Kingston Free Press Vol I No 2

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T H E K I N G S T O N

F R E E P R E S S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Vol. I 0 ¢ No. 2 FRIDAY, APRIL 1ST, 2016

LOCALLY OWNED, INDEPENDENTLY OPERATED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Where history and innovation (could) thrive?

< Riana Zandra Colbert

This is the first in a suite of articles to be published in the

Kingston Free Press with the aim of exploring and presenting a

critical portrait of the city we all call home. We will explore

some of the established goals; successes and failures; and a few of

the many visions and challenges facing our maturing city. At the

heart of this venture is an interest in participating in and

continuing the dialogue about our community with our readers.

The municipality of the City of Kingston, guided by its

strategic plans certainly has its work cut out for it, as do we as

its constituents. While it is our responsibility to inform

ourselves and take part in a constructive effort to nurture our

city and see it grow into the home that we all want it to be, it is

often hard to navigate the many forums that exist to allow us to

do so. From volunteering for city run committees, to joining

together in neighbourhood associations and other community groups.

Many initiatives and associations are concerned with the

development and growth of the city where ‘history and innovation

thrive’. We will try to present a clear picture of these and the

issues they work to solve, as well as other issues of significance

in this series.

Kingston has seen many changes from its now distant streetcar

transit system, to the new KT buses, to its developing skyline. Its

industrial and commercial profile has developed extensively over

time, and its identity continues to reveal itself.

To start off this series with a bang, let's explore some of the

downtown area chatter. Over the course of a short informal survey

of Kingston residents from various backgrounds, we came across

many different concerns from issues relating to downtown and the

direction housing developments should take, to concerns about

encouraging local business development in downtown Kingston and

managing tourism. In recent years, the area has seen many

improvements. (CONT’D 2)

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L O C A L N E W S & O P I N I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(1 CONT’D) Some improvements to our downtown have been superficial

revitalization projects to beautify existing historical building

facades and street features. Other more substantial changes, like

the demolition of certain buildings and structures, and the

reinvention/revitalization of others to suit our more modern needs

have changed the look, feel and function of the downtown core.

Efforts are constantly being made to adhere to the city's

prevailing historical aesthetic while catering to the needs of its

evolving identity.

It's hard to miss the Big Dig that has been taking place on

Princess Street, and while this major upgrade to the downtown's

water, electrical and sewer infrastructure is difficult to navigate

at times, it is a necessary imposition on our downtown streets.

This activity has certainly been detrimental to some businesses in

the area of the excavation sites. Strong efforts have been made by

the Downtown Kingston Business Improvement Area association -

their website offers many ideas to assist business owners from a

marketing perspective to make the best of a bad situation. Despite

these efforts on behalf of many parties to development downtown,

the project has stirred up emotions all around with some believing

very strongly that there should have been more meaningful and

direct support provided to the businesses by the BIA or even the

province or municipality itself.

Another major bone of contention continues to be what some

call the 'commercial landlord racket'. The empty storefronts that

litter downtown streets are clearly indicative of something, but

what? A widely voiced perception among residents is that this is

due to numerous small business closures, due partly to increasing

commercial rental prices and a lack of meaningful entrepreneurial

and small business support or advocacy from agencies and

associations who profess to have an interest in the economic well-

being of the city. As well, the fact that commercial property

owners are eligible to receive tax rebates on vacant properties

does not sit well with many. It is indeed hard to see how this type

of policy would inspire a sense of urgency in keeping the

properties rented. Conversely, does it make sense that the

Corporation of the City of Kingston would acquiesce to revenue

losses of this nature entirely willingly? There is definitely more

at play here than is obvious at a glance. This is not often

discussed by the voices on the street, but these voices are our

voices and a well-considered response is owed. (CONT’D 3)

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A common sight in Kingston’s downtown? (Photo: Frank Cybulski)

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(2 CONT’D) In addition, growing concerns about housing, both rentals

and new builds, and the interests of condo and high-rise developers

- especially in the downtown core - are very much on everybody's

mind.

Obviously any discussion of this nature would be incomplete

without a thorough examination of the positions of each of the key

parties. In this story there are complex relationships between

agencies, the municipality and the province at play amongst a

background of economic roller-coaster-ing that makes for difficult

decision-making terrain. To criticize only select parties based on

emotional bias and incomplete analysis of the issues would be

irresponsible and unproductive so the groundwork for more

complete analysis has been laid.

A follow-up to this article will necessarily include hard

investigation and analysis and as sober reasoning as is possible in

order present a clearer picture. If anything is clear, it is that

this is a city experiencing growing pains. Still the city continues

to attract more and more attention to itself by virtue of its many

merits: the many accomplishments of its residents, its natural

beauty and history combine to shape the city we all live in.

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Misconceptions of poverty in government and society

< Katie McNeill

There are a great deal of misconceptions surrounding Ontario

Disability and welfare programs: many assume that they are

personally paying to support freeloaders, who are taking advantage

of a government funded luxury. As a woman who grew up on welfare

and eventually disability, I am extremely offended by the

ignorance of many Canadians over what they believe is a free ride.

In 2001, my mother and I were in a life altering car accident.

At the time, she had a well-paying, full time job at Bombardier

Transit. A single parent with one child, we lived in our house -

which she owned - and were a very active outgoing family unit.

When you become disabled you do not initially qualify for

ODSP, unless your disability is obvious - chronic back pain, or a

mental illness makes application difficult. In 2004, no longer able

to work through the pain, my mother was forced to sell her house

and spend the money from the sale before she could qualify for

welfare; she was also forced to pay down and cancel all lines of

credit, and our life insurance policies.

The transition from homeowner to homeless was shocking. After

spending our money paying high rents, our only prospect was

moving into a cheap motel. While living transitionally as guests

at separate houses, our case was accepted by housing - our

circumstances were considered dire. This is no longer the case; the

wait list is on average 4 years, regardless of your situation. In

2015 the number of families, couples, single adults, and seniors

waiting for geared-to-income housing is 168,711.

Many people don’t qualify for public housing, even though they

are on welfare or ODSP. Most lone person households receive

roughly $1,000-$1200 a month. If you’re unlucky and forced to live

in squalor, you are still looking at paying anywhere from $700-

$1,000 in rent, leaving very little financial room to feed

yourself, much less dig yourself out of poverty.

We were extremely fortunate to have moved into a townhouse.

My mother’s disability makes it hard for her to open fire safe

doors in apartments as they’re too heavy for her to lift of her

own. Many people don’t have a choice; neither do they get a choice

of how many bedrooms they have. Depending on the age and gender

of your children, you may have to fit four or five people in a

two-bedroom apartment. Many children in the north end of Kingston

sleep in their living rooms on couches. (CONT’D 5)

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(4 CONT’D) This new house still wasn’t a walk in the park. It had

been built during the late 1960’s and was filthy despite the paint

and wax job housing had done. A few families in the neighborhood

were bad eggs; I had never seen a SWAT team in full action until I

lived in the Heights. As a middle class family put below the

poverty line, it was hard to swallow.

Some are single parent households, many are employed full

time but can’t support themselves. Housing’s rent is capped at

$700-$800 a month and is income-based going as low as $80. Welfare

cheques are also not always reliable; they balance payments wrong

frequently. We had even been threatened with eviction when

Housing hadn’t received direct payments from Welfare.

When I was 16, I began working and my income was added to

cover household expenses. I continued to support my mother and

myself up until my returning year of Grade 12 where I worked

full-time. When I applied for OSAP, I was penalised for not having

saved that money for school, and when I was attending college,

ODSP miscalculated payments to my mother and sent her a total

geared towards a one parent, one child household. When I came back

I was informed that I owed $6000 - a total which wrongfully

included support payments. I did not return to school.

As a child of someone on welfare, when you turn 18 and are not

enrolled in secondary education, you are considered a roommate by

housing, welfare, and disability. You must either move out or pay

rent. This means your parent’s cheque will be deducted and your

geared to income rent will increase depending on the percentage of

your income. As of 2014 Ontario cuts 50% of the recipients’

earnings after $200; when I moved home in 2009 there was no

deductible. Working minimum wage at $9.50/hour - just under

$14,000 annually - I was supporting my mother and myself with

our rent raised and her cheque cut almost in half. This cycle of

poverty traps many children and cripples a new generation.

To date, although I am a young adult with my own apartment, I

still assist my mother with her cost of living. We share many

expenses that she could not afford with her allowance of $600 a

month (after rent). I cover the cost of her car so she can remain

mobile, and I frequently assist with groceries and home cooked

meals so that her diet at the end of the month is healthy.

This ‘last resort’ program hardly supports those forced to use

it. I know that in the future, as my mother gets older and is

shifted to an old age pension, she will become my dependant.

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N A T I O N A L N E W S & O P I N I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Pension increases pass the bill to future generations

< Frank Cybulski

During the 2015 election campaign, the Trudeau Liberals

campaigned upon a reversal of the Conservatives’ policy of

increasing eligibility for Old Age Security (OAS) pensions from 65

to 67 years old. The recently released first budget from the

Liberals followed through on this promise, bringing it back to the

original age of 65. While this may be good news to the waves of

Baby Boomers retiring, the increased costs of this measure will

increase the bill to Canadian taxpayers by an estimated $266

billion by 2060 according to the Office of the Chief Actuary.

This policy places the responsibility for paying these pensions

upon the tax revenues generated from younger working Canadians,

already faced with an extremely difficult labour market, increases

in tuition costs vastly outstripping inflation, and an overheated

housing market. With rising life expectancy and decreasing birth

rates, the ratio of workers to retirees will decrease from 4.4 in

2010 to 2.2 in 2030. Rather than investing in young Canadians and

ensuring they are capable of supplying the necessary tax revenue,

the government has chosen to supplement the future incomes of

more financially secure generations.

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Ontario Liberals respond to fundraising review

< Frank Cybulski

An investigation by the Toronto Star recently exposed massive

fundraising targets set for Kathleen Wynne’s cabinet ministers to

the tune of up to $500,000 per year. The Ontario Liberals have

used private high-cost fundraising dinners to raise funds for

their war-chest. Corporate and union donations are forbidden in

federal politics due to reforms implemented by the Conservatives,

but such donations are perfectly acceptable in Ontario.

While the premier has promised action on this issue, including

“transitioning away from corporate and union donations,” the

Ontario Liberals have held power for thirteen years and during

this time have used high donation limits and donation loopholes to

raise large amounts of cash from corporate donors with obvious

conflicts of interest; is it acceptable for the Finance Minister to

seek donations from major banks? A March 26th Forum Research

poll showed that Kathleen Wynne’s approval rating is sitting at

20%; such platitudes may not be enough to placate growing public

discontent with her management of Canada’s largest province.

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N A T I O N A L N E W S & O P I N I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ode to A.B. v Canada

< Riana Zandra Colbert

The month of March is a time of celebration and growth. It

marks the beginning of spring and the end of the cold darkness of

winter. On March 17, 2016, while many of us were imbibing the

spirits of Ireland, the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto ruled

in favour of granting a terminally ill elderly man's petition for

the first Physician Assisted Suicide in Ontario. Known only as A.B.

due to a publication ban protecting his identity, we pay our

respects to a pioneer of sorts.

A.B. was required to meet the following criteria, which define

one's eligibility to access a physician assisted death:

1. The person is a competent adult person;

2. The person has a grievous and irremediable medical condition

including an illness, disease or disability;

3. The person’s condition is causing him or her to endure

intolerable suffering;

4. His or her suffering cannot be alleviated by any treatment

available that he or she finds acceptable; and,

5. The person clearly consents to the termination of life.

Provisions 14 and 241(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada were

found to violate an individual's right to life, liberty and security

of the person as guaranteed by s. 7 of the Canadian Charter of

Rights and Freedoms (Carter-2015) in 2015. Unfortunately, due to the intervention of last years’ lengthy election process which

impeded the government’s ability to draft new legislation not in

contravention of these rights, there is currently a suspension of the declaration of invalidity of the offending provisions of the

Criminal Code in place to allow the newly elected federal

government sufficient time to draft said legislation.

It remains illegal until June 2016 to request a Physician

Assisted Death without criminal code exemption, thus few are

likely to follow in A.B.’s path for the time being. The full

decision and informative background detail is available online and

very worth reading for anyone who still lives.

It is with solemn admiration and appreciation that I write this

announcement. With his last days, an old man known only as AB,

who’s whole was life was laid out in open court as evidence for his

conviction and desire to master his own destiny and secure his

right to die in the manner of his own choosing, not in indignity

and not in unnecessary pain.

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W O R L D N E W S & O P I N I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(Photo: Patrick Kelley via wikipedia.org)

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Some common sense on climate change

< Laureline Sangalli

There is a lot of debate about climate change. The debate

however, takes place on the political stage, as scientists have

already reached a consensus that indeed the climate is changing.

One thing we should not forget is the fact that science folk

working on these types of planetary scale problems come from

hundreds of different science institutes, training backgrounds,

countries and cultures and, like most people, rarely agree on

anything easily without arguments or proof. Therefore, the idea

that there is a scientific collusion to lie about such an important

and impactful issue is ludicrous. So what is really happening?

Well, the only thing we can do is look back at the data we have

been collecting for the last few decades and draw the most likely

conclusions based on it. Satellites have been monitoring the Earth

since the late 1970s, measuring, amongst other things, the extent

of Arctic sea ice. As the year unfolds, sea ice builds up in the

winter and starts melting in the spring. Over the last three

decades the area of sea ice has steadily but surely decreased. As of

March 2016, Arctic sea ice is over 1 million square kilometres

below average (or 630 million hockey rinks in Canadian units and

twice Texas in American ones). (CONT’D 9)

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Dion on the defensive over Saudi arms sale

< Frank Cybulski

Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion defended the $15

billion sale of LAV III armoured personnel carriers by London,

Ontario’s General Dynamics to Saudi Arabia this week. Mr. Dion

claimed that “breaking (the contract) would lead to damaging

consequences”, would put 2,000 Canadian jobs at risk, and that

“similar equipment would almost certainly be sold to Saudi Arabia

by a company in another country.”

Dion’s remarks aroused a wave of criticism from all angles.

Louise Arbour, formerly of the UN High Commission on Human

Rights and the Supreme Court of Canada, claimed Mr. Dion’s

assertion that someone else would sell the weapons was “the

weakest argument” and was “the least convincing”. Numerous

journalists from multiple Canadian media outlets are continuing

the investigation into the sale. Amnesty International also

recently called for an arms embargo against the Saudis, stating

that the humanitarian crisis in Yemen “will only worsen unless

all states immediately impose a comprehensive embargo on arms

transfers that could be used by any of the warring parties.”

It is clear that Canada, like many Western states, cares more

for the funds to be gained by selling arms than the humanitarian

consequences of selling these arms. There is too much at stake for

the government and voters at home to worry about the Middle East.

Though treaties and policies exist to forbid sales to repressive

regimes, only lip service is paid to them. If one sells a weapon

that is used to kill innocents, is the seller morally responsible?

This is a question the Hon. Stephane Dion and the rest of the

Liberal government seems quite content to ignore.

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(8 CONT’D) So what does this mean? Well, it means that something at

a planetary scale is going on affecting one of the most sensitive

area of the Earth climate-wise. But, last winter in my neck of the

woods was colder you might say. Unfortunately, what politicians

bank on and scientists are often poor at explaining is that global

and local effects can be different. The climate is a very complex

system, and a disruption on the scale of the whole planet can have

counterintuitive effects. It is not a straightforward issue;

ultimately the planet will be just fine. However, the bigger

question and why climate scientists are worried is how these

changes will affect human activity and quality of life.

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Brazilian protests gain momentum

< Frank Cybulski

Anti-government protestors of both left and right wing

varieties took to the streets of 236 Brazilian cities on March

13th, with police and other sources reporting 3.5 million

protestors nationwide and over 1 million in Sao Paulo alone.

United primarily to their opposition to the sitting president,

Dilma Rousseff, protestors voiced concerns over the country’s deep

recession, a pandemic of corruption, and supported the ongoing

effort to impeach the president.

In a move that further enraged the Brazilian public, the

president appointed former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as

her chief of staff in order to block him from an ongoing police

investigation; an audio recording of a conversation between the two

detailing this arrangement has fed further protests. The judiciary

responded by placing an injunction immediately after the

appointment was rushed into place.

With members of the governing coalition wavering in their

support for the president and impeachment proceedings ongoing, the

Brazilian government looks increasingly unstable. Any successor to

Rousseff would have significant challenges in restoring economic

and political stability to the South American country.

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Wave of bombings attacks multiple countries

< Frank Cybulski

Terrorists attacked a number of different countries in the

month of March in deadly incidents that claimed the lives of

numerous civilians. A bombing at a resort in Grand Bassam, Ivory

Coast killed at least 18 people and injured 33 on March 13th. The

same day in Turkey’s capital Ankara, 37 people were killed and 125

injured at a crowded bus stop when a car bomb exploded. The

Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK) claimed responsibility following a

previous attack in February, and another bombing took place

shortly afterwards in Istanbul. On March 22nd in Brussels,

Belgium, three suicide bombers with nail bombs attacked the city’s

airport and a subway station, killing 32 civilians and injuring

over 300. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks, leading to a

security crackdown in the home of the European Parliament.

Finally, in Lahore Pakistan on Easter Sunday, a splinter group of

the Pakistani Taliban attacked a fun fair filled with Christian

children, killing at least 69 and injuring 341.

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B U S I N E S S & F I N A N C E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Exchange Rates

1 U.S. dollar

1 U.K. pound

1 Euro

1 Australian dollar

1 Japanese yen

1 Chinese yuan

1 Bitcoin

Stock Markets

S&P/TSX Comp.

Dow Jones

Nasdaq 100

FTSE 100

Nikkei 225

Shanghai Comp.

CAC 40

DAX

MICEX

SENSEX

KOSPI

Commodities (NYME)

Gold (1 t/oz)

Silver (1 t/oz)

Lumber (1000 bd/ft)

Crude Oil (1 bbl)

Sugar (1 lb)

Wheat (1 bushel)

Corn (1 bushel)

Rice (1 cw)

Cotton (1 lb)

Coffee (1 lb)

Soybean (1 bushel)

Economic Indicators

Unemployment (Feb)

Participation (Feb)

CPI (Feb)

Real GDP (Jan)

GoC 10yr Bond

Baltic Dry Index

1.30 CAD

1.87 CAD

1.48 CAD

0.99 CAD

0.012 CAD

0.21 CAD

542.54 CAD

13,526 pts

17,668 pts

4,484.53 pts

6,176 pts

16,279 pts

2,998.30 pts

4,389 pts

9,967 pts

1,868.74 pts

25,407 pts

1,983.90 pts

1231.3 USD

15.39 USD

310.70 USD

38.07 USD

0.15 USD

4.73 USD

3.52 USD

9.66 USD

0.5828 USD

1.27 USD

9.09 USD

7.3%

65.9%

127.1

$1,670B

1.23%

429

% Change (M/Y)

+3.7% / +3.1%

+1.1% / -0.1%

-0.7% / -8.5%

-1.1% / -4.8%

+1.4% / -11.4%

+0.1% / -0.1%

+9.3% / -41.4%

% Change (M/Y)

+5.5% / -9.5%

+6.8% / -0.3%

+6.8% / +3.7%

+2.2% / -9.0%

+1.6% / -15.4%

+11.5% / -21.5%

+0.8% / -13.8%

+5.0% / -17.2%

+1.39% / +11.1%

+11.0% / -10.1%

+3.4% / -0.3%

% Change (M/Y)

-0.7% / +2.5%

+3.4% / -8.0%

+22.7% / +12.3%

+12.7% / -22.9%

+15.4% / +26.4%

+6.3% / -11.7%

-0.3% / -9.3%

-7.6% / -11.1%

-0.9% / -6.3%

+7.6% / -3.2%

+6.4% / -7.8%

% Change (M/Y)

+0.1% / +0.4%

+0.0 / +0.1%

+0.3% / +1.4%

+0.6% / +1.3%

+0.04 / -0.9%

+31.2% / -28.0%

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E D I T O R I A L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The crumbling edifice of American politics

< Frank Cybulski

As the United States slowly moves towards the choice of its

Republican and Democrat presidential candidates, some disturbing

trends have emerged. Extremism has become a flavour of the times,

particularly with the rise of Donald Trump, with his legions of

somewhat aggressive supporters. Trump has made major inroads with

right-wing Americans with his vociferous attacks on illegal

immigrants, and demands that Mexico pay for the construction of a

wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, demands which have damaged

relations between the countries. Bernie Sanders has also split the

Democrats, with his emphasis on the expansion of social programmes

and more overtly socialist policies.

With popular candidates on the edges of the mainstream parties,

the United States is approaching a fragmentation of the existing

parties: from left to right, the socialist-leaning supporters of

Bernie Sanders, the establishment Democrats in Hillary Clinton’s

camp, the establishment Republicans with their various candidates,

and the virulent fans of Donald Trump. These candidates represent

distinct factions that are incompatible with the idea of ‘big tent’

political parties. Whether this split occurs in 2016 or not, the

writing is on the wall: the two party system is nearing collapse.

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E D I T O R I A L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Rebuilding Canada’s railways

< Frank Cybulski

The construction of Canada’s transcontinental railway lines was

essential to the development and settlement of massive tracts of

territory. At the start of the First World War, there were three

major railways linking east to west. Giving Canadian farmers an

export route for their grain, and settlers a way into the Prairies,

Canada could not have been built without them. This network was of

immense use in both world wars, and also enabled the rise of

Canadian manufacturing in the postwar period, but has long

struggled with profitability.

These railways have been slowly cannibalised since this time.

Fraught with financial troubles from unprofitable routes, and

divested of passenger service with the creation of VIA Rail in

1970, Canada’s railroads are a shadow of their former omnipresent

selves. The closure of strategically important lines in the Ottawa

Valley and through Northern Ontario has channeled all Canadian

rail traffic through the GTA, a diversion that adds large amounts

of greenhouse gasses due to trains taking indirect routes. Other

regions, particularly the Maritimes, have had a severe decline in

both passenger and freight service in recent decades.

Canada’s two Class I railways, Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR)

and Canadian National Railway (CNR), have both engaged in cost-

cutting measures to maintain profitability. CP recently announced

layoffs of 1,000 jobs in the wake of previous belt-tightening. CN

has thrived primarily due to the success of its American

operations, and has also reduced much of its Canadian

infrastructure. Transport Canada has also seen a decline in its

ability to enforce rail safety legislation, even after the

horrifying wake-up call that was the disaster at Lac Megantic. VIA

Rail’s passenger service outside the Windsor-Quebec City corridor

has long been infrequent, remote, and expensive. All railway

providers continue to be heavily reliant upon polluting diesel

locomotives rather than investing in electric propulsion. The

decline in the capability of Canada’s passenger and freight rail

service poses significant issues going forward.

Railways are a comparatively cost-effective and eco-friendly

way of moving people and goods, and will continue to be so for the

foreseeable future. Bold investments by a government inclined to

rebuild infrastructure might yield impressive results if a

coordinated railway strategy were implemented.

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A R T S & E N T E R T A I N M E N T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Brian’s Pick of the Month

< Brian Lipsin

One Christmas, many years ago, an owner of a store down the

street came into my store and asked me for a nutcracker! I sort of

looked at her oddly and wondered why she should come into a music

store and ask for a nutcracker. I said to her a few times, “I beg

your pardon?” and she repeated her request. I happened to have an

old fashioned nutcracker under my counter for such an emergency;

I found it and handed it to her. She looked at me weird-like and

asked me what this was for. I responded with the words: “You asked

me for a nutcracker and that’s what I’m giving you.” “No stupid,”

she retorted, “What I asked you for was Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker

Suite.” Red-faced, I retrieved it from the classical section.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

In the early 70’s I took a year off from university and spent

the year in Europe on $5 a day. When I was in a small town in

southern Spain, I found myself in a urinal minding my own

business when a man next to me was whistling a familiar tune. I

looked over at him and said, “You are into John Prine also?” I

thought I was the only one in the world who knew of him. The man

looked over at me and said exactly the same thing. We ended up

having a beer together and decided to venture into Madrid. Many

years later I happened to meet John Prine backstage in Denver

Colorado and proceeded to tell him this story; he smiled from ear

to ear.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane was in an art gallery in

northern California selling her paintings, and someone I knew was

in line to retrieve her autograph. A young kid was ahead of him in

line and he gave her a piece of paper anticipating her signature.

She looked down at him and told him she would only sign postcards

bought directly from her, but if the kid would buy one of her

paintings worth thousands of dollars she would as a bonus have

intercourse with him. Everyone laughed as the kid took off without

her autograph. (CONT’D 15)

- 15 -


Wolfe Island Music Festival cancelled for 2016

< Frank Cybulski

The organisers of the Wolfe Island Music Festival announced on

Monday, March 21st that the festival was cancelled for 2016, citing

financial troubles. Last year’s festival encountered significant

issues due to the lack of the larger Wolfe Islander III ferry and

the use of the more distant winter dock. In addition, the number of

festivals close to Eastern Ontario has expanded in recent years,

giving increased competition for the WIMF. Plans are in the works

for fundraising shows for the 2016 season to help raise funds and

bring the festival back in 2017 in all its full glory.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(14 CONT’D) For a year or so, people would come into the store and

say, “So you were at the Kel Mo concert in Montreal,” and I would

always say to them, “Oh, you were there too!” They would retort,

“No, we saw you on TV when they broadcast the concert.”

I remember going to see Kel Mo and we were sitting in the

ninth row; from time to time, I felt lights in my eyes. A few

years later I happened to catch the concert on cable, and now I

know why people had seen me. Throughout the show, the camera must

have caught me numerous times picking my nose, scratching my

head, or beard, and so on. How embarrassing!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Saturday, April 16th: Record Store Day at Brian’s Record Option

Here are some of the vinyls coming in on Record Store Day -

get your orders in soon!

- Florence + The Machine, ‘Delilah/Only Love Can Break Your

Heart’, 12”

- Johnny Cash, ‘All Aboard The Blue Train’, 12”

- NOFX, ‘Sid & Nancy’, 7”

- Dizzy Gillespie, ‘The Champ’, 12”

- Death Cab For Cutie, ‘Tractor Rape Chain / Black Sun’, 7”

- Regina Spektor, ‘Begin To Hope’, double 12”

- Tom Petty, ‘Kiss My Amps’, double 12”

- Joan Jett, ‘Sinner’, 12”

- Frank Turner, ‘Positive Songs For Negative People’, 12”

- Emmylou Harris, ‘Wrecking Ball’, triple 12”

- Bob Dylan, ‘Melancholy Mood’, 7”

- Cheap Trick, ‘Found New Parts, 10”

- John Coltrane, ‘The Roulette Sides’, 10”

- Phish, ‘Hoist’, double 12”

- 16 -


What’s Going On?

The Grad Club

- Saturday, April 2nd @ 9:00pm - Soul Shakedown

$8 before 10:30pm / $10 after; proceeds supporting the Artel.

DJs spinning tropical beats and deep bass / reggae, cumbria, and

klezmer / electronic, house, hip-hop, and more.

- Friday, April 22nd @ 9:00pm - HIGHS / Sad Boys Glee Club

$13 in advance; alt-pop / folk, alt-country

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Mansion

- Mondays @ 9:00pm - Jonas Lewis-Anthony

No cover; solo acoustic, folk, and rock

- Sundays @ 9:00pm - Logan Brown

No cover; solo acoustic jazz, soul, R&B, folk rock, funk blues

- Thursday, April 14th @ 9:00pm - The Diaries / Velvet Noise

/ Ted Evans

$5 cover at the door; rockabilly/punk/soul.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Grand Theatre

- Tuesday, April 26th @ 7:30pm - Joel Plaskett Emergency

Canada’s indie-rock heartthrob and the pride of Dartmouth!

Tickets available through the Grand Theatre box office.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Musiikki Cafe

- Sunday nights - Kingston Drum Circle @ 6:00pm and Soul

Jams with the John Torres Project @ 8:00pm

- Monday nights - Stormy Mondays with the John Torres

Project @ 8:00pm

- Tuesday nights - Open Mic Experience @ 8:00pm; come out and

be heard!

- Wednesday nights - Folk Wednesdays with John McLurg and

Chris Morris @ 8:00pm

- Friday, April 1st - Jam Jump #6 with the Royal Drifters @

8:00pm; garage rock

- Friday, April 15th - Johnny San @ 8:00pm; acoustic

- Friday, April 8th - Dennis Ross @ 8:00pm; upbeat folk

- Saturday, April 23rd - Andrew Mack Band @ 8:00pm;

indie folk rock

- Thursday, April 28th - Pictogram @ 8:00;

experimental jazz fusion

- 17 -

C O M M U N I T Y & C U L T U R E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Letters to Laura

< Laura Garcia-Cervantes

Dear L, One of my oldest and dearest friends has grown distant.

We have known each other since Grade 9, and now, 13 years later, I

feel she is too busy for me. We’ve always been there for each

other, but lately I don’t think she thinks of me as HER best

friend when I still consider her to be mine. She says she’s busy,

that she misses me and wishes we could hang out, but plans keep

falling through. I just don’t feel like a priority in her life

anymore. What do I do? - Forgotten Friend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Dear Friend, most adult friendships come and go depending on

where one is emotionally, or even geographically. Your best

friend, though, falls into a different category entirely. You

bonded and shared each other’s secrets through some of the most

awkward young adult stages: puberty, first loves, breakups, break-

outs, first jobs, ugly haircuts, first time getting drunk... the list

goes on. People change, and individuals need to be nourished by

others with similar interests to grow as a person. Perhaps what your friend needs right now is to experience life without the pressure of someone knowing who they were when they

didn’t have their life together. It can be tough to hang out with

someone who, without malicious intent, references now and then to

painful memories or other embarrassing choices made as a youth. Life gets hectic as an adult; suddenly, you sit back and realize you haven’t hung out with certain important people in months, or

even years. It’s not as easy as when you were a kid, and forced to

sit in the same classroom for up to 8 hours a day. Making friends

when you’re 16 is so much easier, and it can be scary to realize

your friendships aren’t the same as they used to be. Don’t lose hope; she misses you. When you two do see each other again, it’ll be like no time has passed. If life is busy, or she isn’t

making enough time for you, then plan in advance! See if she has

an open weekend in the next few months - plan a small road trip,

or spa getaway. Something fun, without pressure, just to let loose

for a couple of days. Don’t let it get you down. Try giving new

friendships a try yourself. Keep an eye out for bulletin boards

around town with advertisements for clubs or socials. Maybe you'll

discover new friends, and with time, new best friends. Stay open.

You never know who may enter your life, because they could be

exactly what you need.

- 18 -


“Art” Local

< Joey Graff

The promise of spring is in the air. You can smell it as the

last mounds of snow start to melt and the bold begin to don their

short sleeves. For myself I find that spring in Kingston gets me

thinking about one thing: Kingston summer. Soon the downtown will

see patios scattered in and around the Big Dig, humid nights will

bring promise of beautiful mornings, and the population along the

waterfront will steadily increase. Events scattered throughout the

warmer months bring in something new to do almost every week.

Restaurants will put out their sandwich boards advertising good

food, good company and encouraging us to eat local.

As I reflect on how much and how joyful Kingston is in the

summer, I cannot help but think about the music, the theatre, the

artwork, and the festivals that celebrate the arts in our beautiful

city. Behind all of these events, there are so many individuals and

collectives who work tirelessly to bring us in contact with the

creative pursuits; the more I look, the more I find. There is music

everywhere in this city. From large venues like the K-Rock Centre

and the Grand, to smaller shows at the Mansion, Blue Martini, or

Musiikki, there are musical artists appealing to all tastes. Artist

Galleries such as the Union Street Gallery, the Artists’ Alley on

Wellington, and Studio 22 all provide venues for visual arts.

Theatre is growing and with it we can see everything from

Broadway classics to locally devised pieces about Kingston. This is

not to mention the dance studios, the festivals, story-telling,

artisans, poetry, literary art... I could go on for much longer than

this piece would provide. It is uplifting to look at all that there

is to offer in this city.

So why do I feel out of touch?

Unfortunately, I believe that this disconnect rests solely on

my own shoulders. Often times I come home to sit on my chair, eat

dinner and turn on Netflix for the latest season of whatever is

available this week. There are many times that I have had the free

time or opportunity to go and experience what the city’s artistic

community has to offer, but have chosen to “stay in”. I have heard

too often, discussions of the shows I “should have seen”, or that I

“regret missing” escape my mouth. It is something that I hope to

change.

Appreciating the arts does take more effort than plugging in

and tuning out. It requires your presence and it needs (CONT’D 19)

- 19 -


In memoriam: the Sleepless Goat Cafe

< Frank Cybulski

The Sleepless Goat was put down this month in the final

conclusion to their long-time struggle with the Man. The Goat had

been ill for some time from a number of ailments, including winter

doldrums, the third round of Kingston’s Big Dig, some inconsiderate

dolts downloading HBO shows and their resulting loss of wifi,

their inability to get their liquor licence renewed, and the

deteriorating state of the building. Though cooperative members

donated significant amounts of their time and resources to keeping

the Goat alive, their hard work was not enough.

While they often had noble intentions (e.g. helping feed

Kingston’s burgeoning homeless population) such actions hardly

helped their bottom line; and while welcoming to some

disenfranchised groups, they could display hostility to those they

did not care for. As well, the cooperative’s turnover and strict

adherence to non-hierarchical organisation made transitioning to

and training new members difficult, and left it with a lack of

experience and leadership.

Despite its flaws (or perhaps because of them) the Goat will be

missed. So many first dates, coffee meetings, study sessions, and

plain old escaping for caffeine, sustenance, and warmth occurred

within its walls, but it seems the Goat had reached its time.

Perhaps it is best to remember it at its peak rather than document

its decline. Current members of the cooperative declined to be

interviewed for this piece due to ongoing legal proceedings - looks

like the Man won this round after all.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(18 CONT’D) your attention. Supporting it means that you have to

reach outside of yourself and spend your time to experience it.

This is especially true at the local level. The harsh reality of

local art that comes from the community is that without the

support from the community it simply disappears.

I plan this summer to “Art Local”. I want to take in as much

as this city has to offer me and experience the wealth of talent

and work that its citizens put into their art. I want to be present

and seek out the creative work of those brave enough to bring it

forward. I am excited to reconnect with a community that is

brimming with vivacity and passion, and whether you are a long

standing member of Kingston or are here for the first time, I hope

that you’ll join me.

- 20 -

P R O S E & P O E T R Y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Newfoundland

< Ashley Newton

There can be no telling

what I’ll do when she leaves

for the East Coast harbours

and lures happiness in that way

. she does.

She told me just last night

she was due to leave come . .

. Spring,

a season too far to consider

with this recent lack of energy.

Winter hisses and pulls its . .

. weight

in ensuring my distaste

for the upcoming change.

The longer the truth settles in,

the more it feels like droplets

of hot lava are burning my . .

. pores

and tearing through me once .

. more.

It does not keep me warm at all.

If this is where we’re meant to

. go

Her life will bloom when she .

. sees

that first sunrise upon the . .

. docks.

She’ll float on the ocean;

I’ll drink from the lake.

Our days together will be . . .

. scarce,

Imprudent with poor planning

but full of so much love.

When she makes it to the . . .

. coastline

and stands on verdant land,

billowing hills abound,

I hope she finds euphoria

in the skies and slivers.

And I hope by then

our tiresome and trifling paths

will reconsider joining again.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Oranges

< Beatrice Keeler

I hate buying fruit at the grocery store. I have to spend at

least 5 minutes feeling almost every piece because they can’t be

too hard, or too soft. With peaches, this is really important. Same

with oranges. There’s nothing worse than a dried out orange.

“Are you done?” said the lady in the purple coat who kept

leaving her stupid cart in the middle of the aisle so no one could

get by.

“Almost.” I said.

“Is it that difficult to pick an orange?” she said.

“Is it that difficult to wait your turn?” I said.

There’s this rule of driving where you shouldn’t honk or flip

people off because you never know if the other driver is a

psychopath and will follow you home to kill you. The same rule

applies to grocery store interactions. (CONT’D 21)

- 21 -

P R O S E & P O E T R Y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sleepless Knights

< Tracie Morgan

Bedbugs and black spores

joust for ownership

of limb and lung.

Down a crumbling

stone staircase

men with faces as hardened

as the concrete floor

wrestle another casualty.

Another has expired

in the dungeon

but no one seems surprised.

They have seen this happen

seven times before...

this year alone.

His cell is already promised

to another broken

warrior of the street,

who will pay for his hovel

with a king's ransom.

And he will be grateful

To the Jailor.

All who reside

beyond that archway are broken.

Broken by illusions

of crystal bliss.

Broken by their

trickster minds.

Ground down by

scornful faces with

eyes unwilling

to see past

their own puny struggles.

From castle to carriage to

counting house we scurry like

rats.

We crave recognition

while they remain nameless.

And in the marketplace,

their cries for mercy

fall silent, unnoticed

amid a sea of bleating and

barking and crowing.

Solemnly, a sheet is drawn

over a sunken face,

another fallen Knight

of the Order of the Invisible.

Outside the archway,

life goes on.

It's another sunny day

in the City of the King.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(20 CONT’D) “I’ll find a new place to put that orange if you don’t

start talking to me with a little respect.” she said. A 60 something

year old woman just threatened to shove an orange up my ass.

“Excuse me?” I said.

“Did I stutter?” she said.

“Take your frigging oranges, you crazy bat!” I threw the

oranges I’d spent too much time picking at her feet and turned

around. She pushed me. My head hit the side of the orange barrel

and I fell to the ground. When I rolled over, she had picked up my

oranges, put them in her cart, and was already walking away.

- 22 -

C L A S S I F I E D S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A special thanks to our loving supporters:

Brian’s Record Option

Used & New Records, Tapes,

CDs, Posters, Sheet Music

Buy - Sell - Trade

381 Princess St. Kingston ON

613-542-2452

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Musiikki Cafe

Coffee - Music - Whiskey

Live music every night @ 8pm

73 Brock St. Kingston ON

613-542-2233

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Screening Room

Independent Movie Theatre

A First Rate Show

at a Modest Price


613-542-6080

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CFRC 101.9FM

Kingston’s only non-profit,

volunteer-powered campus &

community radio station.

613-533-CFRC

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Alchemy House Jewellery

Kingston’s newest destination

for handmade custom jewellery


613-766-3207

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Martello Alley

Ontario’s only art-themed

historic alley showcasing

original and printed artwork.

Great value for great art!

203B Wellington St Kingston ON

613-767-2966

Novel Idea

Kingston’s Independent

Bookstore

Fiction & Nonfiction


613-546-9799

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Grad Club

A Kingston Institution

Since 1963

162 Barrie St. Kingston ON

613-546-3427

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Permaculture Kingston

A community group interested

in learning permaculture design

and techniques to be applied on

a small or large scale.

http://permaculturekingston.com

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kingston Frameworks

Custom Framing, Art Prints

& Posters, and Gallery


613-546-1868

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Queens Events

Connecting Queens students,

faculty, staff, and alumni with

the Kingston community!

http://www.queensevents.ca

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Joe’s M.I.L.L.

Over 750 musical instruments

available for loan!

Lending since 2001.

http://www.joesmill.org

110, 370 King St. W Kingston ON

613-549-5637

- 23 -

C L A S S I F I E D S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Personals, Free & For Sale, Help Wanted

Interested? < [email protected]

One identity for sale; credit

not great, nice pictures on IDs.

Full OHIP benefits!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Found: smashed Android phone

placed on porch on Colborne St.

March 18th. Maybe it’s still

there?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lazy Queens students: will pick

up all your empties before

move-out day. Have own

shopping cart.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Help wanted: content manager &

partner for exciting real

estate start-up in Kingston.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tenuously employed, emotionally

needy white they seeks passive

employed type with a car. Take

care of me and drive me places?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Large table, white oval shaped.

Gross, but once it’s cleaned

it’ll be fine. $20 OBO.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lauren C: Personal Trainer

Individualized training

programs. Great rates, great

results.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Optoma projector, excellent

working condition, needs new

lamp. Six years old, reasonable

offers considered.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wanted: antique couch. Will pay.

Slate tiles, mostly intact, good

for garden path or small patio.

Free, pickup on Hamilton St.

White house, green trim.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

IKEA bed frame, queen size,

$100 OBO; bring your own

mattress.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Two pound volume tea tins, $3

each, great for organising.

Excellent used condition.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Watches for sale, corner of

Princess and Wellington, black

trench coat. You tap, I flash.

No refunds, no warranties.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Baby spider plants - my house

is a jungle, yours for the

taking. Downtown, pickup only,

comes in own moldy baby food

jar full of water.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9/10F seeks wealthy, not less

than 6/10M for real estate

ventures and fulfilling

partnership.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ouija board still available.

Plants are dying and cat hisses

at it, lights keep flickering,

but I'm pretty sure it’s just a

coincidence. Please take.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wanted: laser printer with

toner capable of duplex

printing.

- 24 -

The Kingston Free Press was founded in 2015 to provide a free,

alternative source for news, events, arts, and opinion.

FREE CONTENT, FREE PUBLICATION, FREE PRESS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(Illustration: Benoit Gravel, 2012)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Submissions?

< [email protected]

73 Brock St., Kingston ON K7L 1R8

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Kingston Free Press Vol I No 2

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Transcript of Kingston Free Press Vol I No 2