October 2024 Edition

Welcome to the third edition of NOTL News! We’re excited to share the latest happenings and stories from around Niagara-on-the-Lake and bring you updates on upcoming fall and winter events. Thank you for your continued support and engagement with this newsletter. It has been wonderful to see the newsletter gaining traction with the community.

Don’t forget to subscribe to NOTL News on the Town’s website at www.notl.com/subscribe to stay connected and informed about everything happening in our beautiful Town.

As we welcome the crisp air and vibrant colours of fall here in Niagara-on-the-Lake, I want to reflect on the hard work and dedication of our Staff over the summer and early fall. From responding to significant flooding and addressing residents' concerns to caring for our parks, maintaining infrastructure, and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations, their efforts kept our Town safe, welcoming and well-managed for both residents and visitors.

This summer saw great engagement on our sports fields, many visitors in our downtown core, and a variety of events that brought our community together.

As we transition into fall and prepare for the winter months, I look forward to the opportunities ahead. This time of year is perfect for coming together as a community, enjoying our local harvests, and celebrating the many seasonal events.

Thank you for tuning into the third edition of NOTL News! Stay tuned for the final edition of 2024, which will be out in December.

What inspired you to become a Town Councillor?

My inspiration to become a Town Councillor stemmed from a noticeable lack of representation for youth and families in our community. I felt it was crucial to ensure that these groups had a voice in our local governance. It was also time that a person who lived in St. Davids was elected to Council. As the development continued and the population grew, I was inspired to be the voice of this area. My kids go to school in St. Davids, and we frequently use the parks and walk around the neighbourhood.

As you reflect on your time as Councillor, what are you most proud of?

I am very proud that someone who resides in St. Davids now has a seat on Town Council; it is long overdue. Secondly, I am incredibly proud of the attention and resources this Council is putting into parks and recreation. Our community spaces and facilities are vital to Niagara-on-the-Lake. The programming has improved at the Community Centre and has grown to other villages, which was much needed. It is a space where residents of all ages gather, interact and build our community.

Lastly, one of my greatest sources of pride has been demonstrating to my children that change begins with us. By actively participating in local government, I hope to show them the importance of taking the initiative to create the changes we wish to see in the world.

What do you see as top priorities in the Town right now?

Our immediate priorities involve completing the key items outlined in our Strategic Plan for this term. It would be a significant achievement to finalize the Parks and Recreation Masterplan, the Transportation Masterplan, and the Tourism Strategy. These projects will serve as clear roadmaps for the Town's future and leave a lasting legacy for this Council.

Are there any upcoming projects or initiatives you're particularly excited about?

I am particularly excited about the potential development of a new community facility in St. Davids and an updated pool. Given our growing population, the current pool is heavily utilized, and the Library is now running programs out of the Firehall. Addressing the lack of indoor facilities in St. Davids is a pressing need that I am eager to tackle.

What do you love most about Niagara-on-the-Lake?

What I love most about Niagara-on-the-Lake is its incredible community. The people are the heart of this town, and their vibrant spirit truly defines what makes Niagara-on-the-Lake special.

Council Corner

Council Meetings provide an opportunity for residents to stay informed and engaged with the decisions shaping our community. Residents are welcome to attend meetings in person at Town Hall (1593 Four Mile Creek Road, Virgil) or tune in online to watch the discussions live at www.notl.com. Agendas and minutes are available for review, allowing you to stay up to date with the latest topics. In this section, we’re highlighting just a few of the many important initiatives and actions taken by Council over the past few months.

Council Meeting – July 30, 2024 🔗

• KPMG presented the 2023 Audit Report.

• Lord Mayor Zalepa gave a presentation on building connections with Frankenmuth, Michigan.

• Council approved the 2023 Financial Statements and Audit Findings Report.

• Council proclaimed September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Council Meeting – September 24, 2024 🔗

• The 2025 Budget timeline was approved.

• October 24, 2024, was proclaimed Child Care Worker & Early Childhood Education Appreciation Day.

• The Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library gave a mid-year update.

• Jill Croteau, Physician Recruitment & Retention Specialist, provided an update on Physician recruitment in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Look Back (July to September 2024)

Dog Days of Fire Safety: The Town's Community Risk Reduction Division partnered with the Humane Society of Greater Niagara on a fire safety campaign, "The Dog Days of Fire Safety.", which featured a series of social media posts showcasing an adoptable dog alongside a firefighter and included an important fire safety message. This wonderful initiative resulted in 32 of the 43 animals being adopted! Learn more about this adorable initiative by reading the Town's media release 🔗.

Play in the Park: From July 8 to August 29, the Town hosted its “Play in the Park” initiative, a free, unstructured drop-in program that engaged children, youth, and adults in outdoor play. Thank you to the over 500 participants who came to Play in the Park with us this summer! We can't wait to Play in the Park next summer.

Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library Children’s Summer Programs: The Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library's 2024 Summer season featured expanded baby and toddler programs, new weekly events in St. Davids, and diverse activities for children of all ages. Highlights included Giggle & Grow for ages 0-2, Tumble Tots for ages 2-4, and art, tech, and science programs for ages 4-11, as well as weekly pop-up events in the various villages. The Library looks forward to building on this year’s success with even more exciting offerings next summer.

Heritage Trail Donations: Members of Town Council, the Heritage Trail Committee, and Town Staff gathered at the Line 1 Road entrance to the Heritage Trail to raise awareness about the Heritage Trail Rehabilitation Project. The committee is currently looking for donations to complete Phase 3 of the project. Learn more about this project and how you can contribute by visiting the Heritage Trail Committee's website 🔗.

CKTB Round Table Event: On July 9 at the Shaw Festival Theatre, Newstalk 610 CKTB host Steph Vivier interviewed Lord Mayor Zalepa, Town Staff, representatives from the Shaw Festival, Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce, and Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum for the "CKTB Round Table Road Trip" across the Niagara Region. The show's topics included NOTL tourism, heritage sites, the Town's beautification projects, the Park and Recreation Master Plan, Strategic Plan advancements and more! Please contact communications@notl.com for links to the recordings.

Parks and Recreation Masterplan: The Town launched public engagement opportunities for its Parks and Recreation Master Plan, a comprehensive initiative designed to enhance and expand the community's parks, recreation, and facilities for current and future generations. The survey closed on August 31, marking the completion of the first step in this process. Stay tuned for more engagement opportunities and learn more about this project by visiting the Parks and Recreation Masterplan project page🔗.

Association of Municipalities Ontario (AMO) Conference: Town Council and Staff from Niagara-on-the-Lake actively participated in key delegations at the annual AMO Conference, held from August 18 to 21 in Ottawa, Ontario. A primary objective of attending AMO is to bring forward local issues and advocate for provincial support through direct collaboration with ministries. Learn more about the delegations by reading the Town’s media release🔗.

Electrifying Eels Swim Team: The Niagara-on-the-Lake Electrifying Eels Swim Team won the Regional Summer Swim Meet in August at the Niagara Pool, where the Town hosted more than 200 swimmers from across the Region! A big thank you to the dedicated Town Staff, coaches, and lifeguards who made this possible and to everyone who supported our team. Go EELS!

Annual Report: The Town’s 2023 Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, is ready for you to read! This report highlights the accomplishments from the 2023 year. Read the online version of the Annual Report🔗.

2024-2025 Fall/Winter Community Guide: The most recent edition of the Community Guide launched and is available for you to read online at www.notl.com/community-guide, with printed copies available at select locations throughout Town. This publication provides readers with lots of great information about Niagara-on-the-Lake and how to get involved in various programming!

A Day of Romance: On September 15, the Town presented the first Key to the Town to renowned artist and long-time resident Trisha Romance in a public ceremony. The event was a great success, honouring Trisha Romance's exceptional talent and contributions to the community's cultural and economic vitality, marking the 40th anniversary of her first local gallery. To learn more about this important, please read the full media release🔗.

Back to School: The 2024 back-to-school season kicked off on September 3, 2024. The Town wishes all students, teachers, and school faculty a wonderful 2024/2025 school year ahead!

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Ceremony: On September 27, the Town held its annual flag-raising and lowering ceremony at Town Hall, followed by a reflective walk in observance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Additionally, for the third year in a row, the Strong Water Singers joined the Town with a captivating performance. This important day is a time to honour the children who never returned home, the survivors of residential schools, and their families. Reflecting on the tragic history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is essential to the reconciliation process.

Queenston Volunteer Firefighters 75th Anniversary: On October 11 and 12, the Queenston Volunteer Firefighters Association (QVFA) celebrated 75 years of their Association. The purpose of the Association is to serve as a social organization for firefighters for the benefit of the local community. Congratulations on 75 years! 

Public Skating: On October 12, the Town’s Meridian and Credit Union Arenas opened for public skating! Tie up your laces and get ready for a great season of skating. View the full schedule🔗to find your perfect skating session.

Fall Programming: Fall Youth & Family programming began on September 29, offering lots of exciting programs, including Sportball, Home Alone Training, Babysitting Basics, PA Day Camps, and our new Growing Arts program. There's something fun for everyone! Didn't register for fall programming? No worries! Winter registration opens in December. For more information, visit the Town's website🔗.

Queen-Picton Heritage Con. District Expansion: Niagara-on-the-Lake initiated a review to potentially expand the Queen-Picton Heritage Conservation District (HCD), aiming to preserve the heritage of Old Town. Volunteers, including local historians and heritage experts, surveyed built heritage, landscapes, and treescapes. Their findings will be used to guide future planning with the support of an external consulting team. More details can be found in the full media release here🔗.

Thanksgiving Contest: The Town held a Thanksgiving contest on its social media channels for users to share why they are thankful to live or visit NOTL! Many expressed gratitude for the Town's stunning natural beauty, including the hiking trails, scenic landscapes, and the Niagara Parkway. Others highlighted the strong sense of community, welcoming neighbours, rich history, walkable environment, local wineries, charming shops, and vibrant agricultural heritage! Congratulations to Kathryn, who was the winner of the contest!

Fire Prevention Week: Fire Prevention Week in Niagara-on-the-Lake celebrates the outstanding work of our NOTL Fire & Emergency Services Department, especially our Fire Prevention Team. Their efforts in education, inspections, and outreach, along with the commitment of our volunteer firefighters, are key to keeping our community safe. This annual week in October raises awareness about essential fire safety practices like installing smoke alarms and creating fire escape plans. It serves as a reminder that preparedness saves lives, and we thank our team for their dedication to keeping our Town safe!

Andrew Niven Appointed to Fill Vacant Council Seat: Niagara-on-the-Lake Town Council appointed Andrew Niven to fill the vacant Council seat. Niven, a respected community leader and Chair of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce and Tourism NOTL, brings extensive experience in local initiatives and business advocacy. Please join Council and the Town in welcoming Councillor Niven to this role! Learn more about Niven's appointment and background 🔗.

Look Ahead (October to December 2024)

Town Closures: Residents are reminded that Town Hall is closed for the Holidays (Tuesday, December 24 at 12:00 p.m. to Thursday, January 2 at 8:30 a.m.)

Resident Parking Passes and Dog Tags: Niagara-on-the-Lake residents can take advantage of Resident Parking Passes, allowing up to three hours of free parking in the Heritage District, where fees apply. For details, visit the Town's website🔗. Additionally, all dogs must be licensed annually under By-law 4512-11 through DocuPet. Pet owners can easily register online, by mail, or in person, with tags mailed directly to their homes. Learn more about pet licensing at notl.docupet.com🔗.

Expanded Library Services: Starting this fall, the Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library🔗 will expand services in St. Davids weekly on Tuesdays from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the St. Davids Fire Hall (745 Warner Road). Adult tech workshops and tutoring, children’s after-school programming, and a curated collection for all ages will be available. The Library is grateful to the St. Davids Firefighters for providing the space and looks forward to offering these enhanced services to engage and benefit the community.

Community Guide: The Town’s 2024 Fall/Winter Community Guide went live in early September. Read the online version. The Town will be looking for businesses to advertise with the Town for its 2025 Spring/Summer Community Guide. For details, please visit the Town’s website🔗.

2025 Budget: The Town’s 2025 budget process has begun, with a 2025 budget survey open for engagement until October 31, 2024. The survey and details about this year’s budget process can be found on the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake's budget project page🔗.

Welcoming Back our Resident-Named Snowplows: As the snow begins to fall in Niagara-on-the-Lake, the Town’s named fleet of six snowplows and two sidewalk plows will be hard at work. The fleet includes Sled Zeppelin, Buzz Ice-Clear, Ctrl Salt Delete, Skip the Ditches, Catch my Drift, Darth Blader, Snow-be-gone Kenobi, and Scoop Dogg. Keep an eye out for these hardworking plows as they help keep our streets and sidewalks clear this winter!

Snowplow Tracker: The Town’s interactive plow tracker informs the community of the Town's snow removal efforts with real-time updates and the ability to monitor where salt and sand have been distributed, what roads have been cleared and where the snowplows have been within the past 24 hours. Use the software on the Town’s website 🔗.

Strategic Plan

Town Staff continue to make progress on the Strategic Plan 🔗. With 58% of our indicators of success on target, above target, or already complete as of March of 2024, we're seeing significant momentum. This progress reflects Staff's dedication to enriching and protecting the Town's heritage, agriculture and natural beauty while creating a resilient, vibrant and welcoming community for all. Below are a few key milestones that highlight our ongoing success:

• Nine Heritage Designations are currently underway.

• An Economic Development Officer has been hired and will help to attract and retain businesses.

• For the eleventh year straight, the Town’s annual financial report has been awarded the Canadian Award for Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada! Staff's effort in this regard helps to set the Town up for a financially sustainable future.

• Two new positions were approved in the 2024 budget, which will greatly impact the success of the Enrich Community Assets, Environment, & Infrastructure Pillar: An Asset Management Coordinator and a Climate Change Coordinator will soon be hired.

• A new Service Delivery Database was rolled out in January, which streamlined the service delivery process, enhancing efficiencies, reducing errors, and improving customer experience.

Strategic Plan Dashboard

Stay tuned for our next Strategic Plan report and Dashboard🔗update, coming in December, as we continue to advance toward our community's goals.

Thank you for joining us for the third edition of NOTL News! We hope you’ve enjoyed catching up on all the latest news and events happening around our vibrant community.

We’re always eager to hear from you—If there’s something you’d like to see featured in a future edition, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at communications@notl.com. Wishing you a wonderful couple of months ahead!  😀

Subscribe to receive this newsletter and other Town communications:

Subscribe