Memorial Centre – Reconsideration

Kingston’s north end will be home to two new schools.  Construction has already started on a new elementary school on the QECVI property.

Kingston city council has cleared the way for Kingston’s new high school to also be built on the QE property.

Last night council shot down a motion to reconsider the Memorial Centre for the high school.

It needed nine votes to pass and only got six.

Voting against reconsideration were Councillors Richard Allen, Kevin George, Rob Hutchinson, Jeff McLaren, Jim Neill, Lisa Osanic and Liz Schell.

A second motion to delay construction while the city and school board discuss the situation lost on a 10-3 vote.

The current QECVI building will be demolished and students will be dispersed to other schools while the new high school is built.  The work is expected to begin at the end of this school year.

Standoff

A standoff with a man in a home on Vanguard Court in Waterloo Village ended peacefully.

The Kingston Police Emergency Response Unit surrounded the home at noon yesterday after a woman was seriously injured and taken to hospital

Police could see a man inside the home holding a knife and had information he may have had other weapons.  He wouldn’t open the door and was visibly upset.

A 22 year old Kingston man was taken into custody at about 3:15 in the afternoon.

He’ll be facing multiple charges when he appears in court for a bail hearing today.

Prison Farm

Kingston City council is supporting the return of a farm to the land at Collins Bay Institution.

Council voted in favour of a motion last night that supports the farm and makes sure no zoning changes are made to allow for other uses of the property.

Kingston and the Islands MP Mark Gerretsen made a campaign promise the farm would return to Collins Bay if the Liberals were elected.  Gerretsen will meet with the Pen Farm Herd Co-op group tomorrow to update the situation.

Transportation Plan

Kingston’s Transportation Plan is going back to the drawing board again.

City council added more aggressive targets for public transit – but then decided the issue was too important to deal with at their meeting last night.

The plan has been criticized for not putting more aggressive targets on bus service and active transportation…things like cycling and walking.

401 Construction

The Ministry of Transportation says work to widen the 401 to three lanes between Montreal Street and the Cataraqui River Bridge has been finished ahead of schedule.  It wasn’t expected to be done until early 2016.

The 31 million dollar project included replacing the Montreal Street Bridge, installing noise barriers and widening the railway bridge.

The next phase will include widening the highway to three lanes all the way to Highway 15.

Winter Coats

A program to supply people with winter coats has issued an urgent request for winter coats.

The Coat Drive operated by Hotel Dieu Hospital and St. Mary’s Cathedral experienced an unexpected surge of requests during the early days of distribution.  It needs winter coats in large and extra-large sizes for men…medium and large sizes for women…plus mitts, gloves, hats and socks.

Items can be dropped off in a collection bin at the Sydenham Street entrance to Hotel Dieu.