OUR LOCAL TEAM: NOTL has always stood out for its charms

Every municipality in the region has its charms that are a key part of its identity — and Niagara-on-the-Lake is certainly one that stands out the most when applying this opinion. 

It’s a place with rich history and so many attractions for the millions of tourists who visit annually, but it’s also a place that residents are proud to call home because of its quaintness and uniqueness. 

I’ve lived elsewhere in the region my entire life but have worked as a journalist in several Niagara towns and cities. Every time I make the drive to Niagara-on-the-Lake from Fort Erie (my hometown), I usually have to make at least one stop to take advantage of being in this lovely town. 

In the summer, stopping at a local fruit stand is always on my list — as is occasionally popping into a local brewery to pick up a growler of some tasty craft beer (consumed when I’m done with work for the day, of course). 

There have been times when I’m required to head into town for work on a weekend — which means I bring the whole family along. We go our separate ways by me doing what I need to do on Queen Street —while my wife and kids hang out at the wading pool at Simcoe Park. We usually grab lunch at one of the many amazing spots in the Old Town and have a picnic at the park. 

I’m always amazed by the work town staff put into the local flower beds, and in general, how clean and tidy the downtown core is. 

My career as a reporter in Niagara spans more than 15 years and my one-year contract with The Local, which started last July, isn’t my first stint in Niagara-on-the-Lake — as I previously worked as a freelancer for a few months with The Niagara Advance, also alongside The Local’s trusted editor Penny Coles. 

My main beat this time around has been covering council and committee meetings, and there are a few things that stand out about the current batch of elected officials making decisions for the community. 

The last council I covered regularly was in Welland, also a great city with plenty to offer. 

But like a couple of other councils I’ve experienced on a weekly basis in my career — it wasn’t rare for a meeting to be taken over by one member. 

Shouting, animosity and an obvious dislike between some members was something that could occasionally derail a meeting and shift the focus away from the business before the local government on the evening’s agenda. 

It didn’t happen all the time — I’m not saying that — but this is something I’ve never seen in Niagara-on-the-Lake. 

There will always be differences of opinion because that’s what politics is all about. But when councillors here aren’t on the same page about an issue, the debate is always conducted with respect and decorum. 

Niagara-on-the-Lake council has a great mix of personalities, men and women, of varying age groups and experience. 

Every member has their own unique perspective they bring to the table through their own previous political careers, personal lives as lifelong residents and members of the business community. 

Nothing is perfect, but local residents are in good hands when it comes to their local government, for the most part.