Kingstonist

Weekly Poll: Warm Winter

Harvey Kirkpatrick — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:30:54 +0000

At a risk of sounding whiny or perhaps even a little bit un-Canadian, I admit that I really dislike winter. Seasonal chores such as snow removal and scraping off icy windshields, as well as the unwelcome side effects including miserable colds, wet clothing and ridiculously high utility bills combine to represent the opposite of what I consider to be a good living. Sure we all love to skate, ski or even throw a snow ball now and again, but really, the only time most of us care to see a blanket of snow on the ground is on Christmas morning. Needless to say, if you’re anything like me, this winter has been absolutely fantastic in terms of temperature and the absence of significant snow accumulation. While other cities near Kingston have reported being hammered by a few more flurries than Kingston, save for the Maritimes, it’s been a warm winter across the entire country. Accordingly, this week’s poll asks:
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.
This past weekend I attended Feb Fest and couldn’t help but notice that the scene just wasn’t the same as it has been in years past. Instead of the traditional 24 hour snow sculpture competition, ice slide and snow maze, organizers were forced to put underused snow clearance equipment on display on the doorstep of City Hall. Sure the lineup for Beaver Tails was insane and decent sized crowds flocked to Market Square to watch kids play hockey, but the lack of snow kind of hindered our burgeoning winter festival. In January, temperatures were at least three to six degrees above normal across most of the country, and looking ahead to the rest of Winter and Spring, meteorologists are predicting even more unseasonably warm temperatures.

Has the the lack of snow and sub-zero conditions deterred or increased your enjoyment of Winter this year? Did you scrap plans to venture down south as a result of the conditions back home, or have you had to scrap plans to go cross country skiing? Are you concerned that the warmer temperatures could spell a painfully hot summer for Kingston?

The Skeleton Park Community Songbook: Rueben deGroot with the Grad Club

Harvey Kirkpatrick — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:00:05 +0000

Last year, we proudly featured a majority of the songs released as a part of the Skeleton Park Community Songbook, a collaborative project paring 12 Kingston community groups and local professional musicians. The songbook not only reflects the rich diversity of the local community but it also encourages Kingstonians to share music together and learn to sing each other’s songs. With only a few tunes remaining as a part of this 12-song compilation/fundraising initiative, today we’re excited to share Reuben deGroot and the The Grad Club’s addition: Little Red Mixer. Hit

If you’ve missed any of the Skeleton Park Community Songbook tunes we’ve featured in the past, you may want to check out:

Kingstonist’s Challenge # 15: Free Shopping Carts

Harvey Kirkpatrick — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:00:02 +0000

Welcome to Kingstonist’s weekly challenge, dare, resolution or whatever you prefer to call it. Each week we establish a new and ambitious community goal, encouraging our readers, followers, friends and families to step out of their comfort zones and do something great, and hopefully a little out of the ordinary. Consider this your official and personal invitation to join us in completing a small but meaningful achievement. By taking part in this community-wide initiative, we hope to make Kingston a slightly better place to live, work and play. And of course, we also hope that you will feel proud of your contribution and achievement.

This week’s challenge encourages you to:

Leave your quarter in a shopping cart. Every other time we go grocery shopping, it seems as though we forget to bring a quarter, which is required in order to unlock a shopping cart. More often than not, we come across a free cart, where the quarter was generously left for the next person to use. What better way to make someone’s day than to help them out with such a small act of kindness. It will only cost you a quarter, or paying it forward if you come across a free cart.

Sign up and commit to completing this week’s challenge by commenting below with an “I’m in“, “challenge accepted“, “en garde” or something along those lines. Further, help us spread the word via Twitter and Facebook by using the hashtag: #ygkchallenge. As you work towards completing this week’s task, please feel free to lend others a helping hand by providing tips on how you achieved success.

Odeon Theatre, 1948

Queen's Archives — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:00:13 +0000

This photograph is of the Odeon Theatre on Princess Street’s showing of a Big Midnight Spook Show in 1948. Screenings such as these were special occasions as the films played only for one or two nights in small towns across the province. The mention of “Stage and Screen” on the marquee references the live entertainment which was carried out on-stage by performers (such as Dr. Ogre Banshee) before or between films. It was guaranteed to be more than just the regular movie experience. Also guaranteed to be more than your regular movie experience: Reel Out! which is happening this week in Kingston. Be sure to get your tickets now so you won’t be stuck lining up in the cold.

Guide to Feb Fest

Danielle Lennon — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:00:04 +0000

It’s that time of year again Kingston, and despite the mild weather, Feb Fest will be going strong this week. Below is an outline of the schedule as it currently exists. Sadly the lack of snow has affected some of the usual events that Kingstonians have grown to love. The 24 hour Snow Sculpture Competition has been cancelled since there is no snow to build with. Similarly, the Snow Maze and Ice Slide have also had to be shelved for this year. However, Peter Vogelaar, Master Builder from The Canadian Snow and Ice Sculpting Team, will be here to create various structures for the public to view and access. Additionally, Ontario Street will now be closed off to vehicular traffic and will display winter “toys” such as bobcats, snow plows, dump trucks, sidewalk plows and more, for children and adults alike to climb and explore. Of course, in addition to these and the events listed below, there will be horse drawn wagon rides, beaver tails, Toast to Tapas and, running at the same time are Artignite and Reelout Film Fest. If you’re bored this weekend, you’re not trying. See ya out there!

Thursday, February 2nd
9am-12pm: Public Skating at Market Square
12pm-1pm: Sledge Hockey game at Market Square
1pm-10pm: Public Skating at Market Square
3:45pm-4:45pm: Watch The Kingston Frontenacs practice at Market Square
4:05pm-4:45pm: Public Skating with The Kingston Frontenacs at Market Square
7pm: The Annual Carr-Harris Cup between Queen’s and RMC at The K Rock Centre – $5
7:30pm: George Canyon at The Grand Theatre

Friday, February 3rd
9am-10pm: Public Skating all day
5pm-9pm Live Music on the Market Street Stage
7pm-8pm: Illuminance, an art exhibit presented by Artignite, will take place in the amphitheatre
7:30pm: The Frontenacs play Peterborough at The K Rock Centre
7:30pm: The Ravi Coltrane Quartet plays at The Grand Theatre

Saturday, February 4th
8:30am-5pm: Hockey Day in Canada – watch up and coming hockey players on the ice at Market Square
12pm-1pm and 2pm-3pm: Meet hockey legend Yvan Cournoyer at Market Square
5pm-7pm: Live Music on the Market Street Stage
5pm-7pm: Public Skating
7pm-8:30pm:44th Annual Historic Hockey Series at Market Square
8:30pm-9:30pm: Public Skating
8:30pm-9:30pm: Live Music on the Market Street Stage

Sunday, February 5th
9am-12:30pm: Public Skating
11:30am: Polar Plunge at Crawford Wharf in support of The Special Olympics
1pm-2pm: Imagination On Ice with Figure Skating Champion ~~Jeffrey Buttle~~ Kurt Browning *sadly Jeffrey has suffered an injury but Kurt has agreed to step in at the last minute*
2pm-10pm: Public Skating
2:30pm: The Kingston Symphony presents Canada Meets Finland at The Grand Theatre
6:30pm: Gigantour at The K Rock Centre featuring Megadeth

Weekly Poll: Double Decker Buses

Harvey Kirkpatrick — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:00:41 +0000

When someone mentions double decker buses, chances are you conjure up images of the UK’s iconic red-coloured variety, or perhaps the open air models that are used to ferry around tourists on sightseeing ventures in larger cities. Save for the Megabuses that operate between Montreal and Niagara Falls, there aren’t too many cities in Canada that actually employ double decker buses as a part of their public transit system. Last week, OC Transpo reconfirmed that Ottawa is moving towards incorporating approximately 75 double decker buses into their fleet of over 1,000 buses, which already include a number of articulated models. This got me thinking about the future of Kingston Transit, and whether or not double decker models might be a good fit for the Limestone City’s public transit scheme. Accordingly, this week’s poll asks:
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.
I honestly can’t remember the last time I saw one of our city buses zoom past a scheduled stop because it was too full, so perhaps the increased capacity offered by double decker buses isn’t needed – yet. That said, if investments in public transportation and our interest in sustainability continue to thrive, perhaps this novel idea is worthy of a serious discussion. When you consider that one double decker bus has the capacity of two traditional models, requires less fuel, operators, road space and maintenance, perhaps these wacky mass people movers are an ideal fit for Kingston’s Master Transportation Plan. And now that they come in hybrid flavours, they’re an even tastier option from a sustainability point of view. Just don’t look at the price tag.

Do you think double decker buses would work here, or do you see them as a gimmick? Would you rather have an LRT system in Kingston instead? How would you change local commuter culture for the better?

Thanks to lippert61 for today’s photo.

Building Arts Communities in Kingston

Danielle Lennon — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:39:30 +0000

The Kingston Culture Plan was approved by City Council in September of 2010 and since then, much has occurred to see this plan of supporting and promoting arts and culture in Kingston through. The plan’s intention is to help shape our cultural development over the course of a decade.

The recommendations in the plan are aimed at enhancing how we feature Kingston’s many cultural gifts — our heritage, our artists, dancers and musicians, our excellent venues, and beautiful vistas. The Culture Plan is about more consciously celebrating our assets to enrich the experience of living and visiting here. -Brian McCurdy, Director Cultural Services.

The City, alongside Kingston Cultural Services, The Kingston Arts Council, The Grand Theatre, local restaurants, galleries, museums, and theatre companies, is working hard to put this plan into play by creating and supporting more events. Thus far we’ve seen the growth of festivals such as The Kingston Multicultural Arts Festival and The Kingston Blues Fest; FebFest has multiplied in size and duration bringing tourists to town in the dead of winter; restaurants are holding regular locally sourced food events such as Toast to Tapas and Farm to Fork Harvest Dinners.

Another prominent part of the Culture Plan is the creation of better communication and collaboration between various cultural groups in Kingston. Workshops are being created and supported by the City to bring artists and audiences together. This February The Kingston Arts Council will present a two-day seminar, Building Arts Communities In Kingston.

The seminar, taking place on Wednesday, February 15th at The Grand Theatre will feature presentations from Simon Brault, Vice-Chair of The Canada Council for the Arts and author of No Culture, No Future; Justin Langlois, Senior Research Fellow at Broken City Lab and Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Windsor and Annalee Adair, Manager of Community Engagement and Education at City of Kingston & Director at POPart Consulting Services. Each speaker will present strategies for audience development and public outreach in Kingston arts and culture. The conversation will be interspersed with a documentary created by The Kingston Arts Council featuring various members of the community talking about their own experiences with culture in Kingston. There will also be a performance by Kingston’s favourite old-time fiddle and banjo duo, Sheesham and Lotus. Tickets for the seminar are $7.50 and are available at The Grand Theatre box office.

On Thursday, February 16th, The Arts Council will hold a follow-up public forum at Renaissance Event Venue at 1pm allowing community members to share ideas and form partnerships through moderated discussions on many of the topics covered at the seminar.

This two-day event should prove to be insightful and inspiring. The videos below will give you a sneak peak at the featured documentary. You’re sure to recognize many members of our community from all areas – maybe even someone from Kingstonist!

Kingstonist’s Challenge # 14: Do Something Awesome

Harvey Kirkpatrick — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:00:13 +0000

Welcome to Kingstonist’s weekly challenge, dare, resolution or whatever you prefer to call it. Each week we establish a new and ambitious community goal, encouraging our readers, followers, friends and families to step out of their comfort zones and do something great, and hopefully a little out of the ordinary. Consider this your official and personal invitation to join us in completing a small but meaningful achievement. By taking part in this community-wide initiative, we hope to make Kingston a ~~slightly better~~ awesome-r place to live, work and play. And of course, we also hope that you will feel proud of your contribution and achievement.

This week’s challenge encourages you to:

Submit a pitch to Awesome Kingston. There is a new group in town that has $1000 to give to an individual or group that has a great idea to improve Kingston. That’s where you come in. Pull out those ideas that you have had to put a smile on the faces of strangers. Grab some friends and dream up some ideas together to improve an area of Kingston and submit as a group. Awesome Kingston wants all of your ideas, small or large, complicated or simple, practical or a flight of fancy. Applications for February are due at midnight on 2 Feb, while you will find all the application details: here. How would you improve Kingston given a chance and $1000?

Thanks to himmelskratzer for today’s photo. A very special thanks to Awesome Kingston Trustee, Shari Reed, for today’s submission.

Guide to the 13th ReelOut Queer Video + Film Festival

Harvey Kirkpatrick — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:00:28 +0000

Where would queer pop culture be without camp sensibility? This year the 13th annual ReelOut Queer Video + Film Festival highlights ‘camp’ in queer film and video and whether its definition has changed since Susan Sontag first incapsulated camp’s nature in her 1964 essay “Notes on Camp”. ReelOut also plans to celebrate by showcasing the best and brightest international queer film and video works of 2011 with special guests including Thom Fitzgerald, Mark Kenneth Woods, Alexis Mitchell, Paul Festa, Mark Pariselli, Beth Mairs, Theodore Boutet, Sonia Hong and many more. The schedule of films and festival related festivities are as follows:

Thursday, January 26
7pm: ROMEOS with “On the Male Side of the Middle”
9pm: KINK CRUSADERS with “Some Day My Prince Will Come”

Friday, January 27
7pm & 9pm: Opening Gala Selection: CLOUDBURST
10pm: RBC Opening Gala Reception at Renaissance Event Venue

Saturday, January 28
12pm: Inside Out Presents: Best of Canada Shorts Program
2pm: Wish Me Away
4pm: Prom Queens and Street Teens: This is What Queer Youth Looks Like
6pm: Queer Youth Social at Sir John’s Public House
7pm: Camp Town Ladies Sing Their Song
9pm: THE END IS QUEER SHORTS PROGRAM

Sunday, January 29
Noon: Memories to Reality: Queer Refugees in Montreal
2pm: QUEERMENT QUEBEC: New Voices
4pm: JITTERS with short “Student Body”
7pm: THE NIGHT WATCH

Monday, January 30
7pm: ORCHIDS MY INTERSEX ADVENTURES with short films “FluxX” and “Death of my Daughter”

Tuesday, January 31
7pm: CIRCUMSTANCE
9pm: EVERYTHING & EVERYONE with short film “Pride”

Wednesday, February 1
7pm: Centerpiece Gala Selection: TOMBOY
9pm: GUNHILL ROAD

Thursday, February 2
7pm: Black and Blues: Essence, Ebony & Time
9pm: JOE + BELLE with short film “Sehakia”

Friday, February 3
7pm: eCupid with the short film “Strangers”
9pm: HITS SO HARD with short film “The High Level Bridge”
11:30pm: After-party concert at The Mansion “PELT”

Saturday, Feb 4
2pm: Family Fun! Shorts for Kids of All Ages
4pm: Pitching Camp: Camp Shorts & Camp Panel
7pm: LEAVE IT ON THE FLOOR with short film “Ms.Thing”
9pm: THE WISE KIDS with short film “Punchlines”
6pm: Closing Gala Selection: WEEKEND
8pm: Feelout Reelout Wrap Party at Sir John’s Public House
For more information regarding tickets, festival passes and parties, please check out ReelOut’s site.

1st Sustainable Kingston Community Forum

Harvey Kirkpatrick — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:24:07 +0000

Many Kingstonian’s have latched onto the lofty goal of making this city the most sustainable in all of Canada. But when we talk about sustainabily in relation to urban centres, just what does that mean? Better yet, how can individual citizens contribute? Corporate Knights defines the sustainable city as a place that:

has a viable economy fuelled by a healthy population and leaves the smallest environmental footprint possible. The bottom-line indicator of sustainability for a city is the ability to maintain its population. A sustainable city must be a place where people want to live, work, play, and build their lives…

In recent years, the quality of life for Kingstonians has improved thanks to our organic recycling program, the availability of locally sourced produce at the Farmer’s Market, expanded bike lanes, all those wind turbines spinning across the way and the list goes on. We certainly deserve a pat on the back for our accomplishments thus far, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that there’s still a great deal of work to be done before we can hope to break into the top ten most sustainable, similarly-sized cities in Canada. What projects or initiatives do you think we need to implement in order to be recognized at the national level for our sustainabile prowess?

This coming weekend, Sustainable Kingston is taking yet another stride towards becoming Canada’s most sustainable city, as they’re hosting the city’s first annual Community Forum at the Four Points by Sharaton. The inaugural event will showcase Kingston’s sustainability plan as well as exhibits, speakers, success stories, and interactive discussions about sustainability in the Limestone City. Highlights that are a part of this year’s Community Forum are as follows:

Feature Presentation: David Miller, Former Mayor of Toronto: Toronto’s 63rd mayor (from 2003-2010) is a leading advocate for the creation of sustainable urban economies. Under his leadership, Toronto created and implemented innovative strategies that helped create a significant building boom, a stronger economy, and an environmentally and socially sustainable city. Mr. Miller continues to be a strong and forceful champion for the next generation of jobs through sustainability, and advises companies – and governments – on practical measures to make this happen.
Showcase Presentations: Sustainable Kingston Partners who are currently implementing projects and programs as part of the Sustainable Kingston Plan will talk about their success stories and how they all link together to reach the vision of Kingston—Canada’s Most Sustainable City
Interactive Symposia on the Four Sustainability Pillars: Cultural Vitality, Economic Health, Environmental Responsibility and Social Equity — An opportunity to learn more about what is happening under each pillar in Kingston, and to share your perspectives on moving forward to reach Kingston’s sustainability goals.
Exhibits: dynamic displays of sustainability in action, such as projects currently in the works, innovative business solutions, and diverse media used to communicate sustainability.

As the world continues to tackle greater social, economic and environmental challenges, it is vital that Kingston’s develops and implements policies and programs that enable us to become more self-sufficient and a leader on the sustainability front. If you’re passionate about being a part of the team that will get us there, then I hope you’ll consider attending the first annual Community Forum on Sustainability.