Dear Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour,
Things are opening up. Nice to be able to get out and about!
The exciting newly proposed “Quiet Streets” plan will look something like this picture – See Item #17 below for more info!
This is a wonderful collaborative initiative between the City and the Kingston Coalition for Active Transportation to open up streets to pedestrians and cyclists during COVID. We are helping!
1. Guide to Kingston Patio Re-openings
2. Guidelines for Group Cycling
3. COVID & Suicides: KFL&A Advice + Contact Info
4. Inner Harbour Birch Bark Canoe Build this September
5. Inner Harbour Turtle Update
6. Virtual Turtle Talk: Turtles Kingston w. Marine Museum – June 18
7. Utilities Kingston Tracking COVID in Wastewater
8. Upbeat News on Regenerative Ocean Farming
9. “Love Kingston Marketplace”: Opening up Kingston’s Downtown
10. LEGAL WALL! FINALLY! YEY!
11. La Salle Causeway Schedule Changes
12. COVID Concerns for Shipping Crews
13. What Shipping Industry is Doing re Climate Concerns?
14. Enbridge’s Tunnel at Straits of Mackinac
15. Health of Great Lakes + Lake Ontario Lake Level
16. The Defunding Police Issue
17. New Active Transportation Initiative in Kingston
18. Interesting Short Video on how Maps Can Contribute to Racism
19. Benje’s Super Fun Fishing Video in Kingston’s Downtown
1. Guide to Patio Re-openings
Received from The Kingstonist June 9, 2020
“We did it Kingston! We went rogue and now our patios are open.”
Here’s the list:
Amadeus Atomica Black Dog Tavern (Chein Noir) Casa Dominico Chez Piggy Coffee and Company CRAVE Coffeehouse and Bakery Daft Brewing (opening soon) Delightfully Different Tea Room Dianne’s Go Italian The Grizzly Grill Jack Astor’s Bar and Grill (opening soon) Harper’s Burger Bar Kingston Brewing Company The Loyal Oarsman Mackinnon Brewing The Mansion The Merchant Mesa Fresca Namaste Kingston Northside Espresso + Kitchen Olivea Pan Chancho Bakery and Café The Public House The Queen’s Inn Hotel Redhouse – both locations Rose and Crown Smoke N’ Barrel Score Pizza Tango Nuevo Tommy’s Toucan Union Kitchen and Cocktails Woodenheads
Know of others? E-mail hello@kingstonist.com
Stay safe and trying to maintain a social bubble (as recommended by the Government of Ontario).
Additional safety tips include:
- Continue to wear a mask when possible
- Call ahead to book your seat
- Keep your distance when possible
- Ask for your whole order at once so the wait staff don’t have to come back and forth too many times
- Don’t go out if you are feeling sick,
- BYOPPE (bring your own personal protective equipment, hand sanitizer etc.)
- If you do need to cough or sneeze, do it into your elbow
- Be kind to the staff, and be patient as everyone works through the kinks of reopening amid the COVID-19 pandemic
2. Guidelines for Group Cycling
Received from the Kingston Velo Club, June 11, 2020
NOTE: Although these rules apply only to the Kingston Velo Club, they are sound advice for anyone interested in cycling in groups this season.
1. A trained ride leader will be responsible for each group and special instructions as outlined below will be included in opening remarks. The leader will receive training on addressing cycling issues relating to COVID-19 safe practices and the handling of any accidents/medical issues during the ride. Maintaining appropriate distances and other Covid related protocols are the responsibility of each cyclist.
2. Group size will respect the current Provincial regulations, currently 10. Cyclists must stay in that group for the duration of the ride and no mixing or socializing among groups. Registration will be mandatory on all rides.
3. A ride may consist of one or more groups each up to a maximum of 10, each with its own ride leader and sweep, separated by a distance that precludes mixing between groups and demonstrates good optics in the community. The ride calendar will show each separate group, members will sign up for the group of their choice.
4. All riders must be club members. Due to limited group size, only KVC members, at this time, will be permitted to join the ride. All riders must register for each ride on the website well in advance of the ride.
5. Groups will refrain from mixing at stops – rural convenience stores, etc. One group must leave before next group arrives/enters. Physical distance will be respected.
6. Groups are encouraged to bring their own food and drink for entire ride. Picnic lunch stops and snack breaks are encouraged. Riders are expected to have appropriate healthy snacks (nutrition) and drink for the entire ride.
7. While stationary, cyclists will respect the physical distancing rules in effect – currently 2 meters. While moving, a greater distance between cyclists is highly recommended to avoid the possible droplets which may be in the slipstream of the cyclist in front. Please review the info below.
Belgian study re: slipstream droplets behind runners and cyclists:
http://www.urbanphysics.net/COVID19_Aero_Paper.pdf
Cycling News layman’s interpretation of above Belgian study:
https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/belgian-study-on-safe-distancing-while-exercising-goes-viral/
8. The Ride leader shall record the names of individuals in each group. These records will be maintained and be available should contact tracing be required.
9.. Riders must carry a mask, disposable gloves and hand sanitizer.
10. Riders are expected to carry a spare tube, minipump and multitool so they are prepared for any necessary minor on-road repair.
3. COVID & Suicides: KFL&A Advice + Contact Info
Received from The Kingstonist, June 12
Jurisdictions across Canada, including Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa have all made headlines in recent weeks, connecting the dots between the COVID-19 lock-down and a nationwide spike in overdoses.
Preliminary results from the Ontario coroner’s office indicate a 25 per cent increase in overdose deaths between March and May of this year, compared to 2019.
“It’s not just people in Canada that are overdosing,” Lovell said, “not just people in Ontario, but people right here in the KFL&A area at risk from a highly toxic, unregulated drug supply
On Monday, May 25, 2020, KFL&A Public Health warned that local emergency room departments, harm reduction centres and first responders were fielding an increased number of drug-related overdoses, attributed to a “bad batch” of street drugs circulating in the area.
Street drugs are often contaminated with other very harmful substances, Lovell said. Now, disruptions in international travel due to COVID-19 have made an unregulated drug supply even more unpredictable, and potentially more toxic.
“We’re hearing about disruptions in the drug supply chain itself,” she said. “There are lots of restrictions on movement right now, moving the drugs themselves, or the precursors, or ingredients.”
Substances that might have been coming from overseas may not be crossing borders as easily as they once were, she said, pushing dealers and users to work with whatever is available.
Those changes in drug supplies can also force users to make “challenging decisions” she said, about what they can do — or take — to avoid a period of withdrawal.
“I don’t even know how to accurately describe it. Its just a situation that you don’t want to find yourself in, going through an opioid withdrawal without adequate support,” she said.
“When someone is using drugs from an unregulated market, they might believe that they’re using one thing, but can’t say with certainty what’s in there. It’s not just drugs. Other contaminants that might be in there as well.”
Crystal methamphetamine and cocaine for example, she said, can both be contaminated with fentanyl, an opioid responsible for many overdose fatalities.
Other Factors: Stress, Isolation
Public health advocates and social workers in Ottawa and Toronto have suggested that easy access to cash through the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) could also be a factor in rising overdoses.
“I see that it could be,” Lovell said. “It makes logical sense… The theory applies quite widely and we’re hearing this speculation across the country.”
She said that general feelings of stress and uncertainty, social isolation, and loss of access to services also contribute .
“Job loss or just the general sense of fear and uncertainty from this can be very triggering on a lot of levels,” she said.
People actively using drugs at the start of the pandemic might increase their consumption, she said, while people in recovery risk using again, “particularly if they’ve experienced some of the losses related to the pandemic, or they’ve lost access to supports that they’ve had.”
With many social spaces shuttered during the COVID-19 pandemic, the public has been encouraged to practice social distancing for safety reasons. This presents risks of its own for people with drug addiction, Lovell said.
“Its a loaded statement right now to tell people: ‘Don’t use alone,’” she explained of a harm-reduction strategy often advised by social service workers.
“But certainly if people are going to use alone, they need to make sure that someone is available to at least check in on them, make sure they’re okay, or call 911.”
She said that the local social service network has responded well to the crisis.
“One of the things that I’m so proud of in our community… is that we’ve seen just a great modification of services to try to keep as much access as we possibly can, so people are not going without those supports,” Lovell said.
She said KFL&A public health has taken on the issue of overdose risk and awareness more actively in the past few years, and has had a “much more active role in letting the community know that this risk is out there.”
Lovell said she will be watching the outcomes of harm-reduction strategies in British Columbia, where the provincial health authority has recently enabled access to a “safe supplies” of regulated opioids on the street.
“They’re certainly ahead of us in that regard,” Lovell said. “Hopefully we’ll get some attention on that here in Ontario, to see if it might be a solution to help mitigate some of these impacts.”
KFL&A Public Health Advice:
KFL&A Public Health is urging all those who use drugs not to mix them, to do test amounts, and to never use alone.
Public Health is also reminding residents that the Public Consumption and Treatment Service at Kingston’s Street Health Centre is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., providing a safe place for anyone who wants to use drugs to do so under the supervision of people who are trained in how to respond to an overdose.
Additionally, the Rapid Access Addictions Medicine Clinic at the Street Health Centre is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. by appointment. That clinic can provide individuals with support in getting help for a substance use disorder.
KFL&A Public Health is encouraging all residents to be aware of the signs of an opioid overdose and pick up a free naloxone kit. Free kits are available at the following locations:
Outreach Services Available:
KFL&A Public Health (Kingston office): Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Street Health Centre: Monday to Sunday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 4 p.m.
HIV/AIDS Regional Services: Contactless drop off available Monday to Friday (call 613-329-6932).
Mobile outreach unit is located at Street Health Centre from 4 to 8 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
St. Vincent de Paul Society of Kingston: Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Martha’s Table: Monday to Sunday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Home Base Housing Street Outreach Team: Monday to Friday at Lunch By George from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and Street Health Centre from 12 to 1 p.m.
Change Health Care: Monday to Friday 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday to Sunday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Napanee and Area Community Health Centre: Monday to Friday 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m.
For more locations, https://www.ontario.ca/page/where-get-free-naloxone-kit.
NOTES: An overdose is a medical emergency. Anyone who suspects or witnesses an overdose should call 911.
The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act provides some legal protection against simple drug possession charges for anyone who experiences, witnesses or responds to an overdose and calls authorities.
4. Inner Harbour Birch Bark Canoe Build This September
Just a quick heads up that we are definitely going ahead with the canoe build this September with renowned Algonquin Traditional Knowledge Keeper, Chuck Commanda.
Grants received from both the Kingston Heritage Fund ($15,000) and Regional Tourism Ontario, District 9 ($10,000). Yey!
Some adjustments may have to be made due to COVID-19 but we are excited and planning is underway. More news anon….
5. Inner Harbout Turtle Update
As you may remember last year we attached antenna to six turtles in a pilot project to try and determine range. The results were quite surprising. One was lost at the bottom of the river. One (we named Marina!) disappeared somewhere in Lake Ontario and we thought she had been lost forever – only to discover to our surprise and joy that she returned to the DF Park area this spring. This fall we will try to monitor her more carefully to see where she actually goes for the winter to hibernate. The other four went to Kingston Mills to hibernate! Who knew? It turns out that Northern Map turtles need oxygenated water for hibernation and that is not in marshes but where there is a water flow. This means that the Third Crossing is directly in the path of turtles returning from Kingston Mills to bask and lay in the Inner Harbour area. We informed the City and Parks Canada of our findings. Inevitably this will have some impact on turtle behaviour but we are not yet sure what that might be. We are hoping for approval to add another six antenna this season.
Also last year we did a capture/release protocol for the first time where turtles were captured and marked by drilling two tiny holes in their shells. It has been really interesting seeing some of these marked turtles return to lay this spring.
One of our volunteers, Lesley Rudy, is now doing a Master’s degree on Inner Harbour turtles with Dr. Stephen Lougheed at Queen’s University.
You may see her out and about tracking nesting turtles and placing nest covers on them to protect from predation. Here is Lesley’s summary to date:
Turtle activity in the park and what to do when you see one:
Turtles began looking for nest spots in the Inner Harbour Thursday June 4th and have been very active since. We know of about 20 new nests this year so far (and we are sure to have missed some). We expect them to continue to be active for another 3 weeks or so. Our team is out monitoring them every day. If you see a large walking turtle and especially a digging turtle, please give her some space. It is fine to watch from a distance- think of our 2m social distancing as a good minimum!
If she is in a dangerous place like on a road, please do move her away by lifting from her back end. She can’t bite you if you do that. She will kick and has claws so watch out for that as well as the possibility she will pee on you! If you gently turn her upside down she may struggle less. If she is not in a dangerous place, please do not move her. She is looking for a nesting spot and will have to return so you will just make her life harder!
If you see a turtle walking in the park area, there is no need to send us a report. If you see one far from the park, you could let us know.
If you see one that is clearly nesting, a report with photo would be most welcome and we will make sure we see her and try to cover her nest.
If possible, please send a photo to harbourturtles@gmail.com with some place indicators in the photo such as the wall paintings.
Some hatchlings (from last year’s nests) may still be emerging from the nest over the next few weeks as well, so please continue to keep your eyes out for the toonie-sized little ones when you are walking.
These can be moved to a gentle incline near water’s edge.
A lot of people have been helping us keep tabs on the turtles this past week, so thank you very much to all of you for your help making our work easier and keeping turtles safer!
We have had a few turtles trapped in the dry dock this week as well, likely from the land. I think we have managed to get them all out, but if you do see one in there, please let us know. (and if you see one of us with a net at the dry dock, you now know why!)
As always, do feel free to ask one of the turtle team questions or point us towards a turtle when you see us out.
6. Virtual Turtle Talk: Turtles Kingston w. Marine Museum – June 18
Received from the Marine Museum June 10
What: Marine Museum’s First Ever Virtual Talk:
Who: Mabyn Armstrong from Turtles Kingston.
When: Thurs, June 18 “You are invited to join us Live on YouTube from 12:30pm until 1:15 pm as we discuss local turtle populations, threats to their ecosystems and what we can do to help.
Please send us your questions ahead of time to education@marmuseum.ca.”
7. Utilities Kingston Tracking COVID in Wastewater
Received from The Kingstonist June 11
Utilities Kingston is taking part in a world-wide research project to help determine if the novel coronavirus can be found and transmitted through sewage and water.
After early research suggested that COVID-19 might be transmitted through water and could help to determine a second-wave of cases, the Canadian Coalition on Wastewater-Related COVID-19 Research was created.
The Canadian Coalition on Wastewater-Related COVID-19 Research is a national collaboration of municipalities, researchers, public health officials, and governments with the shared goal of helping Canada to find the best response for public safety measures.
Scientists at Queen’s University are using Kingston’s sewage samples to do research.
Jim Keech, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Utilities Kingston says that Utilities Kingston is happy to help with the research process.
“At Utilities Kingston, our primary focus has been just making sure that we’ve got the resources and people available here to provide the basic services and community needs,” he said. According to Keech, this also involves helping the scientific community.
“We are helping the scientific community look at being able to track the virus through sampling sewage,” he said. “They have been actually able to detect the virus [in places] before the actual outbreak took place there.”
To do this, Utilities Kingston has a mechanism that puts a sampling bottle through the fluid before it hits the water treatment plant. They then take the sample to the University where it is analyzed in the labs to see if anything comes up. Right now, they are sending in samples weekly, and then after an analysis period, they will be able to determine if the virus is present in the water.
To do this, researchers break down the waste to determine if part of the RNA (part of the DNA of the virus) is present in the waste.
As the province of Ontario struggles to keep up the quota of testing needed to determine if the virus is still spreading in communities, finding other methods of testing are crucial in order to track the spread, and this method has been proven to work. Although the results are not yet published in a peer reviewed journal, both the Netherlands and France were able to use this method to track the spread of the virus.
As Kingston’s cases dwindle, and because the research was just kicked off, it is yet to be determined if the scientists have found anything significant in Kingston’s sewage.
| 8. Upbeat News on Regenerative Ocean Farming “Monday, June 8, was World Oceans Day, which got a lot of us thinking about problems like overfishing, plastic pollution and rising sea levels as a result of climate change. But Bren Smith, the Newfoundland-born owner of Thimble Island Ocean Farm off the coast of Connecticut, wants to change that view. “Those of us on the ocean want to … embrace the ocean and figure out how to see it as a place for climate solutions,” Smith said during a recent interview from his boat off Long Island Sound, where he was harvesting kelp. Smith is the pioneer behind “regenerative ocean farming.” It involves growing seaweed and several kinds of shellfish — not just to feed people but to heal the oceans and fight climate change. He said the aim is “going beyond sustainability and using our crops to breathe life back into ecosystems.” For example, kelp soaks up carbon as it grows, helping to mitigate climate change, Smith said, while creating an “artificial reef” to rebuild local underwater ecosystems. Meanwhile, oysters, clams and mussels — native species that get all their food from the local environment — filter and clean the water. To capture this bounty, Smith uses ropes that run between floats on the surface and the ocean floor over 16 hectares off Long Island Sound. After harvest, the shellfish go to stores and restaurants to be eaten, while different parts of the kelp are used to produce: Human food, including pickles and chutneys. Fertilizer and compost for land-based farms.Compostable bioplastic. Smith is a former fisherman who worked at salmon farms on Canada’s East Coast and became concerned about the environmental impact of both fishing and aquaculture. He tried growing oysters on the East Coast of the U.S. but decided he needed to do things differently after his oyster stocks were destroyed by back-to-back hurricanes (Irene and Sandy) in 2011 and 2012. Initially, he expanded to other kinds of shellfish. Then, working with University of Connecticut marine scientist Charles Yarish, he began adding “vegetables.” “That was great, because the kelp is a winter crop,” he said, meaning he can count on kelp during times of the year when he can’t harvest shellfish. Smith, who was named one of the 25 people “shaping the future” (alongside the likes of Elon Musk) by Rolling Stone in 2017, has started a non-profit called GreenWave to help others start similar farms. Some are already running on the east and west coasts of the U.S., and he’s working with First Nations communities on Vancouver Island and Newfoundland to get equipment in the water this winter. He’s also hoping to expand to more crops and markets. He thinks the ropes and floats make great platforms for environmental sensors to track the impacts of climate change and water acidification, and hopes farmers will be able to sell that data. Next year, he’s hoping to launch the sale of carbon and nitrogen offsets, allowing people and companies to pay to “cancel out” some of their own emissions. Smith said the benefits of regenerative ocean farming aren’t just environmental. The startup costs are low, since ropes are the main equipment and you don’t need to own any land. Meanwhile, having a diverse set of crops with multiple markets reduces economic risks — for example, while COVID-19 has shut down many restaurants, the main market for oysters, clams and kelp are still selling. There are other challenges. The biggest ones, Smith said, involve “land-based” issues after harvest, such as processing, which can be very expensive. Even so, he is hopeful that the expansion of this type of farming could help generate jobs and profits from climate change mitigation. “The opportunity here is that we can put people to work helping solve one of the biggest crises of our times, which is the climate crisis. Let’s repurpose people like me, turn them into an army of climate farmers.” — Emily Chung Thanks for reading. If you have questions, criticisms or story tips, please email whatonearth@cbc.ca. “ |
9. “Love Kingston Marketplace”: Opening up Kingston’s Downtown
Received June 11 from the Kingstonist
Originally announced on Wednesday, May 27, 2020, changes will make space for the Love Kingston Marketplace, a hub for creative experiences created by the City aimed at rejuvenating the downtown over the next several months.
The pedestrian-only spaces will begin to take shape during the week beginning Monday, Jun. 22, 2020, and it will take approximately a week to implement the traffic safety measures.
Streets that will be affected and how:
Brock Street will be reduced to a single travel lane from Ontario Street to Wellington Street, and the King Street intersection will remain open for traffic traveling along King Street.
Clarence Street will see some existing on-street parking repurposed to accommodate a lane shift.
Market Street will be fully closed.
Princess Street will be reduced to a single travel lane from Ontario Street to Division Street, and the cross streets will remain open.
The City will also be designating a pickup and delivery area on Brock Street and each block of Princess Street.
These spaces will be available to businesses for outdoor expansion based on the needs of each business.
This might include the placement of retail fixtures, patio furniture and space for customer line ups.
Mayor Bryan Paterson says that he is looking forward to these changes and how they will aid Kingston’s economy, which relies heavily on independent downtown businesses.
“I’m excited about our plans for the downtown to create some more space for pedestrians and more opportunities for businesses.”
This is a new initiative and we continue to work with community partners and businesses to ensure we get the details right,” Mayor Paterson said in a statement.
“I look forward to seeing how these changes will help us reimagine the downtown over the summer.”
Parking
On-street parking on Princess St. is unavailable. Some on-street parking areas located on the nearby cross-streets will be changed to create short-term pick-up and delivery areas.
City parking lots and garages will remain open.
Downtown residents and businesses with questions about these road and lane closures may visit CityofKingston.ca/marketplace or contact Customer Service at 613-546-0000 or contactus@cityofkingston.ca.
The City would like to remind residents that physical distancing remains essential as the local economy reopens based on the direction of the province.
10. LEGAL WALL! FINALLY! YEY!
Retaining Well in Doug Fluhrer Park Now a Legal Art Wall!
At the June 2, 2020 Council Meeting, City Council passed Report Number 20-118 unanimously that now acclaims the Retaining Wall behind Rideaucrest as a permanent Legal Wall.
We have been working on this since 2012 and are extremely happy that the dream has finally become a reality for any artist any time!!!
Now we just need the city’s Cultural Department to take on the ON THE WALL Street Art Festival every few years as well! Here’s hoping!
“Executive Summary:
The purpose of this report is to provide Council with an update related to the Legal Wall Pilot Project approved by Council in March 2019, implemented on July 1, 2019 and that concluded on April 30, 2020. The Pilot Project established the Rideaucrest retaining wall adjacent to Douglas Fluhrer Park as a legal wall for use by the community to create street art and murals. Staff were directed to report back to Council in Q2 2020 and this report is being brought forward to share the results of the Pilot Project and to request Council’s approval to make the Legal Wall permanent through an amendment to the Property Standards By-Law Number 2005–100, Section 4.17.
The Legal Wall Pilot Project has been received without incident and it is estimated that approximately 30 new murals have been created over a ten-month period.
During that period, there have been no major issues or concerns related to waste or environmental damage and there has been no evidence that the Legal Wall has been vandalized or used inappropriately.
Staff encountered only two minor issues during the course of the Pilot Project, but those issues were dealt with quickly and in collaboration with other City departments.
No public complaints have been received to date either.
Staff have also learned from the success of the Pilot Project and are looking to develop new initiatives designed to foster the creation of street art and murals as a component of the City of Kingston’s Public Art Program.
The Legal Wall Pilot Project responds to components of the City of Kingston’s Public Art Master Plan approved by Council in 2014 and also aligns with Council’s Strategic Priorities for 2019- 2022 to foster healthy citizens and vibrant spaces through the development of an Arts Walk that will leverage public art installations located along Kingston’s waterfront from Douglas Fluhrer Park, which includes the Legal Wall, to Lake Ontario Park.
At this time, staff are recommending that the Legal Wall be made permanent. However, this report also acknowledges the Pilot Project was established prior to the emergence of COVID-19 and the Legal Wall has not been available for use under the restrictions imposed by the Province of Ontario. Pending Council approval, the Legal Wall will be made available when the City and local Public Health officials can implement measures to resume in alignment with the latest Provincial orders. Recommendation: That Council approve the established Rideaucrest retaining wall adjacent to Douglas Fluhrer Park as a Legal Wall for use by the community to create street art and murals; and That Property Standards By-Law Number 2005-100 be amended, as outlined in Exhibit A to Report Number 20-118, to allow the Rideaucrest retaining wall located adjacent to Douglas Fluhrer Park to be established as a permanent Legal Wall for street art and murals.”
11. LaSalle Causeway Schedule Changes
Received from the Kiingstonist, June 4
“The LaSalle Causeway will remain on reduced hours for marine traffic until further notice, according to Public Services and Procurement Canada.
“Although Parks Canada has decided to reopen the Rideau Canal, important infrastructure work is ongoing at the Jones Falls and Kingston Mills lockstations, which remain closed,” Public Services and Procurement said in a press release on Tuesday, Jun. 2, 2020. “As a result, operations at the LaSalle Causeway will continue on a reduced schedule.”
This means the bridge will only open for marine traffic between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily.
Public Services and Procurement Canada announced in late April that the opening of the bridge to marine traffic would be delayed. Midway through May, the bridge was opened on the reduced schedule.
Kingstonist will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates as new information becomes available.
The LaSalle Causeway will remain on reduced hours for marine traffic until further notice, according to Public Services and Procurement Canada.
“Although Parks Canada has decided to reopen the Rideau Canal, important infrastructure work is ongoing at the Jones Falls and Kingston Mills lockstations, which remain closed,” Public Services and Procurement said in a press release on Tuesday, Jun. 2, 2020. “As a result, operations at the LaSalle Causeway will continue on a reduced schedule.”
This means the bridge will only open for marine traffic between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily.
Public Services and Procurement Canada announced in late April that the opening of the bridge to marine traffic would be delayed. Midway through May, the bridge was opened on the reduced schedule.
Kingstonist will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates as new information becomes available.”
12. COVID Concerns for Shipping Crews
Coronavirus strands merchant ship crews at sea for months, The Washington Post (Washington, D.C.), June 4, 2020 (also appeared at Time). Countries across the world have imposed lockdowns, shut borders and suspended international flights to curb the spread of the new coronavirus. The move was deemed essential to prevent rampaging contagion, but merchant ship crews have become unintended collateral damage. With more than 80% of global trade by volume transported by sea, the world’s more than 2 million merchant seafarers play a vital role. About 150,000 seafarers are stranded at sea in need of crew changes, according to the International Chamber of Shipping. Roughly another 150,000 are stuck on shore, waiting to get back to work. International shipping organizations, trade unions and shipping companies are urging countries to recognize merchant crews as essential workers and allow them to travel and carry out crew changes.
Crew Stories: Rising to the challenge of working aboard a Great Lakes-St. Lawrence ship during COVID-19,Chamber of Marine Commerce (Ottawa, Ontario), June 2, 2020. Canadian ship operators have created a detailed set of best practices to protect their crews and shoreside employees during COVID-19. Fleets from Algoma Central Corporation, Canada Steamship Lines, Rand Logistics, Inc., Groupe Desgagnés, McKeil Marine, McAsphalt Marine Transportation Services and Sterling Fuels are all part of the initiative, which was led by the Chamber of Marine Commerce. More than 85 Canadian-flag ships are participating – ranging from tug and barges and tankers to bulk carriers and general cargo vessels — all delivering goods throughout the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence, and the East Coast. The Chamber of Marine Commerce also interviewed a number of Captains for a series of articles highlighting how crews are working, living and coping aboard ships transporting vital goods in the bi-national Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region and the East Coast. Designated as an essential service during the pandemic crisis, crew members have gone to great lengths to adapt their work practices, often making personal sacrifices to ensure the safety of their fellow crew members and to ensure that food staples, manufacturing materials and energy supplies continue to be delivered in Canada and the United States. Here are their stories: Interview with Captain Peter Norman on the tanker AlgoCanada; Interview with Captain Ray Davis on the tug Sharon M; Interview with Captain James Ryan on the self-unloader freighter CSL Assiniboine.
13. What the Shipping Industry is Doing Re Climate Concerns
World Oceans Day: what is the shipping industry doing to clean the seas?, Ship Technology (New York, New York), June 8, 2020. Since 1992, every 8 June we celebrate the World Oceans Day to honour our seas and foster a global consciousness regarding the threats human activities pose to them. Given the direct impact of the shipping sector on marine ecosystems, the industry has and will continue to have a fundamental role in the sustainable management of oceans. To celebrate such an important date, five initiatives to protect and clean up the oceans from the shipping industry are listed in this article.
Canada leads push to safeguard world’s oceans, Modern Diplomacy, June 9, 2020. World Oceans Day on June 8 is a time to celebrate and honour the oceans that feed us, regulate our climate, and generate most of the oxygen we breathe. They also serve as the foundation for much of the world’s economy, from tourism and fisheries to international shipping. Careful management of this essential global resource is necessary for a sustainable future. Every year, an estimated 8 million tonnes of plastic waste end up in the world’s oceans from activities on land. Tackling marine plastic pollution is a priority, considering the impacts to economies, wildlife, and ecosystems. On World Oceans Day, we celebrate the efforts made worldwide to protect the marine environment. The Government of Canada is at the forefront of critical international efforts to protect the marine environment. As the country with the longest coastline in the world, Canada spearheaded the Ocean Plastics Charter under its G7 presidency in 2018.
14. Enbridge’s Tunnel at Straits of Mackinac
U.S. federal court upholds Enbridge’s plans to deal with potential Great Lakes spills, CBC, June 9, 2020 (also appeared in the Associated Press, in The Washington Times, in The Washington Post, in the Miami Herald, in the US News & World Report, in The Seattle Times, in the San Francisco Chronicle, in The Sacramento Bee, at Chron, at Yahoo! News, at SFGate and at KSL). Enbridge has produced legally acceptable plans for dealing with a potential spill from oil pipelines that cross a Michigan channel linking two of the Great Lakes, according to a federal appeals court. A panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last week overruled a district judge who had agreed with an environmental group that the pipeline company’s plans failed to adequately consider potential harm to fish and wildlife in the Straits of Mackinac. Enbridge, a Canadian company based in Calgary, Alberta, developed the strategy as required under the Clean Water Act in case of failure of its Line 5. The pipeline carries oil and natural gas liquids used in propane from Superior, Wisconsin, to Sarnia, Ontario. Enbridge says the 67-year-old segment has never leaked and remains in good condition. But the company plans to build a replacement in a tunnel that would be drilled through bedrock beneath the straits. Enbridge submitted two spill response plans in the past five years, both approved by the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
15. Health of Great Lakes + Lake Ontario Lake Level
State of the Lakes: Great Lakes stable, but rollbacks of protection will soon bite, Great Lakes Now (Detroit, Michigan), June 10, 2020. The overall condition of the Great Lakes has been assessed as “fair and unchanging” in the 2019 State of the Great Lakes joint report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Environmental and Climate Change Canada, published on June 3. The lakes were assessed on nine indicators of ecosystem health as part of the 2012 Great Lakes Quality Agreement between the United States and Canada. Two indicators – drinking water and beaches – were assessed as “good”, with fish consumption, toxic chemicals, habitat and species, nutrients and algae, groundwater, and watershed impacts assessed as “fair”. The condition of the lakes with respect to invasive species were assessed as “poor and deteriorating”, despite some recent success in reducing the number of new invasive species entering the lakes.
More Great Lakes trouble as new research finds Asian carp could establish in Saginaw Bay, FOX 2 Detroit (Detroit, Michigan), June 9, 2020. If one needed another reason to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes, it’d be found in a new body of research looking at the likelihood they could survive in parts of Lake Huron. A recent study finds bighead and silver carp – two invasive fish collectively known as bigheaded carp – are capable of surviving and establishing itself in Michigan’s Saginaw Bay. Creeping fears over what damage Asian Carp could do in the Great Lakes has grown in recent years, following research that looked at their potential for spreading in Lakes Michigan and Erie. In those studies, scientists factored in the abundance of food and possible habitats where the fish could breed. Asian carp have been spotted near the entrance of the Illinois River, which flows from Lake Michigan. To discourage their spread, electric and bubble barriers have been used to keep them from getting in.
Binational board anticipates declining Lake Ontario levels, Niagara Gazette (Niagara Falls, New York), June 8, 2020. Representatives from a binational group formed to monitor water levels along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River are not expecting flooding to be a major issue for shoreline property owners this year. Dr. Geneviéve Béchard of Ontario and Stephen Durrett of Ohio, co-chairs for the International Joint Commission, hosted an online discussion last month where they reported that Lake Ontario had reached its peak levels on May 5. The pair said the board anticipates water levels on the lake to continue to decline through the summer and through Labor Day, September 7.
16. The Defunding Police Issue
A lot has been in the news these days about this issue. I think we can all agree that more funding is needed on a number of social fronts including mental health, housing, drugs, dental care, poverty, the need for basic guaranteed income etc.
An interesting June 8 editorial in the Globe and Mail discusses the origins of the police in London in 1829 by Sir Robert Peel. The Peelian ideal with its nine principles of good policing is that the police would be impartial and would protect citizens rather than harm them – “the police are the public and the public are the police”. Worth digesting. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/article-want-better-police-follow-the-nine-commandments-of-good-policing/?symbol=print-msg
What went wrong? The past weekend Globe and Mail’s Opinion section (Sat. June 13) included a number of excellent articles addressing the defunding issue from a number of different perspectives. Definitely worth the two-hour read. Find it online.
What struck me most was a piece by Andrew Preston entitled “No end in Sight: The Militarization of US Police Forces is the Result of the Super-Power’s Perpetual and Decades-Long State of War in the Name of National Security”. It points back in time to the 1990s when Bill Clinton instituted the 1033 Program in 1997 when the US defense budget was coming down. It forced the military to send surplus military equipment to police forces. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-fight-with-power-in-battlespace-america-there-is-always-war-to-be/?symbol=print-msg , and
https://www.macleans.ca/news/world/who-the-real-extremists-are-in-america/?utm_source=OneSignal&utm_medium=WebNotifications&utm_campaign=MME_WN&utm_term=15-Jun-2020&utm_content=Extremists_America
The fact that half of city budgets are policing raises concerns. Is this money well spent? Could others deal with some of this work better? More cheaply? Is training appropriate?
My personal encounters with the Kingston police have always been helpful but then I’m an old white woman living in a downtown condo.
Here is an interesting link that shows ways where others could be employed to do some of the work – possibly both better and more cheaply. Worth considering
https://medium.com/@OfcrACab/confessions-of-a-former-bastard-cop-bb14d17bc759
17. New Active Transportation Initiative in Kingston
Huge thanks are due to: Janette Leroux, Bruce Bursey, Roger Healey, Patricia Collins and other AT enthusiasts, in partnership with Councillors Dougherty and Kiley and in collaboration with Ian Semple and other city staff to forge this wonderful initiative.
The Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour are happy to help by including the fund-raising efforts under our umbrella. DONATIONS WELCOME!
VISIT OUR WEBPAGE – www.friendsofinnerharbour.com to donate through Canada Helps
Passed unanimously at the June 16, 2020 Council meeting.
“Moved by Councillor Doherty; Seconded by Councillor Kiley
Whereas daily physical activity and time spent outdoors are tremendously important for peoples’ mental and physical wellbeing, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic; and
Whereas sidewalks and trails are sometimes too narrow and cycle lanes too close to sidewalks for people to be able to maintain physical distance while walking or riding; and
Whereas pedestrianization initiatives are being rolled out in municipalities across Canada and the world in response to growing needs for outdoor space due to COVID-19 closures and economic disruption; and
Whereas urgently re-purposing outdoor space is a critical strategy for preventing community spread of infectious disease in urban areas; and
Whereas Kingston Coalition for Active Transportation (KCAT) is well-positioned to take on a key collaborative role during these exceptional times, being well-versed in all official transportation planning documents, having been steadfastly engaged with council, city staff, Queen’s University researchers, other community groups, and neighbourhood associations over the past decade; and
Whereas the City has committed to “the engagement of residents on matters that affect their quality of life and their city”, to “facilitate more informed and inclusive municipal decision-making”, as per the Public Engagement Framework approved by City Council in October 2017;
Therefore Be It Resolved
That the City modify the existing road closure process, where possible, to pilot a “quiet street” implementation through the installation of signage, temporary fixtures, and by limiting vehicles to local traffic only; and
That the Kingston Coalition for Active Transportation (KCAT) be designated as the sole organization that may bring “quiet street” applications forward under this process in 2020; and
That the applications submitted for “quiet streets” demonstrate appropriate consultation with impacted residents and property owners to mitigate concerns related to access and safety; and
That under this pilot process KCAT, as the applicant, would be responsible for the quiet street implementation including signage, fixtures, and insurance; and
That road closure fees for such applications be waived for 2020; and
That the Transportation Services department be granted delegated authority to suspend, limit, or expand this pilot program as safety reviews or resources permit through 2020; and
That any “quiet street” implementation will be removed by November 13, 2020 or earlier at the discretion of the Public Works department to allow for maintenance and winter control; and
That the Transportation Services department report back on the safety and effectiveness of this approach in Q2 2021 prior to reintroducing or extending the pilot program.”
18.Interesting Short Video on how Maps Can Contribute to Racism
https://www.facebook.com/inthenow/videos/258516312255215
Definitely a must watch!
19. Ben’s Super Fun Fishing Video in Kingston’s Downtown
In case you aren’t aware, I am SO grateful to Ben Kelly for uploading all of the monthly newsletters and updates to the webpage – www.friendsofinnerharbour.com.
He is amazing and totally reliable. Great to have such a wonderful volunteer!
I had no idea until recently that Benje was also a fisherman – not to mention a videographer!
Here’s the link for a fishing video that he made partly in Doug Fluhrer Park last year. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/b325-5qk9qs
And here’s the link for his YouTube channel – called Conjuring Rock
https://www.youtube.com/conjuringrock
That’s it for a while. Enjoy the outdoors.
Cheers,
Mary Farrar,
President, Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour
www.friendsofinnerharbour.com
613-544-1246