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June Newsletter 2015

Dear Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour,

EXCITING JUNE AND JULY HAPPENINGS!

JUNE EVENTS FIRST:
1) Monday, June 1, 8:00 am – 8:30 am
Walk (or cycle) and talk with Mayor Bryan Paterson from Belle Park to Market Square for a free “Roll- In Breakfast”.
Take advantage of this opportunity to chat with the mayor one-to-one about what you would love to see happening in Kingston.  He is very approachable and is looking for input from interested individuals – other than the few he hears from regularly!!

2) Sun. May 31 – Sat. June 6: Kingston’s Commuter Challenge.
Kingston has placed first in its category in the national Commuter Challenge for 3 years in a row!
Calling all active commuters, both current and new.
Help defend our title again this year!
Walk, cycle, take the bus, carpool, or work at home during Commuter Challenge week –May 31 – June 6.
Leave your car behind and find another way to get to and from work. Register at www.commuterchallenge.ca .
Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour can be your workplace.
No worries.  If you log at least one commute during the week of May 31 – June 6 and you will be automatically entered to win a prize, including a bike valued at $600.
More info? Clare.Mak@kflapublichealth.ca
See also www.cyclekingston.ca/events.php

4) Thurs. June 11 Train of Thought,  May 29 at 5:27 PM
Train of Thought, a counter-colonial cross-Canada journey of community artists, will arrive in Kingston Events will take place at The Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning on the shore of Lake Ontario.   This group is interested in community participation in the arts – especially from those who are not comfortable in an “arts environment”. All welcome!:- Kingston artists, those who are already community-engaged in some way as well as those who are not, those who want to become community artists – in fact anyone wanting to take a chance on something new.  Come together to find out more about local indigenous-settler relations and how the arts can help us to shift tracks.  An opportunity to have a meaningful conversation with visiting artists from across the country on best practices in community arts, and establish a framework for possible future projects.
For more information go to https://www.trainofthought.co/ or contact Clarke Mackey <clarke.mackey@queensu.ca>

5) Sun. June 14: Third Annual Kingston Cycling Festival hosted by Cycle Kingston, 11 am – 2 pm.
Bring your bicycle and join Cycle Kingston, Securite Jeunesse, the Kingston Police Force and Community Volunteers, the Kingston Velo Club, Kingston BMX, Yellow Bike Action, Think First, Kingston Gets Active, the Cataraqui Trail, FKIH, and more organizations as you learn and take part in cycling related activities. Try out the cycling skills circuit on the ice pad (ice free!).
Cyclists of all ages and abilities welcome. Free.
Get re-acquainted with cycling.  Yes you can!

                              
6) Sat. June 20: Official Plan Update:
Coffee Chat Invitation from Paige Agnew

Kingston Fire Hall 3, 211 Gore Rd.
Drop in any time between 10 and 11:30 am.  All welcome!
Based on the success of the first Official Plan Coffee Chat, Paige Agnew will again be hosting a casual morning information session for interested members of the public who would like to learn more about  recent work on the project. A new Saturday morning time slot is planned to accommodate citizens with busy weekday schedules.
More info? + Instructions on how to RSVP?
Paige’s Planning Blog:

https://www.cityofkingston.ca/business/planning-and-development/official-plan/blog

7) Wed. June 24:  Memorial Hall, City Hall, 7 pm.
Waterfront Working Group Public Meeting.

Thinc Design will present their draft vision for an Integrated Waterfront Plan for the whole city – all 280 kms! Public Input is truly desired.  The final version will be completed in the fall of 2015 following public input at this June meeting. If you are a swimmer, boater, fisher, or a person who believes in the importance of connecting with the water and nature and/or the importance of healing our brownfields, and/or the importance of making Kingston’s waterfront accessible, connected and enhanced, please come and share your perspective.  Your opinion matters.
                              
8) NOW!  Re-imagining Kingston’s Downtown Skyline.
The mayor’s short online survey!

With the news of the sale of the Empire Theatre building for condo development, Mayor Paterson asks – How High is too High? Take one quick minute to fill out this survey: www.mayorpaterson.com

9) NOW ALSO! Comment on the proposed notion of calling a significant portion of Kingston’s Inner Harbour the “Valour District”.  In our opinion, the Memorial Centre is the appropriate place to commemorate Kingston’s fallen.  Calling the district the Valour District diminishes the contributions of the Aboriginal, French, British and Industrial presence of years past.  Read the mayor’s comments and decide for yourself.  www.mayorpaterson.com

10) Tues. June 9: St. Mark’s Church, Barriefield, 6-8 pm.
FYI:  Jay Patry has bought the Horton School property
.
His agent, Mark Touw, is organizing a public meeting to discuss how the land may be redeveloped.  One of our sister community organizations, the Barriefield Village Association, has asked me to get in touch with you, as people who care about local heritage, to request your presence at this meeting. A good turnout is imperative to emphasize the importance of conserving the heritage features of this great green space property.  Your presence would be truly appreciated.

AND NOW FOR JULY!  DRUM ROLL…….. WOW!
JULY SCHEDULE – SO FAR!

1) Picnics in the Park:  Bring a picnic and come have fun with other community members.

Fri, July 3: 5-6:30 pm BAREFOOT PLAYERS: performance of “All the World is a Stage” followed by drama workshop for kids.  More info? www.queensu.ca/drama/barefootplayers/2015show.html.
Normally adults really enjoy these shows too!

Fri, July 10: To be decided – hopefully a community BarBQ with pick-up slacklining!

Fri, July 17: 5-6 pm Salamander Man Matt Ellerbeck’s presentation on salamanders and conservation.
More info? www.savethesalamanders.com
6-7 pm Children’s musical performance by Gary Raspberry.  More info? http://garyraspberry.com

Fri, July 24: 5-7pm  Community Bocce Tournament.  Come on your own or with a team from your street, your condo, your family or a group of friends.  No experience necessary.  Cottage Bocce!  Prizes!

Fri, July 31: 5-6:30 pm – BAREFOOT PLAYERS: performance of “All the World is a Stage” followed by drama workshop for kids.  More info? www.queensu.ca/drama/barefootplayers/2015show.html.
Show is fun for all ages.  A take-off on Shakespeare.

We are honestly looking for volunteers to help.  Mea Culpa.  I lost the info on the three wonderful people who volunteered after the last news update.  Please reply again!!!  And anyone else who might like to help with one or two Friday events, or bring a watermelon or help put up posters would be SO appreciated.  Mary at 613-544-1246 or Burgandy at 613-877-9652.
If we can get help, we can extend the events into August.
Last year was such a success.  We really had fun all summer with activities organized by the Boys and Girls Club, the KFL&A Public Library’s Stories in the Park, the  Barefoot Players, the Kingston Field Naturalists, the Kingston Drum Circle, an improv workshop by Improv(e), and boat rides and paddling instruction with the Kingston Dragon Boat Club.  In past years we have also done stone painting, scavenger hunts, pirate hat making and pottery paw prints fired by Jane Thelwell.  New ideas always welcome.
NOTE: Schedule is still being refined.
An update will appear in the July update. 

Watch the calendar on the webpage for the latest!

2) Wed July 15Sun. July 19:  Amara Zee – Theatre on a barge! We truly hope this will happen.  Last year this great non-profit theatre troupe (Audience sitting on shore pays by donation – minimum $5 preferred!) was barred from entering Canadian waters by the Federal government. They weren’t granted pleasure-craft status.  Now that they have US pleasure-craft status we hope the Feds will let them in.  A collaboration with the new and exciting downtown theatre festival, the Kick and Push, is being forged.  Keep your fingers crossed. www.caravanstage.com

3) Kingston Community Health Centres moving to 115 Barrack St. opposite Staples. Great that this somewhat dilapidated old building will have a community use. Projected cost: $7.5 million.

As always, thanks so very much for your continued support.
Happy springtime,
Mary Farrar,
President,
Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour