June 2026 Edition

The Town is pleased to share the first monthly edition of NOTL News as part of an enhanced approach to resident communications. Transitioning to a monthly format will allow the Town to provide more timely, consistent, and coordinated updates on municipal projects, services, events, and community initiatives throughout the year.

Thank you for staying connected with the Town. We look forward to continuing to keep residents informed and engaged. If you haven’t already, we invite you to subscribe to NOTL News to receive the latest updates delivered straight to your inbox.

Welcome to the latest edition of NOTL News!

June is one of the most vibrant times of year in Niagara-on-the-Lake, with the community coming alive through events, programs, tourism, outdoor activities, and community initiatives taking place across Town. There are many opportunities to get involved and enjoy everything the season has to offer.

Alongside the busy season, Town Staff continue advancing key projects and initiatives focused on improving services, enhancing infrastructure, and supporting Council’s priorities. As always, our goal is to keep residents informed, engaged, and connected to the work happening across Niagara-on-the-Lake. We hope that this new monthly format does just that. 

Thank you for taking the time to read NOTL News and for staying connected with the Town throughout the year.

Council Highlights

Council Meetings provide residents with an opportunity to stay informed and engaged in decisions that shape the community. Meetings can be attended in person at Town Hall or viewed live online through the Town’s website, with agendas and minutes also available for review.

Following each meeting, Council Update News Releases are shared to highlight key decisions, discussions, and actions. Residents are encouraged to review the latest May Council Update.

June Meeting Dates

• Committee of the Whole - Planning: Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
• Committee of the Whole - General: Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
• Council: Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.

Official Plan Approved

Council has officially adopted Niagara-on-the-Lake’s new Official Plan following approval at the May 26, 2026 Council meeting. The new Official Plan will guide long-term growth and planning decisions across the community, including land use, housing, agriculture, heritage conservation, transportation, and environmental protection.

The next step in the process is provincial approval. The Town will now submit the adopted Official Plan to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH), which became the approval authority for lower-tier official plans in 2025. The Province will review the Plan for consistency with provincial legislation and planning policies, including the Provincial Planning Statement, Greenbelt Plan, and Niagara Official Plan.

The provincial review process typically allows for a 120-day review period once a complete submission is received, although timelines may extend if modifications, consultation requirements, or appeals arise. The Official Plan will not fully come into force until provincial approval is granted and any appeal periods have concluded.

Visit the Town's Official Plan webpage for more information. 

May Snapshot

It’s been a busy few weeks in Niagara-on-the-Lake! Here are a few recent highlights from around the community:

Simcoe Park Playground Opened: Families are already enjoying the Town’s new inclusive and accessible playground space.

Virgil Stampede Returned: The community came together for another exciting weekend of rides, entertainment, and fireworks.

Summer Preparations Underway: Parks Staff have been busy installing hanging baskets and beautifying parks and public spaces across Town.

Aquatics Registration Opened: Swimming lessons, public swims, and aquatic programs are now open for registration for the 2026 season.

Niagara District Court House Reopened: One of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s most historic landmarks welcomed visitors back for the season.

Mental Health Awareness at Committee of the Whole - General: Council welcomed local student Spencer Mitchell to share a presentation following Mental Health Week in Canada.

Heritage Fair Project Presentations at Council: Council welcomed local students Kayla Thwaites and Zach Neufeld from Crossroads Public School to share presentations on local heritage. 

National Financial Reporting Recognition: The Town received the Canadian Award for Financial Reporting for the 13th consecutive year.

Voting day for the 2026 Municipal Council and School Board election is Monday, October 26, 2026. Visit the Register to Vote website to confirm, update, or add your information to the voter's list ahead of the 2026 municipal council and school board election. Nomination Period ends on August 21, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.

Key Elections Dates

• May 1 - December 31, 2026: Campaign Period
• August 21, 2026: Nomination Day
• August 21, 2026: Withdrawal of Candidacy
• August 24, 2026: Certification of Nominations
• August 27, 2026: Election Signs Erected
• October 26, 2026: Election Day
• October 27, 2026: Official Election Results

For more information, visit the elections page on our website. 

Coming Up in June

The Town is excited to share upcoming initiatives, events, and opportunities that will continue to shape and enhance life in Niagara-on-the-Lake. 

Parks and Recreation Month: Get outside and celebrate Parks and Recreation Month by exploring Niagara-on-the-Lake’s parks, trails, playgrounds, pools, splash pad, sports fields, and more. Visit the Town’s website to discover recreation programs, facilities, and seasonal amenities available this summer.

Play in the Park: Play in the Park returns this summer with free outdoor activities, games, and unstructured play opportunities for children and families across Niagara-on-the-Lake. Visit the Play in the Park page for schedules and participating park locations.

Summer Camp – Limited Spaces Available: Register now for the Town’s Summer Day Camp programs for children ages 6–12. Camps include themed activities, games, crafts, swimming, outdoor play, and more. Limited spaces remain; visit the Day Camp Program page for registration details.

Aquatics Programs: Make a splash this summer with swimming lessons, public swims, aqua fitness, lane swims, and more at the Niagara Pool and St. Davids Pool. Programs are available for all ages and skill levels. Visit the Aquatics page for schedules and registration information.

Adult & Senior Recreation Programs: Stay active and connected at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Centre with fitness classes, pickleball, Tai Chi, card games, dance programs, and more. Visit the Town’s website to explore available programs and activities.

Engage with Us - Upcoming Feedback Opportunities

Niagara Irrigation Initiative Project

📅 June 10, 2026
⏲️ 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. 
📍 NOTL Community Centre (14 Anderson Lane)

Attend an upcoming Public Information Centre for the Niagara Irrigation Initiative Project, which focuses on upgrading irrigation infrastructure in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Hosted by the Project Steering Committee, Niagara Region, Town Staff, and the consulting team, the session will allow the public to learn more about the project, ask questions, and provide feedback on the detailed design process. More information can be found on the Niagara Irrigation Initiative Project page.

Community Engagement Survey

As part of the Town’s ongoing work to strengthen public engagement practices, the Town and its consultants will soon undertake engagement activities with Council, Staff, and the broader community to inform the development of a refreshed community engagement framework. This initiative supports Council’s Strategic Plan action item under the pillar of Optimizing Organizational Excellence and is intended to help identify opportunities to improve how engagement is facilitated.

Stay tuned for more information coming in June.

Short Term Rental (STR) Engagement Update

Thank you to everyone who completed the STR survey and attended the Public Information Centres. This survey marked the highest completion rate of a Town survey to date! An Information Report summarizing the results and key themes will be before Council at the June 16, 2026, Committee of the Whole - General Meeting. 

Visit Join the Conversation for available feedback opportunities.

Community Milestones

The Town is excited to introduce Community Milestones, a new feature in NOTL News that celebrates the special moments and achievements of Niagara-on-the-Lake residents. Residents are invited to submit birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, recognitions, accomplishments, and other meaningful occasions for inclusion in an upcoming edition.

📧 If you have a special occasion taking place in July, please submit your milestone to communications@notl.com by June 20, 2026, and we may include it in our next issue. We look forward to celebrating with you!

Service Updates and Reminders

Municipal Property Tax Due Dates: The 2026 Final Property Tax due dates are July 31 and September 25, 2026. Payments can be made online, by mail, through pre-authorized payment plans, or in person at Town Hall. Learn more on the Town’s website.

Municipal Accommodation Tax Remittance: Accommodation providers are reminded of upcoming Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) remittance deadlines. Short Term Rental operators remit quarterly, while hotels remit monthly. Visit the Town’s website for deadlines, reporting requirements, and remittance information.

Fire and Emergency Services Reminder: As summer approaches, review local regulations related to fireworks and open-air burning. Visit the Fire & Emergency Services webpage for information on burn permits, fireworks regulations, and fire safety reminders.

Check Out Upcoming Projects and Initiatives: Explore Municipal 511 for real-time updates on road closures, construction, and traffic impacts, as well as the Town’s Projects & Initiatives webpage for information on current and upcoming municipal projects and community initiatives.

Canada Day: Town Hall is closed on July 1 for the Canada Day Holiday. Visit our Community Events Calendar to learn more about all the fun ways to celebrate.

Process Spotlight: Applying for a Building Permit

Planning a home project this spring or summer? Before work begins, it’s important to check whether a building permit is required.

The Town’s Building Services Division helps ensure construction projects throughout Niagara-on-the-Lake are safe, durable, and compliant with the Ontario Building Code and other applicable regulations. Building permits may be required for projects such as new buildings, additions, finished basements, larger sheds, decks, interior renovations, and more.

Through permit reviews, inspections, and guidance for homeowners, builders, and designers, Building Services Staff help projects move forward safely and smoothly while helping property owners avoid delays or costly corrections later on.

Some common warm-weather projects that may require a permit include building a backyard deck that is more than 24 inches above grade, installing an in-ground or above-ground pool, constructing a larger shed, or completing structural renovations.

To learn more or determine if your project requires a permit, call 905-468-3266 or visit the Town's website.

Click to Watch a Parks & Recreation Project Video Update

You Asked, We Acted

Parks & Recreation

There’s plenty happening across Niagara-on-the-Lake this summer as the Town continues to expand recreation programming and opportunities for children, youth, and families.

Participation continues to grow across several programs, including:

• A 25% increase in aquatics participation
• An 18% increase in summer camp participation

This summer also features the continued expansion of the popular Play in the Park program, including the Play in the Park trailer, which brings games, activities, and recreational equipment directly into neighbourhood parks throughout the community.

From swimming lessons and camps to drop-in activities and outdoor play opportunities, these programs help create fun, safe, and engaging experiences for children and youth throughout the summer months.

Thank you to everyone who continues to share feedback and ideas with the Town. Resident input helps us continue enhancing programs, services, and community experiences across Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Niagara-on-the-Lake Experience Survey

Recently, the Town launched a Niagara-on-the-Lake Experience survey to help us improve parks, facilities, and public spaces. This short survey, which can be found at many locations in Town, takes less than one minute to complete and helps us better understand how residents and visitors experience our spaces. Below are a few of the positive comments received so far about about Town spaces:

• "So clean and family friendly place"
• "It's a beautiful park, well cared for and beautifully landscaped"
• "Friendly Staff at the front desk"
• "I really like that you even cared to ask your people!"

Thank you to everyone who has shared constructive feedback. Staff are reviewing all input received and considering opportunities for improvement as we plan for the future. We are excited about the opportunities ahead and remain committed to continuous growth and enhancement!

Thank you for reading this edition of NOTL News!

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.

As we continue with this new monthly format, we’re excited for the opportunity to share more timely updates, community stories, Town initiatives, and important information with residents in a more consistent and engaging way. The Town looks forward to continuing to keep you informed and connected throughout the year.

Thank you for staying engaged with the Town and being part of the Niagara-on-the-Lake community! Subscribe to receive this newsletter and other Town communications.

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