Council – Strategic Planning

The mayor and 12 city councillors will hold special meetings this week to set their priorities.
The Strategic Planning sessions are being held in a meeting room at the Queen’s School of Business.
The sessions start at six tonight and tomorrow night and will lay out the priorities this council will focus on over the next three and a half years.
Mayor Bryan Paterson has said he’s comfortable with tax increases that keep pace with inflation – but there are concerns councillors will set an ambitious list of priorities that will mean higher taxes.

Retail – Changes

Another blow to retail in Canada.
Future Shop has already closed in Kingston and now it is closing across Canada.  500 full-time and one-thousand part-time employees have lost their jobs.  Best Buy owns Future shop and says 66 Future Shop stores are being closed permanently, and 65 others are being converted into Best Buys.

The Target Store at the Cataraqui Centre will officially close on Thursday.  The goods in the store are being sold by a liquidator after Target announced the closing of all 62 stores in Canada.
About a 100 people worked in the Kingston store.

Stolen Van

Two teenagers are facing charges after a van was stolen in Kingston last night.
Police attempted to stop a stolen Dodge Caravan on John Street around 11:00 last night.  The vehicle took off and was involved in a minor collision a short time later.  Four people took off from the vehicle.  All four were arrested and two are now facing charges.


KEDCO – International Ambassador Program

The Kingston Economic Development Corporation is launching an International Ambassador Program today. The Program will encourage local business leaders with international connections to promote Kingston.  Federal Industry Minister James Moore will be at the launch ceremony this morning at the Delta Kingston Waterfront Hotel.  Kingston businessman George Scott will serve as Community Champion for the International Ambassador Program.

Kids for Kids

Organizers are calling the 18th annual Kids for Kids hockey tournament in Kingston the best ever.
164 hockey teams converged on the city to compete on the weekend.
Registration fees go to support children’s charities.
Co-Chairs Garry McColman of Rogers Radio Kingston and former Kingston Police Chief Bill Hackett presented cheques totaling 50 thousand dollars to the neo-natal intensive care unit at KGH and the Boys and Girls Club during ceremonies on Saturday afternoon.

Earth Hour

Springer Market Square was lit up by candles on Saturday night.
About 300 people gathered in the square to celebrate Earth Hour.
Kingston Unplugged gave people a chance to gather and listen to music by several local performers.  The concert was powered by solar and wind power and the lights around Market Square were turned off between 8:30 and 9:30 Saturday night.