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Kingston at the Olympics: Will Crothers Takes on Tokyo 2020

Will Crothers is a Kingston household name. He’s been rowing internationally for Canada since 2004. He has claimed two World Championship medals, won silver at the London 2012 Olympics as a member of the men’s eight, bronze at two World Cups as part of the same “True North Four” team, and two gold medals at the 2015 Pan Am Games. The True North Four is continuing to prove that they haven’t come this far just to stop now. With their second-place finish at the final Olympic qualification regatta for Tokyo 2020, the crew has earned their spot at this summer’s Games, and Crothers is in the stroke seat.

Tokyo 2020 will be Crothers’ third time at the Olympic Games, and he continues to remain vocal about how his hometown of Kingston has supported a variety of athletes, including himself. His multi-Olympic journey started at Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute (KCVI). While originally introduced to rowing through his older brother who was a rower in high school as well, some friends whom Crothers rode with needed a fourth man to round out their four. He decided to hop in the boat. Being one of the taller students was an asset, as length and leverage is helpful when rowing. But what started as simply joining his friends down at the Kingston Rowing Club (KRC) became an activity he both enjoyed and excelled at. The four were undefeated in their novice season, “fueling the fire” of Crothers’ competitive personality. We spoke with him about how growing up and learning to row in Kingston has impacted him as a soon-to-be three-time Olympian.

“I was really fortunate to be able to grow up on the water…the community at the Kingston Rowing Club is full of passionate people and the type of people that just knew the path for a high-performance athlete to take and I guess they sort of steered my ship. They steered me in the right direction as far as the next steps and constantly chasing something that was a higher goal than what I was doing that year.”

Crothers, who is also a member of the Kingston Yacht Club (KYC), recognizes Kingston’s powerful sailing legacy. While solid wind isn’t necessarily conducive to rowing, the bodies of water here still nurture Olympic rowers. Crothers teammate Gavin Stone also has ties to Kingston as a Queen’s University graduate and former Queen’s rower, and Tokyo 2020 will be the fourth Olympics in a row in which a Kingston rower has competed.

While he genuinely believes the sense of community in sports runs nation-wide, Crothers emphasizes how his hometown focuses on putting relationships first. His team had a dedicated lead coach, John Armitage, who connected the crew with a novice coach, Nathan Splinter, then a coxswain for the Queen’s men’s eight. The crew was guided by “Master Splinter” before being coached by Armitage himself. When speaking about the Kingston rowing community though, Will Crothers is grateful for more than his coaches.

“The countless volunteers that are hanging around the club, willing to put in the time so that young kids like myself could have a great experience, willing to drive the truck and trailer up and down the 401 to different regattas, St. Catharines, Montreal, all over the place…I was super fortunate to have all these people that would donate their time to us as athletes because without them we wouldn’t have been able to go and see what was happening around the province and compete against those guys and then eventually start rowing with them on the Junior World Championship level. It was huge, having the help of those volunteers and a lot of rowing wisdom was passed around.”

While his professional career took off in Kingston, Crothers says he’s been fortunate enough to experience strong relationships throughout his whole rowing career. That Kingston community-feel follows him all over the country, wherever he’s training or competing. Despite heading to the Olympics for the third time, Crothers is more motivated than ever. After all, he believes that rowing is sort of elusive.

“Rowing is one of those sports where you’re chasing something. It’s like trying to hold fire in your hand, you know. You get too close; it gets really hot and then you have to back off almost. It’s a magical feeling when you’re getting it absolutely right and I’ve only felt that a few times, I think, in my career, where, for a full two thousand metres, you’re actually doing the right thing the entire time. I’m still learning at this point in my career, which is amazing.”

It’s not just the technical elements that continue to inspire him, but the new people he gets to work with and the bonds he forms in the boat with his teammates. With two Olympic Games already in his back pocket, we asked him what’s changed since. His first Olympics in 2012 involved absorbing the knowledge of the leaders he had in the boat that had done well in Beijing in 2008. After his first Games, he continued to take one step forward every day during training, but he had a clearer picture to prepare for his second Games.

“Now, I feel like it’s about execution for me and going out and trying to have the best performance that I possibly can. I think that that’s still out there for me and I happen to believe that it coincides with a gold medal at the Olympics. I’m chasing that feeling of my best performance on the day, once every four years, which is a pretty unique thing to be able to do and I feel very privileged to be able to do that. But it’s also earned, you know, it’s a lot of hard work to do that. But to have the support of all of Canada and all the taxpayers, shouts out for allowing us to do what we do and hopefully bring a nation, a country, and the world together.”

As a Kingston legend and a rowing veteran, Crothers is excited to pass on the lessons he’s gained, even stating that he feels as young as he did when he first started at the National Training Centre.

“I still feel like I’m in the best shape of my life and have so much to give to the sport and it’s just such an honour too to represent Canada and Kingston, such a well-respected country on the world stage. It’s an honour to put the leaf on my blade and wear it on my chest and put everything on the line.”

Will Crothers is rowing towards his third Olympic Games, and we’re holding to the belief that good things come in threes.

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Header photo credit to Kevin Light

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Kingston at the Olympics: Jennifer Casson Takes on Tokyo 2020

Jennifer (Jenny) Casson was completely against rowing – at first. She had always been an athletic, competitive person, but after several stress fractures in high school, she was unable to do what she loved: competitive running. It was her brother, who rowed for Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute (KCVI), who suggested she try rowing. Despite the 5 a.m. practices that deterred her for a while, she decided to give the sport a chance in grade 11. Since 2017 she’s been competing on the Canadian Senior National Team and now, she’s headed to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Photo credit: Kevin Light

We spoke with Casson as she reflected on her very first rowing experience with awe.

“I got into a boat and I was like, ‘This is pretty cool. This is kinda fun.’ And it was so beautiful, with the Kingston sunrise and out on the lake…Honestly, KCVI had a really fun rowing community and rowing environment so that kind of hooked me and I really got along with the coach and my teammates.”

After getting on an ergometer and doing a two kilometre test for rowing, Casson did well enough to catch the attention of some universities. She fell in love with the campus at University of Tulsa and accepted an offer of admission right away, claiming that her angsty teenage self was ready to leave home, especially to someplace as seemingly unexpected like Tulsa, Oklahoma.

But Casson’s rowing journey began here in Kingston. Perhaps it was our freshwater that took her from being the type of high schooler who did every sport just for fun to becoming one of Canada’s best rowers. She claims that being surrounded by three bodies of water in Kingston had a significant impact on her lifestyle.

“You have the Rideau Canal, St. Lawrence, and Lake Ontario and then I also have a cottage on Horseshoe Island…When I was three days old, I was on water. I came out of the hospital, they popped me on a boat and sent me over. So, I’ve been very Kingston, very water since the day I could breathe.”

Photo credit: Kevin Light

Casson grew up boating, sailing, and kayaking, and she believes that simply seeing the crowds of people hanging around the water in Kingston inspires the city to participate in water sports.

“I think when you’re constantly exposed to different modalities to get out on that beautiful stretch of water, you’re just sort of compelled to join the masses and there’s nothing more beautiful than being out there on a summery, shimmery day. That, I think, subconsciously just influences. You either run along the waterway or you get out there.”

Head down to the shores of Lake Ontario and you’ll see exactly what Casson means – a variety of passionate people centered around Kingston’s waters. High school and post-secondary students get out on the lake, along with multiple clubs, resulting in a variety of ages and levels of rowers, including experts like Casson. Casson started rowing at Kingston Rowing Club (KRC) – and she’s only ever rowed out of KRC. She says it’s a place that helped birth some of the Canada’s best rowers, like Will Crothers, Rob Gibson, and Nick Pratt.

In fact, after falling in love with rowing in high school, it was these Kingston rowers that inspired Casson to continue competing. She calls them “Kingston alumni” and she envied them, seeing how they started in the same place that she was at.

“You’d heard all of these stories of their athletic excellence and how they climbed the ladder with hard work up to where they ended up, medalling. To me, that was everything that I wanted as an athlete. I was like, ‘Oh my god, I can do that too! I want to do that. I have to learn how to do it so well that I end up on the podium as well.’”

Casson speaks with pride about other Kingston legends such as John Armitage, head coach of the Queen’s Rowing program for 40 years, and the current head coach, Rami Maassaran. Brad Brennan, her high school rowing coach was vital to her athletic journey too. Casson calls him her coach, her reason to continue. He pushed her to go on the national team.

“With all that sort of legacy coming out of such a small boathouse, it really shows, if anything, hard work will get you there and that time and time again, you don’t need the best equipment and the best boats and all these excuses that are fine when you’re feeling like complaining, you just need the best environment to get that motivation intrinsically and hard work. It’s written in history.”

A dedicated support system helps too, and Casson is enthusiastic about the people in her life who motivate and ground her. Her women’s pair, women’s single, and her coach, Bill Marshall, help motivate her. She calls teammate Jill Moffatt her sister. While Casson is more serious and critical in the boat, Moffatt is more upbeat, ready to recognize what they did well and what they can do next. Casson also calls herself a huge family person.

“My mom and my dad are like my rocks of reality. I am a very volatile kind of person, I have a lot of energy and I can go down a rabbit hole really quickly or I can spring off and get over-excited, so my parents always ground me, ‘Jenny, you’re doing that thing where you’re losing your mind, come back down!’”

Casson was a CAN Fund #150Women Recipient this year, a grant opportunity founded by Jane Roos for women athletes to help them afford training and cover living expenses. Empowering women in sports is close to Casson’s heart.

“I love sports for strength and for confidence and for collaboration and teamwork and all the fundamentals to be a better human. I would love to see more girls gain that from athletics. I have gotten so much from sports. It has changed me as a person, it changed my outlook on life, it changed how I approach my days…I think it’s so beautiful to have a backbone of your sisters, your teammates and just the confidence that you, your body did something today.”

In addition to encouraging young women to enter the sport, Casson is vocal about the barriers to getting involved with rowing, especially as it is regarded as a white, privileged sport. She is supportive of Rowing Canada’s efforts to push for more diversity in the community.

As Casson looks forward to the Olympics she’s endlessly proud of the Rowing Canada athletes, the Rowing Canada staff, Kingston, and Canada itself.

“I love wearing the Canadian flag. I love being Canadian and I love being from Kingston. If you would have asked me when I was 18 in high school, ‘How do you like being from Kingston?’ I would have said, ‘No, I want to be from Montreal or Toronto or Paris, someplace cool,’ and now I’m like, ‘Yeah, 613, baby, let’s go! I love Kingston!”

Photo credit: Kevin Light

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Kingston’s Wind and Water Sports Legacy

Some people might be surprised to know that out of the small selection of athletes invited to represent Canada at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, seven are from Kingston and five of them are water and wind athletes. This wouldn’t come as a shock to Kingstonians though, as we’ve cultivated a legacy of excellence in water sports. After a postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, over 10,000 athletes are set to compete at the Games July 23 to August 8, 2021. Abi Tripp (Para-swimming), Alexandra (Ali) ten Hove (Sailing), Jennifer Casson (Rowing), Kristina Walker (Rowing), and Will Crothers (Rowing) are the Kingston athletes that Lake Ontario has helped nurture for the world’s most prominent sports competition.

Jennifer Casson has been competing on the Canadian Senior National Rowing Team since 2017. As she prepares for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, she reflects on how Kingston simply caters itself to water and wind athletes. “Kingston has always sort of hit way above its belt as far as athletes that have come from Kingston. I don’t know if it’s something in the water – I’m inclined to believe that. It’s just such an active, little town and everyone’s always doing something on the water. You’re surrounded by three bodies of water.”

Credit: Dwayne Brown Studio

Even in a country like Canada, home to the most lakes in the world, Kingston still stands out as a superior spot for sailing and rowing. We spoke with John Curtis, a 16-year veteran of the Canadian sailing team who represented Canada in sailing at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games in the Tornado class. He has several accolades at the international level and is also the President of Wind Athletes Canada, an organization that provides financial and logistical support for aspiring Olympic sailors.

“Kingston is a great place to sail. There’s a whole bunch of factors and they all sort of come together in Kingston. I have sailed the world, so when I say Kingston is one of my favourite places, I would say it is my favourite place to sail. First of all, we typically have some sailable wind every day. In the summer, we often have relatively strong winds in a fairly reliable pattern.”

In addition to excellent wind conditions, Kingston is famous for its southwesterly thermal breeze. Curtis explains that our water is the right depth and there aren’t many obstacles to obscure training and races. There’s also a “very nice fetch,” which means we have a stretch of open water that cultivates excellent waves, rather than a small, enclosed sailing area. It’s no surprise then, that many of Canada’s greatest wind and water professionals are those who began their athletic journey here.

Kingston’s Ali ten Hove is representing Canada in Sailing in the 49er – Skipper Class at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She points out that Kingston’s gorgeous lakefront directly connects the community to water. The unique thermally driven winds in the summer months make for strong and consistent conditions, ten Hove’s “ideal sailing playground” that’s fun to race in.

Curtis remarks that there are other places in the world that have water factors that are conducive to sailing, but it’s the small-town atmosphere in Kingston that truly makes a difference for professional athletes. Often, in other popular sailing locations such as San Francisco, athletes must make long commutes even if they live close to the water. Even after rigging your boat, it might take 45 minutes to sail out to an area of water that’s favorable to training and racing. Lake Ontario, on the other hand, is easily accessible from residences and it only takes about three minutes to get from the Kingston harbour to the “field of play.”

Beyond the environmental conditions and physical location that make Kingston a breeding ground for wind athletes, Kingston also has a rich history of welcoming international sailors to our harbour. The Canadian Olympic-training Regatta, Kingston, (CORK) began in 1969 with an original committee made up of Kingston Yacht Club (KYC) members. And in 1976, we highlighted our superior freshwater sailing conditions on the global stage during the Olympic Games. Due to our Lake Ontario location and reputation for world-class sailing, the Montreal 1976 Olympic sailing events were held in Kingston at the Portsmouth Olympic Harbour. The harbour, which was constructed in 1969, was rejuvenated in 1974 to include three race areas for the Games. The 1976 sailing program was made up of six different sailing disciplines across three race areas. The Portsmouth Olympic Harbour is the only legacy Olympic sailing site in North America.

CORK continues to be world-renowned, for its pre-Olympic regattas that take place in August with more than 1,500 competitors and for hosting North American and World Championships. CORK brings young, international talent to Kingston’s shores each year. CORK also works closely with Ontario Sailing and Sail Canada and hosts an annual Fall Regatta at the end of September. In fact, Curtis came to Kingston for the CORK regattas in the early ‘80s and deemed it the “beginning of [his] love affair with Kingston.” Curtis points to Kingston regattas and CORK as crucial to the sport, both locally and internationally.

“Because Kingston has been a great place to sail for a long time and is close to the water, the world already comes to Kingston, and they sort of park themselves in Kingston every summer. So, there are great training opportunities here. That’s a consistent thing. That’s just been created by the hard work of all the people who have come before us who held big events and Kingston is a great place to come and train. Once a place becomes a great place to train, it’s sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy: it’s a great place because it’s a great place and everybody goes there because it’s a great place. It’s a virtuous circle, that’s what it is.”

So, while Kingston has had many famous names take up sail at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour and it boasts some of the world’s best sailors and rowers, we owe it all to a tireless local community. Curtis believes that the true value of sport is how it can be a vehicle for building community, and in Kingston, the sailing community is simply made up of good people.

Ten Hove is also a strong believer that Kingston’s community had a significant role in cultivating her skills as a high-performance wind athlete:

“I think a main reason probably why I reached the level that I am at now does have a lot to do with Kingston. It’s no surprise that Kingston produces so many high-calibre athletes within sailing because the sailing community in Kingston has such a history of Olympic excellence and such a legacy.”

In 2021, on the 45th anniversary of the Montreal 1976 Olympics, Kingston continues to prove itself as the freshwater sailing capital of the world, and Tokyo 2020 will be the fourth Olympics in a row in which a Kingston rower has competed. Due to CORK’s long history of hosting regattas and the wisdom passed down through generations of members at the Kingston Yacht Club and Kingston Rowing Club, we have a vibrant water and wind community that continues to nurture new and established talent.

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7 Kingston Athletes You Can Cheer On at the Olympics

After postponing the Olympic Games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, over 10,000 athletes are set to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. The Olympics will welcome a powerful Team Canada – with seven Kingstonians on the roster. Read on to learn about each of the Kingston athletes we’re celebrating as they compete at the world’s most prestigious sports competition.

Jennifer (Jenny) Casson – Rowing

Credit: Kevin Light (Jenny Casson front and her teammate, Jill Moffatt)

Jenny Casson began her athletic journey by practising at the Kingston Rowing Club and running along the Cataraqui River. She is an exercise and sports science major who has placed in several World Championships and World Cups. She has competed with the Canadian Senior National Team since 2017 and placed eighth in the lightweight women’s double with her teammate, Jill Moffatt, at the 2019 World Rowing Championships. Jenny and her rowing partner were unofficially invited to the Canadian Olympic team when Canada received the quota spot after a New Zealand boat was forced to drop out of the women’s lightweight double sculls. Casson holds a world record in dryland rowing with a lightweight 6,000-metre ergometer mark in the 19 to 29 age group and she also set the lightweight, 2,000-metre ergometer world record in the same age group in 2018. She is passionate about women supporting each other and the power that comes from this.

Will Crothers – Rowing 

 

Anyone familiar with Kingston high-performance athletes will recognize Crothers’ athletic journey. He began rowing at 14 at the Kingston Rowing Club and Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute and has been competing internationally for Canada since 2004 when he won bronze at his first appearance at the World Junior Championships. He claimed two World Championship medals when he joined the Senior Team. He was a member of the men’s eight that won silver at the London 2012 Olympics, later competing with the same team members as the “Truth North Four.” The team won bronze at the 2014 and 2015 World Cup and Crothers also won two gold medals at the 2015 Pan Am Games. The True North Four came in sixth at the Rio 2016 Olympics and won bronze in the 2019 World Cup. In May 2021, the team won second place at the final Olympic qualification regatta for Tokyo 2020, securing their spot at the Games with Crothers in the stroke seat. Crothers’ energy is unparalleled as he looks forward to a career-best performance in Tokyo.

Crother’s teammate Gavin Stone also has ties to Kingston as a Queen’s University graduate and former Queen’s University rower.

 Aaliyah Edwards – Basketball

Aaliyah Edwards of Kingston in action for Team Canada against Puerto Rico at the AmeriCup Basketball Tournament in San Juan Puerto Rico on Tuesday September 24, 2019 FIBA Photo

Aaliyah Edwards is more than a student at University of Connecticut, she’s the Huskies forward who’s been meeting achievement after achievement on basketball courts all over the world. In 2019, she was the youngest player on Team Canada’s senior women’s basketball team and the top performer in the 2019 gold medal AmeriCup game. She is also the first Kingston women’s basketball player on the senior team since Andrea Blackwell who played from 1979–1996. Edwards was named the Big East Sixth Woman of the Year in 2021, a prestigious award given to the most outstanding female basketball player out of 11 Northeast and Midwest schools in the NCAA. She was also invited to the Canadian national team’s training camp in preparation for the 2021 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup in Puerto Rico. Edwards has earned an invitation to represent Canada as a forward at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Annie Foreman-Mackey – Cycling, Track

Credit: 2016 Track Cycling World Championships, London, England (Eric Feferbeg/AFP/Getty Images)

When Annie Foreman-Mackey was nine, she saw Simon Whitfield win triathlon gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Annie was inspired by seeing a fellow Kingstonian excel in sports at the international level. Annie made her UCI World Championship debut in 2016 and won bronze in the non-Olympic individual pursuit event. She had an amazing performance at the 2017 Canadian Track Cycling Championships where she won five medals. 2019 saw her as a key member of the team pursuit as she contributed to fourth-place finishes at the Worlds in 2018, 2019, and 2020. She was also a member of the team pursuit that won gold at the 2019 Pan American Championships and won silver in the individual pursuit. Annie is an aspiring doctor and began medical school while preparing for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She also worked with Cycling Canada to host an online cyclist mentorship program during the pandemic. 

Abi Tripp – Para-swimming

Credit: Ian McNicol, 2019 WPS World Para Swimming Championships 

Kingston Y Penguins Aquatic Club swimmer Abi Tripp joins Team Canada’s swim team at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games – and it’s her second Paralympic Games. Abi has cerebral palsy, which mildly impairs all four of her limbs. After breaking the Canadian record in S8 200-m individual medley twice at the 2016 Olympic & Para-swimming Trials, she qualified for her first Paralympic Games. She attended Rio 2016 and made the finals in the 400-metre freestyle (sixth), 100-m freestyle (seventh) and 200-m individual medley (eighth). Her times in the 400-metre freestyle and 200 individual medley were also Canadian records. Abi has been competing on the National Para-swimming team since she was 14 and she has several amazing accolades, including taking home the bronze at the London 2019 World Para Swimming Championships. In Tokyo, she’ll be competing in the 100-metre breaststroke for the SB7 category, the 50-metre freestyle S8, the 100-metre freestyle and 4×100-metre freestyle relay.

Alexandra (Ali) ten Hove – Sailing


As a child, Alexandra (Ali) ten Hove represented Canada at two Youth World Championships. Now, she’s representing Canada at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. When Ali became a skipper in the 49er FX class she met her current teammate, Mariah Millen. Both of their fathers are Olympians who competed at different games with the same skipper. The ten Hove and Millen team has won many national titles including second place at the 2016 and 2017 North American Championships. They set a Canadian record in 2019 when they finished in 15th place at the European Championships and achieved a personal best finish at the 49er FX World Championships. Their fourth-place finish at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima earned them their spot at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games. A 2019 graduate from Queen’s University and a strong advocate for women in sports, Ali feels indebted to the Kingston Yacht Club and other sailing resources available within the community.

Kristina Walker – Rowing

Although Kristina Walker has done most of her competitive rowing for the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, Kristina’s hometown is Wolfe Island and she was a member of the Kingston Rowing Club. She was a part of the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds that finished second at the Canadian University Rowing Championship in 2017 and 2018. She also finished second in the single sculls in 2018. After recovering from an injury, she qualified for the FISU World Championship team and won silver for Canada in the double sculls in Shanghai. She joined the Rowing Canada National Team in 2018 in the Women’s Open program and was named a CAN Fund #150Women recipient in 2021. Kristina launched a podcast called “Difference Makers” in 2021 to interview people who have achieved their definition of success a profession or sport. She’ll be competing in Tokyo in the women’s four.

The Games are scheduled to take place Friday, July 23 – August 8, 2021, and Team Canada is lucky to have several lively and dedicated athletes from Kingston. Follow along with the Olympic schedule and watch several Olympic journeys that began in Kingston, play out on the world stage.

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More Than a Transaction: Shopping Tailored to You at Chris James

Chris James | 253 Ontario Street | Website

Christine Ray-Bratt is clear about her business philosophy: “Everything is drawn from value.” At her boutique, Chris James, you’ll find more than clothing and accessories. This is because Chris James believes that asking customers to purchase an item is asking for their faith, so they make sure that every shopping experience is tailored to the individual.

The boutique has offered over 135 brands in their 10 years along with a variety of services. This season their 2,400+ square foot space houses over 60 global clothing brands. Other services offered include personal styling appointments, wardrobe consultations, a custom-cut men’s suiting program, group fittings, and alterations.

Christine has strict rules about carrying brands that are sustainable, ethical, and Canadian as much as possible. We spoke with her about how she approaches curating such an extensive selection of products to fit her “global community citizen” mindset.

“If I’m going to ask somebody to come in and buy a black sweater, let’s say, for the season, I want to make sure that it’s the one that I feel the most confident about, both in terms of value for the product, value for the price, and value for time spent with longevity because I want to make sure that it’s going to last you for the price you feel you paid for it. In terms of curating, we have solid relationships with the vendors that we work with. They back up their product, they stand behind it.”

The key in the curation is that Chris James carries pieces that are classic, yet contemporary – forward fashion brands like Bugatti, Ted Baker, and Marella sit next to classic ones such as Part Two, Tommy Bahama, and Autumn Cashmere – offering pieces and looks that work with each other for a variety of occasions and style needs. Christine studies international fashion markets to ensure customers purchase items that they’ll be excited to have in their wardrobe for years to come. The boutique team puts the same level of detail and care into their customer service.

“I am a big proponent of leading by example. I come from a corporate background with a larger-scale philosophy of team leading and although I’m not a micromanager, it’s about training somebody to be able to achieve excellence within what they do and then giving them free reign to excel within the environment. We constantly have team meetings. We also have a weekly report where we highlight how a team member excelled at bringing a service level to a customer. Sometimes it can be something as simple as, ‘I made sure that a failure point that was about to happen didn’t happen’ [or] ‘We had somebody who just didn’t feel comfortable coming into the store so I threw together a package and drove it over to their house.’”

Although Christine admits this behaviour has become more popular since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, she believes this business ideology is not necessarily commonplace. For Chris James, the philosophy of “what would the customer want” is second nature.

If you watch one of Chris James’ videos – shared to their Instagram and Facebook – you might be pleasantly surprised by the level of detail Christine supplies in a voiceover. The videos introduce new brands the store is carrying or highlight staples pieces to help you build a spring wardrobe. A staff member models the clothing, allowing viewers to see how a garment moves on a real person. Christine reminds viewers of washing instructions, accommodations for different shapes and sizes, and the quality of the fabric. It’s part of the store’s philosophy to allow customers to shop with as much education and understanding as possible but these videos have also been a way to connect with customers while in-person interactions were limited due to COVID-19. This level of service and care is why people keep returning to Chris James and Christine.

“I continue to be surprised by how supportive people are. Whether it was the first wave, second wave, third wave, we’ve had customers come in and buy a gift certificate and then have subsequently bought something online and I’ve said, ‘Remember you have that gift certificate to use. Do you want me to just apply it?’ and they’re like, ‘Oh god no, I ripped that up. I just bought it to support you.’ It just humbles you. It humbles you to think there are people out there that so strongly believe in you.”

Christine was born in Kingston and raised here and in Hong Kong. Her husband is also from Kingston and they raised their children here surrounded by family. She is proud of her hometown’s great community and having her boutique situated in the heart of the city cultivates even more pride.

“We have a very vibrant downtown which doesn’t exist in a lot of other communities…It energizes you, to see what’s happening. Especially through COVID, we all have difficult times where we think, ‘I can’t do this anymore,’ but it’s re-energizing to know that there is a group of people who are there for you, like other business owners locally that I connect with…In Kingston, you have a whole city that you feel a sense of community with. It’s definitely different. That belief in value, sustainability, buy Canadian, better quality products, buy less but buy better, is a whole Kingston thing.”

Christine is passionate about the fact that you can get all that you need in one small area in downtown Kingston, along with great food and entertainment. That small-town energy carries over into her boutique. From partnering with St. Lawrence College and Queen’s University to engage students in business and marketing or providing one-on-one service in-store, Christine believes Chris James is a “community within a community.” Her customer interactions are not simply transactions, but relationships that her team works to grow one customer at a time.

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11 Kingston food trucks you have to park yourself at this summer

Searching for one-of-a-kind dishes, served by unique mobile eateries? Read on to discover 11 trucks, carts, and trailers that serve up seriously delicious street eats in Kingston. 

Legend: 🌾 (gluten-free options), 🌱 (vegan options), 🍄 (vegetarian options) 

 

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BBQ Babes 🌾🌱🍄 

Canadian Tire, 1040 Division Street  

This mother-daughter duo transitioned from traveling festival to festival across Ontario to being one of Kingston’s most beloved stationary food trucks. Their food truck was voted Kingston’s Best BBQ of 2020, 2021, and 2022. If you try their burgers, brisket, poutine, or corn dogs, your tastebuds will know why. 

View menu | Open: daily (11 am – 6 pm)  

Soup Chef Food Truck 🌾🌱🍄 

Fairfield Park, 4574 Loyalist Parkway  

If you’re looking for a meal with a great view, look no farther than this lakeside food truck. Located in Fairfield Park (Amherstview), you can enjoy a bowl of minestrone as you gaze out at Lake Ontario. Soup Chef might have your old-time favourites, or something new to try like cheeseburger mac or watermelon gazpacho. They also have frozen soup available to purchase, so you can take the deliciousness home.  

Open: Sun – Mon (11 am – 6 pm), Wed (11 am – 6 pm), Thu – Sat (11 am – 7 pm)  

The Great Canadian Country Cabin Chip Truck 🍄 

Collins Bay Flea Market parking lot, 666 Collins Bay Road  

Is it possible to create a list of food trucks without including a fry truck? While technically not a food truck, this small stand is ready to fulfil your craving for hand-cut chips. You can also order traditional fare such as hotdogs, burgers, and even hand-dipped corn dogs. Powered by a food-loving family, this is a stop you don’t want to miss. 

Open: Tue (4 – 7 pm), Wed – Sat (11 am – 7 pm), Sun (11 am – 6 pm)  

The Churro Guy at the Memorial Centre Farmers' Market
The Churro Guy at the Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market / Credit: Garrett Elliott

The Churro Guy 🍄 

Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market, 303 York Street 

If you needed another reason to take a trip to the Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market, The Churro Guy should be it. Their small but mighty selection includes Cape Breton oatcakes, sweet potato burger buns, and fresh churros. The Churro Guy uses pasteurized, whole goat milk and farm-fresh eggs in their products.  

View menu | Open: Sun (9 am – 2 pm)  

B’s Bike Bites

B’s Bike Bites 🌾🌱🍄 

While not technically a food truck, you’ll want to keep an eye out for this travelling food cart. B’s Bike Bites has a live tracker so that you can follow along with B’s route and listen for the telltale bells that mean some refreshing snacks are on their way to you. Bailey DiGenova (B) rides a cart similar to an old-fashioned Dickie Dee, delivering ice cream and beverages. B, who has Autism and is non-verbal, developed the business with his parents in summer 2020. 

Open: check B’s Facebook for his hours and location  

Muller’s Kitchen Food Truck 🍄 

Gord Edgar Downie Pier at Breakwater Park (Summer) & Bader Lane (Fall)  

Voted Kingston’s best poutine, sandwich, and food truck, this food truck brings you both barbecue staples and unique features. They’ve managed to make hotdogs, burgers, sandwiches, and poutines even yummier with distinct pairings – house Habanero barbecued pulled pork between a fresh blueberry fritter, anyone? You’re sure to find something creative and delicious here, topped with their signature blue salt. 

Open: Wed – Thu (noon – 6 pm), Fri – Sat (noon – 6:30 pm)   

Otter Creek Kitchen Food Truck 🌾🌱🍄 

Various locations 

Keep an eye out at pop-ups, events, and festivals this summer for Otter Creek Kitchen Food Truck. You can grab all your food truck favourites at Otter Creek Kitchen, their brick-and-mortar location at 2792 Princess Street. The food truck and Princess Street location serves their original Otter Creek Wagyu Burger along with vegan and vegetarian options, fries, salads, and even a Buddha Bowl packed with seasonal vegetables.  

View menu | Check their Instagram and Facebook for weekly hours and locations  

 

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Lotzah! 🌾🍄 

675 Development Drive  

This gourmet food truck has an eclectic mix of offerings that is sure to please a variety of foodies. You’ll find all the food truck staples here like freshly cut fries and burgers – plus lighter options like salads. Dive into some chicken tikka poutine or a pulled pork sandwich.  

View menu | Open: Tue – Fri (11 am – 8 pm), Sat (noon – 8 pm), Sun (noon – 5 pm)  

 

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FryWay 🍄 

21 Stuart Street & Mobile Truck  

FryWay boasts a commitment to offering chip truck cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients, procured from southern Ontario and Quebec farmers. You can find FryWay at their fixed location on Stuart Street and at various Kingston spots via their roaming food truck. Delight in their timeless food truck selections such as poutine, burgers, and hot dogs or try something new like taco fries or a jalapeno cheddar sausage.  

View menu  

21 Stuart St open: Mon – Thu (10:30 am – 7 pm), Fri (10:30 am – 9 pm), Sat (11 am – 9 pm), Sun (11 am – 6 pm)  

Mobile Truck open: Mon @ CFB Kingston (10:30 am – 3:30 pm), Tue – Fri @ Union & Division (10:30 am – 3:30 pm)  

Bustini’s Chip Truck 🍄 

682 Fortune Crescent  

Bustini’s Chip Truck presents a selection of gourmet poutines, burgers, pizza, and seafood – you’ll have trouble choosing between all the different variations. Indulge in the signature Bustini burger, topped with chipotle, onion rings, Monterey jack cheese, or the Firecracker poutine, covered in crispy chicken bites, green onions, and creamy dill sauce.  

View menu | Open: daily (11 am – 7 pm)  

 

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Q-Bite 🍄 

28 Bath Road  

Kingston’s newest food truck, Q-Bite, serves up mouthwatering Indian-fusion cuisine that blends traditional Indian flavours with chip truck fare. They’ve got creative sandwiches, such as the butter chicken melt and curry chicken sandwich, as well as street food, including fried vegetarian momos, samosas, and masala fries. All their dishes are halal.  

View menu | Open: Tue – Sun (11 am – 9 pm)  

 

In the mood for more of Kingston’s culinary delights? Discover Kingston’s restaurants, breweries, and eateries.  

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Nourishing Community Connection: Daughters General Store

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the corner of John and Patrick in the Inner Harbour area became a place for residents to pick up last-minute groceries, take their kids for a weekend snack, and enjoy both local and international treats.

Daughters General Store is nestled right in the neighborhood at 63 John Street, but a simple look at its Instagram feed and you’ll understand just how vibrant the store is. The owners, Norah and Erik Petersen, are dedicated to selling food products from local, regional, and international vendors. If you’re lucky, you might arrive on a day when they’re selling bouquets from local cut-flower gardens or fresh, organic herbs. The store is an eclectic mix that’s grown to include everyday staples and yummy sweets, while also catering to unique diets such as gluten-free, vegetarian, and plant-based.

Kingston residents will recognize some of the highlights from our local bakeries here, such as fresh scones from Wilton Wheat Kings or donuts from Knifey Spooney. While exploring some of the local offerings, you’ll also come across some regional products like cheese from a Guelph fromagerie or coffee from a shop in Hamilton. The Petersens deem their sunny spot in the Inner Harbour area a neighborhood grocery store. We spoke with Norah about how their travels and the history of small, local grocery stores inspired them to open their business.

“Just the idea of having a business embedded in a neighborhood really excited us. Every neighborhood used to have a grocery store really close. You would walk around the neighbourhood, like in Toronto –or here – and see these storefronts that have been constructed into houses or apartments that used to be corner stores…They were, at one time, stores for you to actually get all your groceries. We really liked that idea. We lived in New York City for a long time and there still are little grocery stores there or bodegas on every corner and they’re really like the centre of neighbourhoods.”

The Petersens have lived in several different places and discovered, when they settled in Kingston, that there were some beloved foods they couldn’t get here. So, what began as what Norah claims a “selfish pursuit of the delicious, vegetarian comfort foods” they craved, turned into a collection of products customers return for again and again.

The store also brings in new products all the time – often highlighted in real time on their Instagram feed – so that every visit is different from the last. Social media may be relatively new to the owners, but the Petersens find it helpful to spend a portion of their evening discussing which items they should feature the next day. They say it’s been essential for not only bringing in new clients but building another source of connection during the pandemic.

In fact, the store opened in October 2020, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cultivating a sense of community has been vital to the business atmosphere. Norah explains that the fun foods they import internationally help cultivate a sense of travel during a time when we’re all staying home:

“We have cookies from Italy because we spent some time there and it just reminds us of those times. We have Marks & Spencer cookies, British cookies, and we just bought them because we thought they were cool, but we found that our customers really, really, connected them with something special…I think especially at this time when we’re not allowed to travel anywhere, having things that remind us of other places is special.”

The Petersens were delighted with the positive response their business received from the community. Norah stated that providing a space people can go to during their work-from-home routines has been an “island of normalcy amid the pandemic,” even if social distancing measures had to be put into place.

Petersen shares her favourite part about supporting the Inner Harbour area: “I think that it’s a place where people can come together and eat and get their daily essentials. One thing that really makes me happy is when somebody comes in at the end of the day before dinner and they really need an ingredient that they forgot when they were at the grocery store, or something to finish up their dinner – and I happen to have it. It always makes me really happy. It’s a place you can rely on to get something but then also it’s a place where the kids can come get a popsicle.”

The Petersens are dedicated to their desire to simply connect people by building relationships with customers and introducing them to other small businesses. While the store may supply Patchwork Gardens greens or Reinink Family Farms eggs, and even products from places we might not be able to travel to, their ultimate desire is to nurture relationships. By being embedded in the neighbourhood, Daughters General Store has made buying food more than enjoyable. They’ve made it a community experience.

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Staying connected: The Glorious Sons

Nominees for Group of the Year at the 2021 JUNO Awards

It’s really fitting that Kingston band The Glorious Sons are nominated for Group of the Year at the 2021 JUNO Awards. Because while their North American tour to promote their last album, “A War on Everything,” was cut short in March 2020, the band has been actively connecting with their fans over the past year, getting them through a year without live concerts by releasing recordings of their last live shows. There’s a double CD featuring recordings from the shortened 2020 tour and a four-disc set from their sold-out Kingston show in September 2019.

When a band comes to Kingston to play, says singer Brett Emmons, “there’s a buzz on the streets before the show. Whether it’s Elton John or The Hip about to play, there’s a certain bustle to the city. For both of our big hometown shows [at the Leon’s Centre in 2018 and Richardson Stadium in 2019] I could feel that buzz, and I’d only ever experienced that from the outside.”

The buzz of that last hometown show, playing in front of 14,000 fans, was captured in the album “Our Little Piece of Work: Live at Richardson Stadium.” Released in November 2020, the live album gives listeners the auditory experience of a live Glorious Sons show, to tide fans over until the band tours again.

The band has stayed connected with fans in other ways over the last year, releasing limited edition posters as well as hockey jerseys. They also created their own app, TGS Union. Through the app, you can buy merch, stream music, and even get the chance to join an XBOX livestream with members of the band (they’re big fans of the game NHL 21).

While COVID shut down their 2020 tour, The Glorious Sons haven’t been idle this past year.

“We’ve got about thirty unreleased songs,” says Brett. “I’m really excited about the new stuff that we’ve written. It’s a bit of a callback to “The Union” [their 2014 debut album] but there’s a little more sophistication and thought to it.”

“We’d also been working with a producer for the last two albums,” Brett continues. “So we decided to just shoot from the hip and plug in and play. I think we’ve got a really energetic, special batch of songs out of that.” In late May, they released two of those new tracks, “Young King” and “Daylight.” Stay tuned for more.

And at the end of this year, The Glorious Sons have some unfinished business to attend to. Their tour to promote “A War on Everything”, cut short in March 2020, picks up again in December. It’s now called “The Unfinished Business” tour.

“The Union” also gave its name to a Kingston restaurant. Brett’s brother Jay Emmons, who plays guitar for The Glorious Sons, is a co-owner of The Union Kitchen + Cocktails on Princess Street.

When asked to name their favourite Kingston hang-out, both Emmons brothers agree on The Iron Duke: they miss watching football with friends there over beer and wings.

The Glorious Sons are one of five bands nominated for Group of the Year at the 2021 JUNOS. The band was nominated for its album “The Union” for Rock Album of the Year in 2015; they won Rock Album of the Year in 2018 for “Young Beauties and Fools” and in 2020, for “A War on Everything.”

The JUNO Awards will be broadcast on Sunday, June 6 at 8pm on all CBC platforms:  CBCmusic.ca/junos.

JUNO’s poster in support of Joe’s M.I.L.L. 

Joe’s M.I.L.L. is a registered charity in Kingston, Ontario founded by musician, Wally High, in memory of his friend and band member, the late Joe Chithalen, who was a talented bass player in several well-known Kingston bands. Joe’s M.I.L.L. operates in tribute to Joe’s love of music, so that anyone who wants to can enjoy playing music as much as he did.

All proceeds from sales of the poster will go to support Joe’s M.I.L.L.

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Sarah Harmer: Looking back and stepping up

Nominee, 2021 JUNO Award, Adult Alternative Album of the Year for “Are You Gone”

Sarah Harmer didn’t set out for her new album “Are You Gone” to be the spiritual successor of her debut album “You Were Here,” released 21 years ago. But, she says, they turned out to be “bookends” for each other, as each album has songs that explore lives lost. On “You Were Here,” the title track was an ode to Harmer’s friend and former bandmate, Joe Chithalen, who had died in 1999.

I’m just sad for myself
Cause I know you’re clear
But I would love it if you were here

“You Were Here”

On Harmer’s new album, released in 2020, there’s a solemn tone to some of the songs, but there is also a sense of honouring and celebrating the lives of people no longer with us. “Shoemaker” is a song inspired by a photo Harmer found of her great-grandfather. Curious about who he had been, Harmer delved into genealogical research sites. The song imagines what it was like for John, a shoemaker from Glasgow, to travel to Canada in 1843.

A lonely sky
A shoemaker’s eye
Had never seen a horizon
So wide

“Shoemaker”

The songs on “Are You Gone” alternate between gentle melodies and rousing ones, and all feature razor-sharp lyrics. They’re not all about looking back, either. “New Low” is an energetic, danceable number – with an edge. Harmer describes how the song developed: “For whatever reason, I was walking around on my lawn with a guitar and started playing [the song’s bouncy hook] and the melody was immediately apparent.” Harmer’s vocals on “New Low” create a deliberate contrast to the melody: “I wanted the drive of the song to carry through,” she says, “and the vocals to be a little more subdued.”

As for the lyrics, “I had just come back the day before from a vigil in Kingston at Market Square after the mosque shooting in Quebec City [in 2017]. And I felt the people around me there were more fired up than I had seen. And I felt fired up. The women’s march in Kingston happened around that time, as well. It just felt like people were stepping up more and more.”

Out on the streets three times this week
New threats, new lows
If this gets us to our feet and grows
Who knows?

“New Low”

Sarah Harmer’s album “Are You Gone” is one of five nominees for the 2021 JUNO Award for Alternative Adult Album of the Year. She previously won this award for her 2005 album “All of Our Names.” The JUNO Awards will be broadcast on Sunday, June 6 at 8pm on all CBC platforms:  CBCmusic.ca/junos

Some of Sarah Harmer’s favourite Kingston spots are Peter’s Restaurant on Princess Street for breakfast, and The Pilot House for fish and chips. She loves the ride down into Kingston along the K&P Trail from her home north of the city.

JUNO’s poster in support of Joe’s M.I.L.L. 

Joe’s M.I.L.L. is a registered charity in Kingston, Ontario founded by musician, Wally High, in memory of his friend and band member, the late Joe Chithalen, who was a talented bass player in several well-known Kingston bands. Joe’s M.I.L.L. operates in tribute to Joe’s love of music, so that anyone who wants to can enjoy playing music as much as he did.

All proceeds from sales of the poster will go to support Joe’s M.I.L.L.

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The Tragically Hip receive 2021 JUNO Humanitarian Award

“Making our neighbourhood a better place”

Their first JUNO award – in 1990 – was for “most promising group of the year.” And The Tragically Hip certainly lived up to their promise. They went on to win 14 more JUNOs and were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. At this year’s JUNO ceremony on June 6, they’ll receive the 2021 Humanitarian Award.

The Humanitarian Award recognizes outstanding Canadian artists or industry leaders whose humanitarian contributions have positively enhanced the social fabric of Canada and beyond. Members of The Hip – Rob Baker, Paul Langlois, Gord Sinclair, and Johnny Fay – will receive the award from Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson from Rush (the 2015 Humanitarian award recipients).

The Hip also will perform at the JUNO event, with singer Leslie Feist on vocals. This will be the band’s first televised performance since lead singer Gord Downie died in 2017. The event will be broadcast on Sunday, June 6 at 8pm on all CBC platforms:  CBCmusic.ca/junos.

Rob Baker, the band’s lead guitarist, talked about getting this award, the importance of supporting local causes, and one of his favourite Kingston musical memories.

“It feels strange to receive a humanitarian award,” he says modestly. “We just try and make our neighbourhood a better place.” Charitable work has always been part of the band’s ethos. Most recently, the band has been working with the Unison Benevolent Fund, which provides emergency relief services to people in the Canadian music industry, both musicians and crew members. “Things have been pretty bad in our industry,” says Rob. “We know people who lost tours, who are out of work, and are clinging to their livelihoods. We don’t want to lose an entire industry to COVID!” 

The Tragically Hip have been raising awareness and money for the fund, including through proceeds of their “Courage” masks. Learn more at https://thehip.com.

And while they continue to support national causes, the members of The Hip have always prioritized Kingston projects. “In the early years,” says Rob, “we never shied away from doing benefit shows. Our first big one was for Almost Home. We put on a concert at Fort Henry with The Pursuit of Happiness. Almost Home [which provides support for families with sick kids in Kingston hospitals] had just secured a place but didn’t have the funds to renovate it and make it into what it could be – what their dream was. So, we were able to raise a significant amount of money for them.”

“You just start small,” he continues, “but then you get a taste for it. You can see the impact of your support [for a small charity], and you start to dream a little bigger.”

And sometimes, a cause hits really close to home.

“Joe Chithalen was a friend,” says Rob somberly. “And we had great plans to play together … and that didn’t happen. The unexpected has a way of poking its head up every once in a while.”

Joe Chithalen, a talented Kingston musician, died tragically in 1999 at the age of 32. In his honour, the Joe Chithalen Memorial Musical Instrument Lending Library – Joe’s MILL – was established. The library loans out a variety of musical instruments at no charge to Kingston residents. The Tragically Hip have supported Joe’s MILL since its beginning.

Music builds community

So, why is Joe’s MILL so transformational? Why is having access to music and musical instruments so important, especially for young people? For Rob Baker, “it’s just being able to have the opportunity. Not everyone is going to play an instrument; not everyone is going to have dreams of making albums or touring the world. But [access to music instruments] is just such a good way to investigate yourself and build community with other people. The connection that music makes with people! And not just the way music connects with a person’s heart and mind, but the way it connects them with other people. It really does build community. So, if you can extend some of those opportunities, then, by all means, you need to do it.”

Kingston musical memories

Kingston live music venues are shuttered for the time being. But Rob has fond memories of two special concerts here in Kingston, one as a performer and the other as an audience member.

“At the Leon’s Centre, coming up on five years ago, [The Tragically Hip] played our final show. And I remember being on stage and looking over, and my wife and son were standing side stage. And I kind of gave them a little smile. And two or three years later, I was standing side stage there with my wife, watching my son [Boris Baker, bassist for Kasador] on stage, warming up for The Glorious Sons. And he looked over at us and gave us a smile. And I saw that look in his eye. We both recognized that this flip had happened. And that was a pretty special moment for me.”

Insider itinerary

Rob Baker and his wife, Leslie, have been sticking close to home this past year. They’re both avid cooks and enjoy trying out new recipes. But, Rob says, “we realized that restaurants must be taking a beating due to COVID. So, we committed to ordering in once a week. We have our favourites – Chez Piggy, Harper’s, Olivea, Wooden Heads. One of our favourite Indian restaurants, Curry Original, is temporarily shut down, but it’s under new ownership and will be re-opening.  Taste of India is also excellent. I have a friend in Toronto who says he has had to come to Kingston to get the best Indian food!”

Sticking close to home has also enabled Rob to discover some local treasures.

“I found a great little corner store on John Street recently,” he says. “Daughter’s General Store. Wow – that’s a treat! Really enjoyed that place. It’s kind of like a corner store. But everything in there is kind of upscale and interesting. You can buy orchids! Or, if you want a popsicle, you can go in, but they’re not just popsicles, they’re Mexican paletas – they’re homemade, beautifully crafted popsicles that are fantastic! And they have so many interesting things that you’re not going to get at a regular corner store.”

JUNO’s poster in support of Joe’s M.I.L.L. 

Joe’s M.I.L.L. is a registered charity in Kingston, Ontario founded by musician, Wally High, in memory of his friend and band member, the late Joe Chithalen, who was a talented bass player in several well-known Kingston bands. Joe’s M.I.L.L. operates in tribute to Joe’s love of music, so that anyone who wants to can enjoy playing music as much as he did.

All proceeds from sales of the poster will go to support Joe’s M.I.L.L.

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Best in bloom: 7 great places to experience Kingston’s spring flowers

If you’re looking for a mid-day break, a weekend treat, or simply a place to connect with nature, Kingston is bustling with blooms for you to explore. Research shows that experiences in nature can improve physical fitness and the ability to cope with stress. Experiences in nature are linked to good health, both physical and mental. More than 200 parks are open to the public year-round in Kingston, so you can revel in the spring weather by checking out what nature has to offer in your own backyard. All these spaces are open to the public and free of charge, making your next walk even brighter.

Please remember to responsibly enjoy Kingston’s parks: stay with your household and physically distance from others. 

Confederation Basin, Confederation Park & City Hall

216 Ontario St

If you’ve got a craving for tulips this season, or just want to discover some flowery views in historic downtown Kingston, check out the Confederation Basin area located in front of . Here you’ll find a bright, spacious green space offering views of the marina, sparkling Lake Ontario, and Royal Military College. This area includes the lush gardens and fountains of Confederation Park just in front of City Hall and other blooms lining the Waterfront Pathway. Did you know that Shoal Tower, one of the four Martello Towers in Kingston, is also located here? The tower was built in the 1840s to defend Kingston’s harbour. Confederation Basin proves that you can be at the centre of downtown Kingston – and its selection of great coffee and snacks for you to grab and go – while still satisfying your urge to get back to nature.

The Walk at City Park, Hospice Kingston

Bordered by King St E, Barrie St, Bagot St, and West St

Travel west of City Hall and you’ll find the leafy grounds of City Park. You can also enjoy the Walk located in the northeast corner of the park. The Walk was developed by Hospice Kingston to be a family-friendly space for quiet contemplation. Here you can rest on a bench and listen the bubbling fountain or wander the Walk’s pathway, which features several memory stones commemorating loved ones and their accomplishments. With flowers that shift with the seasons, this is a peaceful place for reflection and mindfulness.

Lions Civic Gardens

875 Gardiners Rd

Those in the west end of Kingston may be familiar with the Lions Civic Gardens, which has hosted many free music concerts over the years. (It’s also a popular toboggan run in the winter.) But this park next to Cataraqui Town Centre also offers some lovely walking trails. These gardens offer the opportunity to roam and discover wildflowers; there are also several maintained garden beds here.

Queen’s University campus

99 University Ave

There’s perhaps no better place in Kingston to witness spectacular flowers and trees than on the Queen’s University campus. Beds of daffodils and tulips make a bright contrast to the backdrop of limestone buildings. Later, as the flowering bulbs finish blooming, they’ll be replaced by annual flowers. Did you know that each year the grounds crew constructs a detailed plan about what they’ll be planting in the campus garden beds and planters?

While beautiful flower beds can be found across the entire campus, take some time to view the trees there, many of which are unlikely to be found elsewhere in Kingston, or even in Southeastern Ontario. This is because a unique microclimate is created here by the combination of building placement and proximity to Lake Ontario. The Snodgrass Arboretum, located in front of Theological Hall and Summerhill, was established in 1999 to recognize these rare trees. In fact, the slope in front of Summerhill was the site of Canada’s first botanical garden, established in 1861 by the Botanical Society of Canada. You can also virtually tour the Arboretum.

From the hanging baskets studded along University Avenue or the lush spring garden beds at Agnes Benidickson field, Queen’s campus is a must-see for those looking for blooms.

Joseph Dominik Garden

191 Portsmouth Ave

Joseph Dominik Garden is the first fully accessible public sensory garden in Kingston. The Ongwanada Centre opened the therapeutic garden in 2006. Since then, the garden has won several awards from the Kingston Communities in Bloom program. The garden was designed to elicit a beautiful sensory experience for those with developmental and physical disabilities. Come discover how this space engages all the senses!

Churchill Park Flower Garden

On Brock Street, between Napier and Regent streets, you’ll find Churchill Park, known for its stunning flowerbeds. The space also boasts a sundial monument, erected in 1973 to celebrate Kingston’s 300th anniversary and the 500th anniversary of the birth of Copernicus.

Barriefield Rock Garden

The Bill Robb Barriefield Rock Garden that runs from the bottom of Main Street alongside James Street to the rock-cut along Highway 2 was created in 1990. Bill Robb was a retired Bell Canada lineman and engineering technician who was instrumental in devising the project. He cultivated the garden systematically, using an aerial photograph that he marked off as he proceeded. Having volunteered at the local federal prisons, Bill enlisted inmates to help with the gardening, many of whom went on to work in the landscape industry.

The garden, with its unique natural landscaping, has won Kingston Community in Bloom awards over the years and it continues to be maintained by volunteers, with funding from the Pittsburgh Community Benefit Fund.

Paterson Memorial Garden

111 Norman Rogers Dr

Tended by members of the Kingston Horticultural Society, the Paterson Memorial Garden, (next to the City of Kingston greenhouse in Roden Park), is a perfect place to wander. With new additions every year, this garden is constantly evolving. The garden pays tribute to Willie Paterson (1891–1983), who shared his plants and botanical knowledge with the Kingston community for many years. The Kingston Horticultural Society also offers online informational meetings for members and guests. You can check out its website for information on upcoming Zoom meetings. The Kingston Horticultural Society also maintains the Pollinator Garden at the Memorial Centre at 303 York Street. Dedicated to providing continuous bloom and confronting the challenge of pollinator decline, this garden is worth checking out.

Whether you’re admiring the forsythia or daffodils on your neighbor’s front lawn, or planning to visit some of the green spaces on our list, take advantage of the opportunity to get outside, de-stress, feel happier, and boost your creativity. Stopping to smell the roses is always good for the soul.

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Cinco de Mayo at home: recipes from Dianne’s + Mesa Fresca

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at home and try out these three recipes from Mesa Fresca and Dianne’s Fish Shack & Smokehouse.

Mesa Fresca

Mesa Fresca is a locally owned and operated restaurant located in the west end of Kingston. Owners Alison and Andrew Scahill pride themselves on their unique blend of Mexican fusion, utilizing their love of the vibrant flavours of Latin cuisine to inspire the menu. The abundance of local suppliers, fresh produce and meat available in the Kingston area are not only the backbone of their menu but their local suppliers have become an integral part of Mesa Fresca family as they navigated operating a new restaurant during COVID-19.

They shared their Margarita de la Casa recipe with us below.

Mesa Fresca’s Margarita de la Casa

Margarita de la Casa recipe

Prepare in advance:

Lime Infused Salt:

  • Coarse kosher salt
  • Fresh lime zest (zesting with a microplane works best)

Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice:

  • 3-4 limes per margarita

Simple Syrup:

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water

(Optional: you can easily make more or less syrup depending on how many margaritas you plan to have; just be sure to use equal parts sugar and water)

  1. Combine equal parts sugar and water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil then reduce; let simmer for 15 minutes. Cool to room temperature before using.

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz Tequlia el Espolon Blanco
  • ½ oz Cointreau
  • ¾ oz simple syrup
  • 1 ½ oz freshly squeezed lime juice
  • Ice
  • Served best in an 8oz rocks glass

Method:

  1. Rim rocks glass with lime juice & salt the rim generously.
  2. Combine all of the ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
  3. Shake well for 10 seconds and strain into rocks glass.
  4. Enjoy!
Notes:
  • We opt for Espolon’s tequila blanco as its crisp flavours lend well to the vibrancy of our freshly squeezed lime juice. That said, any tequila will suffice, and we encourage others to try the same recipe with richer, aged tequilas such as reposados or anejos.
  • Cointreau is our triple sec orange-flavoured liqueur of choice. It is a premium quality brand, much less sweet than Grand Marnier, thanks to the bitter orange peels infused into the liquor.
Dianne’s Mexican Street Corn

Dianne’s Fish Shack & Smokehouse

Just steps from the waterfront in downtown Kingston, Dianne’s is where a classic East Coast kitchen meets the flavours of Mexico! From fresh sustainable seafood choices, turf and tacos, this irresistible destination has made a name for itself and proud owner Tim Pater proves again that he truly has a flare for the restaurant industry in Kingston with his drive and passion.

For Cinco de Mayo, here are Dianne’s Mexican Street Corn (as seen on Food Network’s You Gotta Eat Here!) and Diablo Caesar recipes.

Mexican Street Corn

Four portions 

Ingredients:

  • 8 pieces freshly husked corn on the cob
  • 8 oz queso fresco, pulsed in a food processor until loosely crumbled
  • 1 tbsp Mexican-style chili powder
  • 2 jalapeno peppers, very thinly sliced crosswise; include some seeds
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise, preferably homemade, mixed throughout with the zest and juice of two limes
  • 2 tbsp roughly chopped cilantro leaves
  • 1 lime cut into 8 wedges
  • Sea salt / freshly ground pepper to taste

Method:

  1. Light BBQ and pre-heat to high with lid closed.
  2. When BBQ is hot, lay corn side by side on the grill and leave to cook until corn starts to “pop” and begins to char.
  3. Starting from one end on the line of corn, rotate each cob a quarter turn and allow charring to continue and corn to “pop” until corn is evenly charred all over. (Charring is good for depth of flavour; don’t be afraid of it.)
  4. When corn is evenly charred and cooked, place on a tray and spoon over a generous amount of lime mayonnaise; using tongs, rotate the corn to smother each cob completely from end to end with the mayonnaise.
  5. Place two cobs side by each on a serving plate and sprinkle liberally with queso; with a generous pinch of chili powder dust corn entirely, season to taste with sea salt and pepper, then garnish with several slices of jalapeno, chopped cilantro, and a lime wedge.
  6. Serve and enjoy!

Diablo Caesar

Prepare in Advance

Tomatillo Mix:

  • 2 litre Kitchens Tomatillo Salsa Mix
  • 1 big can of tomatillo
  • 4 tsp garlic powder
  • 4 tsp onion powder
  • 4 oz lime juice
  • 4 tsp horseradish
  • 4 cups water
  • 4 tsp green cholula

Method:

  1. Rim glass with salt.
  2. Add tequila.
  3. Add ice.
  4. Add Diablo mix.
  5. Garnish with deep fried shrimp.