Dear Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour,
Thanks so much to Mike Cole-Hamilton for his wonderful cartoon about
the demise of the southern portion of the Wellington St. Extension. It’s
also a great teaser for our upcoming fund-raiser “Drink Beer! Save
Turtles!”
So – on to June. Amazing things happening!
1) FROM CITIZEN SCIENCE TO SCIENCE
– OUR TRULY TERRIFIC NEW TURTLE ADVENTURES!
2) Surprise Donor for Matching Fund!!!
3) Commuter Challenge, June 2 – 8
4) Bikes of Wrath, June 2
5) Trailhead’s Demo Day (June 1) + Paddle and Pint (June 6, 13, July 4)
6) H’Art Studios “A Message from Nature”, June 8/9
7) Skeleton Park Arts Festival, June 19-23
8) Calliope Collective’s Summer Solstice Celebration, June 20
9) Wheelchair Rally, June 27
10) Water Walkers, Thurs, July 4 – Save the Date!
11) DRINK BEER SAVE TURTLES! Fri, July 5 – Save the Date!
12) Parks Canada’s Rideau Update
And from the City:
1) SOUTHERN PART OF WELLINGTON ST. EXTENSION NOT NEEDED!
2) Plan your Garden to Conserve Water
3) Mayor’s Task Force on Housing, June 6 and June 12
4) Marking 178 Years as Kingston’s Capital, June 14
5) Kingston National Indigenous People’s Day, June 21
6) Kingston Fire Rescue’s Cottage Season Fire Tips
7) Water Levels to Peak in Early June
8) Utilities Kingston’s Notes for Recreational Water Users
9) Garlic vs. Ticks – City’s Experimental Program
10) Utility Kingston’s Electricity Plans
11) Bike Bollards Being Installed
1) FROM CITIZEN SCIENCE TO SCIENCE –
OUR TRULY TERRIFIC NEW TURTLE ADVENTURES!
a) Lesley Rudy, a volunteer from the beginning, is now a
graduate student doing her Master’s on Inner Harbour turtles with Dr.
Steve Lougheed at Queen’s. Way to go Lesley! The nest covers
in the park are hers. She has thermometers in them to look at
relationships between gestation temperature and other variables. She
checks the nest covers every morning and evening. Some of the
hatchlings came out in the fall. Others are hatching right now! They
overwintered in their nests! You may be lucky enough to see hatchlings
emerging in one of the boxes. If you do see one, please do not touch.
Lesley is monitoring them. She will come to release them into the
water.
b) In addition to the wonderful Kenny Ruelland of Reptile and
Amphibian Advocacy, this year we have also hired Matt Keevil- currently
in the process of completing his Ph.D from Laurentian University on fresh water turtles!
c) Kenny and Matt will do all of the nest covering. In
addition to filling out the data sheets, volunteers are being asked to
get a red flag from the entry of the Leeuwarden and place it on the nest
location. That will make it easier for Kenny and Matt to locate the
nests when several are laying at one time. Kenny and Matt will put the
covers on.
d) In addition to our citizen-science monitoring, Matt and Kenny have agreed to extend the scope of our study to try and understand where turtles are and where they are not in the whole of the Inner Harbour, from the LaSalle Causeway to Kingston Mills on both sides of the river. We are extremely grateful to Maggie Warner and
her associates for lending us a motor boat so that Matt and Kenny can
do surveillance from the water along the shorelines. We are in the
process of getting the motor up and running. We are also very grateful to both Jean Clipsham and Jude Larkin for their offers to lend us their canoes when needed.
e) In addition, we have a small Freshwater Future grant to do radio-telemetry! Kenny
is in the process of getting his permit from the Ministry of Natural
Resources that will officially allow him to handle turtles. He will
glue antennae on two turtles and then he and Matt will go out in the
boat with a receiver to try and pick up signals to determine range.
f) A small capture/release program will also be instituted
where Kenny or Matt will put a small blob of white paint on the shells
of turtles he captures and mark them with a number. Then we will be
able to see if we are noticing the same turtle over and over again or
different ones!
g) A truly wonderful partnership with the Limestone Board of
Education’s Dan Hendry and Cedric Pepelea + Amherstview Public School
teachers Tom Bruce and Tom Richards who have made us 40 turtle nest
covers. They are also going to a June golf tournament to see if they can find donors to make more. WOW!
h) Finally, last but not least, we are thrilled to have made contact with Drs.
Nathan Young and Steven Cooke from the University of Ottawa and
Carleton University who have an $800,000 NSERC grant to study the
Rideau. We are hoping to become involved in some way. Thanks so much Hunter McGill from the Friends of the Rideau for publishing this excellent summary.
RESEARCH SUPPORTING ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT OF THE RIDEAU CANAL:
“A three-year research project, involving a team from the University of
Ottawa and Carleton University, with support from the Universite de
Sherbrooke, has begun its study of the environmental health and water
along the Rideau Canal. Funded with a $800,000 grant from the Natural
Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the team will be
working in partnership with Parks Canada, though the latter is not the
client for the results of the study. The team is composed of
conservation biologists, evolutionary and aquatic ecologists,
limnologists, water resource engineers and social scientists. The aim
is to study the Rideau as a complex social-ecological system and come up
with findings and recommendations to improve management of the Rideau
Canal system. The lead researchers are Prof. Nathan Young and Prof Stephen Cooke.
The first of a series of four workshops, involving civil society
representatives (Lake Associations, Rideau Roundtable, Friends of the
Rideau, Queens University Bioligical Station, Watersheds Canada and the
Rideau Waterway Land Trust) took place on March 21. The purpose of the
workshop was to discuss what can be done to maintain or improve the
environmental health of the land and water in the Rideau Canal, to
understand the thinking of Rideau constituent groups, and identify,
where possible, common concerns. The specific goals of the project
include:
The influence of dams and lock stations on abiotic (i.e. water,
sediment, nutrients) and biotic (i.e. plankton, recreational fish,
at-risk fish and turtles, invasive species) connectivity at a system and
at a reach scale.
Identify the effects of shoreline habitat and aquatic macrophyte management strategies on ecosystem structure
Investigate the perspectives of key stakeholders related to waterway management scenarios and communication strategies
Over the coming months three more workshops will be organized, involving
the private sector, governments (including Parks Canada) and Indigenous
groups. The results of the research will be made public over time, as
the various phases of the work and analysis are completed, via scholarly
publications, recommendations to governments and communities, and other
public communications. There is considerable potential for improvement
in the management of water and land resources along the Rideau Canal,
if governments at all levels follow up on the results of this project.”
2) Surprise Donor for Matching Fund!!!
We are truly humbled and extremely grateful for a very generous donor
who has agreed to match any donations given by June 15! Really
wonderful! Please consider donating if you haven’t
already by going to our webpage and clicking on the DONATE button to
donate through Canada Helps or you can write a cheque to the Friends of
Kingston Inner Harbour and mail it to 1 Place d’Armes, Unit 83,
Kingston, ON, K7K6S6.
Any amount, large or small, would really be appreciated as we
didn’t receive the large operating grant we were hoping for this year
and we are somewhat strapped financially.
3) Commuter Challenge, June 2 – 8
The Commuter Challenge starts next week!
Kingston won for 5 years running in the mid-sized city class
BUT LAST YEAR WE WERE BEATEN BY THUNDER BAY!
Our Mayor has challenged the Thunder Bay to see who can have the most
participants in the Commuter Challenge and Kingston is currently
trailing Thunder Bay in registrations.
See a great Station 14 interview with Mayor Paterson about the Challenge
Register, then carpool, take transit, hop on your bicycle, or walk to
work at least 1 time and be eligible to win 1 of 5 $100 visa gift cards!
You can register as a member of the Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour – or individually.
http://app.commuterchallenge.ca/commuter/register/a73UqmyI
Want to try using the Bus?
If you are interested in taking the bus but want help planning your
route or are nervous about taking the bus you can get in touch with Adam
Pennock at Kingston transit (FYI Adam is awesome).
Adam is offering:
- Custom route planning to make sure you get where you need to go on time
- A ride along on your first ride to make sure you are comfortable using the bus
Contact: apennock@cityofkingston.ca
4) The Bikes of Wrath, Sun June 2
What: Winner of the “People’s Choice Award” at the Banff Mountain FIlm Competition 2018. Five Australians attempt to cycle 2600 kms from Oklahoma to California in honour of the westward migration undertaken by John Steinbeck’s classic “The Grapes of Wrath’s Joad family.
When: Sunday, June 2, 4 pm
Where: Screening Room
NOTE: Screening is part of the Cycle Kingston’s Cycle Week initiative
Tickets: https://tickets.demand.film/event/7625
5) Trailhead’s Demo Day (June 1) + Paddle and Pint (June 6, 13, July 4)
Annual Paddle Demo Day: Sat, June 1, 10 am – 4 pm, Douglas R. Fluhrer Park, Kingston
Paddle and Pint: Thurs evening two hour exploration of Kingston’s Inner Harbour. A nice follow up to their Discover series, or for those of you that have some paddling experience, and are looking for some company, you are most welcome. Paddle is followed by a visit to a favourite downtown pub – $40/person + hst includes kayak, equipment and Trailhead Guide. https://www.facebook.com/events/1357057231119101/
6) H’Art Studios “A Message from Nature”, June 8/9
What: “A Message From Nature”, H’artists and Canadian artist Katherine Porter create a joyful side-by-side exhibit, visually depicting an important reminder:
An afternoon to slow down, look close, and take in dozens of new art works including:
Pen and ink illustrations by H’artists
Works by our very own Executive Director Katherine Porter
NEW! Work by local artist Alyn Stirk
Musical interlude by the H’art choir and musician David Archibald at 3 p.m. daily.
When: Sat, June 9 and Sun, June 9 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Where: THE BOX at H’Art Centre, 237 Wellington Street, Kingston
NOTES: This is a fund raiser for a major new dance production “Small Things” to premier at the Isabel Bader Human Rights Arts Festival in April 2020
Donations gratefully received. PLEASE RSVP to H’Art Studios – .
https://www.hartschool.ca/locations/hartcentre/
7) Skeleton Park Arts Festival, June 19-23
Please check their website for both more information and updates as the event moves closer. It will be another incredible year of music, artwork and community. There will also be much poetry included in the event again this year:
1) A 2nd free screening of Who is Bruce Kauffman?, a feature length film, highlighting several poets, filmmakers, and artists on June 19, 6 pm at Providence Manor. Space will be limited to please RSVP, media@skeletonparkarts.org to reserve a seat.
More info? whoisbrucekauffman.netlify.com
2) A Hillside Park reading event featuring Kingston Poet Laureate JasonHeroux, Sarah Yi-Mei Tsiang, and Olivia Ows on June 22, 1:00 – 2:30 pm. This 3rd year of a Kingston WritersFest and Skeleton Park Arts Fest co-presented event is sponsored by Novel Idea Bookstore, and will also feature a musical interlude provided by Kingston Symphony Assistant Concertmaster & Principal Second Violin.
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/397209004198424/
and: http://skeletonparkartsfest.ca/
3) A poetry writing workshop facilitated by again Jason Heroux on Sunday, June 23, 2:00 – 3:30 pm, Hillside Park, Kingston.
In an afternoon Kingston WritersFest and SPAF presentation, Kingston Poet Laureate Jason Heroux will be facilitating a free writing workshop at Hillside Park the final afternoon of the 5-day festval. Jason is calling it “Prose Poetry: Literature’s Lunchbox”. The great prose poet Louis Jenkins once stated, “The form of the prose poem is the rectangle, one of our most useful geometric shapes. Think of the prose poem as a box, perhaps the lunchbox.” This poetry workshop is about reading, writing and celebrating literature’s lunchbox – the Prose Poem. Please bring a pen and notepad, or laptop, to participate in writing exercises designed to help you compose your own Prose Poems.
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/678265259300335/
and: http://skeletonparkartsfest.ca/
All poetry related events are free, and offered in partnership with Kingston WritersFest.
There will also be a number of other happening this year at Hillside Park to also be announced soon.
Please keep checking in on the link below.
More info: http://skeletonparkartsfest.ca/
8) Calliope Collective’s Summer Solstice Celebration, June 20
Although this is officially part of the Skeleton Park Arts Festival, it deserves its own space.
What: Enjoy a magical evening with wanderers, minstrels, puppets, faeries and more and be transported to a world of enchantment as we create a safe and sacred space to re-examine our relationship to the land through community gathering, story-telling, rh, and circus arts in order to honour the first day of Summer
Where: Douglas R. Fluhrer Park
When: Thurs, June 20, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
More info?www.calliopecollective.com/midsummer
9) Wheelchair Rally, June 27
What: An inclusive event designed to celebrate wheelchair users and their access to the water and the K&P Trail. This award-winning event is being organized by the Kingston Community Health Centre in partnership with Hotel Dieu, Easter Seals and others. Free performances by Iranian Wheelchair dancers. All welcome.
When: Thurs, June 27, 4:00 – 7:00 pm
Where: Douglas R. Fluhrer Park
More Info? Or to arrange to set up a display table for your organization? Christine Bell – christineb@kchc.ca
10) Water Walkers, Thurs, July 4 – Save the Date
Staring at 7 pm on Belle Island and walking to Tyendinaga, Walk the whole distance or take a shift. Allies welcome.
Save the date.
More info will be posted online in due course
https://www.facebook.com/events/3019463598079170/,
https://www.facebook.com/groups/257805451563342/
11) DRINK BEER SAVE TURTLES! Fri, July 5, Save the Date!
What: Free beer tasting; Free brewery tours; Free open-mic; Silent Auction; Great beer glasses for sale with design of turtles drinking beer. Free pint thrown in with purchase.
Where: Spearhead Brewing Company, 675 Development Drive, Kingston
When: 4-7 pm
NOTES: When we are fully organized, the event will be posted through Eventbrite. 60 tickets only. Glasses can be ordered in advance. More anon in next update. Stay tuned….
12) Parks Canada’s Rideau Update
Parks Canada’s Historic Rideau Canal opened on Friday May 17, on the Victoria Day long weekend.
New this season on the Rideau Canal is an equipped camping offer. Visitors may rent camping kits at Kilmarnock, Beveridges, and Chaffeys lock stations and enjoy one of these picturesque sites for $70 per night. Kits include such equipment as a tent, sleeping mats, portable stove, mess kits, and other gear to make your camping experience easy and enjoyable.
This year they are also pleased to announce the return of their paddle promotion. Paddlers can take advantage of 50% off their seasonal lockage pass and enjoy the experience of locking through with other boats. Kayaks and canoes are most welcome in the locks and the Rideau Canal’s series of lakes and rivers are great places to explore by paddle.
Visitors are invited to pay a visit to Jones Falls, a beautiful, serene lock station where they can view the Sweeney House Museum and the working Blacksmith Shop to see how some of the earliest lockmasters lived and enjoy the views and surroundings.
More info? www.pc.gc.ca/rideau or follow on Twitter @RideauCanalNHS. For up to the minute updates on mooring space, events and more follow @RideauBoat Info.
NOTE: Due to unexpected problems with bedrock at Jones Falls, the new timber bridge won’t be ready until sometime in July.
MESSAGES FROM THE CITY:
1) SOUTHERN PART OF WELLINGTON ST. EXTENSION NOT NEEDED!
Thanks so very much to Mayor Paterson who changed his mind on this file and to council who voted unanimously against the southern portion of the extension!
As many of you know, we have been working on this file for the past 8 years so it is a great relief, though long in coming, to see that at least the southern portion of the extension will no longer be on the city’s books.
However if the extension is put through in the northern section it will have a hugely negative impact on the new urban K&P Trail. For that reason, we remain opposed to the northern section as well, particularly as the businesses in the area see no real need for it.
Here is the city’s recent official correspondence on the issue:
“The North King’s Town Transportation Plan Strategic Corridor Needs Analysis has concluded that the southern portion of the Wellington Street Extension (WSE), from Rideau Street to Bay Street, is not needed to accommodate future growth and can be removed from the City’s plans. Transit and active transportation are expected to play a key role in reducing the demand for motor vehicles in the area.
This analysis also shows that the northern half of the proposed WSE would be beneficial to address issues related to growth and meet transportation needs through 2034. Additional analysis and refinement of this section is ongoing as part of the broader North King’s Town (NKT) Secondary Plan.
This technical study, prepared for the City by Dillon Consulting and available at www.CityofKingston.ca/NorthKingsTown, will be factored into the full North King’s Town transportation plan that is underway.
‘Any future connection from John Counter Boulevard to the area of Rideau and Railway streets would need to improve functionality for all users, create access to businesses, provide opportunities for transit and active transportation, and integrate the K&P Trail in an appropriate manner,’ says Sonya Bolton, senior planner. ‘We are using these findings to make a more refined assessment of the northern section as the City continues its work on the NKT transportation plan.’
She notes that the City will make all of the material available for public review and that the work by Dillon Consulting, along with public feedback, will be used to complete the draft of the NKT transportation plan.
The finding that the southern section of the proposed WSE can be abandoned is being presented to council on May 21 so that it can be removed as a future project from the 2019 Development Charges Background Study now underway. The northern portion of the WSE will continue to be included as a future project in the Development Charge review.”
2) Plan your Garden to Conserve Water
“Plan a visit to the Utilities Kingston award-winning Water Conservation Garden at 1211 John Counter Blvd. to see more than 100 types of plants that require less water. Free tours also show gardeners how to save water, time and money by building a water wise garden that ‘makes every rain drop count’ and that can prevent run-off pollution and flooding.
Many Kingston gardeners know that adding compost to gardens and grasscycling (leaving grass cuttings on the lawn) improves water retention and conserves treated water – but choosing plants wisely can also help make your garden more self-sufficient and sustainable.
Don’t know your Butterfly Weed from your Buttonbush? Utilities Kingston can help.
“Touring the garden is a free and easy way for gardeners to see a variety of plants and landscaping techniques they can use in their own gardens. Create a beautiful, low-maintenance outdoor space that relies more on what nature provides, and less on treated water,” says Caitlin Newey, conservation officer for Utilities Kingston.
Free Tours, Children’s Activities and Water Wise Workshops
While you may wander the garden at any time during daylight hours, consider taking advantage of one of Utilities Kingston’s free 15-minute guided tours at 10:30 a.m. every weekday until the end of August.
Families are invited to stay for free children’s activities, starting at 11 a.m. Little ones will design their own water wise button to take home. Registration is not required, but mark your calendar today!
Everything Drainage Workshops
The popular Everything Drainage Workshops will again be offered at the garden throughout the summer. These provide public education about water conservation, drainage solutions and storm water pollution prevention. Workshops are scheduled during evenings and weekends throughout the summer:
Beginner workshops: Wednesday, July 17, 6-8 p.m. and Saturday, July 27, 10 a.m.-noon.
Advanced workshops: Wednesday, Aug. 14, 6-8 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 24, 10 a.m.-noon.
To register, an online form will become available at www.UtilitiesKingston.com. Alternatively, contact Utilities Kingston at 613-546-0000 and say “Conservation” or email conservation@utilitieskingston.com.
Utilities Kingston also offers a wonderful online resource for gardeners, picturing and listing the plants used in the Water Conservation Garden.”
3) Mayor’s Task Force on Housing, June 6 and June 12
The Mayor’s Task Force on Housing members will be meeting residents and presenting their plan to analyze and address the shortage of housing in Kingston at two upcoming open houses.
Drop in to learn more about the current housing situation in Kingston, see the plans and processes moving this project forward, provide your input to the project, and chat with task force members at one of these open houses:
2 to 4 p.m. on Thurs, June 6 at Memorial Hall in City Hall, 216 Ontario St.
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wed, June 12 at the Rideau Heights Community Centre, 85 Maccauley St.
We are so proud of the work that has been done by the task force since its inception. As we prepare to engage with residents on this very important topic we want to ensure they have the opportunity to get up to speed with what the task force has learned to date and has awareness of steps moving forward,” says Mary Rita Holland, task force co-chair and city councillor.
By the end of 2019, the Mayor’s Task Force on Housing will present a coordinated and actionable set of recommendations designed to guide council as it makes decisions to address Kingston’s housing supply. These recommendations are to be informed by evidence and motivated by persuasive arguments.
More info?www.CityofKingston.ca/TaskForce.
4) Marking 178 Years as Kingston’s Capital, June 14
A full day of history-themed activities at City Park.
Pack a picnic lunch or enjoy food from one of Kingston’s local vendors on site.
First Capital Day opening ceremonies will kick off at 10 a.m. with Mayor Bryan Paterson followed by Paddling Puppeteer: Honest Frankie’s Shoreline Review.
Hands-on activities and displays will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at City Park.
Pre-registration: If you are planning to bring a school group to the event, we would appreciate it if you could pre-register. This will allow us to let exhibitors know an approximate number of children attending so that they can be better prepared.
To register in advance, please send your school name, number of students, number of adults and method of transportation to the park (walking, school bus, city transit etc.) to troseberry@cityofkingston.ca.
Activities:
Fort Henry Guard: Students will enjoy learning the ‘rules’ of military life, trying out some of the uniforms and doing drills.
Kingston Handloom Weavers and Spinners: The making of clothing, bedding and household linens was vitally important to the early settlers in Canada.
Frontier Creations English Travelling Merchant of 1812: Students can touch antlers, deer fur, feel leather and take home a leather sample or make a simple necklace.
Dr. Greg Baran, Surgeon: This interactive exhibit features discussion and demonstration of medical practices during the 1800s. Note: Some props and descriptions are graphic and are best suited for older children.
Broadsword Academy Kingston: Experience the use and history of the broadsword as practiced by Highland Regiments in the 18th and 19th centuries.
A Day in the Life of a Voyageur: Learn about the Arctic and Inuit culture through traditional soapstone carving.
Parking and drop-off:
The West Street entrance to the ring road that runs through the bottom of City Park will be closed to the general public throughout the day to accommodate this event.
Patients of Kingston General Hospital’s cancer clinic can park on the ring road and may access it off Barrie Street.
Buses may drop off and pick-up on Bagot Street at the park building, but will not be allowed to remain parked at that location.
Exhibits will be in the park, rain or shine, unless it becomes a safety hazard.
To request a teacher’s package or for questions about the event please e-mail jcruz1@cityofkingston.ca or call 613-546-4291 ext. 1lities Kingston Water Buggy.
5) Kingston National Indigenous People’s Day, June 21
Save the date! Stay tuned! Deadline for community groups and businesses to request a booth, June 7.
https://knipd.ca/about-us
6) Kingston Fire Rescue’s Cottage Season Fire Tips
May is when many people get a jump on summer by opening their cottages and other seasonal homes. Kingston Fire & Rescue is urging residents to add safety and prevention to their cottage plans.
“Cottages and other seasonal homes are vulnerable to unsafe conditions that can arise over the winter such as smoke and carbon monoxide alarms that no longer work, and chimneys that have become blocked,” says KFR Chief Shawn Armstrong. “Those traveling to cottages, cabins and seasonal homes should take new smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and batteries in case they need replacing when you arrive. We want everyone to enjoy the summer, and that includes staying safe.”
Other cottage fire safety tips include:
Install smoke alarms on every storey and outside all sleeping areas of homes, cottages, cabins and seasonal homes.
Install carbon monoxide alarms outside all sleeping areas if your home, cottage or cabin has a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage.
Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms at least monthly or each time you return to the cottage. Pack a new smoke and carbon monoxide alarm and extra batteries in case they need replacing.
Develop and practice a home escape plan to ensure everyone knows what to do if the smoke or carbon monoxide alarm sounds.
Know the telephone number for the local fire department and your cottage’s emergency sign number, in case of emergency.
Clean barbecues before using them. Keep an eye on lit barbecues and ensure all combustibles, as well as children and pets, are kept well away from them. Fires can happen when barbecues are left unattended.
Keep barbecue lighters and matches out of sight and reach of children.
Remember to bring a flashlight with extra batteries.
Inspect heating appliances and chimneys before using them.
Check with your local fire department or municipality to determine whether open air burning is permitted before having a campfire or burning brush. If open burning is allowed, fires should be built on bare soil or on exposed rock. Remove leaves and twigs from around the fire to keep it from spreading. Always keep a bucket of water or sand and a shovel close by and supervise the fire at all times.
If you must smoke, do so outside. Keep a large can with water nearby so cigarette butts can be safely discarded.
If you drink, do so responsibly. Tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption are contributing factors in many fires and can lead to serious injuries.
Burn candles in sturdy candle-holders that will not tip and are covered with a glass shade. When you go out, blow out!
7) Water Levels to Peak in Early June
With water levels along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River expected to peak in early June, the City’s office of emergency management is advising residents in low-lying and flood prone areas along these shorelines to keep a close eye on the forecast and take necessary steps to protect their homes.
The City is not anticipating widespread flooding at this time.
Please note:
“Lake Ontario continues to rise and [there is] a 50 per cent chance that levels will reach or exceed the highs of 2017,” reports the International Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence River Board (ILOSLRB) in The Weekly Water Level Forecast.
Given current conditions and weather forecasts, Lake Ontario is expected to peak at approximately 75.9 m in early June, but “higher water levels are possible under potentially wetter conditions,” states the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority (CRCA), in a flooding warning update issued earlier today.
The current water levels for Lake Ontario, measured at Kingston are 75.65 metres, which is 0.35 metres below the 100-year flood levels of 76.0 meters.
NEED SANDBAGS?
If you find yourself in a potential flood situation and require sand or sandbags, call 613-546-0000. The City has sand and sandbags available for pick-up at 875 Innovation Dr. When you call, you will be asked when you plan to pick up the sand or sandbags. Please note: you will be asked to present proof of residency I.E. a piece of mail with your name and address when collecting the sand.
All residents can learn about steps to protect their homes against flooding by visiting www.CityofKingston.ca/FloodReady
Share. Participate. Engage. – https://GetInvolved.CityofKingston.ca
8) Utilities Kingston’s Notes for Recreational Water Users
Kingston’s waterfront is a clean, safe place to swim, fish or boat. But, bacteria levels in lakes and rivers are higher up to 48 hours after a heavy rainfall and swimming is not recommended during that time. Sewer overflows can contribute to the problem. Utilities Kingston offers an online map that shows where sewer overflows have occurred in real time.
“We are proud to be transparent in helping residents make more informed decisions on recreational water use, as we continue to both reduce sewer overflows and openly share information,” says Jim Keech, president and CEO of Utilities Kingston. “Water users can consider our real-time sewer overflow map before they swim at certain locations at Lake Ontario within 48 hours of a heavy rainfall.”
When Kingstonians or visitors plan to swim, fish or boat in Lake Ontario within 48 hours after heavy rain, they are encouraged to first check the map at www.UtilitiesKingston.com/Overflows. Sewer overflow locations affecting the Great Cataraqui River, the Little Cataraqui Creek, and other surrounding bodies of water are also shown.
“KFL&A Public Health supports Utilities Kingston in their initiative to improve public notification of sewer overflows into recreational waters. This information is beneficial to the public’s health and we’re glad that it’s being shared. The sewer overflow map is a resource that should be considered after a heavy rain fall, before deciding to swim at Kingston’s waterfront,” said Dr. Kieran Moore, Medical Officer of Health for KFL&A Public Health.
Utilities Kingston and the City of Kingston continue to improve infrastructure to reduce sewer overflows. Over the last twenty years, they have been working to separate Kingston’s historic combined sewer system and install large holding tanks to reduce overflows and rainwater that enters the sanitary system. These activities help reduce the sewer overflows associated with heavy rainfalls.
In 2019, Utilities Kingston will complete infrastructure upgrades in the following areas, to separate combined sanitary and storm sewers and help reduce sewer overflows:
College Street (Union to Hill), Napier Street (Hill to Earl), Toronto Street (Earl to Johnson), Frontenac Street (Earl to Johnson)
Additional resources available at www.UtilitiesKingston.com:
View a brief video animation about sewer overflows in Kingston
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIDZTwL7q-s
Learn about projects to reduce sewer overflows and see an animated map showing where Utilities Kingston has separated sewers since 2001
View frequently asked health and technical questions
9) Garlic vs. Ticks – City’s Experimental Program
The City of Kingston is continuing to test the effectiveness of a 100 per cent natural garlic-based product aimed at keeping mosquitos and ticks away from the dog park areas of Grass Creek Park and Rotary Park.
This natural repellant, not harmful to people or animals, has a powerful effect on mosquitos and ticks and will be applied every three to four weeks throughout the spring, summer and fall.
“These insects have a sense of smell that is 10,000 times more sensitive than ours and, lucky for us, they don’t like garlic,” says Troy Stubinski, operations manager.
Grass Creek and Rotary dog parks were chosen as pilot locations because of their settings and popularity as destinations for residents and their pets. The garlic-based spray will also be applied on the side of the road and sidewalk along Centennial Drive between Crossfield and Atkinson to see if it will keep geese from walking across the street and creating a traffic hazard. Geese do not like the taste of the repellant on the grass they eat.
Staff will use the information gathered to identify resource and budget requirements to expand use of the garlic-based repellant to other key locations.
The City reminds residents that many parks have planned naturalized areas intentionally left to grow wild. Please, keep to pathways to enjoy non-wild walks and avoid ticks.
Visit these KFL&A Public Health webpages to learn how to protect your family and pets from:
https://www.kflaph.ca/en/healthy-living/lyme-disease-.aspx
https://www.kflaph.ca/en/resource-catalogue/West-Nile-Virus.aspx
More info from the city? https://www.cityofkingston.ca/residents/environment-sustainability/nature-forests-gardens/ticks-mosquitos
10) Utility Kingston’s Electricity Plans
Utilities Kingston is preparing to submit Kingston Hydro’s multi-year electricity distribution plan to the Ontario Energy Board.
Utilities Kingston electricity customers are invited to provide input to help inform this plan, which will help determine the company’s priorities and rates beginning on Jan. 1, 2021.
During a public meeting at 6 p.m. on May 29, 2019, senior company leaders offered details on proposed plans to upgrade equipment and ensure the continued reliability of electricity services.
The meeting was held at the Seniors Centre at 56 Francis Street. Utilities Kingston consulted with its customers on:
factors relating to the reliability of the Kingston Hydro electricity distribution system
spending decisions over the next five years
how to meet customers’ changing electricity service and conservation needs while considering rapidly changing information, communication and grid technologies
If you missed the meeting you can offer your opinion via an online survey. Customers can also join the conversation on Twitter @utilitieskngstn, by following the hashtag #HaveYourSay.
All input collected will be considered in developing Kingston Hydro’s distribution system and company plans and will be included with Kingston Hydro’s application to its regulator, the Ontario Energy Board, as part of the rate-setting process.
At the public meeting, Randy Murphy, chief financial officer, Jim Miller, director of engineering, and Audrey Jones, manager of customer relations led a discussion on electricity rates, bill impacts and capital projects, and invited input from customers.
What you should know:
Kingston Hydro’s distribution rates must be approved by the Ontario Energy Board based on applications by the utility. The rate-setting process is open and transparent, and offers opportunities for public participation.
Kingston Hydro must submit evidence to demonstrate the amount of funding it needs to safely and reliably distribute electricity to its customers.
The Kingston Hydro electricity distribution area is operated by the employees of Utilities Kingston, which also operates municipal water, wastewater and gas utilities, and provides broadband networking services. Utilities Kingston’s roots in the community run deep; its employees have been providing utility services in Kingston since 1847.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G3vSvtUsXc&feature=youtu.be
This is a really inspiring and informative video about what Utilities Kingston is doing!
“The unique multi-utility model in Kingston delivers value to customers for the rates they are paying. Our electricity plans are based on the customer service and cost saving benefits of having five utility services under one roof,” says Jim Keech, president and CEO of Utilities Kingston. “With customer input, we are developing plans for a modern energy company that meets the changing needs of consumers, while distributing electricity in a safe and reliable manner, keeping rates affordable and providing long-term value to the community.”
11) Bike Bollards Being Installed
The City of Kingston is installing bike land bollards on Johnson Street, Brock Street,John Counter Boulevard and Taylor Kidd Boulevard to create an added separation between cyclists and vehicles.
“Bike lane bollards make cycling a safer and more comfortable experience. They are just one of the ways we are working to promote active transportation and make Kingston more bike-friendly,” says Ian Semple, director, transportation services. Watch for the bollards to go up after line-painting for the bike lanes is completed on these streets.
Johnson and Brock streets from Sir John A. Macdonald to Division
John Counter Boulevard from Sir John A. Macdonald to Division
Taylor Kidd Boulevard from Princess to the Rio Can entrance
Bike lane bollards are used on roads with higher traffic volumes and speed. They add a 0.5m buffer to the existing 1.5m-wide bike lane. They are installed in the spring and will be taken down in the fall before the snow flies.
More info?https://www.cityofkingston.ca/residents/getting-around/cycling
I asked Ian Semple, DIrector of Transportation Services, about proposed routes for high school students going from the downtown to the new high school in Kingscourt. Here is his response:
“Typically we would only install buffered bike lanes with bollards (protected bike lane) in areas there is sufficient right of way to accommodate the 1.5m of bike lane plus the 0.5m of buffer zone. In some cases we might install center slow bollards with side bollards on a 1.5m bike lane for traffic calming, which is what we have done on Elliot Street. More to come on the specific treatments for the Inner Harbour streets as we work through the final drafts of the neighbourhood transportation plan through the end of the year.
The streets and routes you identified to the new school might be better served with a different type of cycling application such as traffic calming the streets to allow for cyclists to feel comfortable riding with mixed traffic, removing parking and adding bike lanes in a lot of cases will only increase the motor vehicle operating speeds on the road and make biking in the area feel more uncomfortable. We will be looking to see what type of improvements can be made along Macdonnell St to connect with the new Leroy Grant Multiuse pathway that is being built which will provide a direct connection for students to the new High School and existing Molly Brant Public School. “
Wishing you all happy sunshiny days!
Cheers
Mary Farrar,
President,
Friends of KIngston Inner Harbour