December is an exciting month to shop downtown. Businesses are bustling with rosy-cheeked shoppers, lights and decorations twinkle above you in the dusk, and holiday music is spilling out onto the snow!
This December, one business is making it even more enticing to shop and support local businesses. Sherlock’s Escapes, an escape room company that offers three rooms for aspiring detectives at their 298 Bagot Street location, has secured gifts from more than 40 downtown businesses so they can offer prizes each day in December on their Facebook and Instagram pages!
“We wanted to get prizes together for each day that would appeal to a different audience,” said Claire Grady-Smith, Marketing Manager for Sherlock’s Escapes. “We love the diversity of businesses and business owners downtown, so we wanted to do something that brought the whole community together and enticed new shoppers to the city as well.”
This year, Sherlock’s Escapes owner Matthew Rothwell, had the idea of bringing in St. Lawrence College students to assist with the branding of the calendar. “Seven groups of students pitched their ideas to us,” explained Claire. “It was impressive to see what the students came up with, and it was not an easy choice!”
The winning group includes Erin Smith, John Charlton, and Laura Lewis. They created a beautiful Victorian Christmas concept, right on brand with the refined graphics of Sherlock’s Escapes. Look for their videos on Facebook and Instagram, and posters in businesses’ windows all throughout December.
Below is a sneak peek of the prizes that will be up for grabs.
Day 1: Salon 296
Day one of their annual advent calendar is a gift pack from Salon 296 that includes a $50 gift certificate for services and a Pureology Hair Care package worth $50. Both would make great gifts. All you have to do is like and comment on that day’s post to be entered to win!
Day five of the calendar is a whopper from The Rocking Horse. Two sets of How To Train Your Dragon Lego sets, valued at $50 each, will go to a couple of lucky kids this year.
Day thirteen is $50 at the Pig & Olive – a great prize to help with a holiday dinner. This prize is paired with a Olivent Calendar from the Kingston Olive Oil Company, which has 25 different infused premium olive oils to try!
Over the last few years, Kingston sisters have ran their way to cross country provincial and national championship honours and have represented Canada on the international stage.
The MacDougall sisters, Branna, 21 and Brogan, 19, have accomplished some of those championships on home soil, the popular cross country course adjacent to Fort Henry, and doing it for Queen’s, their home town university.
At the USports cross country national championships on Nov. 9 at Fort Henry Branna finished third in the race with Brogan coming in a close fifth. Their performance, along with high finishes by teammates Marley Beckett, Tori Bouck and Kara Blair earned the Queen’s Gaels only 53 points (adding up the top five finishers results) in the women’s race which in cross country running lower is better and good for first place over the Guelph Gryphons and Laval Rouge.
In 2018, also at Fort Henry, Brogan, a USports rookie, won the women’s race wire to wire and jogged across the finish line with a big smile on her face as hundreds of local cross country fans cheered. Branna finished ninth in that race while nursing an injury contributing to a Queen’s second place finish behind Laval.
Branna, a third year engineering student at Queen’s, has an extensive running resume including other high finishes and titles.
In 2017, Branna won the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) title and was third at the USports championship. In 2018, Branna also finished second at the OUA championship behind her sister. Brogan, a second-year applied science student, also has an lengthy championship record before attending Queen’s including a pair of national junior championships while with the local Physi-Kult running club where Branna is also a member.
In separate interviews, Branna and Brogan talk about their love for cross country running and what it’s like to run the Fort Henry course in front of a home crowd.
How did you get into cross country?
Branna: “I was just this weirdly competitive kid and I always wanted to win and be the best. I like how running is dependent on you and I really like the competitiveness of it and that really drew me in. Every time I ran I really liked being alone and I liked the solitude about it. The more and more I did it the more I liked it.”
Brogan: “I really enjoy the purity of cross country. On the track, everything is time-oriented which can be very draining since you’re worrying about your splits every 400 metres. Cross country it’s just you battling your competitors and the elements. Time becomes irrelevant because the weather is poor and the conditions on every course are different.”
The Queen’s Gaels womens cross country team celebrates their USports victory at Fort Henry on Saturday Nov. 9, 2019.
Although cross country is an individual sport but at the USports level there’s a lot made of the team aspect of it. Do you like that?
Branna: “For me the individual part is the more important part but the team is a close second to that. You foster these really special relationships because you all love running. With my running friends I connect really well with them so you have this special relationship and you want to do well because they’re your best friends.”
Brogan: “In the past, I’ve always thought of cross country being an individual sport. This year, however, I got a new appreciation for team-orientated goals. I was injured going into the championship race and if I had been running for myself I wouldn’t have attempted to run USports. Since our team goal this year was so important to us all, I put aside my personal goals and ran so our team accomplish what we wanted to do.”
Queen’s Gaels, from left Marley Beckett, Brogan and Branna McDougall and Tori Bouck at the finish line when they realized Queen’s would win the women’s team championship at the USports Cross-Country championship at Fort Henry on Saturday November 9, 2019 / Ian MacAlpine
What do you like about running the Fort Henry course?
Branna: “It’s really fun, there’s a certain level of comfort to it. It’s my home course that I’ve run on so many times is a kind of feeling like you’re at home, that place is kind of a second home for me. It’s a comforting feeling knowing every turn, every blade of grass and to know what parts of the course really hurt and parts I can get going on.”
Brogan: “I love everything about Fort Henry. Its weather is always brutal, the course is always muddy and the course itself grinds you up, but that adds so much more fun to the race. Clive Morgan and the Physi-Kult team have done an incredible job hosting championships there for the past six years, I know a lot of runners, including myself, are going to miss running there.”
What kind of support from the Kingston community have you had?
Branna: “The main support I have is through my club Physi-Kult. The club is headed by Steve Boyd and Clive Morgan, all the masters athletes and all the other high school athletes who have gone through it that was my saving grace growing up and that’s where I feel I’ve been most supported.”
Brogan: I know a lot of people were out there cheering us on Saturday Nov. 9 which is always amazing to see. I had an experience a few days later, where I was seeing the doctor and was explaining to a nurse how our team had just won USports and a man waiting to see the doctor began cheering. It was interesting to see that the support in the Kingston community runs a lot deeper than we realize a lot of the time.”
If you were to list a family-run business in Kingston, Pam’s Flower Garden may come to mind. Established in 1962 by their parents John and Mary, the family slowly transformed what was once a Beer Store into the refreshing and welcoming space it is today. We sat down with current owners, Jeff and Pam, to chat about the shop that has now been open for a half-century.
Pam and Jeff always had strong ties to Kingston – in fact, they were only two and five years old when their parents established the business.
When asked about her roots, Pam explains, “After I went to University, I was a teacher for a number of years. I was always involved in the business one way or another so I decided to come back full time.”
In the past few years, Pam’s Flower Garden embraced the trend of sourcing local – and working with product grown in their garden always inspires their designers.
“When we get a load of flowers in for processing, everybody will draw inspiration from them and start to create. It’s not necessarily that we have a plan in mind, but when you see the raw product in front of you, you’ll start to combine different elements that work together until you have the final arrangement,” Pam explains.
The shop also embraces each designer’s individuality and style.
“Every single designer has a style and we encourage them to explore. In bigger cities, some shops expect cookie-cutter arrangements. Whereas here, everybody has a slightly different take on a piece and a special forte. It’s one of our strongpoints – we have a good mix of designers with tons of experience.”
Jeff, who handles the purchasing side of plants, shares his process, “Throughout the year, I’ll go to different shows around the USA and Canada looking for product. I’ll look for designs that are on trend, things nobody has, or plants that you can’t find anywhere else. Plants are very on-trend right now. People want to connect with nature – so this is a way to bring the outdoors in.”
With a fine attention to detail Pam’s Flower Garden caters to a range of events. From weddings, dinners, convocation and everything in between – they even decorated Elton John’s dressing room twice!
When asked about their favourite functions Pam shares, “I love weddings – hands down. Any events at the Tett Centre, Renaissance Event Venue, or waterfront hotels are beautiful. We love collaborating with event organizers and tying in their colour palettes into arrangements.”
The shop also creates arrangements for special events at Queen’s University – decorating unique and historic venues like the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts or buildings on campus. High vaulted ceilings, exposed limestone walls, and the lively energy from students always provides inspiration to them.
“I love student-driven events at Queen’s University. Special occasions like Convocation, class reunions, and homecomings are fantastic. Being around the students is so refreshing and lively,” Jeff says.
When asked to describe the store in a phrase Pam explains, “It’s refreshing! I think plants and flowers make people happy. We’re located by office buildings and we’ll always get regulars coming in during their lunch breaks. It’s a great way to relax and refresh yourself.”
The most important aspect of running a successful business are the team members – and Pam’s Flower Garden is no exception.
“One thing people should know is that our staff are genuinely happy to be here. We have people who have been dedicated to the shop for more than 30 years (even if they just come back part time for the holidays). We try really hard with our customer service and welcome each person who comes through our doors. We want to make sure everybody is happy with what they purchase.”
Chien Noir’s executive chef, Rory, has always been passionate about the culinary arts. In fact, he’s never had a job in his life that did not revolve around food. Whether it be working on a farm, in an apple orchard, or at a grocery store, Rory’s path would ultimately lead him to Chien Noir. We sat down with Rory to chat about what brought him to Kingston, new flavours customers should expect, and his love for the culinary industry.
1. What brought you to Kingston?
St. Lawrence College brought me to Kingston. I graduated from the Culinary Management program in 2013 then moved out to Gananoque and worked at Riva Restaurant. After working there for five years, I moved back to Kingston. I popped by Chien Noir because I had a few friends who were working here at the time and I’ve been here ever since.
Kingston is so intriguing. The history and culture of the city is something that I find interesting. Even this building where Chien Noir is situated is jam-packed with history. I also grew up by the water so being close to the lake is always nice.
3. What’s your favourite part about working at Chien Noir?
My favourite part is probably the creative freedom and being able to source things from local farmers. I’ve even had a few opportunities to work with local farmers to grow things specifically for the restaurant. I came from a very agriculture-based workplace, but at the same time it wasn’t very “foodie” – just because they were growing all the produce didn’t mean they were adventurous about cooking. I feel like Kingstonians embrace the culinary scene, which is great. It’s nice being able to express my creativity with such fantastic products.
4. What drew you into the culinary arts?
When I was 16, I got a job in Toronto working at a restaurant by chef Jamie Kennedy. Just seeing people’s passion and how much drive it took – people would literally pore their every last ounce of strength into working. It just seemed like something fun. Something crazy, but fun.
5. What advice would you give to students pursuing the culinary arts?
Work hard and try to be as creative as you possibly can. Explore as many opportunities you can and try not to get stifled. That’s the one thing I think I’ve regretted in my life – I’ve only probably worked at six or seven restaurants and stayed in each one for about four or five years at a time. I got to experience everything the restaurant had to offer, but at the same time, it has somewhat limited me in what I’ve experienced.
For Chien Noir, I try to stick to French bistro classics. Say you want to do a dish, but put a certain spin on it. You can combine different ideas. Start with two or three classical preparations and stick to the bare bones of French cooking. From there, you can branch out to different ingredients that will pair well with traditional ones. Not to keep things super traditional, but to make it playfully traditional.
7. What can people expect from the Chien Noir team?
They should expect a lot of creativity and finesse on their plates. A lot of bold flavours that they maybe haven’t seen before. We’re trying to branch out from what we’ve done in the past and brighten things up a little bit. French bistro food is traditionally heavy and rich – it’s not exactly what everyone wants in this day and age. People are moving towards a lot lighter food. We’re trying to freshen things up.
8. Do you have a new favourite dish that people HAVE to try?
I actually do! My favourite thing to eat is pork, so we have a double cut heritage berkshire pork chop on the menu. The dish has a honey-almond crust and fondant mini potatoes on the side. I’m pretty happy with how this dish turned out.
Kingston’s shopping scene is one of the hidden gems of the Limestone Capital and a discerning shopaholic’s paradise. As a shopping-enthusiast myself (which, my wallet may tell you, is a gross understatement), some of my favourite days in Kingston have been spent strolling along the cobblestone streets and seeing what’s new in the city’s many adorable shops. From clothes to obscure board games and Instagram-worthy jewellery — you can find it all.
Of course, you have to know where to look, so I’ve curated a list of some of my favourite stores for you to enjoy the next time you find yourself on a shopping spree.
The moment you step into this plant haven you get an instant sense of calm; it’s hard not to with indoor plants of all varieties surrounding you. Owner Melody Morrison can give you all the advice you need to decide what kind of plant is best for you (from cat owners to people who can only handle low-maintenance plants) so you can get your green thumb on. Even better, there’s an array of unique accessories, from pots to hanging holders — think of it like the curated collection of your dream Etsy store in real life.
Morrison’s thoughts on choosing downtown Kingston for her jungle? In an interview with Keep Up With Kingston, she said, “it’s the one downtown that I’ve come across that I saw was thriving rather than letting the box stores take over.”
Every shopper has a weakness and mine just happens to be shoes. Heeled boots, flats, boots with studs, sneakers, even a daring strappy heel — I’m a sucker for them all. Heel Boy is my go-to spot for a new pair of fabulous shoes and I never feel guilty shopping there. They’re an independently owned and operated female-run boutique (can I get an amen?) that supports fellow small Canadian businesses. If you’re sick of cookie-cutter shoe stores head here for unique finds.
Some favourite Canadian brands of Sarah McLean from the Heel Boy team: “Eleven Thirtyand Brave Leather, which are both designed and crafted in Toronto, Carmody, which is a luxury alpaca line from right here in Kingston, and David Tyler, which is designed in Montreal and produced in Europe.”
Phase 2 is the go-to shop in Kingston to find unique pieces, from Halloween costumes and ugly Christmas sweaters to cozy flannels and new uniforms. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the sheer volume of recycled clothing at this family-owned business, so a little more browsing is required to find that perfect outfit. But that just makes it all the more satisfying.
Insider tip: They carry a lot of professional wear for both men and women, so if you don’t feel like dropping hundreds on your work wardrobe, swing by.
Even though, as a woman, I have no personal need for this store, it had to make my list. Men, if you’re looking for an efficient, quality shopping experience, UNDR has your back. They describe themselves as a one-stop-shop for men, carrying 35 brands with products including underwear, socks, loungewear, robes, skin and beard care, and luxurious shaving products.
Go here for: Funky patterns, cheeky prints, bright colours, and amazing staff.
Minotaur sits as a beacon of fun, creativity, and community on Princess Street, beckoning all with curious minds to enter. The shop itself is stunning; a huge exposed brick room filled with nostalgic and trendy games. Owners Justine Scala and Michael White have a passion for engaging with their customers and it shines through the unique products they carry. They find their quirky offerings of toys, puzzles, art supplies and playful greeting cards from more than 100 suppliers.
Drop by: On Thursday and Sunday for free game nights 5–9 pm, or any time to get a game recommendation from the staff!
Sterling, at its core, is an “independent project of authenticity and character.” The owner, Chris Saasto, encourages customers to browse the collections of affordable fine silver jewelry in a non-judgmental environment. Take your time in this bright store as you browse each unique collection, from timeless classics to bold pieces and everything in between.
Go here to: Get your layering game on! A tip from the store, “…whether it be on the neckline or the ear, [layering] is a fun, hyper-personalized way to make a statement.”
It’s a Kingston-heavy list this month, featuring Kasador, Oakridge Ave., The Mahones, and five other hometown favourites. Halifax pop artist Ria Mae is here, too, as is Long Island-born Lee Rocker, the double bass virtuoso of The Stray Cats. Plus it’s the holiday season, so there are a few special festive shows as well.
Concert pianist Avan Yuhas been taking the country and the world by storm since the age of 14 when he debuted with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. He went on to win numerous national and international competitions, play at Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House, and collaborate with the likes of Pinchas Zukerman and Yo-Yo Ma. In Kingston, he’ll perform Rachmaninoff’s first piano concerto. The Kingston Symphony will be there as well, performing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4.
Based in Ottawa, this trio of artistsis one of the few groups out there committed to the Franco-Ontarian folk tradition. As bass guitarist Martin Rocheleau has said, “We are trying to recreate the kitchen parties of our great-grandparents.” They started doing that with violins, fiddles, and acoustic guitars, but have since added electric guitar, drums, banjo, and mandolin. Taken together, that translates to live shows with a whole lot of wild, infectious energy.
Halifax pop singer-songwriter Ria Maeis touring Canada this fall supporting her third EP, “Stars.” It’s a follow-up to her Juno-nominated album “My Love,” whose first single, “Bend,” hit number one on the CBC Radio 2 charts for four weeks and landed in the top 15 of three Canadian radio charts. Ria will be joined by Canadian singer-songwriter Dan Talevski, who collaborated on the “Stars” single “Too Close.”
These two up-and-coming Kingston alt-rock bands will share the stage for this special hometown show. Oakridge Ave. (pictured) is a three-piece band formed in 2013 and whose tight, indie sound is influenced by bands like Bahamas, The Weakerthans, and Lowest of the Low. Six-piece Kiss the Fishwon Queen’s famous Clark Hall Battle of the Bands last year with their catchy blend of old-school blues, classic rock, and alternative. No doubt this show will give you a good sense of where the young Kingston rock scene is at right now.
You may know Lee Rockeras the guy who played the giant upright bass with The Stray Cats, an American rockabilly band that sold over 10 million albums and had 23 gold and platinum-certified records worldwide. Now, though, he is out on his own, still with the big bass and still bringing a ton of energy with his band that plays old Stray Cats hits like “Sexy and Seventeen” and “Rock this Town,” as well others Rocker has performed with legends like Ringo Starr, George Harrison, and The Rolling Stones.
Formed on St. Patrick’s Day in 1990 in Kingston, this Irish punk outfithas released 13 studio albums, toured 35-plus countries, and shared the stage with Dropkick Murphys, Billy Bragg, Sinead O’Connor, Van Morrison, and many other legendary artists. You may have heard some of their songs in a variety of movies, including The Fighter. Toronto power-pop artist Taylor Knoxwill open the show.
This somewhat new Kingston rock triois Kevin Bowers (guitar, vocals), Adam Hodge (bass, backing vocals), and Bonz Bowering (drums). Their sound isn’t easy to pin down, but they describe it as “dreamy Canadiana fashioned from America’s psychedelic coast that has some dark overtones from weird and swampy Louisiana bayous. It is pop music about bewilderment and joy that has just enough candy sheen to cover its own muddy tracks.”
Another new Kingston trio, Anthea and The Feaver Dreamsplays originals and covers ranging from folk to pop to new wave on the third Sunday of every month at Musiikki. Anthea Feaver’s finger-picking guitar stylings have their roots in the music of Dave van Ronk, Maybelle Carter, and Doc Watson, while Grace Dixon (piano) says her songwriting inspirations include Jonathan Cain, Paul Simon, and a variety of new wave artists. Haley Sarfeld picked up the upright bass in middle school and recently added the bass guitar to her repertoire.
Started as a class project while Nick Adams and Taes Leavitt were at Queen’s, Splash’N Bootshas become one of the most successful children’s acts in Canada. Between 2014 and 2018 alone, they received five consecutive Juno nominations for Children’s Album of the Year. At this special holiday show, called “Jingle Boots – The Big Heart Holiday Show,” they encourage you to dress up in your favourite festive attire.
Born out of Queen’s house parties in 2015, Kasadorhas become one of the hardest-working Canadian alt-rock bands going. In one two-year stint, for example, they played almost 200 shows. Those shows are all about high energy, which Will Hunter and Cam Wyatt bring with their duelling vocals and dynamic guitars, and Boris Baker (bass) and Stephen Adubofuor (drums) add to with their rock and funk roots. The band’s newest album, “Brood & Bloom”, was produced in part by Graham Walsh of Holy F*ck, and Rob Baker and Gord Sinclair of The Tragically Hip.
Tickets: $15
Cantabile Choirs
Friday, December 20, 2019, 7:30 pm + Saturday, December 21, 2019, 2 pm and 7:30 pm
Kingston’s famous Cantabilehas grown to include eight choirs and over 300 voices. Their annual holiday concerts — called “Wings of Angels” — have become a tradition for many Kingstonians over the years. Featuring traditional carols, winter songs, and world music, these shows are a great way to get into the holiday spirit. The matinee performance includes two of Cantabile’s youngest choirs and is a more lighthearted concert suited for young families. The evening performance is enhanced by candlelight.
If you’re any fan of country music, this is your New Year’s Eve ticket. The headliner will be Stirling, Ontario’s Rob Donaldson Band(pictured), who brand themselves as “new age honky-tonk” and are fresh off of finishing in the finals of the Next Country Music Star competition at the Havelock Jamboree. Local boy Jordy Jacksonwill be there too, playing a rocking set of covers and originals. The opener will be local up-and-comer Courtney Kane, who covers artists like Terri Clarke, Meghan Patrick, Maddie and Tae, and Dolly Parton.
Kingston Live is a monthly podcast that offers up behind-the-scenes insight into the Kingston music scene. If you’re looking to learn more about the city’s emerging artists and where to see them play live, you’ll find it here! If you’re a resident music lover or visitor looking for the inside scoop on Kingston’s local music scene, it’s a perfect fit for you, too.
Johnny and Riley start the episode with 18-year-old Abby Stewart who was recently featured in the YGK Emerging Artists as one of the six finalists (you can learn more about that competition in the ninth podcast). Then they sit down with the members of the Albert Street Crew – Lucas, Ryan, Dan and Phil. They are considered trailblazers in the category of Kingston House Concerts – if you’re not familiar – you’ll find out why in their interview. The podcast closes with a chat with Dan Mangan, a two-time JUNO award-winning and two-time Polaris Music Prize listed musician and songwriter. Dan has a show coming up at the Grand Theatre with Ocean Potion on November 25, 2019.
Abby Stewartshares her experience as a country music singer, how Taylor Swift influenced her to pick that genre, and what she loves about country music. The three discuss the evolution of country music and how it’s more pop-friendly but also keeps its roots in a traditional band format. Abby also discusses her experience of writing in Nashville and what makes it such an amazing city for music lovers. As a young musician, she also addresses how she gets around performing in bars – note, churches! “As much as I would love to have a Shania Twain story, my parents would never let me sing in bars when I was 10, so… (laughs).” If you’re underage, Abby gives tips for young music lovers to appreciate local artists in Kingston. They cover so much more from what’s next for Abby to her favourite country music festivals, plus listeners are treated to a beautiful performance.
Lucas, Ryan, Dan and Phil filled a live music void in Kingston by offering up their student house on Albert Street to performers. They hosted bands like Craig Cardiff, Ill Scarlett, HIGHS, Zeus, Half Moon Run, Teenage Kicks, Busty & The Bass, Hollerado, and PUP. They share how they got started, how the shows escalated over time, the hurdles that they overcame (ie, avoiding police intervention), and how the intimacy of a house show elevates the concert-going experience.
Mid-show, Johnny and Riley follow the tradition of listing every show worth attending in the Kingston area from now through December.
Lastly, Johnny and Riley Skype with Dan Mangan. In addition to five studio albums, he’s written music for multiple films and TV series and contributed articles to several international publications. He recently started Side Door, an online platform to facilitate booking small shows in alternative venues and connect hosts with musicians looking to play. Dan discusses why he started the project which launched in February, which he refers to as “An Airbnb for gigs.” Dan explains, “The metrics of touring is hard and this platform allows for any sort of artists to connect in intimate spaces with people in various communities. Not just in major cities.” Dan shares his unique perspective as the co-creator of the site as well as a performer using the technology. To tie in perfectly with their interview with the Albert Street podcast earlier in the podcast, Dan compares his experience of performing in venues like The Grand to performing in more intimate spaces like house parties.
Cycling for 73-year-old Patrick Lynch has been a life-long pursuit of happiness.
The retired Kingston psychologist has been cycling for much of his life and now into his seventh decade shows no signs of slowing down on his bicycle or anywhere else.
In September, Lynch took a solo ride from Kingston to Charleston, South Carolina, a distance of just over 2,000 kilometres over 35 days during some record autumn heat. In the ride, he also climbed and descended over 10,000 feet through seven states.
He’s done many solo rides in the past and enjoys them.
“I loaded up my bike and away I went,” he said. “I’ve been doing solo bike trips since about 1987,” he said. “I found it was a neat thing to do.”
Lynch who cycled four to five hours per day on the trip said a cyclist just has to be in good shape to accomplish the one-way trip.
“You just have to be used to a little regular exercise,” he said.
Lynch enjoys the solitude of a solo ride.
“You’re kind of getting into a meditative state and it’s really nice and relaxing,” he said. “And of course you never have any disagreements with your travel mates.”
The only problem is the discomfort from his bike seat. ”There’s no such thing as a great saddle.”
Lynch learned to cycle at the age of 10 in his native Ireland and after arriving in Canada at age 20 he gave up cycling for a while.
“When I first came to Canada I hardly cycled at all for 10 years because I was just too busy scrambling to get established and then afterwards I took it up again and got into it pretty thoroughly.”
He lived in Vancouver for 11 years, spent a year travelling when he married his wife Ann and then lived in New Brunswick for his Masters degree then to Queen’s for six years while earning his PhD.
He worked for the Limestone District School Board for 15 years until 2000 then another 15 years in private practice.
He and Ann have taken cycling trips together around Ireland and Florida among other places. Lynch said his wife prefers to stay in motels at night on cycling trips while he prefers camping.
Closer to home Lynch is an avid member of the local cycling club.
“The (Kingston) Velo Club is a tremendous organization, really encouraging people to join and has all kinds of levels for people to feel at home and not too intimidated, not feeling like they’re holding the group back,” he said. “The social aspect of the club is pretty good too.”
The club supports local cyclists and among other services provides maps for cycling trips around Kingston and the surrounding countryside as well as arranges group rides for people of various skill and endurance levels.
Lynch said the City of Kingston supports cycling but could do more.
“Many places in the city if you want to get there you pretty much have to take your life in your own hands.”
He said a cycling trip along outer Princess Street is quite dangerous due to no designated bike lanes.
“You’re depending on every single motorist passing you to notice and take appropriate action,” he said. “Those places that have a hard shoulder marked off by a white line are gold.”
Lynch joked that he could cycle for another 73 years.
‘Things are more conducive now for good health in older adulthood so I think I have another 30 years in me.”
One of the greatest benefits of cycling is working off your tensions, he said. “Where ever you go you can work out your aggravations on the pedals and everything you encounter then is good.”
For more information on Lynch’s trip or the Kingston Velo Club go to www.Kingstonveloclub.ca then go to Cycling News, KVC Blog and My Riding Tours.
First and foremost, I am an artist. I feel at home near the water whether I’m in a sailboat on Lake Ontario or taking in the nuances of yacht basins, boat and shipyards, and dry docks. Along with a passion for the history of Kingston, this is a place I love calling home. Kingston makes me inspired to share its stories and magic with visitors and let them see for themselves the ways in which history, innovation, and its rich cultural life thrive.
Here are my top ten favourite things in Kingston.
1. Inner Harbour and Drydock
4 Cataraqui Street
Here you’ll find the Woolen Mill and MetalCraft Marine. A historical monument of Kingston, the Woolen Mill has stood intact on the city’s harbour front for over 130 years, and is now occupied by more than 40 local businesses. Metalcraft Marine designs and manufactures high speed patrol – fire and rescue boats – for customers all over the world. Remains of rustic old boats and machinery in this area conjure up images of Kingston’s industrial days and serve as perfect subjects for photographers and painters alike.
Much of Kingston’s public art is located along the waterfront and was installed for either the city’s 300th anniversary in 1973 or when the city hosted the summer Olympics’ sailing competition in 1976. A story circulates that the two protruding aluminum shafts of Kosso Eloul’s “Time” sculpture are slowly moving together and will eventually touch. That’s not true: it’s an urban legend. “Pollution,” by Yves Cozin, is the arrangement of tubes in Macdonald Park once painted in 1975 as a protest against them to look like Coke and 7-Up cans. There’s lots more to see and learn as you take in our beautiful waterfront walkways.
McBurney Park, better known as Skeleton Park, started as the Upper Burial Ground in 1819. It has a grim yet fascinating history. Cholera, diphtheria, and typhus were rampant in the early 1800s and the diseases are the suspected cause of death for many buried there. Basically the graves are unmarked. Archaeological investigations have shown that the graves are often multiple graves. The cemetery was closed in 1864 after reaching capacity. After the closure, there was no maintenance on the site and the area fell into disrepair. Now the park is popular for residents, as a venue for festivals, and also for those eager for historical or paranormal stories.
Martello towers, sometimes known simply as Martellos, are small defensive forts that were built across the British Empire during the 19th century from the time of the French Revolutionary Wars onwards. British were so impressed by the resistance of the Torra di Mortella in 1794 that they decided to build their own versions for defence. But the British misspelled Mortella (myrtle in English) and spelled it Martello (hammer). They just ignored their mistake and the name stuck. Kingston Ontario boasts four Martello Towers. They are Murney Tower, Shoal Tower, Cathcart Tower, and Fort Frederick Tower.
This beautiful unspoiled conservation area boasts a wetlands, marsh, dunes, and a beach with soft, light-coloured sand approximately three kilometers long. When you’re there you can almost imagine you are on a secluded island in the Caribbean. The only thing missing are palm trees!
Travel back in time to a heritage waterway and lock system. The original blockhouse is located in a beautiful park setting where pleasure craft pass through an historic lock system, making this a perfect spot for boaters and landlubbers alike.
Throughout the downtown you can find these little treasures hiding in plain sight on buildings, along the streets, in the walls, and up above and in alleyways. Be on the lookout for copper versions of a grasshopper, a gargoyle, a beaver, and clothes on a clothesline hanging overhead.
Kingston boasts beautiful heritage buildings and most of them are bunched in districts: Portsmouth, Sydenham, and Barriefield. Portsmouth, where I grew up, has strong ties to the Kingston Penitentiary as well as early brewery and maritime history in Kingston. Sydenham district was the home of many of Kingston’s political and business elite, and they made sure that their homes reflected their statuses. Barriefield, with its proximity to Fort Henry, was tied to the military. Several taverns located in the village served the military population.
Kingston is a city of alleys and there are dozens of them downtown. So far, four have been repurposed: two are restaurants, one is an antique store, and the latest to be transformed is my favourite (of course): my project, Martello Alley. Starting in July 2015, and over four months, this neglected alley was turned into a French-themed “fishing village” leading to a charming courtyard and indoor gallery open all year round. All of Kingston’s alleys are so unique and are Kingston’s hidden gems. I wonder which alley is the next to be transformed in to a hidden gem.
Kingston’s theme song: The Tragically Hip’s Small Town Bringdown. It’s a great song: the first big hit for The Hip and the video features such iconic shots of our town.
We’ll say it. Winter is the most wonderful time of the year, especially with a list as hot as this! Shop ’til you drop at holiday craft shows and markets, ring in the New Year with the city, have fun at the annual Feb Fest, and celebrate the return of curling to Kingston with the 2020 Tim Horton’s Brier, plus so much more.
Do you have a Kingston event you’d like featured on our monthly list? Add it to our events calendar for consideration!
Click each image for more event information.
1. Winterlight MacLachlan — November 30, 2019
2. Fat Goose Craft Fair — December 1, 2019
3. Small Works Kingston Exhibition — December 1–7, 2019
4. Artfest Kingston: Christmas Art & Craft Show — Dec 7 & 8, 2019
5. Ian Walsh Photography Contest: Made in Kingston — Submissions accepted until December 31, 2019
6. Snow Much Fun — December 6, 2019
7. All Aboard for the Holidays — December 7 + 8, 2019
8. Santa in the Square — Saturdays in December
9. Candlelight Christmas — December 16–18, 2019
10. Kingston Holiday Market — Every weekend until December 22, 2019
11. K-Town Countdown — December 31st, 2019
12. Cross Country Skiing Lessons — January 5–February 23, 2020
13. Meet the Maker: Wine and Dinner Series — January 24, 2020
14. Feb Fest — On all February
15. Cabin Fever: Kingston’s Winter Antique Show — February 1–2, 2020
16. ReelOut Queer Film Festival Various Locations February 1–10, 2020
17. TedXQueensU — January 26, 2020
18. Carr-Harris Cup — February 6, 2020
19. Catch a Kingston Frontenacs Game — Various Days
20. Old Dominion Live — February 20, 2020
21. Tim Horton’s Brier — February 29–March 8, 2020
22. Classic Kingston Food Tour — Various Days
23. Kingston Canadian Film Festival — March 11–15, 2020
Sport events in Kingston don’t slow down as the weather gets colder! From hockey and ice dancing to cross country championships, you’ll find Kingston being an active sport city year-round. Below are the top 5 sport events to add to your winter itinerary.
After previously hosting the U SPORTS cross country championships in 2009 and 2018, U SPORTS will return to Kingston for the 2019 championships. Hosted by Queen’s University, the course consists of rolling hills, scenic views of the St. Lawrence River, and loops around historic Fort Henry. Spectators are free to attend this championship that dates back to 1963.
Now in their 12th season, Relm Sports offers a variety of innovative and competitive tournaments for all ages. Each year, they host nearly 400 teams travelling from Canada, USA, Europe, Russia and Asia. This High School Hockey Showcase tournament focuses on the student athlete’s skills development and each team is guaranteed at least three games.
The good ol’hockey game is the best game you can name! This annual House League Christmas Tournament is held in partnership with The Church Athletic League and the Fort Henry Heights Minor Hockey Association. Over four days, there will be up to 12 teams in five divisions. The best part: there’s no admission charge for spectators!
Get into the winter spirit and cheer on our local hockey team, the Kingston Frontenacs! Visiting Kingston to watch your home team play? Stay at a Diamond Hotel Property to redeem an exclusive package including accommodations, four tickets to a Kingston Frontenacs game, a Kingston Frontenacs toque, Leon’s Centre concession vouchers and rates. View packages here.
5. Rock the Rink Tour – featuring Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue
November 3, 2019 Leon’s Centre
Tessa Virtue, Scott Moir, Patrick Chan, Kaetlyn Osmond, and Elvis Stojko finally return to Kingston! Last year, the iconic skaters wowed the Leon’s Centre crowd with their Thank You Canada Tour. This year, the Canadian greats will be bringing Rock the Rink to Kingston on Sunday, November 3rd, 2019. This tour will be your last chance to see Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir perform together as the iconic pair announced their retirement from the sport in September.
Kingston’s Aaliyah Edwards’ speedy development as a basketball player has given the 17-year-old a chance to play for her country at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Edwards is a six-foot-three forward and the youngest player on the current senior women’s Team Canada. She just finished playing in the AmeriCup basketball tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico featuring the top 10 teams in North, Central and South America.
Edwards is a grade 12 student Crestwood Preparatory College in North York but hasn’t attended classes yet this school year due to her basketball schedule. Last season she led her team to an undefeated season and the Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario Athletic Association championship. She played for the Frontenac Falcons (FSS) and Kingston Impact before joining Crestwood.
Edwards played in all four round-robin tournament games at the AmeriCup as well as the semi-final game against Brazil, all Canada wins, and was selected Team Canada’s top performer in the 67-46 gold medal game loss to the United States on September 29.
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
In the U.S. game Edwards scored nine points including a three-point basket in 18:41 of playing time, had three rebounds and four steals.
She’s the first Kingston women’s basketball player on Canada’s senior team since Andrea Blackwell, who was a member from 1979 to 1996. Blackwell competed for Canada in the 1984 and 1996 Olympics and played in four world championships.
She’s the only high school-aged player on the 12-member Team Canada joining teammates who play in the WNBA, NCAA and on European professional club teams.
She has been on the Basketball Canada’s radar for some time playing for the U16 and U17 teams in three international tournaments over the past two summers.
In the six games in Puerto Rico Edwards scored 36 points including two three-point baskets and went 10 for 12 from the free throw line. She also brought down 15 rebounds and had seven steals.
“I had a blast,” Edwards said via email as she prepared to board a flight home on September 30. “My coaches and teammates were amazing. The support received from my former teammates and coaches at FSS, from my coach and teachers at Crestwood and from folks all across the country made a tremendous difference. I love competing for my country and hope to do so again in the next rounds of qualifying.”
Aaliyah Edwards of Kingston in action for Team Canada against The Dominican Republic at the AmeriCup Basketball Tournament in San Juan Puerto Rico on Thursday September 26, 2019 FIBA Photo
The next step of the Olympic qualifying process Canada is hosting a tournament in Edmonton coming up in November.
Edwards has to wait to receive an invitation to that tournament and said she doesn’t want to get ahead of herself thinking of playing in the Olympics.
“Honestly my focus is just being here in this moment but of course an opportunity to represent Canada at the highest level of competition such as the Olympics would be incredible,” she said. “One step at a time though.”
If Team Canada finishes in the top four in Edmonton they’ll qualify for one of the four global FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2020, taking place in February. Canada, with a top-three finish out of the four Americas teams will qualify them for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games.
Currently, Canada is ranked fifth in the world and in the Americas only the United States is ranked higher than Canada.
As well last February, Edwards was invited to participate in the National Basketball Association sponsored Basketball Without Borders Global Camp in Charlotte, N.C. She was one of two Canadians and 63 girls and boys her age invited to the camp and selected the most valuable player in the girls division.
Aaliyah Edwards of Kingston in action for Team Canada against Cuba at the AmeriCup Basketball Tournament in San Juan Puerto Rico on Monday September 23, 2019 FIBA Photo
Earlier this summer she attended Team Canada’s senior women’s training camp in Edmonton and made the team to travel in June to play in a five game exhibition tour to Belgium and England.
In July she competed with the women’s’ U19 team at the FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup held in Thailand before having a few weeks to train at home in Kingston before heading back to Edmonton to try out again for the team that went to Puerto Rico.
“Every time I step on the court whether practice or game day is all about expanding my knowledge,” she said. “There is always something to learn and I’m all about that. Student of the game for life.”
“I’ve actually received a lot of love from my past teammates and coaches in Kingston since it was announced that I was selected for the team,” Edwards said. “I’m locked into the task at hand but really appreciate the love coming from my hometown.”
Aaliyah Edwards of Kingston in cheers on the Team Canada bench against the Dominican Republic at the AmeriCup Basketball Tournament in San Juan Puerto Rico on Thursday September 26, 2019 FIBA Photo
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