Kingston news

• Kingston author and Queen’s professor wins Trillium Book Award

  17-06-2026 13:27 via thewhig.com
  
  Kingston author and Queen’s professor Otoniya (Juliane) Okot Bitek has been named the English-language winner of the 2026 Trillium Book Award for her debut novel, “We, the Kindling.”Okot Bitek is no stranger to literary recognition. A Professor of Black Studies at Queen’s University, cross-appointed in Gender Studies and English Literature, she is also a creative writing professor and an acclaimed writer who has received both national and international praise, particular
  
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• Crystal meth, weapons and cellphones recovered in major Collins Bay Institution seizure

  19-06-2026 21:20 via thewhig.com
  
  Staff vigilance at Collins Bay Institution has led to the seizure of multiple packages containing contraband and unauthorized items.Accoring to the Correctional Service of Canada , the seizures took place between June 12 and 15.The confiscated items included tobacco, marijuana, cannabis concentrate known as “shatter,” crystal methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, edged weapons, and cellphones with accessories.Correctional officials estimate the institutional value of the seized items
  
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• STANDALONE PHOTO: Eyes on the road, sir!

  19-06-2026 20:19 via thewhig.com
  
  The Whig’s Elliot Ferguson captured this photo of a dog sporting sunglasses while Ferguson was about and about doing his Friday patrol for news.A day earlier, Ferguson captured the below photo of a rather upset-looking water snake.
  
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• Kingston youth showcase STEM solutions in Jr. Mayor’s Innovation Challenge

  19-06-2026 20:13 via thewhig.com
  
  Young innovators put their creativity and STEM skills on display at the second annual Jr. Mayor’s Innovation Challenge held at the BGC South East .Four teams, between the ages of 10 and 14, were tasked with identifying community issues and developing robotic solutions using science, technology, engineering and mathematics, work created at the 9,000-square-foot STEM & Robotics Centre at the BGC South East.As the largest facility of its kind in the region, it features a Makerspace with
  
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• Kingston’s only gay bar closes after six months

  19-06-2026 19:42 via thewhig.com
  
  After only having been open six months, the first gay bar in the city in nearly 20 years closed its doors on June 18.Bottoms Up, which officially opened on Jan. 3, was the first gay bar in Kingston since Shay Foo Foo in 2009. However, the endeavour was short-lived due to low turnout. After hosting its final mixer, Bottoms Up permanently closed on Thursday.The bar was on the lower level of the Renaissance, a hospitality venue that Paul Fortier has owned for the past 20 years. That floor was form
  
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• After five generations, rural family worries there may not be a sixth with threat of high-speed rail

  19-06-2026 18:37 via thewhig.com
  
  MELROSE — For Mary McAvoy, a walk around her family homestead is a stroll with family long departed.Just outside the house’s back door, maple trees have protected the house from wind and sun for 50 years.“I helped my uncle plant these maple trees. I was about 10,” she said.Do they make her feel old now?“Yeah, maybe, but I love them,” she replied.“The blue spruce over here, we planted that the year our youngest daughter was born,” she added. &ldquo
  
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• Kingston-area students unite in youth initiative for United Way

  19-06-2026 18:26 via thewhig.com
  
  A group of local high school students is helping decide how charitable dollars are spent in the community through a United Way initiative aimed at giving youth a direct voice in philanthropy.Launched last year by the United Way Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington , in partnership with two local school boards, the Youth United program encourages students to raise funds, learn about community needs and ultimately allocate money to local agencies themselves.The initiative is designed to &ldq
  
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• Mother, daughter set out to publish book inspired by The Toucan

  19-06-2026 14:48 via thewhig.com
  
  After retiring from her job as a nurse at Kingston General Hospital, Colleen Murphy decided to partner with her daughter, Madeline Clark, to write a book about the local Irish pub that has held such a strong role in the history of their family.In November 2025, the two began interviewing The Toucan’s regulars, previous owners, patrons, and anyone else who was interested in sharing their stories from the pub — no matter how bizarre or wild.They have since conducted 15 interviews, but
  
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• Scotiabank renews partnership with Queen's to help build AI-ready workforce

  19-06-2026 14:03 via thewhig.com
  
  Scotiabank is investing $2.5 million over five years in a renewed partnership with Smith School of Business at Queen’s University to help prepare Canada’s workforce for the growing demands of the artificial intelligence economy.According to a news release, the funding, provided through ScotiaRISE , Scotiabank’s 10-year, $500-million community investment initiative, will support applied research, experiential learning opportunities and the ongoing work of the Scotiabank Centre
  
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• Vanessa Mensah joins the race to be Kingston's mayor

  19-06-2026 13:53 via thewhig.com
  
  KINGSTON — A career spent in helping underrepresented communities find their voices inspired Vanessa Mensah to launch a campaign for mayor.Mensah filed her campaign papers shortly after the nomination period opened in May but just announced her plans publically this week.Originally from Ghana, Mensah moved to Kingston in 2013 after her husband got a job here.She worked for five years as a manager of equity diversity and inclusion before leaving the city earlier this year and currently wor
  
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• Kingston surgeons perform first-of-its-kind brain surgery in Canada

  18-06-2026 18:57 via thewhig.com
  
  KINGSTON — A pair of Kingston Health Sciences Centre neurosurgeons have performed a groundbreaking brain tumour surgery using a new device that allowed them to see cancer tissue in real time, for the first time in Canada.Drs. Jamie and Teresa Purzner operated on Rick Savoie, a Kingston patient with a recurring glioblastoma tumour, using a special handheld imaging device that allowed them to see brain tumour cells in real time during the surgery.The device, called Convivo and manufactured
  
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• Storms drench Kingston area with heavy rain, localized flooding concerns

  18-06-2026 17:16 via thewhig.com
  
  A line of heavy rain and potentially severe thunderstorms moved through eastern Ontario on Thursday, bringing the risk of significant rainfall, strong winds and localized flooding concerns to the Kingston region.Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm warning and watch for Kingston and surrounding areas Thursday morning, saying conditions were favourable for storms capable of producing heavy rain and damaging winds. Meteorologists warned gusts could reach up to 90 km/h as storms move qu
  
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• Weekend Spotlight June 19 to 21: Things to do in Kingston area this weekend

  18-06-2026 13:19 via thewhig.com
  
  1. National Indigenous Peoples Day Sunday, 1 to 6 p.m. in Confederation Park, 216 Ontario St. : Honouring the cultures, traditions, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples through ceremony, performances, workshops and storytelling. Presented by the Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest with support from and in partnership with the City of Kingston. When and where? This event happens rain or shine. For more information, go to cityofkingston.ca/arts-culture-and-event
  
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• 'Invisible struggles': CSC review reveals mental health challenges among correctional officers

  18-06-2026 13:10 via thewhig.com
  
  A recent review by the Correctional Service Canada has shed light on the significant mental health challenges faced by correctional service employees, which revealed how occupational stress, trauma and feelings of isolation can contribute to serious psychological injuries and, in some cases, suicide.The review was conducted following a number of deaths by suicide among correctional officers over the past 15 years. More recently in Kingston, Bradley Gleason, a correctional officer who worked at
  
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• Kingston manufacturer opens doors to showcase ‘human business’ model, new book

  18-06-2026 12:56 via thewhig.com
  
  At a time when most Canadian workers are disengaged on the job, a Kingston manufacturer opened its doors to showcase what it calls a different way of doing business — one built around people instead of profit.SnapCab hosted a public open house Wednesday alongside the launch of “A Human Business,” a new book by founder and CEO Glenn Bostock, inviting visitors inside its Railway Street facility to see how the company operates.The event comes as workplace engagement remains a per
  
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• Kingston to rename Indian Road to Aki Road

  17-06-2026 22:43 via thewhig.com
  
  KINGSTON — Indian Road is to be renamed Aki Road after city council voted in favour of the name change Tuesday night.The vote brought to an end a year-long process to replace the “outdated and derogatory” term for Indigenous people.“It’s somewhat unique for citizens to have a vote on the name of a municiply owned asset, such as a facility or a park or a street,” said street resident Daniel Shipp, who initiated the effort to change the name.“It is of pri
  
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• ENT: New exhibition celebrates Kingston's musical history

  17-06-2026 21:16 via thewhig.com
  
  Kingston has long been known for its vibrant music scene, but, as it turns out, for longer than many people might think.“You can go find music almost every night of the week (now), and, as we did our research, that’s been the case since the 1900s,” City Curator Melissa Cruise explained.That research was part of Music From Miles Around, a new year-long exhibition opening inside City Hall on Saturday. It chronicles the city’s musical timeline, from “one of the earlie
  
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• Kingston adds electric waste collection trucks to municipal fleet

  17-06-2026 20:28 via thewhig.com
  
  Kingston has added two electric garbage trucks to its municipal fleet with support from a $500,000 Green Municipal Fund grant provided through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).The funding and partnership were celebrated Tuesday at Kingston’s Fleet Maintenance Garage by representatives from FCM, city council, Mack Trucks North America and other partners. The event was hosted by Conny Glenn, city councillor for Sydenham District, mayoral candidate and member of FCM’s bo
  
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• Nine years after near-fatal accident, court rules Napanee farm had duty to warn of hidden bridge hazard

  17-06-2026 19:53 via thewhig.com
  
  Trapped underwater inside a crop sprayer after a farm bridge collapsed beneath him and sent the machine tumbling into the Napanee River, Colin Denyes searched for a way out.The cab had filled with water. The door was pinned shut. Only an air pocket inside the submerged machine allowed him to breathe.If the water had gotten in, there had to be a way out.Denyes felt around in the darkness, slicing his fingers on broken glass, until he found an escape route through the wreckage. He made his way ou
  
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• Contraband worth more than $126,000 seized at Collins Bay Institution

  17-06-2026 18:44 via thewhig.com
  
  Contraband with an estimated institutional value of more than $126,000 was seized at Collins Bay Institution earlier this month, according to the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC).CSC said staff members intercepted several unauthorized items at the federal multi-level security institution on June 7 as a result of a suspected drone drop. The seizure included tobacco, marijuana, crystal methamphetamine and a cellphone accessories.The correctional agency credited the seizure to the vigilance of
  
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• Early-morning rollover at Kingston General Hospital ends without injuries

  17-06-2026 15:59 via thewhig.com
  
  Details are still emerging on how a vehicle rolled over at the entrance to Kingston General Hospital on the morning on June 16.According to Kingston Police , since it happened on private property, the Highway Traffic Act is not applicable, but officials said it happened around 4:40 a.m.From what officials observed, there were no injuries, the driver was responsive, and the vehicle was towed away.No other details have been released. RelatedKingston to keep exploring municipal services corporatio
  
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• High-speed rail promises to boost tourism in urban areas

  17-06-2026 13:40 via thewhig.com
  
  KINGSTON — The tourism sector along the proposed high-speed rail line could be boosted by billions of dollars and create tens of thousands of new jobs, according to a consultant’s report from the company developing the project.The 42-page study from infrastructure consultant company CPCS looked at tourism economies in six census metropolitan areas where the project’s seven train stations are to be located.According to 2022 Statistics Canada data, tourism in the communities alo
  
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• Bryan Paterson, Kingston’s longest-serving mayor, seeks re-election

  17-06-2026 13:23 via globalnews.ca
  
  Incumbent Mayor Bryan Paterson, as well as Vanessa Mensah and Stephen Cuthbertson, joins the list of candidates vying for the seat of mayor in the 2026 municipal election.
  
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• Kingston brewery serves beer, activism with collaboration

  17-06-2026 13:14 via thewhig.com
  
  A Kingston brewery is creating a beer to raise awareness around a national monument being built in Ottawa that pays tribute to Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ community.Kingston’s Fine Balance Brewing Co. announced the beer in collaboration with Thunderhead:Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ National Monument, which will open to the public in Ottawa this summer during Capital Pride Week (Aug. 22 to 30).The partnership with Thunderhead arose as a result of the Kingston brewery’s Quarterly Collaborati
  
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• Kingston to keep exploring municipal services corporation as it grapples with debt

  17-06-2026 13:12 via thewhig.com
  
  KINGSTON — City council gave a “soft yes” to continue with plans to create a municipal services corporation for water and wastewater services.That approval, which is not a final decision, came after several councillors insisted on getting assurances that the process would not lead to privatization of water and wastewater services.The proposal was put forward as a way to give the city a way to borrow more money with more favourable terms to pay for infrastructure.According to a
  
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• Bryan Paterson seeks re-election as Kingston's mayor

  16-06-2026 19:35 via thewhig.com
  
  KINGSTON — Bryan Paterson is to seek a fourth term as the city’s mayor.At a construction site on Highway 15 on Tuesday, Paterson announced his plan to seek re-election, saying the city was at a “pivotal moment” and needed experienced leadership.“The fact is that people are worried right now,” Paterson said. “People are concerned about geopolitical instability and economic uncertainty and how that’s going to impact them. People are concerned about
  
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• MacLeod-Kane fills Limestone District School Board trustee role left by Jim Neill's passing

  16-06-2026 13:43 via thewhig.com
  
  KINGSTON — Joyce MacLeod-Kane has been appointed to the Limestone District School Board trustee seat left vacant since the passing of Kingston city councillor and board trustee, Jim Neill.Neill passed away on April 26 of this year .MacLeod-Kane was the runner-up to Neill in the race for the school board trustee seat for the Countryside, Kingscourt-Rideau & Williamsville districts within the city of Kingston during the 2022 election.She will fill the role until the election this Octobe
  
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• Where the Haaima trial stands after two more months of testimony

  15-06-2026 22:25 via thewhig.com
  
  The trial of Michael Haaima is once again on hold.After a brief court appearance on June 12 to address procedural matters, the trial was adjourned until July 6.The adjournment marks the end of a two-month block of testimony that saw witnesses describe allegations of manipulation, coercion, humiliation, delayed disclosure, and the ways women connected with one another after learning of allegations against the accused.Haaima, 41, is on trial before Justice Robyn Ryan Bell in the Ontario Superior
  
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• Kingston candidates continue to file for municipal election

  15-06-2026 22:05 via thewhig.com
  
  KINGSTON — Nine more candidates filed nomination papers in recent days to stand in October’s municipal election.Among the candidates are two incumbents seeking re-election.Ryan Boehme is running for his third term representing Pittsburgh District.On the opposite side of the city, veteran city councillor Lisa Osanic, the longest serving council member, is seeking her sixth term in office.Of the current city councillors, only Countryside’s Gary Oosterhof has yet to declare wheth
  
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• Cornwall resident killed in motorcycle collision near Sydenham

  15-06-2026 22:03 via thewhig.com
  
  A 71-year-old Cornwall man has died following a motorcycle collision in South Frontenac Township .The Frontenac Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police has launched an investigating into the fatal crash, which occurred shortly after 11 a.m. on June 12 on Burnt Hills Road.Police say officers responded to the single-vehicle motorcycle collision and found the rider suffering from fatal injuries. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.The investigation remains ongoing. RelatedPolice make seco
  
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