September 2026 Edition

The Town is happy to share its September edition of NOTL News! We hope you enjoyed last month's edition and look forward to continue sharing our monthly updates on municipal projects, services, events, and community initiatives.

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.

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. 

September Meeting Dates

• Municipal Heritage Committee: Wednesday, September 9, 2026
• Committee of the Whole - Planning & General: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
• Committee of Adjustment: Thursday, September 17, 2026
• Council: Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Please note that these are the last meetings for this term of Council. 

Flood Recovery: Supporting Our Community

Following the significant rainfall and flooding events in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Town Staff worked alongside Niagara Region, NOTL Hydro, emergency responders and community partners to support residents and advance recovery efforts.

As of mid-August, the Town had received 282 flood-related service requests involving culverts, ditches, drainage, sewers and other infrastructure. Staff continue to investigate reported concerns and conduct follow-up and technical reviews where required. Given the volume and complexity of requests, this work will take time to complete; however, all requests remain documented as Staff continue their assessments.

Throughout the recovery period, the Town also worked closely with Niagara Region and its waste collection partners to provide residents with additional options for disposing of flood-damaged materials. These measures included additional curbside collection opportunities, a temporary Flood Waste Transfer Station at the Town Operations Yard and a special collection service for households with larger quantities of flood-related waste.

We recognize how difficult and disruptive flooding can be for those dealing with damage to their homes and properties. Thank you to residents for your patience, cooperation and willingness to share information with the Town throughout the response and recovery process. Your reports are helping Staff better understand the impacts across the community and informed ongoing recovery efforts.

While the immediate response has concluded, Staff will continue reviewing the impacts of these events and identifying opportunities to strengthen flood preparedness and response moving forward.

Thank you to our community, Staff, emergency services and partners who came together to support Niagara-on-the-Lake during a challenging time. More information about flooding can be found on the Town's webpage. Subscribe to Town news for any future updates.

Have You Reported Your Flooding?

We know the recent flooding has been a challenging and stressful time for many across Niagara-on-the-Lake. As the Town continues to assess the impacts, it is important that all flooding and drainage incidents are reported, whether they affected a home, business, farm, or other property.

Each report helps Town Staff build a more complete picture of flooding across the entire community, understand the extent of the impacts, and identify areas requiring further attention.

If you experienced flooding or drainage issues and have not yet submitted a service request, please take a few moments to do so using the following links:

• Report a General Flooding Issue
• Report a Business-Related Flooding Issue
• Report an Agriculture-Related Flooding Issue

August Snapshot

Celebrating our 2026 Sports Wall of Fame Inductees: The Town proudly celebrated Gary Friesen and Kurt Hamm as the 2026 inductees into the Niagara-on-the-Lake Sports Wall of Fame. The annual ceremony recognized their outstanding contributions to local sport and the lasting impact they have made through coaching, mentorship and volunteerism. Congratulations to Gary and Kurt, and thank you for your commitment to sport and recreation in Niagara-on-the-Lake!

Play in the Park and Fire & Emergency Services Fun: Play in the Park got special visits from NOTL Fire & Emergency Services this summer! Firefighters stopped by participating parks to connect with local youth and families, share important fire safety tips and give kids an up-close look at what it’s like to be a firefighter. Young participants had the chance to check out the fire truck, chat with firefighters and even try spraying the fire hose!

Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference: Niagara-on-the-Lake Council and Staff representatives participated in the annual AMO Conference in Ottawa from August 16 to 19, advocating for local priorities and provincial support. Town representatives took part in several delegations covering key priorities, including agriculture and tourism, Glendale growth and the proposed Eco-Park, Queen Street planning, recreation infrastructure, temporary foreign worker housing inspections, and seniors and intergenerational programming.

2026-2027 Fall/Winter Community Guide Now Available: Published twice per year, the Community Guide serves as a comprehensive resource for residents, providing information on Town services, community programs, activities, events, and local organizations across Niagara-on-the-Lake. View the Community Guide online or at the Community Centre, Town Hall, the NOTL Public Library, and various businesses around town while supplies last. 

Can't Make it to the Polls on October 26?

You can vote online between October 5 and 25, 2026.

Niagara-on-the-Lake is introducing online voting as part of the 2026 Municipal Council and School Board Election's advanced voting, providing voters with a convenient and accessible way to cast their ballot.

Online voting opens on October 5, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. and will remain open until October 25, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. Be on the lookout for your Voter Information Letter in the mail in September, which contains your voter card and online voting. 

Key Elections Dates

• May 1 - December 31, 2026: Campaign Period
• August 21, 2026: Last Day for Filing Nominations
• 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

On October 26, qualified voters are welcome to vote in person at any of the following Niagara-on-the-Lake Polling Locations:

• Holiday Inn Express (Glendale), 524 York Road
• Laura Secord Homestead (Queenston), 29 Queenston Street
• Crossroads Public School (Virgil), 1350 Niagara Stone Road
• St. Davids Public School (St. Davids), 1344 York Road
• Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Centre (Old Town), 14 Anderson Lane

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

Coming Up in September 

National Day for Truth & Reconciliation: On Tuesday, September 29, the Town will once again host a National Day for Truth & Reconciliation Ceremony at Town Hall (1593 Four Mile Creek Road, Virgil), inclusive of a flag-raising and lowering ceremony and a reflective walk. Further details will be released in a future Town news release. Please note Town offices are closed on September 30 in honour of this day. 

Commemorating the 25th Anniversary of September 11: The Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Town and the Upward Niagara Chamber of Commerce, invites the community to a special ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001.

• Friday, September 11, 2026
• 8:00 a.m.
• Queen’s Royal Park (45 Front Street) 

Get Ready for Ice Season: Make the most of the upcoming ice season with a season pass! The pass provides access to a variety of drop-in programs throughout the season, whether you’re looking to lace up your skates, stay active or enjoy more time on the ice. Season Passes can be purchased online or at the Community Centre (14 Anderson Lane). Register for an Ice Season Pass today! 

Engage with Us - Feedback Opportunities

Comprehensive Parking Study

Help shape the future of parking in Niagara-on-the-Lake through its Comprehensive Parking Study. The study is looking at current and future parking needs, including availability, accessibility, operations, and long-term improvements across the Town’s five urban areas.

Two surveys are now available, one for residents and visitors and another for business owners and employees. Share your feedback by September 30, 2026, on the Town’s Join the Conversation platform. 

Visit Join the Conversation for available feedback opportunities.

Community Milestones

Back to School: As students across Niagara-on-the-Lake head back to the classroom, the Town wishes all students, families, teachers and school staff a safe, successful and memorable 2026–2027 school year! A special congratulations to those celebrating some exciting firsts this year, from the first day of kindergarten and high school to the start of college or university. Whatever this next chapter brings, we hope the year ahead is filled with learning, new friendships, exciting experiences and plenty of great memories.

St. Vincent de Paul Celebrating 200 Years: Congratulations to St. Vincent de Paul Parish on an incredible 200th anniversary! Since 1826, the parish has been a longstanding part of the Niagara-on-the-Lake community. The Town extends congratulations to the parish community on this remarkable bicentennial milestone and wishes them all the best as they celebrate 200 years in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Niagara Motors Ltd Celebrates 80 Years: Congratulations to Niagara Motors Ltd. on 80 years in business! Since 1946, Niagara Motors has been a longstanding part of the Niagara-on-the-Lake community. The Town extends congratulations to the Niagara Motors team on this remarkable milestone and wishes them continued success as they celebrate 80 years in business in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

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

Service Updates and Reminders

Line 2 Reconstruction: Reconstruction of Line 2 Road from Concession 6 Road to Niagara Stone Road is underway. The project includes road, sewer, drainage, sidewalk, and lighting improvements and is expected to continue through 2026. Completion is expected in January 2027.

Regent Street Culvert Replacement: Work began July 6 on the Regent Street Culvert Replacement project, which will improve drainage, reduce flooding impacts, enhance pedestrian access, and upgrade roadside safety features. The road closure to accommodate this project is expected to remain in place for approximately 13 weeks, with completion expected in September.

Sidewalk and Curb Repairs: The Town's annual sidewalk and curb repair program is now complete across all five villages, helping maintain safe and accessible infrastructure for residents and visitors. Minor repairs and restoration are still ongoing.

Road Resurfacing Program: Road resurfacing work is completed throughout the summer across Niagara-on-the-Lake, with improvements planned in all five villages to help maintain local road infrastructure. Touch-ups are still ongoing.

Mississagua Street Improvements: Work is expected to begin the week of September 7 on Mississagua Street, between Mary Street and Queen Street. Planned improvements include the installation of sanitary and storm sewers, a new watermain, sidewalks, and streetlighting.

Line 7 Watermain Replacement: Work is now underway on Line 7 Road, between Concession 5 Road and Four Mile Creek Road, to replace the existing watermain.

Property Tax Due Dates: A  reminder that the final 2026 property tax installment is due Friday, September 25, 2026. Residents are encouraged to plan ahead and ensure payment is received by the due date to avoid late payment charges. For more information,  visit the Town's website. 

Municipal Accommodation Tax: Accommodation providers are reminded of upcoming MAT remittance deadlines. Visit the Town's website for reporting requirements and submission information.

Check Your Cords: Niagara-on-the-Lake Fire & Emergency Services reminds everyone to take a few moments to check the electrical cords around their home, business, or property. Look for signs of damage such as fraying, cracking, or exposed wires, and replace damaged cords right away. Remember, extension cords are intended for temporary use and should never be used as a permanent power source. A quick check can help reduce the risk of an electrical fire and keep your property safe.

Process Spotlight: License Your Dog 

Did you know that all dogs in Niagara-on-the-Lake must be licensed annually and vaccinated against rabies? New dog owners and residents who have recently moved to Town are required to licence their dog within 14 days.

Licences can be purchased or renewed online through DocuPet, in person at Town Hall (1593 Four Mile Creek Road, Virgil), or by mail. Annual fees are $16 for a spayed/neutered dog and $26 for an intact dog, with an additional $10 fee for late renewals. Licensing also helps reunite lost dogs with their owners and supports local animal welfare initiatives.

Learn more and licence your dog today!

You Asked, We Acted: My.NOTL Modernizes Customer Service

The Town launched My.NOTL, a new customer service platform designed to make connecting with the Town easier and more efficient.

The new system was put to the test early, with the first phase dropping in July, just before significant flooding led to more than 200 service requests from the community. My.NOTL provided Staff with a centralized tool to receive, track and coordinate these requests, demonstrating the value of having a modern system in place when timely information and follow-up are especially important.

Residents can now use the My.NOTL resident portal to submit service requests online, track their status, receive updates and access their request history, all in one convenient location.

Behind the scenes, My.NOTL gives Staff better tools to coordinate and respond to requests, reduces manual processes and provides improved reporting to help identify trends and opportunities for service improvements.

The launch is another way the Town is responding to feedback about the importance of follow-up and accessible customer service, while advancing Council’s commitment to streamlining and modernizing Town services.

Submit it. Track it. Stay informed with My.NOTL.

Visit My.NOTL and submit a service request.

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.

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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