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September Newsletter

Dear Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour,
So many wonderful September events still ahead.  It’s amazing:
1) Conclusion of 20 years of Sisters of Providence vigil for social justice
2) Upcoming fun Harperman Protest Song with three federal candidates in attendance
3) Reminders of annual September Inner Harbour Dragon Boat and Climb for the Cure events
4) Life and Labour in the Inner Harbour – Exciting new Inner Harbour Tour
5) Peace Quest International Day of Peace Picnic
6) My 75th Birthday Drop-In Invitation!
7) Art After Dark@Martello Alley
8) Streets Alive
9) Culture Days – DayBreaker Dance Party
Recent political stuff includes an Environmental Assessment for Hwy 15 and Rob Fonger’s letter to the editor.
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
1) CONCLUSION OF 20 YEARS OF WEEKLY SILENT VIGIL FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
Thurs Sept 17, 5:00 pm8:00 pm, City Hall, Rain or Shine.
The Sisters of Providence have been holding a weekly silent vigil for social justice in front of City Hall since 1995. The Silent Vigil is based on the belief that “The good we secure for ourselves is precarious and uncertain until it is secured for all of us and incorporated into our common life.”
They have stood for issues such as clean water, First Nations rights and justice, housing, living wages etc.
Choirs, stories, pictures, remembrances and stirring words.  Mayor’s proclamation.
Refreshments… local fare!
Looking back, looking at the election upon us, looking forward. All welcome.
2) HARPERMAN PROTEST SING-ALONG
Thurs, Sept 17, 8:05 pm – 8:45 pm, Springer Market Square behind City Hall.
Organized by Andy Rush of Open Voices Choir Community Choir.  Song sheets provided. Andy is a friend of Tony Turner, the Ottawa folk singer who created the song. Some of the Gertrudes may also come. Andy will run through the song a couple of times with all present and then all will be invited to sing robustly. Press invited along with federal candidates:
Mark Gerretsen, Daniel Beals and Nathan Townsend – Kingston’s three tenors?
Spread the word! Should really be fun!
3)REMINDERS:
DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL, SATURDAY SEPT 19, DOUG FLUHRER PARK
CLIMB FOR THE CURE, SUNDAY SEPT 20, WOOLEN MILL
4) LIFE AND LABOUR IN THE INNER HARBOUR – TOUR
Sun, Sept 20, 4:00- 4:45 pm, Meet at Gate 4 of KROCK Centre on the Tragically Hip Way

On Sunday, September 20th at 4 pm, the Swamp Ward and Inner Harbour History Project (SWIHHP) will be leading a walking tour of the Inner Harbour. Inspired originally by Mary’s Inner Harbour tour, this new version includes new material and research that SWIHHP has gathered this summer – material collected from Queen’s University Archives and Kingston Public Library, as well as numerous oral history interviews with people who lived and worked in the Inner Harbour and Swamp Ward.
SWIHHP has agreed to write and develop a walking tour ‘app’ called “Life and Labour in the Inner Harbour” for the City of Kingston’s new digital collection of walking tours. This Sept 20 live tour is a trial run for the final digitized version and will involve engaging with the community and receiving helpful feedback. The tour is still a work-in-progress and is representative of what they have accomplished so far.
5) PEACE QUEST PICNIC ON INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE: 
Monday, Sept 21, 11;30 am – 1 pm, City Park, Corner Barrie and Stuart Sts.
Bring your lunch and join in anytime from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Weather permitting. 
Please bring your own blanket or chair. Rain date is September 21, 2016.
Members of all faith communities and philosophical persuations are invited to participate, especially those in the downtown area, to ring their bells in the hopeful promise of peace anytime over the noon hour.
Bring your own bells/drums to play along during any singing that might occur during the picnic.
PeaceQuest partners in Regina, SK. are ringing their bells 70 times for the 70 years since the first atomic bomb was dropped. May it NEVER happen again!
More info? Jolene Simko – admin@peacequest.ca613-583-2569
6) MY 75th BIRTHDAY DROP-IN CELEBRATION,
Monday Sept 21, 4:00 – 8:00 pm, 1 Place d’Armes, Unit 83
You are most cordially invited for a few drinks and a few delicious nibblies.
No presents please! 
Consider instead a small donation of $5 to help the Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour with our upcoming 2016 campaign to help the turtles of Doug Fluhrer Park.
Charitable receipts issued for donations of $10 or more.
Do come even if you do not wish to donate.
It would be lovely to see you and to hear suggestions as to what projects you think we might consider in future..
Directions: Go  north as far as you can on King St. past KROCK Centre and past OHIP to the water. Turn right on the fire route and we are the 3rd unit along.
If you are driving, free parking is available in the Anglin lot just north of OHIP – entrance off Wellington St.
7) ART AFTER DARK@MARTELLO ALLEY
Friday, Sept 25, 2015 – 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Galleries  all over Kingston will open their doors.  Fun free event! All welcome.
ON THE WALL artist David Dossett is participating with his new gallery – Martello Alley on Wellington St.
8) STREETS ALIVE!
Sunday, Sept. 27, 11 am – 4 pm on King St. between Barrie and Brock.
Kingstonians of all ages are invited to walk, cycle, wheel, stroller, blade or skateboard along what will be a car-free 1 km stretch of road.
This accessible family-friendly event aims to increase physical activity and participation in sport, recreation and culture and to further build the strong sense of community Kingstonians are proud to enjoy.
VOLUNTEERS DESPERATELY NEED!
Taggers (2) will tag vehicles at pay-and-display parking metres the evening before.
Info Aids (10-12) will be at the information booth to assist volunteers and participants, give directions, provide food and water to volunteers, and liaise with First Aid Responders in emergency situations.
Intersection Monitors (20-24) will oversee the intersections that are closed to traffic, provide detour information to motorists, answer questions from participants, and ensure that no unauthorized vehicles enter the route.
Route Rockets (8 needed) will circulate the route to assist with situations that may arise (e.g., offering biology breaks to Intersection Monitors, relay information in emergency situations, assist with entrance and exit of authorized vehicles). Personal bicycle, skateboard, scooter, wheelchair, etc. necessary.
Evaluation Assistants (8) will complete observational surveys and solicit participants’ opinions using an interactive activity.
1-hour orientation session the evening of Thurs, Sept 24. 
Or you can report 30 minutes before your shift for a quick orientation.

More info?

 Serena Manson: streetsaliveygk@gmail.com.

Kingston

Culture Days

KAC presents as part of Kingston Culture Days

Daybreaker Dance Party

Join us for the first 2015 Culture Days event in Canada. The Daybreaker Dance Party is an inclusive and inspired community dance space where our individual rhythms will collide like fireworks on the sky of the dance floor. Come dressed to express, and ready to groove. This early morning dance party will be sure to start your day off right. Shake up your wake up with DJ Paul Vee. Healthy smoothly and light refreshments will be for sale.

 

RECENT POLITICAL STUFF

1) The City is launching a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA)  study to review the transportation needs of Highway 15. 
The study area includes Highway 15 from the 401 to Highway 2, and Highway 2 from the La Salle Causeway to Princess Mary Avenue
  • In addition, prior development approvals to close Biscayne Street at Highway 15 will be reviewed as part of this study in the context of the current and future transportation network.
The Highway 15 Class EA will consider the current and future transportation needs of pedestrians, cyclists, Kingston Transit and vehicles in light of the recent and expected growth in this area.  The Class EA is expected to be completed by the summer of 2016 and residents will be asked for their input at several points in the process.
The City has contracted HDR Corporation to assist with the Class EA.  Over the next few months City staff and HDR will consult with the public to:
  • Evaluate alternative solutions and design concepts to improve traffic flow.
  • Assess the possible environmental effects of implementing various solutions and identify possible ways to mitigate any adverse impacts
  • Recommend a preferred alternative
  • Prepare a required Environmental Study Report to be submitted to the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change for approval.
More info?  Tyler Lasko, Supervising Engineer, Infrastructure & Development – tlasko@cityofkingston.ca 613-546-4291 x 2307, and/or 
Joseph Arcaro Project Manager, HDR Corp: joseph.arcaro@hdrinc.com  1-888-860-1116
2) Letter in the Whig from Rob Fonger of OurNeighbourhood.ca re the importance of public participation in the Official Plan Review.  Important.
Cheers,
Mary Farrar,
President,
Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour
613-544-1246
p.s. If you have an event you would like us to publicize and it involves the waterfront, the Inner Harbour, your work as an artist from ON THE WALL, heritage and/or stewardship concerns re the Inner Harbour, do not hesitate to forward the information for our next news update.  Cheers, M