kingston free press vol i no 3 01-05-2016

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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. 3 SUNDAY, MAY 1ST, 2016

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

Towering interests in downtown development

< Riana Zandra Colbert

Without a doubt development in downtown Kingston is on the

minds of many as we watch the transition of the old Capitol

Theatre site and the new 'two tower' development in the North

Block of downtown. These two new high-rise projects in downtown

Kingston are at the forefront of the discussion. One would be hard

pressed to find a single person who does not have an opinion on

the topic. Commentary is widespread and concerns that many have

are being loudly discussed in blog posts, letters, on social media

and in public meetings.

To summarize, three main points can be taken from these oft-

heard discussions:

a) Maintaining Kingston's historical aesthetic and appealing mid-

size scale is very important to many.

b) Many worry that downtown businesses and the downtown

community can't handle the influx of waste, traffic and chaos the

buildings will create during construction and that will carry

through as would-be new residents begin to settle.

c) Lastly, are high-rises actually the right answer for Kingston's

growing population? Some speculate that above and beyond the

genuine need for new housing stock, mayoral power-tripping and

lobbying pressure from tax revenue producing developers holds

heavier sway these days.

Yet, a salient point that hasn't arisen is the need to make a

distinction between these two projects. As a result, the idea of any

high-rise construction is ideologically rejected outright without

objective consideration of the value and implications of the

projects separately.

The Capitol Theatre site condominiums project and Homestead

Land Holdings' two tower development in the North Block will each

have different effects on the downtown. While they both stand to

change the physical characteristics of the downtown as has been

abundantly pointed out by many over the last year, they (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) each have separate implications for the economy of

downtown Kingston. For instance, the luxury condos of the Capitol

Theatre site will bring an influx of wealthier clientele but won't

actually address the needs of the growing middle class in Kingston.

On the other hand, the Homestead two tower development is a

mixed-use property which will include both residential and

commercial use. Though nothing is promised, this development model

at least provides potential leeway that could include more

affordable housing and increased space for local businesses. An

added provision in this proposal means the city will acquire new

parking structures to replace the lots where the development will

take place. This has the further potential to continue to develop

Kingston as an attractive site for tourism.

Though neither can be said to be an absolute good, conflating

the two projects risks misunderstanding important differentiations

that serve to help citizens make good decisions about life in

Kingston. It is important to know the facts and not just follow a

false dichotomy. Many of those who are in opposition to the

projects stand as a solid mass against 'the towers' as an idea cum

normative stance. As many of the same reasons and variations

thereof construct the weaker arguments against high-rise

development projects in downtown Kingston it is easy to summarize

this position and move on to what I and many others believe to be

the central issue with these projects. The issue has less to do with

the look and feel of downtown, or the length of the construction

period, or even the widely discussed ‘deadly wind tunnels’ that so

many fear will ruin our city: high-rises mean change.

Detrimentally, the sheer number of these ideological arguments

being put forth not only detracts from good arguments being made

concerning discontent for high-rises, but they risk unfairly

evaluating a genuine need for change. If we are not presented with

the facts, how can we make the best of our role in making these

difficult decisions as citizens?

At this point, citizens can continue to get involved by

participating in the statutory public meeting that has been

scheduled for Thursday, May 19 at City Hall at 6:30pm. This

meeting is specifically designed to provide members of the public

with an opportunity to provide feedback on the third draft of the

Official Plan. This plan is available on the city's website, and is a

hefty but informative read for those who have not had the

opportunity. (CONT’D 3)

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History in the crumbling (Photo: Frank Cybulski)

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(CONT’D 3) Further, there are many on Facebook joining together to

discuss these issues as community members. One such group is

Vision for Kingston, an online forum where "... residents

committed to a human scale, densified and accessible Kingston can

share ideas and resources", which is open to the greater public.

What is important to keep in mind through all of this remains

the fact that the guidelines we have for how we plan to support

growth in the city, does not reflect the needs, wants and

requirements of the city as a whole. This fact alone shouldn't

bring forth a resounding No, but an evaluation and proper inquiry

into how to improve the guidelines themselves. Working to improve

guidelines that can better reflect the diversity of desires in the

city will necessitate an improved mechanism for providing citizens

with factual information that can better inform their input. This

will go a long way to prevent further arguments constructed from

the inaccurate watered down crap derived from hearsay that too

many people base their opinions on.

- NOTE: Vision for Kingston will host an informative talk on

'densification' on May 11, 2016 at 6:30pm in the Wilson Room

of the Central Branch of the Kingston Public Library.

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Change For FIN: advocating for child survivors of violence

< Laura Garcia-Cervantes & Marci McMullen

When a child in our community is assaulted, the process of

investigating that crime looks almost exactly the same as it does

for an adult. Police stations and victim services rarely focus on

the child or make them feel comfortable. For the non-offending

caregivers, there is a need for guidance. What would a criminal

trial look like? What would happen to the child when the trial was

over? What happens if the abuser is found guilty - or worse, if

they are acquitted? It is necessary to create a friendly, safe, and

educational environment for children, youth and their non-

offending caregivers. This brings us to Change for FIN and their

plans for a Child and Youth Advocacy Center - the missing piece in

Kingston's justice system.

"It started personal, but it has since become political. The

process for a 4-year-old being assaulted is the same as for a 24-

year-old, or even a 44-year-old - only they lack access to the

same kind of support, as many of those agencies are in place for

people over the age of 16,” said an anonymous source.

Unfortunately, in the case of the family who inspired this

organization, the gaps between agencies and a lack of attention to

detail resulted in a difficult legal proceeding. Putting a child

through the process of questioning should be to have their voice

used as valuable evidence in the court of law, in a way that does

not foster re-victimization.

Change for FIN is a newly established organization in our

community that aims to support families in need by using a

multidisciplinary approach. Achieving a just outcome for both the

non-offending caregivers and the victim themselves is difficult,

particularly when a child is moving from official to official,

being prompted to relive a traumatic experience in an already

uncomfortable environment. Children can be sensitive and

unpredictable, so making accommodations, and meeting their unique

needs with snacks, breaks, and a play space is crucial to creating

an environment where the child feels comfortable enough to

disclose details with investigators. A multidisciplinary approach

allows for the input of doctors, involvement with counsellors,

education for the care givers, and a space for the child to tell

their story clearly - it is their right to be taken seriously in

the court of law. This is a growing need in our community.

- NOTE: Want to help Change for FIN? See Page 16 for info!

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

A carat for your thoughts? The ethics of Canadian diamonds

< Laura Dyer

As someone who works in the jewellery industry, I am

constantly asked about Canadian diamonds. People say they want

them because they’re ‘conflict free’ and they can ‘feel better’ about

buying them. Canadian diamonds are frequently cited as better

diamonds by consumers who distinguish them as safe alternatives to

the much publicized ‘blood diamonds’ of some African countries.

However, if you believe that Canadian diamonds are somehow more

socially acceptable then their overseas counterparts, there are

some hard realities you’re going to have to accept.

There has always been much criticism and distrust surrounding

diamond mining in Ontario and how it profits the province.

Currently there is only one diamond mine in Ontario, Victor Mine.

It is one of four operating on Canadian soil, and run by De Beers,

a multinational corporation which has also been dubbed by its

critics as ‘the world’s most successful cartel’. Since production

began in 2008, Victor Mine has pulled over 700,000 carats a year

from Ontario soil. It is projected to run dry by 2018, but the area

surrounding it is being explored by De Beers for further

development. The company’s financial reviews claim that they sell

each carat mined there for $560, a sum which would net them just

shy of $400 million a year.

In the same financial review there is a small detail about the

geographical area of the northern Ontario mine; Victor Lake is

approximately 90km west of the reserve community of Attawapiskat.

Attawapiskat is a name that has been on the tongues of many

Canadians this month as we’ve dusted off our indignation for the

utter squalor on the reserve. Assumedly it was dug up from

wherever we put it after the 2011 housing crisis that painted our

national headlines. Just as it did then, earlier this month

Attawapiskat declared another community crisis, this time to deal

with the high suicide rate in the area, particularly amongst its

youth. The country was shocked to learn that eleven people, mostly

youth, attempted suicide. Nearly 2,000 live in Attawapiskat, and

the reserve’s only full-time, provincially funded mental-health

position had been vacant since 2014, partially because of the

housing shortage.

Throughout the coverage of the current suicide crisis, there

was very little mention of Victor Mine’s close proximity to

Attawapiskat. If mentioned, it was usually to say that (CONT’D 6)

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Mining resources or plundering communities? (Photo: wikipedia.org)

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(5 CONT’D) unemployment is a problem on the reserve, though some

find work at the mine. De Beers has set up a trust fund of roughly

$13 million for the community, and in 2014 one million of this

fund was released to the community. It also claims 35-40% of the

mine labour force come from the Attawapiskat First Nation. The

Toronto Star estimated just this year that it would take $21

million to fix the housing crisis. It would cost around $260,000 to

build a four-bedroom home, and this total only covers about eighty

of the condemned houses in the community.

Estimates of the cost of resources to adequately deal with the

ongoing suicide crisis also range in the millions. The high

financial price tag is the grim reality for many First Nation

communities who continue to reckon with how they were treated by

countless governments who stole their land and abused generations

of their children in residential schools, part of a bid to erase

their ties to their language, community and identity. The

aftershocks of that kind of trauma are continuing to be felt

through issues like high suicide rates. This is the price tag of

colonization. It is a legacy too often dismissed by the rest of

Canada, and those who are privileged enough to profit off of said

colonization on an ongoing, daily basis. All while De Beers’ Victor

mine pulls $400 million a year from land that once belonged to

the Attawapiskat First Nation. Unsurprisingly, it was taken from

them through an extension of Treaty 9 in 1930.

A conflict diamond is, by definition, a rough diamond used to

fund armed conflict; in a literal sense, Ontario diamonds can’t be

given that label. However, ‘conflict free’ is certainly a misnomer.

Victor Mine was built on stolen land, by a multinational

corporation which is siphoning millions of dollars in resources

sold to them by a government whose claims are soaked in blood,

abuse, and theft. 90 kilometres west is a community that struggles

to provide basic care and resources to its people. Attawapiskat

receives a pittance of the almost $400 million a year profit from

what is being mined from their ancestral lands. Here is the hard

truth: there is no such thing as an ethical Canadian diamond.

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Supreme Court strikes down Conservative minimum sentences

< Frank Cybulski

A Supreme Court of Canada decision released Friday April 15th

struck down two laws passed by the former Conservative government

as part of their ‘tough on crime’ legislation. In a 6-3 decision, the

court ruled that minimum sentences for drug crimes violated the

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The majority of judges

recommended that future laws should have a narrower scope, or

that “Parliament could provide for judicial discretion to allow for

a lesser sentence where the mandatory minimum would be grossly

disproportionate and would constitute cruel and unusual

punishment.”

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Canadian cannabis legalisation set for spring 2017

< Frank Cybulski

In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly’s special

council on drugs on April 20th, Canada’s Health Minister Jane

Philpott announced the government’s intention to legalise the sale

of recreational cannabis in spring 2017. Claiming that the

criminalisation of drugs has seen “too many people suffer the

devastating consequences of drugs, drug-related crime, and ill-

conceived drug policy,” Philpott went on to explain that the

Liberal government would modernise Canada’s approach to drugs. A

task force on the issue has already been set up, chaired by MP and

former Toronto police chief Bill Blair.

While such actions place Canada on the forefront of cannabis

legalisation worldwide by national governments, several issues

continue to plague the Liberals’ efforts. Firstly, according to

Statistics Canada, approximately 60,000 Canadians are arrested for

cannabis possession each year; while the Liberals are promising to

legalise down the line, immediate decriminalisation of the drug

would bring an end to this, saving substantial sums in court costs

and police paperwork. Secondly, the inconsistencies between this

official line of eventual legalisation and the realities of the

continuing prohibition has plagued police departments and

municipalities across the country as they seek to find a balance

that the government refuses to provide; this legal grey area has

been filled by numerous recreational dispensaries. Third, if the

Liberals’ proposed plan forbids home growing or taxes the product

too highly, it would perpetuate the black market for the substance.

As the plan is worked on, more details should come forward.

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

Crisis in the Church of Scientology

< Scott Wilson

Things are not well at the Church of Scientology, and reports

are that they are going to get a lot worse. There is an inside

expose on the current leader David Miscavige’s estranged father

Ron Miscavige autobiography being released at the end of this

month, and an interview on 20/20 on April 29th. Ron Miscavige, one

time musical director at the Sea Org sect, has a powerful ally in

the form of Lisa Marie Presley - herself a once high profile

member now alienated from the organization - who is actively

orchestrating a PR campaign against the Church of Scientology.

This is by no means the only front on which the church finds

itself embattled. The Netherlands recently revoked their tax free

status, as has Russia. The German government is making ominous

noises on the subject and Belgium failed to make fraud charges

stick. One glimmer of good news was a court decision regarding its

ability to perform marriages in England has gone the church’s way.

This opens the way to a reapplication for tax exempt status. The

government of Great Britain is actively working to see this

doesn’t happen, and nobody but Scientologists are overly excited by

the prospect.

While their web site boasts ever increasing numbers of

adherents - the fastest growing religion in the 21st century - it

has stopped the practice of publishing actual figures. At one time

their literature listed addresses; now it directs you to the website

that will only tell you the mission nearest you. The venues are

getting smaller, and reports are that they aren’t filling the way

they once did. They had a boom of property buying in the mid-90s

in an effort to give the impression that they were expanding, but

these buildings remain mostly empty gradually getting more

derelict. The one in Montreal is under threat of sale by the

municipal government for arrears in taxes.

All the while the steady drumbeat of usury fees for courses

and suspect practices used on its flock; poor conditions for

employees and disassociating adherents from their families. There

is also the stories of persecuting apostates and armies of lawyers

descending on people that speak out. The Church of Scientology may

well be the low hanging fruit of religions; with its origins

within living memory and particularly bizarre dogma, it could well

be the first established religion to fail, and knowledgeable

spectators see it as a distinct possibility.

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(Photo: kremlin.ru via wikipedia.org)

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Russia launches first rocket from new Siberian cosmodrome

< Frank Cybulski

Roscosmos, the space agency of the Russian Federation, launched

a Soyuz-2.1a rocket from their brand new facility in the Russian

Far East, Vostochny Cosmodrome, on April 27th. Previous Russian

space infrastructure was located at a facility in Baikonur,

Kazakhstan, formerly a part of the Soviet Union. Since the

collapse of the U.S.S.R., Russia leased Baikonur from the

Kazakhstan government, but difficulties in this arrangement led to

the construction of a new spaceport. With the newly operational

Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia’s lack of domestic space launch

capability has now been rectified.

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Liberals approve weapons exports to Saudi Arabia

< Frank Cybulski

In a set of documents signed on April 8th and later obtained

by the Globe and Mail, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion

signed off on the sale of LAV III armoured personnel carriers to

the Saudi Arabian government. Given a choice between rejecting the

sale, sending it for further review, or approving it, Mr. Dion

chose to approve it. With this signature, the final hurdle in the

controversial weapons sale has been overcome.

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#PanamaPapers: who benefits?

< Frank Cybulski

The initial release of the so-called Panama Papers on April

3rd took the world’s economic elite by surprise. The collection of

documents from a Panama-based law firm, Mossack Fonseca, contained

the details of tax evasion and money laundering through the use of

off-shore banking accounts by numerous members of governments,

large corporations, and various other ‘leaders’ of society. The

International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), the

group behind the release of documents, is comprised of over 190

journalists in 65 countries, claiming to focus upon issues such as

“cross-border crime, corruption, and the accountability of power.”

The initial release of documents took aim at such individuals as

Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad and their associates - namely,

enemies of the West.

However, as the ICIJ gears up for further releases of

documents, the questions not being asked by most media outlets

have become increasingly obvious: who are these individuals, and

where is the funding for their project coming from. To begin with,

billionaire financier George Soros’ Open Society Foundation,

former U.S. President Gerald Ford’s Ford Foundation, the Pew

Foundation, and others in places of prominence in American society

and finance. Thus, while the consortium may claim to be on the side

of the little guy, they are, in fact, agents of the global (and

particularly Western) elite.

Those initially implicated in the first release of Panama

Papers were immediately seized upon by the sharks of the global

media as they caught the scent of blood in the water; the juicy

details of large sums being placed out of the grasp of national

governments in dire need of income were far too good to pass up. A

narrative of rich individuals created great interest in the public

and fueled high ratings for news networks and sales for

newspapers.

As the ICIJ continues its quest and releases further details

from the data bomb of the Panama Papers, it is important to ask

further questions and take the releases with a large grain of salt.

Whether members of the global elite engaged in tax evasion is not

in question, but who the ICIJ chooses to highlight in its releases

is another matter entirely. While good intentioned journalists may

be trying hard to create a more equal world, the unspoken agendas

of their funding sources must be kept in mind.

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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 (Mar)

Participation (Mar)

CPI (Mar)

Real GDP (Feb)

GoC 10yr Bond

Baltic Dry Index

1.25 CAD

1.83 CAD

1.44 CAD

0.95 CAD

0.012 CAD

0.19 CAD

569.36 CAD

13,951.45 pts

17,773.64 pts

4,775.36 pts

6,322.40 pts

16,666.05 pts

2,938.32 pts

4,500.43 pts

10,235.47 pts

1,953.01 pts

25,612.91 pts

1,998.68 pts

1290.5 USD

17.63 USD

305.3 USD

45.98 USD

0.16 USD

4.84 USD

3.91 USD

10.73 USD

0.6377 USD

1.22 USD

10.21 USD

7.1%

65.9%

127.9

$1,668B

1.48%

703

% Change (M/Y)

+3.7% / +3.1%

+1.1% / -0.1%

-0.7% / -4.5%

-1.1% / -4.8%

+1.4% / -11.4%

+0.1% / -0.1%

+9.3% / -19.4%

% Change (M/Y)

+5.5% / -9.5%

+6.8% / +2.0%

+6.8% / +3.7%

+2.2% / -7.1%

+1.6% / -13.1%

+11.5% / -32.8%

+0.8% / -9.3%

+5.0% / -12.4%

+1.39% / +11.1%

+11.0% / -3.69%

+3.4% / -4.7%

% 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%

+7.4% / -5.8%

% Change (M/Y)

-0.2% / +0.2%

+0.0% / +0.1%

+0.8% / +1.8%

-0.1% / +1.5%

+0.15% / +0.10%

+63.9% / +33.4%

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

Year 2030: Kingston, Ontario The Concrete City

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Deferred maintenance: the bane of industrial civilisation

< Frank Cybulski

The corrosion of steel is a silent and often deadly killer for

the vast infrastructure constructed in North America since the end

of the Second World War. The red glint of rust reveals the

significant deteriorating of crucial road and rail infrastructure

across the continent. While the oxidisation of iron may not

initially seem to be the great killer of industrial civilisation,

this process gradually sucks away the structural strength of

numerous structures, including bridges, highway overpasses,

airports, and gas, water, and electricity production and

distribution infrastructure - essentially, all the essentials we

take for granted.

The cost to maintain this infrastructure against corrosion was

estimated at over $500B annually in the United States alone. As

the growth spurt enjoyed in the post-war period fades into the

past, that which was constructed during this time becomes

increasingly old and subject to increasing structural weaknesses.

Difficult decisions will soon be upon Western civilisation as we

confront the creaking bones of our economic body. The cost of

replacing this infrastructure in whole may be far more than

depleted treasuries can handle.

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

Flexible streets: getting Kingston’s urban planning out of the 60’s

< Frank Cybulski

One only need hop in a vehicle and attempt to drive through

crucial intersections in Kingston at peak hours to realise the

significant issues faced by the city. Numerous intersections are

regularly jammed up, filled with cars and trucks blocking access

for others as they struggle to slide into small streets with lights

that are poorly adapted for the paths taken by most commuters.

Some major arteries are in dire need of reconstruction.

Kingston’s east end, for example, long used to being ignored by the

rest of the city, has a single deteriorating two-lane arterial road

(Highway 15) that leads to a single bridge (the LaSalle Causeway)

that cannot be upgraded. The situation has been exacerbated by the

continual expansion of suburban car-centric developments with no

regard for the supporting infrastructure. While upgrades are

being considered, they are bogged down in the city’s glacial

decision-making process. Traffic issues plague this sector of the

city, with only the mythical third crossing to abate them.

Though obviously the use of bicycles and transit should be

encouraged, the City of Kingston has fallen flat here as well. The

city’s ham-fisted attempts at introducing bicycle lanes have hardly

increased cycling, as cyclists are still faced with traffic zooming

close by on major roads. The creation of distinct bicycle routes and

median-separated bicycle lanes would greatly aid safety and

encourage cycling for those reluctant to suffer the risks involved.

In addition, though the expansion of Kingston Transit’s express

routes has increased transit use, further development is needed on

the creation of a true downtown bus terminal, and expansion of

park-and-ride services in the city’s outskirts.

Easing congestion does not necessarily mean the construction of

expensive, wide, pedestrian-unfriendly roads. Low-cost solutions

for these issues do exist, including the adaptation of existing

streets to maximise traffic flow, and the use of sophisticated

computer programming (in one case, developed by the University of

Toronto) to network ‘smart’ traffic lights that can adapt to traffic

patterns as they occur. Unfortunately, Kingston has all too often

fallen victim to NIMBYism; streets that could be used to divert

traffic from major arteries and intersections are now filled with

speed bumps. While this appeases a vocal minority, it all too often

leads to congestion that causes wasted time for commuters and more

pollution. Kingston’s urban planning must enter the 21st century.

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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

I remember when I first came to Kingston in 1980 looking for

a place to rent to start Brian’s Record Option. I came to an

upstairs place above which is now Art Noise (it used to be the A&P

in its day). The landlord looked me over up and down, and said the

rent would be $300 a month, everything included. I insisted on a

written lease which he didn’t want. I went to Lino’s Restaurant on

Division and wrote my first legal document of five pages, and

returned to the landlord asking for his signature he signed it and

I didn’t.

When my store was upstairs I didn’t always get a lot of people

in. I remember one hot sticky day in August, it was a million

degrees upstairs and I put a sign on my door. It was a person

building a canoe backwards and the caption read “Shit, I’ve got to

get a new part.” I shut the door and spent half an hour by the

H2O. When I came back to the store I walked up the steps and

smelled marijuana everywhere; when I reached the landing there

was a lineup to get into the store - a lineup of five. I can’t get

away with this now.

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

Blackie and Rodeo Kings were playing at the Alehouse, and I

was giving away tickets for the gig. A young kid came in to buy a

CD, and I asked him if he wanted a free ticket for the show. He

didn’t know who they were; after telling him about the group, I

asked him again if he wanted a free ticket. He looked at me and

said, “No thank you.” At the same time Tom Wilson from the group

was in the back of the store listening; when the kid said no

thanks, Tom came after the kid and said in a booming voice, “What

do you mean, you don’t want to hear us play?” The kid ran out of

the store. Tom asked me if I was going to the gig and I said,

“Maybe later.” On the way home I bumped into someone I thought

would want a free ticket and he asked me if I was going; I

responded “Maybe later.” At the show they gave me a plug and

asked if I was there (I wasn’t) - that person yelled “Maybe later!”

- 15 -


Show Review: Joel Plaskett @ the Grand Theatre

< Frank Cybulski

When I was scarcely 19, I almost saw Joel Plaskett at the X

Inn in Antigonish, Nova Scotia playing back-to-back solo sets with

Jeremy Fisher. I left after Fisher’s set, so happy to have seen

him; the lack of Plaskett has weighed heavily on me ever since.

On April 26th I attempted to make up for this oversight and

went to see Joel Plaskett and the Emergency playing at the Grand

Theatre. While the Grand is an unideal venue compared to the close

confines of StFX’s campus bar, Plaskett made the most of it. From

the very beginning, he brought out his particular blend of high-

energy indie-rock and acoustic folk. With almost non-existent

breaks between songs, he blended his story-telling with the music,

to our great delight. He didn’t let back despite battling a sore

throat, belting out old favourites like ‘Love This Town’ and ‘Face

of the Earth’, as well as songs from the Emergency’s latest album

‘Park Avenue Sobriety Test', and even some unreleased material.

Always his personable self, he did not hesitate to give this

author his final autographs of the day. Touring since he was a

teenager, Plaskett remains one of Canada’s finest indie live acts,

and one of the East Coast’s best recent musical exports.

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

Play Review: New & Used @ Brian’s Record Option

< Laura Garcia-Cervantes

After being given the name of an obscure record at the door, we

were shuffled through Brian’s Record Option and instructed to

search for said record within its skinny aisles (made only smaller

by the precariously stacked towers of vinyl). I wondered whether

this play would truly use its environment to its full potential, or

if we were destined to watch a live-action, glossy tour-guide

pamphlet. At last, the show began: two young women began to

converse loudly from opposite sides of the room - we knew it was

time to pay attention. The actresses, Audrey Sara and Hannah

Komlodi, moved briskly throughout the store, shoulders brushing

the audience as they squeezed by, with a constant back and forth of

comedic energy between the two opposites: new and used. I found

myself moving as close as I could to the action - smiling without

even realizing it as the actress depicting Used gushed about the

shop’s importance and history - at first met with resistance by

New, but slowly found common ground between the two. Highly

recommended for lovers of downtown Kingston, history, or music.

- 16 -


What’s Going On?

The Grad Club

- May 11th 9:00pm - Jason Collett, Zeus, Kalle Mattson

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

The Mansion

- May 6th 9:30pm - The Damn Truth; Osheaga preview of a rock

and roll band from Montreal.

- May 14th 9:00pm - Goodwood Atoms, Kasador; blend of

ethereal folk, electronic infected grooves and heavy hitting

climaxes

- May 17th 9:00pm - Royal Tusk, Fake Shark, Paper Ladies $10 advance ticket available at The Mansion, Brian’s Record Option,

Tricolour Outlet and online.

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

The Grand Theatre

- Heathers, The Musical

May 3rd to May 8th - Baby Grand Theatre

$20 General / $17 Students/Youth

- The Sam Shepard Series

May 7th to May 8th

$15 General / $10 Student/Youth

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

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

- Wednesday nights - Folk Wednesdays with John McLurg and

Chris Morris @ 8:00pm

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

Support Change for FIN!

- Come to their kick-off event on June 18th. There will be

artisans, vendors, a BBQ, bake sale, crafts for kids, live music, a

silent auction, radio stations, reporters, and CKWS. Help support

and make this dream a reality for local families in need.

- For more info, find them on Facebook or at changeforfin.com

Change for FIN: A Celebration of Hope: Saturday, June 18th 2016,

10am - 3pm 2495 Princess St, Haven Home ClimateCare

http://changeforfin.com/

- 17 -

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

Letters to Laura

< Laura Garcia-Cervantes

Dear Laura, I need to make a change. How I dress doesn’t reflect who I am anymore, but I’m hopeless at shopping and can’t afford to

just go out and buy a whole new wardrobe. Help? - Stuck in a Rut

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

Clothing is one of the easiest ways to express creativity, and a

style that works for you can do wonders for your self-confidence!

Maybe you need to dress for the job you want, or you’ve simply

come to realize that the person you once were doesn’t reflect who

you are now. Whatever your reason may be, change is good. The only

thing getting in your way is this pesky little tool called ‘money’.

The idea of shaking things up in your wardrobe may be fun, but

sometimes it isn’t possible to do it all in one big swoop. Sadly, we

aren’t living in a TLC makeover montage. While it can certainly be frustrating, you need to be patient. This process may take a whole

year to complete (especially on a budget) - but not rushing is

always worth it. Do the homework. Work with a plan incorporating a few new

pieces into your existing wardrobe. Search out some key elements

such as a beautiful belt, a scarf, or some funky earrings.

Pinterest is a great tool for fleshing out cost effective ideas- a

mini catalogue in your pocket - to remind yourself of what you

want so you don’t stray and waste money on items you don’t need. Take an honest look at what you already own. Go through

everything in your closet and get rid of those pieces that won’t

carry you forward. Be honest with yourself. Do those pants fit

anymore? Are you ever going to fix the broken zipper on that cute

dress you wore one time 5 years ago? Sure you had a great time

wearing it, but that was then and this is now. Salvation Army, Value Village, Phase 2, What’ll I Wear - not

only can you donate your recently purged clothing, but you can

find some pretty cool things in return for great prices! Follow

these steps and in no time that change you crave will come. Thrift shopping tips: 1. Go alone, so you don’t feel pressured to speed through your search. 2. Set a budget, which will force you to

be creative. $30? That could be an entire outfit - shoes included.

3. Find themes in colour. If you’re starting small, it would be wise

to buy things that already match, instead of only buying fun

statement pieces. A solid foundation for your future wardrobe will

make your transition that much easier.

- 18 -

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

This Month in the Planets

< Sophie Bramhall

Five planets are in retrograde this month: Mercury, Jupiter,

Saturn, Mars, and Pluto. Expect major turbulence - best of luck.

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

- Aries: If you don't stop

waiting for something to go

wrong, your premonitions might

just come true. It's hard to heal

when you rub salt into the

wound.

- Taurus: It's nice to stop and

smell the roses, but sometimes

you need to continue on your

path. Don't get too distracted or

you'll never reach the end of

the trail.

- Gemini: This month isn't

favourable for you, but

remember that things could

always be worse. Trust your

judgements and hold caution

close.

- Cancer: Are you sure you want

to continue watching? Put the

Netflix and take-out aside for a

night, all of your social

interactions are bountiful this

month.

- Leo: Don't go out without a

jacket; you're a reflection of

the weather. Just because you

feel the sun on your back,

doesn't mean you should throw

caution to the wind.

- Virgo: Having trouble coming

up with a plan? I know that

might stress you out but just

jump on stage and get started.

There's a surprise waiting for

you if you play it by ear.

- Libra: Yes, there are plenty

of fish in the sea. Some just

happen to be imbued with

mercury. It might be difficult,

but you need to focus on seeing

yourself for who you really

are.

- Scorpio: It is in your self-

interest to find a way to be

tender. It pays to kill with

kindness when you're feeling

like your own worst enemy.

- Sagittarius: Your flame is

brighter than you've ever felt.

You might burn some bridges but

worry not, from the ashes a

phoenix may rise.

- Capricorn: You've been having

trouble being decisive lately,

which is very unlike you. Take

it as a gift. Maybe some extra

time to evaluate is just what

the doctor ordered.

- Aquarius: You're surprisingly

comfortable with your emotional

detachment, but despite the warm

weather you've been feeling

colder than ever. Be patient and

clarity will find you; there's no

rush.

- Pisces: Communication is key

this month. Be careful with

your words or you might end up

biting your tongue. Bite too

hard and you could end up

drawing blood.

- 19 -

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

Lights by the Cliff

< Oscar Cadeau Not smart, not brave, and not especially pretty. When I go with

my friends, I feel like a burden, I feel like someone who’s just

there to ask the dumb questions. “Val,” Houda says, “Why we keep you around?” “I don’t know”, I don’t say. Instead I laugh. The bags hand off

my shoulders, all the necessary equipment. The ESP detector, which

has been on the fritz since it was invented, the infrared lenses

for our cameras, the cameras and the lights we spend so much time

documenting. It’s kind of weird we don’t just go to the lab and try

to put it all together. What are we looking for?

“The afterlife,” Skor says. He’s pretty adamant when I bring it

up. I wished I believed in an afterlife. But when I was twelve I nearly drowned. Water inflated my lungs like balloons, and for

days after my chest swished like a ripe coconut when shaken. Lying on the beach, my hair salty with the sea and my breath sharp and

pained, I cannot recall anything or anyone coming for me, except

people. I saw no light, and if I’d died I wouldn’t have seen one

either. All there is are people, and that’s all we’ve found.

We go out with the equipment every night, to the same field

that drops off into a sharp ravine. You can hear the water, but it

sounds like the wind if you don’t know. In the dark, it is very

easy to walk until there is no field left, and local legend says

it’s happened again and again. We bring lights. We know it is water we hear, under the

constant wind. We’ve tried to make contact with the spirits who

walked until there was no field left. All we find is people, people

who ignore us because we’re there every night. Like the wind. It is foolish to go without light. Now we always carry them. They

are strongest by the cliff.

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

Flightless Bird

< Jennifer Peruniak Wander in silence, you may or you might,

I wonder if this small bird will take flight? A darkness looms, a speck on the dotted line of time,

With incredible potential: fleeting within seconds of a beating

heart. What will catch fire will ignite.

What speck of darkness could change your life?

- 20 -

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

The Pit Yawns

< Eugene Cornacchia

on the way to the smoke shop

i pause at the yawning pit

construction machinery silent

in the sunday afternoon

sunshine

i watch the run-off water

pour from century old

vaulted-arch limestone sewers

a bleeding vein in this

earthly gash

pondering where the

rats have gone

displaced by all this

earthmoving

the young people make their way

to the neighbourhood

ice-cream shop

the laughing throngs

ever-smiling

driven by sunshine and spring

while a lone hulking man

golem-like

with the round full-moon face

of a sad child

holds his hands out

palms upwards seeking change

in the silence that is his alone

in eyes that know rejection

deep and long

i think of the crumpled bills in

my pocket

earmarked for the nicotine

monkey

shake my head in a

negative to him

turn my gaze

to the pit once again

the pit yawns while

a whisper of guilt flickers

behind my eyes

like the cormorants shadow that

flies overhead

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

I Am

< Eugene Cornacchia

i am

swimming

in a grey stone sea

forty years of limestone

i am

a half-smiling fossil

pressed in layers of pre-

cambrian rock

like a funeral flower

between the pages of a diary

i am

shaded

squinting at the sunlight

which might render me to dust

i am

bloodless grey

awaiting sunset

and the gentler touch of

moonlight

- 21 -

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

The Lost City of the King (February 17, 2021)

< Tracie Morgan

As you celebrated

Your Heritage

your citizens shivered

in the cold.

While you were busy constructing

a pretty new building

to celebrate other old and pretty

buildings,

they were torn down

to make way for boxes

to warehouse the wealthy

and the learned.

As you feasted on the heart

which made you great,

the homeless were sent away

and the poor were herded off

- out of sight

of the camera's eye.

You numbered yourselves

among the servants

of the Queen,

and allowed Her to sneak you

into back alleys to have

Her way with you

before running off, cackling,

with your money.

The little shops could

no longer afford protection,

the merchants headed West

in search of the gold

of wiser fools.

Those boxes now stand empty,

but for the rats,

and the handful of junkies

who now rule in

the City of the King.

Your Monument to Progress

is now merely another

broken down village

on the endless grey highway

lined with numberless

broken down villages.

My compliments to the Pastor.

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

Nocturne

< Eugene Cornacchia

the sun has set in amber blaze

the sky breathed out indigo

and breathed in charcoal black

an almost full-moon silver is now risen

while the crows are nested in their trees

the mirror reflects

neither past nor future

neither sorrow nor hope

the heart-soul holds quiet peace

in the dark of this night

distant pines whisper to me

the compass needle quivers

- 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

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

Pasta Genova

- Local Italian food -

Pasta, deli, cheese, & more!

234 Wellington St. Kingston ON

613-542-6414

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

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]

‘Frada’ purse, all the style but

none of the legitimacy: $40 OBO

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

Solid cherry wood dresser with

ornate gold handles. Some wear

but decent condition: $50 OBO

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

Gross job: scrub our compost bin

after the obnoxious previous

tenants dumped their freezer.

Low pay, no benefits. Biohazard

suit a must.

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

Civil disobedience summer camp:

learn how to fight the Man

with discipline and knowledge!

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

Wanted: free rocks for garden,

will pick up.

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

Services: life coach willing to

advise on anything. Call

anytime, I’m unemployed.

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

Missing: guiding principles for

living. If found, send to

Summerhill House on campus.

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

For sale: size 7 Adidas pink and

black sneakers. $35 OBO, pickup

only. I promise they don’t

smell... much.

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

One decomposing bird, hastily

buried. Take it away to the pet

cemetery, please.

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

Sparkle bottles: $25 each.

In search of: friends. I’m weird

and uninteresting but I have

money. Let me buy you a drink

or twenty?

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

Rant: pick up after your

children in parks. Tired of

stepping on Lego when I’m

drinking illegally at night.

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

Wanted: every plastic army man

you can possibly find for

backyard diorama. Will be

treated fairly according to

conventions of toy war.

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

Wicker dog toy box, dog toys not

included. $20 OBO

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

Wanted: old garden tools, will

pay in cash or beer. Help us

bring the yard to life!

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

Ouija board: nobody bought it so

I moved out and hid it

somewhere. For the new tenants:

exorcism recommended, good luck

finding it before they come!

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

Mint condition tabletop foosball

game: $30 OBO

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

For rent: shady timeshare

property in Florida. Not a scam,

I just want your money.

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

Announcement: women have

periods.

- 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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