Frequently asked questions about Niagara-on-the-Lake

We are wroking on this page and will add content as we come accross it. These are many of the questions asked by our customers.

Question - What does NOTL mean, and why is it used?
Answer - NOTL, is the short form for Niagara-on-the-Lake. It is an abreviation used by those who do not want to spell out the name of our town in full, and is accepted by Canada Post.

Question - How did the name Niagara-on-the-lake come about?
Answer - Sometime in the mid to early 1900's, the Town of Niagara changed it's name to Niagara-on-the-Lake, to more clearly delineate the Old Town from the area known as Niagara. ie. Niagara Penninsula. Again, it also made things easier for Canada Post.

Question - How far is it to the American Shore. Can you swim accross the Niagara River? Answers - Approximately one mile. Yes and no. If you left the shore at NOTL, you would end up out in the middle of Lake Ontario, as the current is one of the most powerful in all of the world. You could however, start closer to Queenston and make it if you had the endurance.

Question - How far is the closest Hospital? Answer - Approximately 15 miles. NFLS, and St. Catharines, though there are health clinics within the township of NOTL. There is a permanent ambulance stationed close to the Shaw Festival Theatre. rive times are often less than in a big city.