When local communities vote, the results often speak for themselves. In Niagara, two familiar favourites recently took top honours in the Readers’ Choice Awards: Danny’s Sushi and the Shaw Festival.
With visits from local mayors, both wins became moments of public celebration, marking places that many people already know well.
Danny’s Sushi: Why People Keep Coming Back
Ask around Niagara Falls where to go for sushi, and Danny’s Sushi comes up quickly. It’s a place people recommend without much hesitation, often followed by a specific order or a personal favourite.
This year, Danny’s Sushi was voted Best Sushi in Niagara Falls through Readers’ Choice, based on votes from the local community. To mark the win, Mayor Jim Diodati and local councillors stopped by to surprise the team with the award.
The visit was captured in a short, parody-style video that circulated widely online. In it, the mayor arrives late to a press commitment after stopping for sushi first. It’s light, unforced and easy to recognize as something that could happen on a normal afternoon there.
Danny’s Sushi has built its place over time. Regulars know what they’ll order before sitting down. The Shibuki Roll gets mentioned again and again. The house-made salad dressing somehow becomes part of the conversation, even when the meal is already over.
It’s the kind of spot people choose for relaxed evenings, casual celebrations or dinners that stretch longer than planned. The recognition follows years of steady support from people who already knew the place well.
The Shaw Festival: Something People Return To
In Niagara-on-the-Lake, the Shaw Festival has long been part of the town’s rhythm. It’s something people plan around and return to season after season.
The Shaw Festival was voted Best Live Theatre in Niagara through Readers’ Choice, with Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa presenting the award on behalf of the St. Catharines Standard.
Each season brings familiar patterns. Audiences arriving early. Restaurants filling before and after performances. Artists, technicians, and crews returning to a place where their work is met with attention and care.
For many, attending the Shaw isn’t a one-time outing. It’s something that becomes part of how time in Niagara-on-the-Lake is remembered. A shared experience that carries from one season to the next.
More Than an Award: A Moment Worth Marking
With more than 500,000 community votes cast across Ontario, Readers’ Choice exists to recognize the places people genuinely support.
For us, that recognition doesn’t stop at naming winners. It’s about showing up for the businesses and organizations behind those votes and helping mark the moment in a way that feels personal and shared.
From surprise award visits to short videos with local leaders, we work with winners to celebrate what they’ve built and the communities around them. Nothing scripted. Just real moments, captured as they happen.
Want to Celebrate Your Win?
If you’re a Readers’ Choice winner, or planning to be, and you’re curious about how these moments come together, you can explore more on our website.
Discover more at www.thereaderschoice.ca
