With the current provincial lockdown expected to be in place for several more weeks, I want to add my voice to those asking the Ontario government to consider allowing more outdoor activities. While parks, trails, benches and playgrounds remain open here in Kingston, new provincial rules have required us to close basketball and tennis courts,…
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Ontario has been hit hard by the third wave of COVID-19. Since Kingston and the surrounding region are in a much better position than many other areas of the province, our local health care workers have been enlisted to help treat the rising number of people requiring hospital care. Kingston General Hospital is at the…
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I think it’s fair to say that for many of us, this is the toughest stretch of the pandemic so far. People are discouraged, fatigued, and dealing with incredible stress as public health restrictions continue to change. We all miss getting together with family and friends. The rollercoaster of COVID waves is creating a real…
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A hundred years ago, Kingston’s inner harbour looked very different with many large industrial factories, railways and shipping ports that unfortunately left behind a legacy of contamination in many areas. As a City, we’ve been working hard over the last several decades to facilitate the clean-up and redevelopment of contaminated lands along the waterfront. This…
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This Friday we’re getting set for the 4th Annual Mayor’s Innovation Challenge, where teams of students from Queen’s University and St. Lawrence College will pitch their best ideas for how to make Kingston a city that works better for everyone. As we work towards economic and social recovery from the current pandemic, there’s never been…
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With spring approaching, the Kingston Public Market will be returning soon here at Market Square. This year, we’re making some important changes to bring more local food options to the various markets in our community. There are so many excellent farmers and food producers across our region. As a City, we want to improve everyone’s…
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The housing market is red hot in Kingston right now, and with such a strong demand for housing, it’s critical we build as much new housing as possible. Otherwise, house prices and rental rates will continue to rise quickly. The Mayor’s Task Force on Housing identified harmonizing the City’s zoning by-laws as the most important…
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During this year’s budget deliberations, Council made a decision to draw $1M from the City’s reserve funds to help small businesses, non-profits and artists who have been hardest hit by the pandemic. The goal of this funding is to address gaps in existing support programs from the provincial and federal governments. For example, businesses that…
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With the emergence of ride sharing providers like Uber and Lyft, cities all over the world have been working to implement the right mix of regulations to ensure that these platforms provide a safe and reliable experience for users. In Kingston, we have a number of regulations in place for how taxis operate, and these…
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Throughout the pandemic, the City has been focused on repurposing public space to open up the downtown and ensure pedestrians can physically distance and businesses can expand operations. This week City Council approved a new and improved Love Kingston Marketplace, an initiative that will once again transform the downtown core to create a safe and…
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