the build, in the design, in the forms, etc., considered within the local historical context.

Let’s now skip to the third category, contextual value, and look at the criteria by which a property is adjudged to contribute to the character of its setting and add depth to its importance to the community.

These criteria begin with: “The property is important in defining, maintaining or supporting the character of an area.”

An area — or neighbourhood — needs to have a definable character. That character may be reflected in buildings of one or more relatable architectural styles, building forms that establish a group relationship, a series of properties that together establish a sympathetic streetscape rhythm from one to the next and so on.

In short, a combination of elements, which could include natural and landscaped features, open spaces, buildings and physical installations that together provide an area with a distinctive sense of identity.

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 charac-

ter if the property were to be demolished or significantly modified.

The following criterion asks if: “The property is physically, functionally, visually or historically linked to its surroundings.”

A “physical” link is a material connection between the property and neighbouring properties.

A “functional” link is when a property fulfills a particular purpose within the area.

A “visual” link is established when a property possesses at least one (preferably more) feature which is reflected within the broader setting.

A “historical” link refers to the property having one or more connections to the historical context of the area.

The last criterion asks whether “the property is a landmark” — that is to say, is visually prominent within its context which is generally recognized as being important and meaningful to the community.

Next week, we will delve into the second category and the resources available to help in the process of designation.

Brian Marshall is a NOTL realtor, author and expert consultant on architectural design, restoration and heritage.

Religion, humanity, climate change and a god too small

Who or what God is and whether God exists at all are age-old questions. They are also questions that divided humans and led to some horrific persecutions, all in the name of one or other belief.

Humans and other social animals practiced some sort of vetting to sort out who’s in and who’s out, for 300,000 years in the case of modern humans and probably millions of years in the case of our mammalian ancestors.

For good reason too, because there’s safety with kin and close relatives and danger, perhaps, with strangers. These days, some version of vetting goes on in schools, workplaces, places of worship and certainly politics.

Vetting is perhaps most obvious in religion. For some Christian communities, queries about whether

you’ve been saved, believe in Jesus, the virgin birth and the resurrection, can all be checkboxes on your way to acceptance or rejection depending on your answers.

Similar ethnic, tribal and sectarian checkboxes exist in other religious traditions. In the case of Christianity, divisions began soon after it split from its Jewish origins and spread throughout the Mediterranean, mutating as it spread into differing versions of what it meant to be a Christian in custom and beliefs. Those divisions within and between religions mark the landscape of most religions and stand in contrast to an almost universal impulse among humans to search for meaning to their lives and, along the way, sometimes create gods. This impulse is so universal that some neuroscientists and psychologists suggest the brain might be hardwired for religion. However, trying to make sense of religion, and especially the many siloed subsets of religious belief systems and worldviews, can be a minefield for those searching for clarity and a more universal belief system.

Our blinkered approach to those of other cultures and beliefs is at odds with those first glimpses of “Earthrise” taken by cameras based on the moon taken in 1968, and the “Pale Blue Dot,” as Carl Sagan famously expressed it, of Earth glimpsed by Voyager from the edge of the solar system, taken Feb. 14, 1990. To look back at those now iconic pictures, it’s hard to escape the feeling that we are all in this together — and wouldn’t it be better to foster common ground?

With those perspectives in mind, the cultural and religious check boxes with which humans define their tribes seem wrong-headed and hearted.

We need to see the wider picture if we’re going to solve huge challenges such as climate change.

Climate change transcends borders, cultures

and beliefs and is insoluble without the willingness and determination of all peoples and countries to work together. N

o one country or group of countries can solve humancreated climate change. It’s a case of “all hands on deck” if we’re going to solve climate change in time.

Closely related is the question of whether humans have the moral sense to help those most affected by climate change.

Moral behavior is not limited to modern humans. Our ancestors living many thousands of generations ago left evidence that they, like us and some living primates, provided longterm care for the disabled in their midst.

That doesn’t mean they were saints. Far from it, there is plenty of evidence for violence in ancient times and among chimpanzees today.

But the violation of human rights record for modern humans has been far worse — look no further than Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Ukraine in recent times.

Which raises the question: Where was God in all that misery?

The evidence suggests that the God many of us worship may be much too small and sectarian.

For a God that created the universe, many trillions of stars and planetary bodies, the natural laws, the beginning and evolution of life on this planet and probably countless other life-sustaining planets, would surely be beyond our imagination and the beliefs and creation stories of countless human cultures.

Such a God would have created the very principles that underpin physics, chemistry, biology, genetics and evolution, which humans continue to discover and employ to better understand the cosmos and our place in it.

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.

In short, if there is a God, that God lets life play out with little interference, as Albert Einstein repeatedly suggested.

Einstein’s views on God were captured by Corey S. Powell’s contribution

to John Brockman’s 2005 book, “My Einstein,” from which the following quote from Powell comes.

“Just as Einstein’s belief in beautiful, orderly, scientific theories mirrored a child’s view of the world, so his belief in God as the ultimate manifestation of that order expressed an idealistic notion that God is so much greater than humankind that he cannot be found in any one faith. He repeatedly described the ‘cosmic religious feeling’ that accompanies great scientific discoveries and declared in New York Times Magazine that ‘in this materialistic age of ours, the serious scientific workers are the only profoundly religious people.’” For a different take on God, readers might want to listen to New York Times columnist David Brooks’ audio piece from December, in which he chronicled his journey to belief in God, called “I Found Faith in a Crowded Subway Car.” It’s worth listening to.

Dr. William Brown is a professor of neurology at McMaster University and co-founder of the InfoHealth series at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library.

From cranky of Niagara to the kindness of Vietnam

Ross Robinson Columnist

Yer local rambler has just returned to relaxed and beautiful Niagara-on-theLake after 16 days in Vietnam. Both areas are beautiful geographically, but what a shocking difference in interpersonal attitudes.

It seems to me we often have it wrong when it comes to our interactions with our neighbours and fellow NOTLers.

To catch up with the local news and happenings, when I returned I picked up the last three weekly copies of The Lake Report. Why can’t we just love each other, be kind, and get along with those folks who have different ideas about where

Niagara-on-the-Lake should be heading?

I sincerely wish the locals could take a pill, relax and be kinder about development and the roundabout.

Reading between the lines of The Lake Report, I could feel big doses of anger, crankiness, know-it-allness, frustration and shortness. Intelligent change can be good, and I believe our elected leaders are doing their best, in good faith, as they navigate the myriad rules and regulations put in place by our various levels of government.

And why would any jurisdiction have an election campaign during a doozie of a winter storm?

I was wearing shorts and light apparel, in a faraway part of the world, so didn’t have to risk my life to door knock for Gates, or drill into frozen and snowcovered ground to install orange lawn signs. Thank goodness the Trumpster is so easy to dislike. His bullying behaviour made the recent hockey win even sweeter.

I was in Vietnam, totally

unaware of the Four Nations hype job. Tell me, please, who were the other two teams?

Let me ramble back to interpersonal attitudes.

The main purpose of my trip to Vietnam was to “close a circle” in my life. How self-centred, shallow and self-focused my life has been.

Vietnam should have been a central issue in my life in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. I vaguely remember feeling a bit guilty.

Not a worry in the world about going to war in Vietnam, just because I was a Canadian citizen.

My American pals had lots of worries and one of them got picked early in the infamous Fishbowl Lottery on Dec. 1, 1969. He got killed in this unpopular war.

I was somewhat aware of the War in Vietnam and the many protests. President Eisenhower talked about the communism domino effect in Indochina. Demonstrators chanted “Hey hey LBJ, how many kids did you kill today?” Kent State. It was serious stuff.

Coincident with the civil rights movement and the Black Liberation Front at Cornell, Woodstock, music

and drugs, women fighting for more opportunities and respect, was I actively involved or acutely aware of any of these issues?

Not really. I was very intent on having the absolute best possible times studying in Ithaca and working summer jobs on Cape Cod and Nantucket. Studying hard enough to get my degree, elegantly printed on parchment.

Looking back, my ambition was to get a degree, not to get an education. Big difference, eh? Shortsighted. Dumb.

The Cornell Black Liberation Front chapter took over our student union building, wearing balaclavas and brandishing really long and loaded rifles. A chilling picture on the cover of Time Magazine.

To reiterate, my main goal was to get a degree and to have a non-stop great time.

Pangs of guilt over the years, and last month, a trip to Vietnam.

Day tours of the DMZ, and some of the areas that were totally destroyed with Agent Orange and other chemicals. Tens of thou-

sands of bombs dropped on huge swaths of land. Entire villages decimated.

An afternoon, three brutally reflective hours spent at the War Remnants Museum in Saigon. Reflecting. I couldn’t eat that evening. Or sleep that night. Two days later, I went back, alone, for another three hours of contemplation.

Spoke with a lady from California whose older brother had served in combat in Vietnam. “He made it home, luckily. But he was never the same. He never recovered from his horrible time in Nam. In those days, no PTSD counselling. You are home. Figure it out.”

As she left, “Thanks for listening to me.”

So there, I now have a much greater understanding of the Vietnam War.

Today, over 100 million people in Vietnam have somehow moved on. In Vietnam, and here in Canada, they are hardworking, honest, happy, smiley, gentle and kind.

There’s that word again. Let’s be kinder to each other.

Polish Soliders on King Street

This photograph was taken from the former train station on King Street (today Balzac’s Coffee shop). It shows Polish soldiers, with their luggage in hand, marching up King Street towards the Niagara Commons military training grounds during the First World War. Over 20,000 Polish Americans were trained here to support the work of the Allies. The Polish saw the war as an opportunity to reclaim Poland, which had been partitioned by several Axis powers beginning in 1795. You will note the Polish flag is upside down. Unfortunately, these soldiers had never seen their country’s flag fly before. They had a 50/50 chance of getting it right, and sadly, they chose wrong. But they still proudly flew it. The Niagara Hotel, (today the Prince of Wales) stands prominently in the background. Note the building next door which no longer exists today. In 1899, Patrick J. O’Neil took over running the hotel and in 1909, he began construction on this addition. This new building was at one time used as bedroom apartments. The stone building remained on the site until at least 1949, at which time it was torn down, and a sympathetic addition was put on by the 1970s.

‘Geriatric party animals’ head to Cambridge University

Paige Seburn Local Journalism Initiative

The Lake Report

When Jean Ford was a young woman, she was offered a spot at Cambridge University, but circumstances kept her from attending.

Now, decades later, she, 78 and her husband, Lewis, 85 — self-described “geriatrics” — are heading to England for a weekend course at the university.

From March 7 to 9, the Fords will delve into the world of Anglo-Saxon archeology — exploring everything from daily life and housing to food and leisure from that time, while also engaging with historical artifacts.

The local couple has always had a vested interest in learning, evidenced by their combined five degrees between the two of them.

“One of the first things Jean ever said to me when we met was: ‘A day in your life in which you’ve not learned something is a day wasted,’” Lewis said, add-

ing that they have always had the same interest in history, too.

Jean and Lewis’ love for history is why they continue to live in a town with as much historical significance as Niagara-onthe-Lake, Jean said.

“This course in Cam-

bridge just dovetails everything together perfectly,” Lewis said.

The course costs 1,000 pounds per person and will include several sessions on Anglo-Saxon life over the three days, Lewis said. The Anglo-Saxon period of England took place from

the fifth century to the 11th century.

The couple will stay and dine with other Cambridge students during the course.

The experience is about more than just learning for Jean — it’s about finally stepping foot into the university.

“I always wanted to fulfill my desire to go to Cambridge,” she said.

One day, she may even turn the knowledge she gains from this into something larger on paper.

“I’ve certainly thought of writing a novel based on Anglo-Saxons,” she said.

But for Lewis, “The joy is in acquiring the knowledge.”

When the Fords told friends and family about their upcoming journey, it received positive feedback.

“They’re very happy for us,” Jean said.

But not everyone is on board with the trip — their Siamese cat, Empress Maddy, has been giving Jean and Lewis the cold shoulder, Jean said.

The couple encouraged other seniors in town to take advantage of “lifelong learning” at Cambridge.

“There’s a lot of seniors in this community,” Jean said. “If they see that there’s a possibility for lifelong learning with different interesting courses, they might be interested.”

Whether others would travel all the way to England for it — like “crazy people” — is another story, Lewis said with a laugh, proudly calling himself and Jean “geriatric party animals.”

paigeseburn@niagaranow.com

Obituaries

Gerald Whittaker

WHITTAKER, Gerald (Gerry)Gerry passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in his 98th year. He is predeceased by the love of his life, Aline Giselle (Poirier) of 54 years of marriage, whom he met in Joliette, Quebec.

Gerry was a loving father to his three children: Brian Whittaker (Diana), Susan Whittaker Schmidt (David) and Sharon Whittaker (Robert Andrews). He was the beloved Grandad to his five grandchildren Kathryn, Benjamin, Erin, Lidija and Eva and seven great-grandchildren. Gerry was predeceased by his parents Fred Whittaker (Lillian Sturman) and sisters Patricia Peters (Hanley), and Joan Reed (Garth).

Gerry’s parents emigrated from England to Magog, Quebec where he was born on May 30, 1927. At the age of 18 years, while living with his family in the U.S., he was drafted into the Army towards the end of the Second World War and posted to the Panama Canal. He was a graduate of Shawinigan Technical Institute and loved working with his hands as an accomplished draftsman, woodworker, plumber and electrician. His career included employment at CIL Montreal, HG Acres, Foster Wheeler, and Stelco.

Gerry moved his family to Niagara-on-the-Lake in 1962. His passion and commitment to serve his community, and experience as a volunteer firefighter, eventually earned him the position of the town’s first full-time Fire Chief. As a long time resident, Gerry also served on NOTL’s Hospital Board, was a leading member of the Niagara Regional Fire Buffs, and participated in many town initiatives. Our Dad was an honest, gentle-natured husband and father, devoted to his family, friends, and community. His unwavering, on-call dedication in helping others, will be fondly remembered and sorely missed by everyone who knew him.

The family would like to express our thanks to all of the staff at Woodlands of Sunset Regional Long term care home in Welland for their care and dedication to Gerry and all the residents!

The family will receive friends at Morgan Funeral Home, 415 Regent St., Niagara-on-the-Lake, on Monday, March 17, 2025, from 2-5 p.m. Cremation has taken place, and a private family interment will follow later. Donations in memory of Gerry may be directed to the ALS or Alzheimers Societies of Canada. Memories, photos and condolences may be shared at www.morganfuneral.com

Emil Bende

BENDE, Emil John – passed away peacefully at the age of 79 on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025 at St. Catharines General Hospital. Beloved husband of Valeria Sebella for 55 years. Loving father of James (Karrie) Bende and grandfather of AshtonDakota. Dear brother of Lydia (Joseph) Gardisch, and adored brother-in-law of Diana (Digby) Westwood, and Charles (Angela) Sebella. Emil cherished his many nieces and nephews, Michele (Kevin) Tower, Walter (Diane) Gardisch, Mark Westwood, David Westwood, Katherine (Kyle) Brown, and Lisa (Basil) Sebella. Proud great uncle to Katie, Matthew, Sebastian, Warren, and twins Geo and Finn. Emil’s integrity, unwavering love, and deep devotion to his family will be forever missed. Dedicating his professional life to Marine Operations, Emil served the Maid of the Mist loyally as General Manager until his retirement in 2014. Arrangements entrusted to Morgan Funeral Home, 415 Regent St., Niagara-on-the-Lake. A private internment has taken place at Fairview Cemetery in Niagara Falls. A celebration of life for Emil will be held Saturday, March 8, 2025 2-4 p.m. for family and friends. Memories, photos, and condolences may be shared at www.morganfuneral.com

Burt Ward

WARD, Burt James Jr. —

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Burt Ward, aged 76, on Feb. 10, 2025 in Niagara Falls. Burt was born in Niagara Falls on June 2, 1948, and was a proud resident of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

He is survived by his brother, Grant Ward, and is fondly remembered by countless friends, neighbours, relatives, and the entire community. Burt’s legacy will live on as a proud graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College, a dedicated farmer, a loyal friend, and an active member of the Kinsmen.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Kinsmen Hall on Saturday, June 7 at 2 p.m. If desired, donations in Burt’s memory may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Naomi Lee

Naomi Jean Lee (nee Garton), March 13, 1947 - Feb. 4, 2025

Naomi was born in Sarnia, Ontario, on March 13, 1947, and passed away at the Humber River Hospital in Toronto on Feb. 4, 2025, in her 78th year. She was predeceased by her husband, John Davidson Lee (“Dave”), who died on Dec. 12, 2021. They had been married for 52 years.

Naomi is survived by her sister, Nola Garton, her niece, Courtney, Courtney’s husband, Rafal, and her three grand nephews, Jack, Evan and Hugo.

Naomi is also survived by her and Dave’s two remarkable and dearly loved parrots, Niki and Munchkin, both of whom are in their thirties and are now well-settled and thriving at the Parrot Partners’ bird sanctuary in Carlton Place (Ottawa).

Naomi was a person of prodigious intellect and who maintained a keen interest throughout her life in both science and the arts. After graduating from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Science (Honours Chemistry) degree, she went on to obtain a Master of Arts (Sociology) degree from Carlton University. She and Dave spent their working lives in Ottawa.

Naomi worked for the federal government for over 25 years. She was initially employed by Statistics Canada and later by the Department of Justice. Following their respective retirements, she and Dave settled in Niagara-on-the-Lake, where the longer growing season allowed them to fully enjoy their beautiful garden, which was designed by Dave. They also had time to enjoy the theatre – Shaw, Stratford, the Grand in London and elsewhere. After Dave’s passing, and with her own health failing, Naomi moved to the Seniors’ Residence at Parkland on Eglinton West in Toronto.

Naomi was a beautiful figure skater in her youth. She had a great love of nature and all creatures great and small. Any wildlife that happened to wander onto her property was observed and appreciated, including chipmunks, rabbits, skunks, and mice. Naomi had a particular empathy for the plight of mice – Robert Burns’ poem, “To a Mouse”, was one of her favourites.

Naomi’s love of music sustained her as her health declined. Listening to classical music eased her pain. She also found great comfort in reading and reciting poetry – she had memorized reams of poetry over the years. One of her favourite poets was Emily Dickinson. Naomi had marked and no doubt agreed with the following passage from one of Dickinson’s poems:

There is no Frigate like a Book

To Take us Lands away

Nor any Coursers like a Page

Of prancing Poetry.

Although physically weak, Naomi remained strong intellectually and managed to maintain her witty and dry sense of humour until the end. She will be greatly missed.

The family gives special thanks to the staff at the Humber River Hospital for the kindness and compassion they gave to Naomi. Thanks are also given to the Parkland staff who cared for Naomi after she moved to Toronto.

For those who wish to do so, donations may be made to the non-profit bird sanctuary, Parrot Partners Canada, 25 Industrial Avenue, Carlton Place, Ontario, K7C 3V7, www.parrotpartners.org

Let us help you share memories of your loved ones. Email megan@niagaranow.com for pricing options.

Free packing of your house / Estate cleanup / Decluttering services

World class videography, photos and drone footage, high quality hard cover print brochures & advertising in print media

Large social media presence and extensive unique marketing techniques

Your property will be globally listed gaining world wide exposure and will be seen on 48 real estate boards in Ontario

Home renovation experience < experienced >

Help Elderly Relocate

Passionate to be of service

We offer a 24/7 open line of communication

Several testimonials and 5 star reviews

Exceptional sales record

Respected by colleagues and community

Long term presence in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Local Right at Home Realty Team Office in NOTL (Over 6000 in GTA, #1 independent brokerage in the GTA for 10 years**)

Angelika previously owned a highly successful marketing/media business in Toronto for over 20 years. Built relationships with Fortune 500, big banks, CTV, Global, Olympics, Film Festival. Over 10 years of real estate business.

Abundance of knowledge in all aspects of real properties (waterfront, residential, agricultural, commercial and leases)

Up to date on Mortgage trends and state of economy, strategy to sell Contribution to charities

Lead sponsor in Chamber of Commerce NOTL Golf Tournament 2023

Wealth of knowledge

Your property is seen on all 23 Real Estate boards in Ontario plus globally listed in over 200 countries