KingstonOntario

Just my dog

Big changes are coming. To summarize the main points:

• The city is switching to standardized bins for garbage and compost that can be lifted and dumped onto trucks mechanically.
• This will be phased in over the next several years starting in the suburbs.
• 120L bins will be standard issue: one for garbage and one for compost.
• You can upgrade to a 240L bin if you need one, but it costs $120 initially + $196/year. The initial fee will be waived if you switch to the bigger bin within the first 3 months, however.
• The city is outsourcing blue and grey box collection to a company called Emterra Environmental. Whether they choose to go with bins also is uncertain, but that wouldn't change before 2026.
• You can still bring stuff to the residential drop-off at KARC for the time being.

IMO the Kingstonist is awesome! Definitely worth supporting them with a subscription if you have the means. If not, visit them anyway and stay informed.

Of relevance to Kingston:

For the last 10 years, Amélie Brack’s property-management company had no trouble renting out both halves of a duplex near St. Lawrence College in Kingston, one of Canada’s most notable student-dominated cities renowned for its high proportion of out-of-town students, with both St. Lawrence and Queen’s University in the area. This year, it’s still not rented out as the fall school term is about to start – a first for her. It’s not the only unit going empty, after demand for student housing in Kingston drastically fell in the past few months. “Up until last year, we would get 25 to 50 inquiries per week in August. This year, it’s been crickets. It’s quite a surprise,” said Ms. Brack, leasing manager for Limestone Property Management.

It’s a phenomenon that hasn’t shown up yet in any official statistical reports. But it’s one that many at ground level are observing, a noticeable U-turn from the last few years where there were often frantic bidding wars for student housing in the months leading up to the start of the fall term. They point to the cap on international students as a significant factor behind the drop. “The international student reduction has definitely affected us,” said Ms. Brack, who said that large, multibedroom houses in what’s called the student ghetto in Kingston are also going unrented and owners are finding themselves having to list them for rents closer to what a family could afford, rather than what five desperate students (or their parents) might be willing to pay: $2,700 a month for a four-bedroom, rather than the previous $4,000.

The cap for 2024 was set at 360,000 study permits for the country, a 35-per-cent reduction from the previous year.

In Ontario, internet searches for student housing near universities in Waterloo, Hamilton, and Kingston are down 46 per cent to 55 per cent, Ms. Yiu said.

Rode my bike on this new section of Cataraqui Woods Dr today! You can now go from Centennial all the way to Sydenham Rd. Technically, there was still some heavy paving equipment working on a part of it so I'm not sure it is fully open to all traffic at this point? But they had taken down the barricades.

I think they’re here through the weekend?

I was told by someone at Tourism Kingston that they are expecting more than 70K visitors to descend on the city for this, which is insane!

Enclosure of Culligan Water Park to provide year-round aquatic services, expanding from 3 months to 12 months per year. It is anticipated that this initiative would add 0.75 aquatic service capacity and could be implemented in the short to medium term based on cost and financing. This initiative supports additional community use but will not be able to accommodate any competitive use.

...

Recommendation:

That Council endorse the enclosure of the Culligan Water Park to make it a year-round facility based on the concepts with open space and glazing attached as Exhibit A to Report Number 24- 002; and

That Council approve a budget of $25.1M for the Culligan Water Park enclosure to be funded by $5.0M in development charges, $5.1M in Municipal Capital Reserve Fund and $15.0M in debt issuance;

See Report 24-002 Aquatic Facilities Options--

This is not far from where it crosses Little Cataraqui Creek, so they are probably trying to dam the creek. I should probably contact someone with the city? Anyone know who to call?

If you drive west from Collins Bay Rd, you should now see a "ghost" bicycle painted white on the south side of the road marking where the fatal collision occurred. Personally, I have lived in cities in which a cyclist fatality would barely garner attention by the local media, but as tragic as this is, I am glad the community here has not become jaded about such events.

I'd forgotten how much I missed going to concerts during the pandemic. They put on a good show!

It's down at the Memorial Centre. This was from yesterday, but if I'm not mistaken, it's free admission today until it closes up at 6?

This was at Our Lady of Fatima up the hill from Division. The food was awesome!

It’s across from the library downtown. They’ve closed the whole block for it. I overheard there are dancers coming from Montreal at 7 pm!

Came across a facebook page showing the new electric ferry in service, but can't find any other news confirming this. Is this for real?

This could be an interesting move. If you're wondering what it might look like, this video from the City of Guelph is super helpful: Automated Waste Collection

Alright, here's an odd question. I'm hosting family for my son's birthday, and he's asked for hotdogs for lunch. We've got some foodies in the family, so I don't want to skimp and just go with your typical Maple Leaf dogs.

Does anyone know where I could get some premium, potentially locally-made hotdogs? Does such a thing exist?

Saw this bird on the way to work today. It was perched on a log sticking out of the pond at Lions Civic Gardens. That's that little park south of the mall where the library is. The Merlin app ID'd it as a double-breasted cormorant. Possibly a juvenile given its coloration, though it was a good size!

I believe this is the first midrise proposed under the new Central Kingston Growth Plan. The building would be located at the corner of Johnson and Aberdeen, replacing three buildings (six total units) with a six-storey, 45-unit build. No commercial space is proposed (I don't believe the new bylaw requires it in this location).

Developer is Amber Peak.

Architecture by RAW Design, who did the Broom Factory renewal.

Learn more: DASH, 390 Johnson

Saw this guy on my way to work this morning.

Over by the 401 John Counter exit across from the City Place Office buildings.

Nice little “slept-on” spot for Deli sandwiches and breakfast. Sandwiches are similar to Golden Rooster.

Worth a stop in!

Is anyone else totally psyched to see two Lemmy apps finally out of TestFlight and available in the IOS app store??!! I downloaded Mlem and Memmy, and honestly feel like with these apps available there’s no reason not to switch to Lemmy. How do we spread the good word to Reddit users and bring some more folks over to the new and improved kingstonontario community?