City of Kingston Podcasts – Details, episodes & analysis

• Holiday impacts – No green bin or garbage pickup on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year's Day. Holiday transit schedules are also in effect. 
• Bird-Friendly City – Kingston earns entry-level Bird Friendly-City certification, following the naming of the cardinal and crow as official city birds. 
• City Council – Council seeks regional support to urge the province to build a new west end hospital and backs continued independence of local conservation authorities. 
• Accessible taxi update – Kingston Access Bus now manages eligibility for the Accessible Taxi Program; contact them to register. 

Holiday impacts

Bird-friendly City

City Council

Accessible Taxi Program

• Recycling Depot – The Kingston Area Recycling Centre depot will close Jan. 1, 2026 due to a lack of sustainable long-term provincial funding. 
• Awareness Campaign – 'See it. Name it. Change it!' launches to encourage the community to recognize and speak out against Intimate Partner Violence. 
• City Council – Dec. 16 agenda includes a new joint City–YMCA fitness and aquatics facility, and a motion to increase publicity about the benefits of measles vaccines. 
• Winter Services Response Plan– The City's Plan outlines supports available to people experiencing Homelessness, including emergency beds, overnight services, and warming centres.
• Toys for Tickets – Bylaw Enforcement thanks residents who participated in the Toys for Tickets campaign this holiday season. 

Recycling Depot Closure

'See it. Name it. Change it' Awareness Campaign

Council agenda

Winter Services Response Plan

Toys for Tickets

As Kingston continues to grow, its transit system must evolve to meet the changing needs of the community. That's why the City of Kingston is undertaking a Transit Service Review to develop a community-supported transit system that is designed with the future in mind. The City has partnered with Dillon Consulting Limited to create new guidelines for transit service and to conduct a comprehensive review of the City's transit system.

Learn from Ian Semple and Victor Copetti what is involved in the service review, why the timing is right for a service review now and how to offer feedback.

Get involved: https://getinvolved.cityofkingston.ca/kingston-transit-service-standards

What's Happening in Kingston This Week | Child Care, Accessibility Awards, Causeway Closures & More Welcome to Inside Kingston — your weekly source for quick, reliable updates on what's happening in the City of Kingston. In this episode:

🔹 Child Care & Early Years Plan – Take a 5-minute survey to help shape Kingston's next five-year child care plan.

🔹 Celebrating Accessibility Awards – Nominate a resident, business, or organization breaking down barriers in our community.

🔹 Council Meeting Recap – Councillors discussed clear-cutting at the former Davis Tannery lands and new customer service standards.

🔹 Lasalle Causeway Closures – The closure schedule is changing—check updated dates before you travel.

🔹 Wheels on the Runway – Come enjoy the day and give back to United Way at the YGK Airport on Sept. 20.

🔹 Ontario Tree Climbing Championships – Watch expert climbers compete at Lake Ontario Park Sept. 19–20.

📌 Links & Resources:

👉 Child Care Survey

👉 Accessibility Awards Nominations

👉 Council Meeting Highlights

👉 Causeway Closures Info

👉 Wheels on the Runway

👉 Tree Climbing Championships

What's Happening in Kingston This Week | Princess Street Renewal, Climate Champions & More Welcome to Inside Kingston, your weekly update on City projects, council decisions, community programs, and ways residents can get involved. In this episode:

🔹 Princess Street Renewal – Princess Street will get major reconstruction in 2026, including underground upgrades.

🔹 Construction update – The intersection of Johnson and Victoria Streets will close September 15–26 for sewer and road work.

🔹 Climate Champions – The Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions program gives residents funding and resources to lead green projects.

🔹 Council Updates – Council will review a new Customer Service Strategy and a report on the former Davis Tannery lands.

🔹 Intercultural Arts Festival – On September 21, enjoy performances, cultural pavilions, and info on City programs!

🔹 City Podcast – Kingston is pursuing Bird-Friendly Community certification and asking residents to help pick the City bird.

📌 Links & Resources:

👉 Princess Street Renewal

👉 Climate Action Champions

👉 Council Meeting

👉 Intercultural Arts Festival info

👉 Choose the City Bird

What's Happening in Kingston This Week | Construction Updates, Speed Cameras, Council Decisions & More

Welcome to Inside Kingston — your weekly source for quick, reliable updates on what's happening in the City of Kingston. In this episode:

🔹 Major Construction Updates – Substantial progress on Montreal Street/John Counter Blvd and Gardiners Road at the 401!

🔹 Automated Speed Enforcement – Automated cameras are rotating between school zones to slow drivers down and keep kids safer.

🔹 Council Meeting Recap – Councillors greenlit planning for Centre 70, Portsmouth Olympic Harbour, and the Memorial Centre, and approved new supportive housing purchases while keeping Kingston's 30% GHG reduction target.

🔹 Green Bin Exchange – Broken green bin? Learn what to do! 

🔹 Stay Connected – City Matters and Kingston Fire & Rescue updates are now part of the Community News email list. Subscribe today!

🔹 New Podcast Episode – Learn about Bird-Friendly City certification.

📌 Links & Resources:

👉 Gardiners Road

👉 Montreal/JCB

👉 Automated speed enforcement info

👉 Council meeting highlights

👉 Green bin replacement

👉 Subscribe to community updates

👉 Podcast episode

When people think of Kingston, they usually name the waterways as their favourite feature. But what if you were a bird and one of the more than 250 bird species in the region? You would probably name the Atlantic Flyway. You see, Kingston is on this this major migratory route and millions of birds travel on the flyway each year on the way to their breeding and wintering areas. With so many feathered friends passing through, the municipality's efforts to earn a Bird-Friendly City certification from Nature Canada is essential. 

In this month's episode, meet Karen Santucci, director of Public Works and Solid Waste. She is on Kingston's Bird Friendly team and the flying force behind the City of Kingston's bird-friendly certification efforts. We'll learn what goes into certification, why community partnerships are important, and what residents can do to keep our year round and migratory birds healthy and safe. 

What's Happening in Kingston This Week | Back to School, Parking Fines, UDSI & More Welcome to Inside Kingston — your weekly source for quick, reliable updates on what's happening in the City of Kingston. In this episode:

🔹 Back to School Safety – Keep crosswalks and sidewalks clear, and stop for crossing guards and school buses.

🔹 University District Safety Initiative (UDSI) – This runs through Sept. 7 with extra police and by-law presence, and nightly closures at Gord Downie Pier and Breakwater Park beach.

🔹 Parking Fines Increase – Fines for illegal parking rise Sept. 1. Parking rates stay the same!

🔹 Council Meeting Highlights – Topics include supportive housing, climate targets and visioning for the future.

🔹 Labour Day Burn Ban – A full burn ban is in effect; no open-air fires or fireworks.

🔹 Food Security Projects – Funding is available for local food initiatives and community gardens.

📌 Links & Resources:

👉 Back to School Safety

👉 UDSI Info

👉 Parking Fines Update

👉 Council Agenda

👉 Burn Ban Details

👉 Food Security Projects

📅 Stay informed and engaged with your city — hit Subscribe and tap the notification bell so you never miss an update!

Welcome to Inside Kingston — your weekly source for quick, reliable updates on what's happening in the City of Kingston. In this episode:

🔹 Bath Road Closure – Aug 26–30 Bath Road will be fully closed between Centennial Drive and Portsmouth Avenue from Tuesday, August 26 at 6 a.m. to Saturday, August 30 at 6 a.m. Detours will be in place for pedestrians, motorists, and Kingston Transit riders. The closure is required for CN to complete important repairs to the road surface and railway signals.

🔹 Extended Transit Customer Service Hours Have questions about trip planning or a lost item? Kingston Transit now offers expanded customer service hours, including Saturday availability, at 1181 John Counter Blvd and by phone.

🔹 New Car-Share Pilot with Communauto This summer, Kingston launched a car-share pilot in partnership with Communauto, providing residents with convenient, affordable access to vehicles. Ten sites are already live across Kingston, with more coming soon.

🔹 Artillery Park Closure – Sept 2–14 A heads-up for fitness and recreation users: Artillery Park Aquatic Centre will close September 2 to 14 for annual maintenance. That includes the pool, gym, fitness centre, and meeting rooms. Members can access other recreation facilities during this time.

🔹 Climate Action Fund – Apply by Aug 29 If your charity or non-profit is working to make Kingston greener, apply now to the 2026 Kingston Community Climate Action Fund. Funding supports projects like energy retrofits, EV purchases, and other emission-reduction efforts. Applications close August 29.

📌 Links & Resources:

👉 Road Closure Info: https://www.cityofkingston.ca/news/po...

👉 Transit Hours: https://www.kingstontransit.ca/

👉 Communauto Car-Share Details: https://www.cityofkingston.ca/news/po...

👉 Artillery Park Closure Info: https://www.cityofkingston.ca/news/po...

👉 Climate Action Fund Application: https://www.cityofkingston.ca/climate...

This episode of 'Tell Me More' features Tracy Snow, the Manager of Rural Economic and Community Development for Kingston. Tracy shares her journey and details her role, focusing on initiatives to support rural communities, small businesses, and agribusinesses in Kingston's countryside and Pittsburgh districts. She highlights the city's efforts to create stronger connections with rural residents, including projects like the Rural Community Program Fund and collaborations with health services and libraries. Challenges such as transportation and infrastructure are discussed along with ongoing solutions. Tracy also emphasizes the importance of agriculture and the role of partnerships in enhancing rural life. Innovations like the new food framework aim to bridge the gap between urban and rural areas, showcasing Kingston's creative approach to community development.

To find out more about these programs or to connect with Tracey, visit our website.