Dear Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour.
Thanks Hilbert, once again, for your great photos.
This one of a Kinglet on Belle Island.
On a different note…
In 2020, in the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation, the Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour secured a grant from the City to hire Chuck Commanda, Algonquin Traditional Knowledge Keeper, to lead the community build of a traditional Algonquin birchbark canoe. The build involved both Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants and with Chuck’s skilled and sensitive leadership it was a truly meaningful experience for all involved.
In association with this build, Dave McCallum of Lightstruck Films made videos of a few interviews we did as well as a visual record of the build itself, and of the culturally apppropriate tearing down of the statue of Sir John A. MacDonald.
Dave is in the process of editing these videos. As he completes them, they will be put up on our webpage as well as shared in these newsletters.
Here is one with James Raffan, author, filmmaker, teacher, explorer, and former executive director of the Canadian Canoe Museum. He is also the author of eleven books, including: Bark, Skin and Cedar, Wildwaters: Canoeing North America’s Wilderness Rivers, and the Bill Mason biography, Fire in the Bones. – https://jamesraffan.ca
https://youtu.be/SMqM2b4pttM
I feel it is also important to state at this time, in the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation, and with deep humility that I,am truly grateful to members of Kingston’s Indigenous community for sharing their opposition to our proposed building of a replica of the Frontenac. Now is not the time to celebrate Canada’s and Kingston’s French history through this project. The pain of French atrocities remains too raw. Much more respect, empathy, and coming together needs to happen in the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation. Murray Sinclair’s autobiography “Who We Are” has been a devastating awakening for me and I’m now starting Tanya Talaga’s “The Knowing.” Sincere apologies to any and all we have offended.
LOCAL ISSUES AND EVENTS
1. Kingston’s Integrated Mobility Plan – Input Requested
2. Martello Alley Seeking Your Nomination for Two Small Business Contests to Help Secure their Future and Boost Visibility, with a Chance to Win a Cash Award for your Nomination
3. How to Grow a Pollinator Garden – Nov 9 Master Gardeners’ Workshop
4. Doctor Recruitment
5. Housing and Homelessness Site on City’s Webpage
6. Recycling Changes
7. Designation of Playgrounds as Child Safety Zones
8. Dangers of Lead in Underground City Infrastructures
9. Police Warn of On-going Distraction Style Thefts
10. New Studies Shed more Light on Sydenham Road Emergency Homeless Shelter
11. Would You Benefit from Additional VIA Rail Service Between Toronto and Kingston?
Survey Deadline, Nov 17, 2025
12. Free Emmersive Ecological Art Installation Created by Neighbourhood Artists
13. Crows are Back: Links
14. Working Ground: An Exhibition by Noah Scheinman and the Belle Park Project: Bringing Artworks Produced in and about Belle Park into Dialogue with the Space and Collections of the Miller Museum of Geology.
15. Ontario Association of Architects Picks Calvin Park Library as a Favourite Building
OF GENERAL INTEREST AND SOME FUN NOVEMBER EVENTS
16. bEDzED – The UK’s First Major Zero-carbon Community for Sustainable Development
17. The Basic Income Experiment: Lessons from Ontario’s Cancelled Pilot Project
18. New Kingston Animation Hub
19. Kingston Fall Seedy Saturday, Nov 8 + Winter Sowing 101 Workshop
20. November Events at the Cataraqui Conservation Area
21. 25 Things to Do in Kingston this November
1. Kingston’s Integrated Mobility Plan – Input Requested
Received from the City of Kingston, Oct 31, 2025
The City of Kingston invites you to participate in the development of the Integrated Mobility Plan by attending a public open house and virtual presentation on November 12 and 17, 2025, respectively, to provide input on transportation infrastructure and policy directions.
Note
- Register for the Virtual Presentation and Q&A
- Attend the In-person Open House
Kingston Integrated Mobility Plan Tickets, Mon, 17 Nov 2025 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/kingston-integrated-mobility-plan-tickets-1816469151129?aff=oddtdcreator
2. Martello Alley Seeking Your Nomination for Two Small Business Contests to Help Secure Their Future and Boost Visibility, with a Chance to Win a Cash Award for Your Nomination.
Received from David Dossett, owner of Martello Alley, Oct 31, 2025
📣 Friends of Martello Alley & Martello on Brock — we need your help!
There are TWO small business contests and I would appreciate it if you would take just five minutes of your time to nominate your gallery, Martello Alley. Please do so now because the nominations close soon!
As you know, in normal times, it takes several years for a business to become self-sufficient, let alone profitable. Most small business owners have to invest their own savings and life savings to keep things going — and we were no exception. The challenges of COVID made that even more difficult. To keep our stores afloat I had to spend a lot of my funds, which I had saved for my retirement. Winning one or both of these awards would not only help financially and help secure our future, but could help boost our visibility, and therefore sales.
Although our sales month-over-month and year-over-year have generally increased, the reality is that we are still not breaking even. Economic instability — driven by new tariffs and uncertainty — continues to make it a challenge. We’ve had to adapt by focusing more on smaller items, gifts, and souvenirs to help keep our doors open and continue supporting our artists.
Right now, there are two national contests recognizing outstanding small businesses in Canada — one sponsored by Purolator and another by Meridian Credit Union.
We would greatly appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to nominate Martello Alley and Martello on Brock for these awards.
It won’t cost you anything, and in one case, you could even win a cash award for your nomination! Your nomination helps raise our profile and highlights the difference our collective makes for artists, visitors, and the Kingston community.
Information you will need is on our website but here it is also:
Owner: David Dossett
Location: Frontenac County
Email: david@martelloalley.com
Website: www.martelloalley.com
Phone: 6137672966
Link to Meridian Grant:
https://www.meridian.ca/business-banking/meridian-small-business-big-impact-awards
Editor’s Note: Martello Alley is unique in Kingston’s downtown, creating an exciting and fun ambiance with new and fun experiences popping up all the time. In addition to his stores, owner David Dossett organizes evening art events throughout the downtown. His efforts are to be applauded.
Please consider supporting him for both the Purolator and Meridian awards to help keep his businesses and his community work alive.
Here is a short description taken from his webpage that really communicates the feel:
The labyrinth of alley-ways in downtown Kingston are like little adventures we can explore everyday full of surprises, intrigue and history. A turn here, a stone wall there, secret little balconies with a view of a court yard or a sculpture quietly, humbly hanging above your head, these are all gems that are unique to Kingston! Well that alley-way adventure literally, just got a lot more intriguing, and colourful!
We are excited to introduce you to Martello Alley!
When you venture down Martello Alley at 203 B Wellington Street, prepare to have a smile that only great art and creativity can create! Reminiscent of, and inspired by La Rue du Trésor in Québec this is an adventure with an wonderfully artistic ending!
Martello Alley is an artist collective offering eclectic works that are sure to brighten any day. Offering original art work as well as prints, this is an art shopping experience designed for any budget and any style/size of space. Reminiscent of and inspired by La Rue du Trésor in Québec city, unique to Ontario, this is an adventure with a wonderfully artistic ending! Our work adorns the walls of the alley, tempting you further in to stroll the charming courtyard beautifully rich with local history and seasonal landscape design. Then wind up at the Atelier where you will find a gallery and artists with their works in progress to welcome you at the end.
3. How to Grow a Pollinator Garden
Received from the McBurney Park Neighbourhood Association, Nov 2, 2025
Sunday November 9th, 1-3pm at 99 York St. in the new board room.
This Workshop is hosted by the 1000 Island Master Gardeners – How to grow a Pollinator Garden, pocket meadow to best attract the bees, butterflies and birds we want to pollinate our garden beds. How to ready seeds for winter and early planting. Bring your questions and your curiosity.
4. Doctor Recruitment
Received from Councillor Paul Chaves Monthly Newsletter Nov 1, 2025
Council received an update on our family physician recruitment program during one of our October Council meeting. Since the program’s launch in 2022, a total of 33 new family physicians have been successfully recruited including recent medical graduates, international physicians, and those relocating from other provinces.
At the end of 2022 there were an estimated 30,000+ Kingstonians without a family physician. With the physicians we have recruitment for have/are rostering 5,000 patients, 4-5,000 to be rostered by Midtown and 4,000 to be rostered by through OHT funding from the Province, we are on track to get everyone rostered in the next 6 months.
To confirm, you need to be registered with Ontario HealthCare Connect in order to be rostered by a local medical clinic/family physician.
The City will begin shifting its focus from active recruitment to a succession strategy centered on retirement and replacement planning. This approach will help prepare for anticipated retirements over the next five years, while gradually returning responsibility for primary care to the Province and the OHT.
In the meantime, if you are without a family physician there is a telehealth & walk-in clinic located within the district, within the Guardian Medix Pharmacy located at 2392 Princess Street. Just call the pharmacy to schedule a telehealth appointment. An appointment can generally be made within a day or two. They also just recently added a Nurse Practitioner Urgent Care walk in clinic. Please see the attached pictures for any needed contact information.
Do you need a primary care provider? Register for Health Care Connect:
Primary care remains a matter of provincial jurisdiction. Residents without a family doctor are encouraged to register with Health Care Connect. Health Care Connect is provincially administered program that helps track primary care provider capacity and connect people to one.
Residents without a family physician can learn more about the support available to help access care and services by visiting the Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Ontario Health Team website.
5. Housing and Homelessness site on City’s webpage
Received from cityofkingstoh.ca, Nov 1, 2025
More info: cityofkingston.ca/community-supports/housing-and-homelessness/
Categories include: Affordable Housing Programs, Homeless Prevention Fund, Homelessness Services, Housing First, and Social Housing.
6. Recycling Changes
Received from Councillor Chaves November Newsletter, Nov 1, 2025
The recycling transition from municipalities to producers, as directed by the Province, has been faced with a number of collection disruptions, to say the least. Our Waste Management Team has been in consultation with both Circular Materials Ontario (CMO) and Emterra Environmental the past week and hopefully there will be fewer/no future disruptions in recycling collections.
Blue/Grey Bin Update:
After significant advocacy by the Solid Waste team with Circular Materials and Emterra Environmental, a local collection point has been made available for residents to pick up new blue/grey bins if they are required. Residents must contact Emterra to register for a new bin and once proof of address has been verified, can attend the Home Hardware store on Development Drive to pick up their new bins. This new process has been successful in allowing residents local access to new bins and feedback from residents has been relatively improved since implementation of this system.
The below is some information regarding the transition and who to contact if there you experience any further collection disruptions.
If your recycling was missed, or you have questions about collection, contact Emterra at 1-888-597-1541 or customercareont@emterra.ca. Further information on this province wide change can be found at https://www.circularmaterials.ca/provincial-programs/recycling-in-ontario/.
7. Designation of Playgrounds as Child Safety Zones
Received from City of Kingston webpage following the most recent Council meeting.
Editor;s Note: The following motion was put forward by Deputy Mayor Glenn and seconded by Councillor McLaren. Several objections were raised by councillors and it will be re-introduced in revised form Nov 4, 2025
Whereas the City of Kingston has an obligation to balance the safety and well-being of all residents, including people experiencing homelessness and users of public parks and playgrounds; and
Whereas City of Kingston By-Law Number 2009-76, the Parks By-Law, and City of Kingston By-Law Number 2023-214, the Community Standards By-Law, regulate activities in public spaces but currently do not define distance-based “safe zones” around children’s playgrounds, schools, daycares, splash pads, and similar sensitive areas; and
Whereas other Ontario municipalities including St. Catharines, Sarnia, and Greater Napanee, have adopted protocols or public-space By-Laws that prohibit or restrict high-risk activities within defined buffer zones (typically 50 to 100 metres) of sensitive-use areas; and
Whereas public safety concerns have been raised regarding open-air drug use, discarded paraphernalia, and encampments located immediately adjacent to playgrounds and family recreation areas; and
Whereas the Ontario government, through recent legislative changes, has granted municipalities greater authority to regulate public consumption of controlled substances and to designate sensitive areas for protection;
Therefore Be It Resolved That staff draft amendments to City of Kingston By-Law Number 2009-76, the Parks By-Law, and City of Kingston By-Law Number 2023-214, the Community Standards By-Law, to create defined Child Safety Zones, often referred to as Sensitive Use Zones, within 50 metres of any public playground, school, daycare, splash pad, or organized children’s sports field prohibiting the erection of temporary shelters, the possession or use of drug-consumption paraphernalia, and open-air drug use; and
That staff be directed to align enforcement of the new provisions with Kingston’s Encampment Response Protocol and to incorporate a trauma-informed and housing-first approach, including outreach, referrals, and alternate sheltering options before any enforcement action occurs; and
That staff report back to Council in Q2 2026 with proposed By-Law language, information on implementation and enforcement, a plan for mapping of Sensitive Use Zones across City parks, and coordination mechanisms with Kingston Police Services and community outreach partners; and
That staff to review best practices from other municipalities on balancing public safety and human-rights obligations when regulating sensitive use area and to include these findings in the staff report.
8. Dangers of Lead in Underground City Infrastructures.8
Received from Alex Braun Oct 24, 2025. Thanks Alex for bringing this to my attention.
Editor’s Note: I have reached out to the Canadian Environmental Law Association as they are working on this and I have also shared links with Councillors Connie Glenn and Lisa Osanic.
It is of serious concern that many municipalities have taken the lead out of city pipes that connect to houses but not the pipes on private property.
More will be included in the next newsletter.
Chicago Soil Maps Childhood Lead Exposure Risk – Eos
eos.org/research-spotlights/Chicago-soil-maps-childhooe lead-exposure-risk?mkt_tok=OTg3LUIHVC01NzIAAAGdtKZmSgxenYm6qrZ?8MIlRq9wnnIqRFpPxvBoEeAtsTn_odz2CmQ_-Sg5xlcoGVvsuKNv1sReLFJG_xn9CPBQQZt-mFwsnT5-xTBaa9zK5A
‘No excuse not to act’: Ontario cities lag on lead pipe removal | Canada’s National Observer: Climate News
Received from Canada’s National Observer, Oct 21, 20256 – Abdul Matin Sarfraz
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/21/news/ontario-lead-pipe-water-contamination
9. Police Warn Public of On-going Distraction Style Thefts
Received from Kingston Police, Oct 25, 2025
The Kingston Police are warning the public after receiving a report of a distraction style theft which occurred in a west end parking lot.
On October 25, 2025, at approximately 12:30 p.m. an elderly victim was approached in a west-end parking lot by two individuals looking for directions. While speaking with the victim, one of the individuals removed a necklace worn around the victim’s neck and replaced it with a cheap fake gold necklace without the victim noticing.
The suspects were described as a male and female of middle eastern decent, operating a grey sedan.
Police are reminding members of the public not to engage with anyone attempting to sell or solicit goods in parking lots, especially items such as jewellery. Police are also reminding the public not to let anyone place items on their person and to maintain personal space while in public.
Police encourage citizens to report similar incidents by contacting the Kingston Police at 613-549-4660 Ext. ‘0’ or by filing an online report at www.kingstonpolice.ca
10. New Studies Shed more Light on Sydenham Road Emergency Homeless Shelter
Received from the Kingstonist Oct 24, 2025
In short, despite neighbourhood objections, this project is scheduled to go ahead to lay the groundwork for this overnight shelter location through grading, utility installation, tree removal and other protection measures.
New studies shed more light on Sydenham Road emergency homeless shelter
11. Would You Benefit from Additional VIA Rail Service Between Toronto and Kingston?
Survey deadline: Nov 17.
Received from the City of Kingston, Oct 27, 2025
The City of Kingston and our municipal partners in Port Hope, Belleville and Coburg are coming together to gather public feedback on additional VIA Rail service in the region, including a late-night train option from Toronto to Kingston.
“Passenger rail is one of the key transportation options that keep Kingston and all eastern Ontario communities connected,” said Mayor Bryan Paterson. “Through this survey, we are asking residents if there is community interest in new rail service options, including a late-night train possibility.” Your voice matters and you can let us know if this would benefit you by completing a short Survey by Nov. 17.
The City recently passed a motion in October to call on VIA Rail to maintain service levels to the city and commit to a forward-thinking plan for enhanced passenger rail service in Kingston. This includes partnering with local municipal governments to conduct a survey to see if there is enough support for a late-night train from Toronto.
Survey: http://survey.alchemer-ca.com/s3/50457931/66d7d3c40e8c
12. Free Immersive Ecological Art Installation Created by Neighbourhood Artists
Received from McBurney Park Neighbourhood Association, Oct 22, 2025
At AGNES right now! THE CLEARING – A free immersive ecological art installation created by neighbourhood artists. Marney McDiarmid and Clelia Scala have reimagined a shipping container to transport viewers from a space of global commodity to an organic ecosystem that values introspection, delight, and connection. Viewers are invited to bring personal documents to the exhibit, shred them, and add them to the artists’ landscape. The piece is family-friendly and very playful – audience members explore the work with flashlights! It features a poem by Sadiqa de Meijer, soundscape by Matt Rogalsky, & mural by Lee Stewart. FREE! Extended until Nov 9th. Wed 1–4 pm, Thurs 12–8 pm, Fri 10–4 pm, Sat & Sun 1–4 @ AGNES (207 Stuart St.)
To book a viewing, reach out to Clelia or Marney directly: cscala@gmail.com or marneymcdiarmid@gmail.com
Photos by Jackie Hall Photography
I’ve been to see it, it’s whelming, not overwhelming, just whelms you up being in the space.
13. Crows Are Back!
Here are a couple of sources fyi:
Crow Watch, Kingston, Ontario! On Facebook with wonderful pics and videos from Patrick Guscott and Steve Manders. Other, more general, crow groups are also on Facebook.
In addition, there is also a new Substack group, The Kingston Crow: An Enlightening Murder of News and Views. This site has been created by former Whig-Standard writer/editor Anne Kershaw (former investigative journalist, City and Region Editor and Editorial Page Editor for the Kingston Whig-Standard) and Mary Anne Beaudette (a former senior editor of Kingston’s beloved Whig-Standard Magazine).
“The Kingston Crow aims to complement other local news sites by offering more robust coverage of Kingston news and views. We have recruited numerous local writers and veteran journalists as contributors, including Harvey Schachter, Vicki Schmolka, Maureen Garvie and others.”
To join this source, e-mail thekingstoncrow@gmail.com and put “join” in the subject line.
We want to encourage the concept of citizen journalists, and to that end will be offering periodic workshops to those with a nose for news and a desire to learn the basics of interviewing and reporting.
We also aim to be a hub of community news and information, via our Worthy Local Links page, which we will continually update as we become aware of new sites of interest to Kingstonians.
Anne Kershaw and Mary Anne Beaudette will manage the content of The Kingston Crow and provide editing where needed to ensure accuracy and consistency of style. For now, we don’t get paid and we don’t pay, but we are working towards a sustainable model. We welcome submissions. Postings, written or videoed, can take the form of journalistic reports, op-eds, substantive letters, and first-person accounts. Submissions should be 200 words for letters and 400 to 2000 words for articles, columns and op-eds. Some exceptions will be allowed.
Why subscribe?
Subscribe for free to get full access to the newsletter and publication archives. Our long-term goal once establishing a loyal readership is to introduce a modest fee to enable us to pay writers. Currently, we are a volunteer operation and a free product.
Contact Us:
thekingstoncrow@gmail.com or Mary Anne Beaudetter 613-329-7827
14. Working Ground: An Exhibition by Noah Scheinman and the Belle Park Project: Bringing Artworks Produced in and About Belle Park into Dialogue with the Space and Collections of the Miller Museum of Geology
Received from the Belle Park Project, Oct, 2025
Notes: The place we now know as Belle Park was once a wetland in the Great Cataraqui River, sustaining countless generations and networks of plant, animal, and himan llife. In 1952 it became the site of Kingston’s municipal landfill. Since 1974, it has served as golf course and a park, and it is currently a fragile home for unhoused people.
Situating local history within broader planetary frameworks, Working Ground, invites reflection on how landscapes are made, altered, and represented across various overlapping practices and timescales: geological, cultural, economic, and experiential. In art and in the museum, in the landfill and in resource extraction, ground is worked: worked on, worked with, worked over, and worked through. Bother materially and conceptually, the ground grounds the exhibition.
Where: Miller Hall Museum, 36 Union St. Kingston
When: Mon-Fri, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Save the Date for Symposium: Nov 22: 1:00 – 5:00 pm
“Conversations with Working Ground: A Symposium at the Miller Museum.
Participants: Rob Harrap, Myra Hird, Liz Miller, Laura Jean Cameron, Laura Murray, Dorit Naaman, Noah Scheinman.
15. Ontario Association of Architects Picks Calvin Park Library as a Favourite Building
Received from the Ontario Associayion of Architects,Oct 28, 2025 – nominated by MPP Ted Hsu
More Info: https://oaa.on.ca/queens-park-picks/queens-park-picks-2025
OF GENERAL INTEREST AND SOME FUN NOVEMBER EVENTS
16. BedZED – The UK’s First Major Zero-carbon Community for Sustainable Development.
Received from James Brown, Oct 27, 2025
Imagine if our city and country held some of these models in mind as an inspiration and aspiration. This just one such project of many around the world.
FYI: Great video on this one and great detailed concept sketches on second version.
https://www.bikoregional.com/proojects-and-services/case-studies/bedzed-the-uks-first-large-scale-eco-village
17. The Basic Income Experiment: Lessons from Ontario’s Cancelled Pilot Project
Received from msn Oct 27, 2025 – Diana Tablan 5 min read
Editor’s Note: Although this is not exactly new news, it bears revisiting in light of just how helpful it could be given today’s food security, mental health, and homelessness issues.
Back in 2017, Ontario launched something that grabbed headlines across Canada and around the world. The province started giving money directly to 4,000 low-income residents with no strings attached, paying them enough to stay above the poverty line. For cities like Hamilton, Brantford, Thunder Bay, and Lindsay, this pilot project meant receiving between $17,000 and $24,000 per year, depending on their situation.
The experiment was supposed to run for three years, but in 2018, Ontario’s newly elected government pulled the plug after just one year. The sudden cancellation left thousands of participants scrambling and researchers frustrated. Yet even in that short time, the pilot revealed some powerful truths about poverty, work, and what people do when they finally have enough money to breathe.
The promise of basic income
Basic income sounds simple because it is. The government sends you a regular payment that covers your basic needs, regardless of whether you’re working or not.
The Ontario pilot tested a version called a negative income tax, which topped up earnings for people making less than a certain amount. This design meant people wouldn’t lose benefits by getting a job, removing one of the biggest problems with traditional welfare systems.
Who qualified for the program?
The Ontario pilot wasn’t open to everyone, but it did include a diverse group of people. Participants had to be between 18 and 64 years old and living in one of the selected communities, earning less than $34,000 as a single person or $48,000 as a couple.
The program included unemployed people, part-time workers with unpredictable hours, and those dealing with disabilities. By including this mix, researchers hoped to see how basic income affected different types of people facing different challenges.
The money people actually received
Single participants in the pilot could receive up to $16,989 per year, while couples could get up to $24,027. People with disabilities received an extra $500 per month on top of these amounts.
For every dollar participants earned from work, their basic income was reduced by 50 cents, which meant working always left them better off financially. Most participants received somewhere between $400 and $1,200 monthly, depending on their other income sources.
Health improvements that surprised researchers
One of the most striking findings was how quickly people’s health improved. Participants reported fewer visits to emergency rooms and doctors’ offices for stress-related problems.
People who had been skipping medications because they couldn’t afford them started taking their prescriptions regularly. The constant anxiety about paying for food and rent had been making people physically sick, and when that pressure lifted, their bodies responded.
The complicated relationship with employment
Critics worried that giving people money would make them stop working, but that’s not what happened. Most participants who had jobs kept them, and some actually worked more hours because they could afford things like car repairs or childcare.
A few people did reduce their work hours, but they usually had good reasons like going back to school or caring for new babies. The pilot showed that when people have financial security, they make thoughtful decisions about work rather than just taking any job to survive.
Educational opportunities people pursued
With basic income providing a cushion, many participants made investments in their future education. People enrolled in college programs they’d been putting off for years or finished high school diplomas they’d abandoned.
Others took specialized training courses in fields like healthcare, technology, or skilled trades. These educational choices weren’t random but strategic, with participants choosing programs that would lead to better-paying careers and more stable employment in the long term.
How families and children benefited
Parents in the pilot program described being able to focus on their kids in ways they couldn’t before. They could afford fresh fruits and vegetables, school field trips, and winter coats that actually fit. Parents had time to help with homework instead of working multiple jobs. Teachers reported that kids seemed more focused and less stressed about things happening at home.
The political decision to end it
When Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative government took power in Ontario in 2018, ending the basic income pilot became a quick priority. The new government argued the program was too expensive and that the money would be better spent elsewhere.
The decision came suddenly, with participants finding out through news reports rather than official communication. The government offered a small transitional payment to help people adjust, but many participants said it wasn’t enough.
What researchers learned despite the short timeline
Even though the pilot ended early, researchers managed to gather valuable data. They found that people’s stress levels dropped dramatically within months, healthcare costs decreased, and employment patterns showed that basic income didn’t make people lazy.
Researchers also documented how quickly financial stability can transform lives when it’s predictable and adequate. The abrupt ending actually revealed something important too: how much harm sudden policy changes can cause to vulnerable people who rely on government support.
Comparing costs to traditional welfare
Basic income turns out to be less expensive than many people assume. Traditional welfare systems require large bureaucracies to process applications and monitor compliance, but basic income eliminates most of this overhead.
The Ontario pilot also showed that when people’s health improves and they make better employment decisions, they contribute more to the economy through taxes and spending. Some economists argue that these indirect benefits mean basic income could eventually pay for itself.
Lessons for future programs
The Ontario experience taught policymakers several crucial lessons. Political commitment matters tremendously because participants need to trust that the program will continue.
The transition both into and out of basic income needs careful planning to avoid disrupting people’s lives. Future programs should include legal protections against sudden cancellation and involve participants in program design to ensure the system actually meets their needs.
The ongoing debate across Canada
Ontario’s canceled pilot didn’t end the conversation about basic income in Canada. Other provinces and cities have considered their own versions, and the COVID-19 pandemic renewed interest when emergency payments functioned somewhat like a temporary basic income.
These programs showed that governments can deliver direct payments efficiently when they choose to. Advocates continue pushing for a national basic income program, while critics argue that improving existing social programs would be more effective.
What this means for poverty reduction
The Ontario pilot offered a glimpse of how direct cash payments could address poverty more effectively than the current patchwork of programs. Participants demonstrated that poor people aren’t poor because they make bad decisions; they make difficult decisions because they’re poor.
When given adequate resources, people invest in their health, education, and futures. While the program ended too soon to prove every benefit, it provided enough evidence to keep the conversation alive about better ways to support people who are struggling financially.
18. New Kingston Animation Hub
Received from CartoonBrew Oct 28,2025
Canada has a new animation player, and it’s joining the party with a high-profile horror IP. Limestone Animation, a Kingston-based studio founded by industry veterans Sean Connolly and Donnie MacIntyre, announced its launch today alongside its first project: an animated adaptation of R.L. Stine’s Stinetinglers.
The series, based on Stine’s ongoing horror anthologies for middle-grade readers, marks the first time one of the author’s properties will be produced specifically for animation. Stine, best known for Goosebumps and Fear Street, has sold more than 500 million books worldwide and seen decades of live-action adaptations, from television series to feature films.
More info: https://www.cartoonbrew.com/studios/new-canadian-studio-limestone-animation-stinetinglers-mipcom-255381.html
19. November Events at the Cataraqui Conservation Area
Received from CRCA Oct 28, 2025
November Events
- Nov. 1 – Creatures of the Night Hike
- Nov. 5 – Full Moon Forest Therapy Walk
- Nov. 15 – Santa Run & Santa Paws Walk
- Nov. 15 – Lantern Hike
- Nov. 30 – Getting Ready for Winter Hike
More info: https://cataraquiconservation.ca/pages/events?se_activity_id=175009071261&syclid=d40eagrmckec738ig00&utm_campaign=Cataraqui+Conservation+Upcoming+Events_17500907126&utm_medium=email&utm_source=shopify_email
19. Kingston Fall Seedy Saturday Sat, Nov 8
Received from Little Forests Kingston Oct 30, 2025
What: Come celebrate local seeds. Learn how to save your own seeds. Swap seeds with others. Visit seed vendors. Bring the whole family. Activities for all ages.
Where: Cookes Portsmouth United Church, 200 Norman Rogers Drive
When: Sat, Nov 8,10 am – 1 pm
Note: Winter Sowing 101 Workshops: 10:30-11:30 & 12:00 – 1:00 with Nathan Nesdoly
20 Twenty-five Things to Do in Kingston this November
Received from Visitkingston.ca, Nov 1, 2025
https://www.visitkingston.ca/stories/25-things-to-do-in-kingston-this-november
includes Holiday Markets and Craft Sales, Nightime Santa Claus Parade, Nov 22 at 5 pm, Murdoch Mysteries at the Grand, Felting Workshop, Concerts galore, Food Tours, Musum displays and events, Drag Bingo, Fungi to Flower sales, Trolly City Tour and more.
In closing, do have a look at the McBurney Park Facebook page if you don’t already. Lots of useful local info.
Finally, a quote from Cole Bennett, one of my favourite online political sources (colenotcole@substack.com):
If you do what is easy, your life will be hard. If you do what is hard, your life will be easy.
Wishing you a happy November.
Cheers,
Mary Farrar,
Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour