Community Initiatives & Events

Community Events Calendar

Niagara-on-the-Lake offers many enjoyable initiatives and events catering to residents, families, and visitors alike. Learn about upcoming events below and ensure you're part of the excitement because community spirit is always alive in our town. Don't forget to check out information on how you can contribute to community projects and help support the ongoing initiatives that make our town thrive. See the "Donate" section below for details.

Happening Now

Niagara-on-the-Lake Annual Golf Classic

The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is pleased to announce the return of the 26th Annual Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Classic Tournament, taking place on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at Royal Niagara Golf Club.

The annual tournament continues to be one of the Town’s most anticipated community events, bringing together local businesses, community members, sponsors, and golf enthusiasts for a day of networking, friendly competition, and community support.

Register Today

“Celebrating Niagara-on-the-Lake's Heritage” Event

Community members are invited to join the Town to celebrate Niagara-on-the-Lake's recently designated heritage properties and recognize their contribution to our community's history and character at the “Celebrating Niagara-on-the-Lake's Heritage” event.

Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Time: Doors open at 6:00 p.m., with the presentation starting at 6:30 p.m. A complimentary reception with charcuterie, wine, and non-alcoholic options will follow.
Location: Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum (43 Castlereagh Street)
RSVP: Community members wishing to join this event are kindly asked to RSVP to communications@notl.com by June 30, 2026. Availability is limited.

The Town looks forward to celebrating and recognizing the dedication of those who help preserve Niagara-on-the-Lake’s historic charm.

Community Soccer Viewing Event

The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, in partnership with the Farmworker Hub located at Cornerstone Community Church, is inviting residents and members of the local farmworker community to come together for a community soccer viewing event for the championship of the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

Details are below:

Date: Sunday, July 19, 2026
Time: Doors open at 2:30 p.m., followed by greetings from the Town at 2:45 p.m. The game begins at 3:00 p.m.
Location: Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Centre (14 Anderson Lane)

The community event was inspired by ideas shared by the community and the Lord Mayor, reflecting a collective vision to bring people together and foster connection, inclusion, and community spirit through sport. Attendees will be invited to:

Watch the championship soccer match together, broadcast in the Auditorium
Enjoy complimentary refreshments and snacks
Learn more about local community resources from the Farmworker Hub information table

Additionally, one lucky winner will be selected at random to receive a gift basket.

To support participation, transportation will be coordinated between Cornerstone Community Church (1570 Niagara Stone Road, Virgil) and the Community Centre for farmworkers attending the event. Designated bicycle parking will also be available on-site at the Community Centre.

Donations

When making a donation, tax receipts will be issued for donations above $25. Donations can be made online using the button below or in person at the Town Administration Building (1593 Four Mile Creek Road, Virgil) via cash, debit or cheque (payable to the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake).

To donate to any of the following initiatives, please click the button below.

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The Heritage Trail is the only unimproved multi-use trail in the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Official Plan. It dissects the epicentre of the Wine Route in Niagara-on-the-Lake, a key destination for cycling, eco-tourism and agri-tourism.
As the automobile was responsible for the decline of the railway, it seems fitting that a shift from the automobile to a renewed priority on active transportation has the potential to breathe new life back into the Heritage Trail.
The 66-foot-wide corridor is visibly broken and even unknown to many residents of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Utilization of the trail has been compromised in the last few years by erosion and washout between Line 9 and York Road and in other sections.
The overall integrity of the corridor is eroding due to the inability of people to use it. Vegetation and grass are growing where people used to walk, run, cycle and ride horses. The trail is losing its “visibility” in both a physical sense and in the overall consciousness of the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake.
The Niagara-on-the-Lake Canada Sesquicentennial Committee, created in 2017 to support and execute events to commemorate Canada’s 150 years of Confederation, chose the rehabilitation of the Heritage Trail as its Legacy project to connect communities and preserve a piece of Canadian history for new generations.
A committee of the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Heritage Trail, was initiated in 2019 and will be directed by a group of volunteers from the community.
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The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is accepting donations to construct a new St. Davids pool. This pool was built in 1969. It sits in a 4-acre park (St. Davids Lions Park) in the village of St. Davids. This pool has served the community for 54 years and it is due to be replaced. The pool is classified as Class A - 25 metre – 6 lane pool. The change house is 1900 square feet and hosts a male and female changerooms, mechanical room and guard room. Due to the age of the pool, there have been major mechanical problems over the past 20 years.
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The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive community where everyone feels a sense of belonging.
At the July 25, 2022, Council Meeting, Town Council approved the locations of one rainbow crosswalk and five rainbow benches in Niagara-on-the-Lake. A public engagement survey, open from June 1 to June 15, 2022, allowed for community feedback about the proposed locations and informed Council’s decision.
As of June 2023, a rainbow crosswalk has been installed at the intersection of Niagara Stone Road and Anderson Lane, and one rainbow bench has been installed at the Centennial Sports Park.
The Town is looking to install additional rainbow benches throughout the community at the following four locations:
- Mary and King Street (Old Town)
- Niagara on the Green Park (Glendale)
- Queenston Firehall (Queenston)
- Sparky’s Park (St. Davis)
Community members are invited to donate to offset the costs of these initiatives.
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Check out the various community events and initiatives below:

A community vegetable garden was initiated in 2019 by the Communities in Bloom Committee in partnership with the local Library. Local businesses provided funding and plant products, and volunteers planted, watered and weeded the garden throughout the season and then harvested the crops as they were ready. The vegetables and herbs were distributed to the local community as well as the many migrant farm workers who come each year to work in our farming industry.
View the Poster
In collaboration with Indigenous Peoples, the federal government was called upon to establish a statutory holiday to honour Survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.
Each year, September 30 marks National Day for Truth & Reconciliation (National Orange Shirt Day).
On August 30, 2021, Town Council approved that the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake commits to recognizing September 30, 2021, as the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation by sharing the stories of residential school survivors, their families, and communities, and engage in meaningful education related to Truth and Reconciliation.
The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is committed to reconciliation and ensuring that residential schools' tragic history and ongoing legacy are never forgotten.
Historical Indigenous Figures of Niagara-on-the-Lake
Joseph Brant
Joseph Brant, or Thayendanegea (“two sticks bound together for strength”), Kanyen'kehà:ka (Mohawk) war chief, Loyalist, interpreter, statesman (born circa March 1742/43 at Cuyahoga (near Akron, Ohio); died 24 November 1807 at Burlington Bay, ON); brother of Mohawk leader Mary (Molly) Brant. Loyal to Great Britain during and after the American Revolution, he was an influential military captain. Like his sister Mary, he was a powerful diplomat who encouraged Indigenous tribes to share his political loyalties. A Six Nations (See Haudenosaunee) leader, he met significant political figures such as George Washington and King George III on behalf of his people.
This information was sourced from The Canadian Encyclopedia.
John Brant
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Photo courtesy of Niagara Parks.
John Brant (Ahyouwa’ehs) was the son of Joseph Brant. Along with John Norton, he led warriors at the Battle of Queenston Heights along with other engagements. He was a strong advocate for building schools, he was appointed resident superintendent for the Six Nations of the Grand River, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada for Haldimand and his mother appointed him as a traditional chief, Tekarihoga.
John Norton
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Photo courtesy of Niagara Parks.
Major John Norton (Teyoninhokarawen) was adopted into the Mohawk Nation by Joseph Brant. He led fighters from Six Nations of the Grand River into battles at Queenston Heights, Stoney Creek and Chippawa. His journal chronicles his 1,000 mile journey from Upper Canada to the homelands of his Cherokee father, stories of Haudenosaunee culture and history, and Haudenosaunee involvement in the War of 1812.
Captain Alexander George E. Smith
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Photo courtesy of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum.
Alexander, son of Cayuga chief Alexander George E. Smith Sr., lived on the Six Nations Reserve near Brantford, Ontario. He enlisted in the Canadian Militia and became an officer in the 37th (Haldimand Rifles) Regiment which, in the pre-war years, made their journey to Niagara for the annual summer camp. When the First World War began, Alex went overseas with the Second Contingent and fought as a commissioned officer in France with the 20th Battalion. He was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery on the Somme, and was promoted to Caption, but was sent home in April of 1917. When the Polish Camp opened, in Niagara-on-the-Lake, he was appointed adjutant. Smith was admired by many of the Poles at the camp and for his services, he was named an Officer of the Order of the Black Star. As such, he was one of the most highly decorated Natives officers of the Great War.
Mary Brant
Mary Brant, Kanyen'kehà:ka (Mohawk), Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) leader, Loyalist, diplomat, political activist (generally known as Molly Brant and as Konwatsi'tsiaiénni in the Mohawk language, meaning “someone lends her a flower”) (born circa 1736; died 16 April 1796 in Kingston, ON). Brant was one of the most important Indigenous women in Canadian history. From her influential position as head of a society of Six Nations matrons, she enjoyed a much greater status within the Mohawk nation than her more colourful, younger brother, Mohawk leader Joseph Brant. Consulted by Indigenous people on matters of importance, she was a powerful ally to the British forces and served as their highly effective intermediary with the Iroquois in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783).
This information was sourced from The Canadian Encyclopedia.
Tom Longboat
Thomas Charles Longboat, distance runner (born 4 July 1886 in Ohsweken, Six Nations Grand River reserve; died 9 January 1949). Tom Longboat (Haudenosaunee name Cogwagee) was an Onondaga distance runner from the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation reserve near Brantford, Ontario. Largely because of his ability to dominate any race and his spectacular finishing sprints, he was one of the most celebrated athletes before the First World War.
This information was sourced from The Canadian Encyclopedia.
Indigenous Resources
- Celebration Of Nations: Niagara’s annual Indigenous arts gathering that celebrates creativity, diversity and resilience
- Indigenous Perspectives: A three-part docuseries by the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre intended to help educate about the Indigenous people's history. Topics included are the Indigenous involvement in the War of 1812, Residential Schools and healing as a community.
- Landscape of Nations 360
- National Centre
- Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum Indigenous History Page
- Regional Centre
- Woodland Cultural Centre
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca)
- NCTR - National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
- Municipal - Indigenous Relations | AMO
- Famous Aboriginal sportspeople - Creative Spirits
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Reflect and remember those who defend Canada in the past and present by enjoying poppy displays at the NOTL Museum, the Royal Canadian Legion 124, RiverBrink Art Museum and the Courthouse. Displays start in late October.
On November 11, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 124 hosts two Remembrance Day ceremonies: one at the Queen Street Cenotaph and one at the Queenston Cenotaph. Learn more by visiting the Legion’s website.
In honour of Random Act of Kindness Week, the Town launches a Shine Light, Spread Kindness Campaign. This campaign is a one-week social media initiative dedicated to promoting a culture of kindness in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The campaign provided daily suggestions on ways individuals can shine light and spread kindness through words, creativity, giving, stewardship, action, self-care, and gratitude.