Mayor – New Condos

Kingston’s mayor says a proposal for an 18 storey condominium in downtown Kingston is an opportunity to reinvent and re-imagine the Kingston skyline.  Mayor Bryan Paterson says 18 storey buildings will be the new norm in Kingston.

IN-8 Developments of Waterloo wants to build the high-rise at the former Empire Theatre property on Princess Street in downtown Kingston.

Paterson is asking for feedback on a survey posted on his website.

https://mayorpaterson.com/

OMB Hearing Ends

The Ontario Municipal Board hearing into developer Jay Patry’s student housing project on Frontenac Street has wrapped up.

Patry took the city to the OMB because council rejected the 71 unit project – even though it had been given the green light by city planning staff.

The chair of the hearing he’ll work on making a timely decision – but wouldn’t speculate on when the decision will be announced.

Teachers – Job Action

An update on the situation with public school teachers in Ontario – the high school teachers union is upset after the government passed back to work legislation ending strikes affecting 72 thousand students.

The union says it is considering a province wide strike for this fall.

Talks with Ontario public elementary teachers are at a standstill.  They’ve been on an administrative strike since May 11th.  Their union says it will provide an update on their job action today.

Now there are rumblings of job action by the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association.

The head of that union says he is hopeful a strike can be avoided, but a work-to-rule campaign may be in the cards.

Walks

It’s another busy weekend for charity events including the annual WALK for ALS tomorrow morning in Confederation Park across from City Hall.

City Park is the location for The Great Strides Walk for Cystic Fibrosis Canada on Sunday.

The Eastern Ontario Walk for Muscular Dystrophy takes place Sunday morning at Conservation Park Pavilion in Napanee.

Traffic Notes

A traffic note this morning…Barrie Street is closed at Okill Street from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. today as part of reconstruction work taking place around Kingston General Hospital.

Ontario Street will be closed between Brock and Market Streets on Sunday from 10:00 in the morning until 11:30 for the Freedom of the City March to recognize the Correctional Service of Canada’s 180th anniversary.

Funeral – B.C.

The funeral for RMC officer cadet Page Fanstone takes place tomorrow in his hometown of Langely, B.C.

Fanstone died in in downtown Kingston on May 6th and his sudden death prompted police to close Ontario Street for hours.

There will be a military board of inquiry into the 19 year olds death.