Gord Downie – Terminal Cancer

There is sad news this morning from a legendary Canadian band from Kingston.

The Tragically Hip announced lead singer Gord Downie has terminal brain cancer.

The band posted the announcement today on its website, calling it “very tough news.”

It says…52 year old Gord Downie received the diagnosis in December, and has since “endured a lot of difficult times” and “has been fighting hard.”

The Tragically Hip says after 30-some years together, they intend to go on another tour this summer — and they plan to make it their best tour ever.

Glenn Williams – who started K-Rock called it the home of The Hip.

The band played a benefit concert for G in May of 2009…just over a year before he passed away from ALS.

New School

There’s a groundbreaking ceremony for a new school in Kingston today.

The Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board will hold the ceremony at 10 this morning on the grounds of Holy Family Catholic School on Wiley Street.

A new school will be built on the land and it will consolidate Holy Family, St. Peter and St. Patrick Catholic Schools in one location.

The new school has not been named yet but a committee is now working on getting suggestions.

North Kingston Town

The city is launching an exercise to decide on the future of the North King’s Town area.

A community visioning exercise and preliminary market analysis of the area starts tonight.

The project is being launched at 6:30 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion at 734 Montreal Street.

A presentation will be made at 7 p.m.

The city says it’s the first of many community events planned over the next two years to gather input toward shaping the community’s vision for the area.

Details on the project are available through the city’s website.

Parking Rates

The city is also hosting a public open house on parking rates and fines tonight.

It starts at 6:30 in Memorial Hall.

A consulting company has been hired to help review the rates and fines in Kingston.

It will develop a framework for establishing new rates for hourly, monthly and event rates.

Results of the consultation process will go to a city committee this fall.

Clothing Truck

Kingston will become home to a fashion truck this summer.

Claire Bouvier and Niki Hodgskiss are launching The Loft Girls Mobile Fashion Boutique on June 1st at the Tett Centre in Kingston.  It’s a pink truck made to look like a loft and will carry vintage and locally designed clothes.

They’ll also be going to festivals and will be available for private parties.

Justice of the Peace

A mainstay of the court system in Kingston is gone.

Justice of the Peace Cathy Hickling has retired.

Hickling retired at the end of court proceedings on Thursday of last week.

She served as a justice of the peace for the past forty year.

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