Kingston Live is a monthly podcast that offers up behind-the-scenes insight into the Kingston music scene. If you’re looking to learn more about the city’s emerging artists and where to see them play live, you’ll find it here! If you’re a resident music lover or visitor looking for the inside scoop on Kingston’s local music scene, it’s a perfect fit for you, too.
Originating in 2015 Queen’s University, Kasador wears the label “Kingston band” well with family connections to The Hip and a history of performing all over the limestone city. Cam Wyatt and Boris Baker discuss the making of their first full-length album including the logistics, the inspiration, the creator behind the artwork and more (it’s releasing in September right before Rocking the Big House at the Kingston Pen), plans for their current tour out west and the importance of radio-play in a time of streaming. Listeners will also get a chance to listen to a single from the album, Brood and Bloom.
John and Riley go on location to the Grand Theatre to chat with Program Manager, Jayson Duggan. They discuss the history of one of Kingston’s most historical and prettiest live venues, its beaming reputation with artists, their favourite Grand Theatre memories, and the plans for the upcoming season Grand OnStage programming which includes a variety of performances at every price point. Find out who you can look forward to seeing perform at The Grand and learn about the perks of subscribing to the program.
Mid-show, Johnny and Riley follow the tradition of listing every show worth attending in the Kingston area from now until September.
Firebird Sessions
Speaking of shows happening this summer in Kingston, their next guest is Selina Chiarelli, the founder and host of Firebird Sessions at Musiikki Café, which showcases female jazz musicians. Selina calls it a “Female Forward Jazz Jam,” explaining “as artists, women are encouraged to explore where we want to go, what we want to express and how we want to do that. By taking ownership of our own expression, we’re releasing ourselves from unspoken factors that hold us back or constrain us to certain aesthetics.” She adds, “I’ve spent a lot of my life feeling like I have to sound a certain way, choose a certain repertoire.” And, “It’s really about sloughing off those restrictions that are imposed on us and trying to find a space where we can get funky with it.” Selina touches on how Firebird Sessions originated, its importance and highlights upcoming performers.
Look out for new podcasts every month to stay up to date on the Kingston music scene! The Kingston Live podcast is syndicated to all major podcast platforms. Find them wherever you get your podcasts and make sure to subscribe: Soundcloud, Spotify, iTunes, TuneIn and Stitcher. They also air on Wolfe Island Radio on Tuesday and Thursdays! You can also follow them on Instagram.
Four music festivals keep the rhythm alive this month, while the Princess Street Promenade, Kingston Women’s Art Festival, and The Kick & Push Festival make their return.
Back for its fifth year, this unconventional theatre fest features award-winning Canadian and international works across eight downtown venues. The point is to challenge what theatre is or could be, so don’t be surprised if your seat isn’t in an auditorium. Take “Tales of an Urban Indian” for instance (pictured), the story of an Indigenous man who grows up on the reserve in British Columbia and in Vancouver. It’s staged on a moving city bus that visits locations matching those of the play’s plot.
Kingston’s main drag will be closed to traffic between Ontario and Division Streets once again this August for this bi-annual street fest. Local businesses, community groups, and restaurants will replace all of those wheels with activities that have, in the past, included everything from robot demonstrations to a climbing wall to pop-up food events.
Wolfe Island’s yearly indie music fest is heading completely inside this year. “It is going to be a hall party!” says the festival’s artistic director Virginia Clark. “Lots of fun and super intimate with a great mix of local artists with some Canadian legends.” The Sadies (pictured), NQ Arbuckle, and Emilie Steele will be there on Friday, while on Saturday the lineup includes Born Ruffians, Ice Cream, Charlotte Cornfield, and Jim Bryson. Local food vendors will be there too, as will MacKinnon Brothers Brewing, Collective Arts Brewing, Oasis Juices, and Top Shelf Distillers.
The other island-based music festival this month happens on Amherst Island on a 100-acre beef farm facing Lake Ontario. Expect a range of musical styles at this one, including country, Celtic, bluegrass, and 50s rock ‘n’ roll. Sixteen bands will take to the stage over the three days, including Saturday’s headliner Little Caesar & The Consuls (pictured), a rock ‘n’ roll dance band that once included Robbie Robertson and, decades ago, shared the stage with The Beach Boys and The Rolling Stones.
More than 7,000 people are expected at this three-day sheep corralling competition that attracts visitors and handlers from all over the globe. Dock Dogs Worldwide and Kingston Police’s K-9 team will be there to perform, too. Plus, bring your own dog to the trials, and let them loose on the canine adventure lure course and in the doggie playzone. There will be a marketplace onsite as well, where you can pick up anything your furry friends might need.
More than 80 powerboats from across North America will be on Kingston’s waterfront this August. Get up close to them at the docks on Friday night while enjoying the live music, and then head back on Saturday for the big race. The boats will take off at 10 am, dashing to five checkpoints throughout the 1000 Islands where drivers draw a playing card at each. The object is to have the best poker hand at the end of the run. Saturday night’s festivities will include more live music in Confederation Park.
This big ol’ field party is back for its fifth year at the MacKinnon bros’ brewery just outside of Bath. The live music is the big draw, which this year includes rockers The Beaches, Fast Romantics, Brother Elsey, Chris Koster, and eight other acts. But there will also be lots of craft beer of course, plus food trucks, brewery tours, and games for kids and adults (giant Jenga, anyone?). Check the website for the shuttle bus details from Kingston.
What started in the late 1970s as a small fest with about 50 artists has grown into one of the biggest art fests of the year in the city. It now features over 200 female artists working in everything from sculpture to photography, a full day of music and dance, a silent auction, a children’s activity area, local food vendors, and over 4,000 visitors. After expenses, all monies raised are donated to organizations that support women and children who live in Kingston and the surrounding area.
Over 100 hours of live blues music will be pulsating from downtown parks, clubs, and street stages once again. The big headliners this year include New Orleans-born Kenny Neal (pictured), who recently won the Contemporary Male Blues Artist of the Year Award at the Blues Music Awards (Saturday, Springer Market Square); Kansas City’s Danielle Nicole, who won the Contemporary Female Blues Artist of the Year Award at this year’s Blues Music Awards (Friday, Princess Street Stage); and Australia’s Lachy Doley, who’s been called the “Jimi Hendrix of the Hammond Organ” (Thursday, Confederation Park).
$20/all-access bracelet
Clear some space this month for Kingston concerts!
10 Can’t-Miss Concerts this August 2019 in Kingston
With four music festivals, a free concert from Moist, and a handful of smaller gigs from the likes of Deux Trois and others, August will be a great month for live music in Kingston. Here are 10 shows to get you started.
The frontman of local rock band Kings of the Cold takes it down a notch at these weekly Thursday night gigs, preferring to show off his singer-songwriter chops. Typically armed with just an acoustic guitar and his gravelly voice, Woodland plays his own original music, but also covers artists like Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Steve Earl, The Tragically Hip, and The White Stripes.
This annual free concert will be headlined by legendary Canadian rock band Moist, who have reunited this summer to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their breakthrough — and four-time platinum — album “Silver”. Singer David Usher, guitarist Mark Makoway, keyboardist Kevin Young, and bassist Jeff Pearce all spent some time living in Kingston, so this should be a homecoming of sorts. Kingston indie rockers Paper Ladies will open.
Country music has a long of history of comedy and irreverence, and Kingston’s Clem Chesterfield fits right in with his brand of old-time country and western music. Clem sings and plays acoustic guitar, and is accompanied by bass, drums, fiddle, mandolin, and sometimes electric guitar. Some songs are originals, some are covers of Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, Neil Yong, and others. As Clem says: “I tip my dusty ol’ hat to cowboys and rebels and everyone that might be an outlaw by nature.”
With bands like Born Ruffians and The Sadies playing Wolfe Island Music Fest this year, it’s tough to pick a favourite. But I have to go with this multiple Juno-nominated alt-country outfit, a five-piece that’s played some legendary shows at The Grad Club and elsewhere in Kingston over the years. Don’t be surprised to lose your voice at this one as you sing along with Neville Quinlan’s self-deprecating, booze-filled tunes of small towns, heartbreak, and history.
$40 (includes NQ Arbuckle, The Sadies, and Emilie Steele)
Little Caesar & The Consuls (Emerald Music Festival)
Sixteen bands will take to the stage over the three days of this annual music fest, but the biggest draw will likely be Saturday’s headliner, Little Caesar & The Consuls. Formed in 1956 and once including a young Robbie Robertson, the group is now Canada’s oldest rock ‘n’ roll dance band. In the 1960s, they recorded multiple hits, including “Hang on Sloopy” (#1 in Canada and Top 50 in the U.S.), and shared the stage with The Beach Boys and The Rolling Stones.
It can’t be easy being in a band made up of members dispersed across the Yukon, but this country-roots outfit definitely makes it work. Straddling traditional and contemporary roots influences, their music is, as they say, “reminiscent of old-time dances in hotel taverns and barrooms, barns, kitchens, and saloons.” Think guitars, mandolin, double bass, fiddle, and banjo.
It’s tough to put this Kingston pop fourpiece in a category, but they describe themselves as post-punk and new wave, concept-heavy and post-classic rock. However you categorize them, expect dark pop, driving rhythms, and heavy guitar — an overall heart- and fist-pumping experience. Ottawa lo-fi experimental band Empty Nesters plays this show too, as does Kingston indie rockers Emilie Steele & The Deal.
$10
Photo via The Beaches Facebook
The Beaches (Back to the Farm Beer and Music Festival)
Toronto’s alt-rock, all-girl band The Beaches headline the MacKinnon Bros’ annual field party this year. Fresh off their 2018 Juno win for Breakthrough Group of the Year, the band has been spending the summer in the U.S. touring with Passion Pit. With danceable beats, glam- and garage-rock influences, and killer guitar riffs, they should be the perfect end to this all-day music fest.
Kansas City’s Danielle Nicole will headline the Princess Street Stage at this year’s Blues Fest. In May, the singer and bass player took home two pieces of hardware at the Blues Music Awards — Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year and Instrumentalist-Bass — so look forward to a true professional pushing the boundaries of blues music. As she says: “I grew up playing the blues, and the blues is still a big part of what I do. But now I’m reaching out more and trying different things.”
Saturday’s Blues Fest headliner is the legendary New Orleans-born Kenny Neal, who was nominated for a Grammy in 2017 and was named Contemporary Male Blues Artist of the Year at this year’s Blues Music Awards. Known as a modern swamp-blues and multi-instrumentalist master, Neal draws heavily from the sizzling sounds of his native Louisiana. He knows those sounds well, having played in his first band at age 13 and, at 17, landing a job playing bass for Buddy Guy.
$20 (includes all blues fest shows)
Get the inside scoop on Kingston’s live music scene and check out the latest music festivals and events on our music site.
Kingston Live is a monthly podcast that offers up behind-the-scenes insight into the Kingston music scene. If you’re looking to learn more about the city’s emerging artists and where to see them play live, you’ll find it here! If you’re a resident music lover or visitor looking for the inside scoop on Kingston’s local music scene, it’s a perfect fit for you, too.
Johnny and Riley kick off this week’s episode discussing their personal highlights from the YGK Beer Festival before moving into a conversation with local musicians Ben and Nadia of Deux Trois about their debut album, Health. Then Johnny and the show’s writer, Pete, learn about the logistics of running an instrumental lending library from the President of Joe’s M.I.L.L (Kingston’s Musical Instrument Lending Library).
The members of Deux Trois come from a mix of musical history in Kingston – from Nadia Pacey’s solo electronic project Konig to bands like Warmer, Carvings, and PS I Love You. Nadia and Ben of Deux Trois discuss the making of their debut album, Health. Nadia touches on how it was influenced from the bandmate’s different styles—post-punk, indie rock and punk – a mixture of what they all love. Nadia also talks about what it was like working with local producer, Matt Rogalski. Both Ben and Nadia discuss the concepts for their music videos and how the use of visual artistry in the music industry has changed due to accessibility of technology. And like many local artists on this podcast, Nadia praises Kingston for its unique music scene, she says, “Kingston sits in this perfect place between cities. You get this influence; like a cloud sitting over it. It’s a little bit grey. You feel like an outsider looking in, because you’re not in a large hub. But you’re not in a tiny town either.” They cap off their interview by premiering their new single, Good News, for your listening pleasure.
Mid-show, Johnny and Riley follow the tradition of listing every show worth attending in the Kingston area from now until the end of summer. Very key if you’re looking to fill the rest of your summer with the best memories!
Johnny takes on the second interview with the show’s writer and his brother, Pete. They two sit down with the President of Joe’s M.I.L.L (Kingston’s Musical Instrument Lending Library) Terry Schneider and Chris Morris Festival co-ordinator of Homegrown Live (which raises money for Joe’s M.I.L.L) . The lending library makes instruments accessible to all musicians. And it’s the first of its kind. They have more than 1100 items available from woodwind instruments, brass and percussion to guitars and keyboards. Terry and Chris share how Joe’s M.I.L.L began and discuss the logistics of offering such an incredible service to the community. They started with 450 loans a year 11 years ago and they now lend out 6000 times a year – pretty amazing! They also share how you can take out your very own instrument if you’re wanting to experiment.
Look out for new podcasts every month to stay up to date on the Kingston music scene! The Kingston Live podcast is syndicated to all major podcast platforms. Find them wherever you get your podcasts and make sure to subscribe: Soundcloud, Spotify, iTunes, TuneIn and Stitcher. You can also follow them on Instagram.
In the age of connection, the saying “home is where the WiFi is” has never been more accurate. But let’s be real, we all want to stay connected beyond our homes. Usually, a restaurant with WiFi brings to mind cafes with students taking up all the tables; but not in Kingston. It’s easy to share our Limestone City’s world-class cuisine with your entire network.
Some people say you should just live in the moment, and we’re not denying that! But, it’s nice to know you won’t get fifty dollar data charges every time you head out for a delicious meal. Whether you’re looking for casual pub food or fine dining, we rounded up some of the top spots in Kingston that offer WiFi!
Crêpes and WiFi? It’s the pair we didn’t know we were missing. Locally owned, this Kingston favourite serves their legendary crêpes made with local ingredients and seasonal produce to a loving fanbase. Head here for an intimate cafe experience with a huge menu. From Tuscany, Bombay, and smoked salmon crêpes, to Canadian waffles and White Pecan lattes—there is something for everyone here.
With a view and food this beautiful, you can’t help but share it. Send those snaps of your locally sourced Ontario Beef Tenderloin, Ceviche Tostadas, or Cauliflower Steak with the lake as the backdrop without worrying about data charges. All guests of AquaTerra, The Vu lounge, and the Delta Hotel can enjoy WiFi on the house. Plus, with the Chef’s Test Kitchen Menu, creating and testing new dishes every day, you’ll have plenty of reasons to head back here.
Sitting on the shore of the Cataraqui River is the River Mill, one of Kingston’s finest dining experiences. The beautiful heritage building is anything but dated, offering an innovative menu featuring fresh and local produce with dishes like Buffalo Mozzarella Panzanella Salad, House-Made Ricotta Gnocchi, local Wagyu Beef Burger and more. Combine that with the modern decor, excellent wine service, friendly staff, and free WiFi and you’re in for a meal to remember!
Dianne’s uses four words to sum up their popular waterfront East Coast/Mexican restaurant: surf, turf, tacos, and tequila! Another one we’re throwing in there? WiFi (duh). Dive into their fish n’ chips, oysters, Mexican BBQ, grilled steaks and more for a Mexican fiesta without ever needing to disconnect.
Tango is known for its innovative tapas, amazing atmosphere, and delicious wine list. And it’s only fitting that they would have WiFi for you to stay connected as their entire menu is centred around Tapas, a style of dining designed to encourage conversation! Share some Tuna Poke Nachos, Kumpir, Grilled Octopus Pintxo with your friends at the restaurant while staying connected to the ones at home!
Flavours of India is a must-visit in Kingston. With Head Chef Mainul Chowdhury (from Curry Original) combining fresh ingredients with the perfect balance of spices and flavours, you can’t go wrong with any dish here. Try out a Korma, a spicy Vindaloo, a Biriyani and more! And if you order too much? Just use their complimentary WiFi and message a friend to come to join you and share in the feast!
Looking for a dish worthy of your Instagram feed? Look no further.
It might be September but the days are just as warm as they were last month, and our line up of events is just as hot. Clear your calendar for the Multicultural Arts Festival’s 10th-anniversary celebration, Kingston WritersFest, the 6th Annual Kingston Family Fun Fest, and arguably the concert of the year — Rockin’ the Big House featuring some of Canada’s favourite artists.
Do you have a Kingston event you’d like featured on our monthly list? Add it to our events calendar for consideration!
Kingston can’t always decide if it’s a city for beers or bands—truth is, it’s both.
The street signs tick off pubs and bars, crammed with regional beers, and play host to the musical acts rocking the city’s weekends. For beer connoisseurs doubling as music fans, there’s no better town for a pub crawl and a sampling of the city’s music offerings. Here’s a list of signature local drinks to kick off your musical journey and pub crawl in the Limestone City.
By the waterfront, there’s the Merchant Tap House, a classic lamplight pub with dark, lacquered floors. The house stage in the corner was a launching pad for luminaries like The Glorious Sons, who cut their teeth honing their timeless sound in the pub.
It’s best to start the night right with a Skeleton Park Amber. The titular brewing company’s signature beer, a pint of Skeleton Park is hoppy, caramel chaser and a perfect introduction to bar-hopping live stages in the city.
A weathered staple, The Toucan’s famous for two things: pints of Guinness and the stage near the back. The latter is where student bands aim when they want to reach the city’s long-term residents; the former is what brings the crowd, in addition to seeing fresh musical talent, of course. However, Kingston’s breweries stack-up against any import.
For example, local brewer MacKinnon Brothers Crosscut is darker than most lagers, slipping past dad-beer status to reveal a more refined taste than you initially bargained for. What better way to celebrate a stalwart stage that continues to serve musical surprises while keeping a loyal base of music fans. It’s a community, music, and a brewery’s best all in a single bar.
Musiikki Café, meanwhile, is less bar, more experience. There are old books on the shelf, a stage buried in its storefront window, and a face-to-face intimacy that means a change of pace. Its open mic nights are famous and host next to every genre, from folk to jazz. It’s a cultural nerve centre. And, whether it’s a professional or an amateur on stage, it can be a spell-binding experience.
At the bar, it’s a chance to sample Waupoos Cider from the County Cider Company, which is a short drive south of the city in Prince Edward County. It’s crisp, light, refreshing and matches the energy on stage.
The Mansion is a crossroads for a city that blends together styles and genres to create something unique to itself.
Students mill around with long-term residents; emerging artists open for touring acts on their from Montreal to Toronto and multiple rooms cater to a town that fell in love with its bands. Close-off your night catching a headliner at this landmark establishment, and then grab a Kingstonian tribute to a Canadian musical icon.
Celebrate future Juno winners taking the stage with a collaboration between Sam Roberts Band and Kingston’s Spearhead Breweries. The Sam Roberts Band Ale is a combination of American and British ales and a much-needed, hop-filled conclusion to any musical tour of the city.
There’s nothing more complementary to watching a local band on stage than a pint from a local brewery.
Get the inside scoop on Kingston’s live music scene and check out the latest music festivals and events on our music site.
2019 marked the 30th anniversary of the Kingston Pride festival and this year’s theme—Remember the Past, Create the Future—celebrated its legacy with record-breaking attendance.
Photo by Mary Ann Wamboldt
From its humble and stressful beginnings as a ‘sidewalk stroll’ in 1989 (they couldn’t get a parade permit) to this year’s parade of over 450 people, Kingston Pride has come a long way in 30 years. Ruth Wood—who’s served as chair of the board for 2 years now—spoke to a community member who was at the first Kingston Pride. “They said it was a very small group of people quite nervous, kind of rushing down the sidewalk.”
Photo by Mary Ann Wamboldt
Wood says the festival continues to grow each year: “We have more involvement from the Kingston community, people who support us in a number of ways, and the growing level of acceptance makes us [the LGBTQ2S+ community] more of an entity to the wider community.” She continues, “it’s become more attractive to people visiting Kingston from other places.”
Though the festival has grown, it’s not as wild as pride celebrations in larger cities which gives it a uniquely grassroots vibe. “It’s a different experience,” says Wood. “It’s smaller so it’s not as crowded and the parade doesn’t take as long to go by.” Wood encourages people from other cities to attend Kingston Pride for its friendliness: “When you visit Kingston for Pride, you’re coming into an area where people will welcome you.”
In no way does this mean the celebration is dialled back, as even the Mayor was in attendance to re-sign the Kingston Pride Month Proclamation. “It’s wonderful to be in a large group of people walking down Princess Street.” Wood Continues, “it grows every year: more floats, more people watching the parade go by, cheering us on—just a lot of fun.”
From left to right; Treasurer Anne-Marie Kooiman, Chair Ruth Wood, and 2019 Festival Director Ted Robinson. Photo by Wihse Green, Green Touch Photography.
There’s also the community fair where various organizations and vendors set up booths on the Saturday in Confederation Basin. Treasurer Anne-Marie Kooiman says, “seeing the influx of happy people, proudly bringing their colours into the park and the general positivity this creates is an amazing experience.”
Photo by Mary Ann Wamboldt
The festival is organized annually by Kingston Pride Inc. (KPI), a not-for-profit organization that is governed by a volunteer board of directors, currently with 6 members. The board is responsible for the orchestration of the parade and community fair, but other members of the community contribute events to the schedule as well. Kooiman says it’s no small task: “It takes a full year to plan and work up to the festivities.”
Photos by Mary Ann Wamboldt
Wood says, “the festival is wide-open to anyone who wants to be there.” Inclusivity is always a key factor for any pride event, so it’s important to the board as much as possible to have a wide variety of events in physically accessible spaces. They also make sure to feature events with and without alcohol in order to include people of all ages in the festival.
Photo by Mary Ann Wamboldt
“Kingston Pride is a focal point for the [LGBTQ2S+] community,” says Wood. “We don’t speak for the whole community—it’s extremely diverse—but we try to be there and advocate for everybody in the community.” There is room on the board for up to 10 people, and members change often, so the board encourages people who are interested in helping with next year’s festival to register to volunteer at kingstonpride.ca.
The board’s vision for the future is to continue to improve the festival to better reflect the diversity of Kingston’s LGBTQ2S+ community. “We hope to engage with our local indigenous communities to strengthen our ties and recognize the contributions of two-spirited people,” says Kooiman.
For someone like marathon swimmer Vicki Keith Munro, who in 1988 swam across all the Great Lakes, was the first person in 1987 to do a 104 kilometre double crossing of Lake Ontario, the first person to swim across the English channel with the difficult butterfly stroke and still the world record holder for the longest butterfly swim of 80.2 kilometres the word “impossible” is not part of her vocabulary.
“I truly don’t believe that anything is impossible, said Keith Munro during a recent interview at the Kingston YMCA. “I think there’s a way to achieve everything and I think as soon as we put a restriction on ourselves that we’re not going to be able to achieve great things and I think it’s easier to get rid of that word completely and try to figure out ways we can do it. We may not do it the exact same way as we were originally inspired to achieve it but we will be successful if we believe it’s possible.”
Keith brings that attitude everyday she works at the YMCA pool with the Kingston Y Penguins, an enthusiastic group of swimmers with physical disabilities and able-bodied siblings that she’s been coaching for almost two decades.
As a marathon swimmer Keith had a never-quit attitude and tries to bring that thought process to her swimmers as well.
“I spend a lot of time thinking about what quitting means and we always talk about quitting but I don’t think people realize how easy it is to quit,” she said.
Marathon Swimmer Vicki Keith begins her 82-kilometre coastal swim early Monday morning from Point Petre, near Picton, to Kingston.
“The first time we say that’s good enough we’re quitting on ourselves, the first time we say that’s enough for the day, we’re quitting on ourselves.”
Many of her swimmers have won Canadian championships and competed on the world Paralympics stage so her attitude rubs off on her athletes as well.
Over the course of her swimming and coaching career she has won many awards and accolades such as being inducted into the Kingston and District Sports Hall of Fame, the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, the Terry Fox Hall of Fame, has an honourary degree and was recently inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame with another Kingston athlete, hockey player Jayna Hefford.
Keith Munro was also honoured in December of 2009 by carrying the Olympic torch through downtown Kingston on its way to Vancouver.
“It’s pretty exciting to be selected to go into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame but it’s also inspiring to see the other athletes that I’m going in with,” she said.
Olympic torch bearer Vicki Keith runs through a crowd of over 2,000 people in Springer Market Square last night for the Kingston portion of the torch relay last night in Kingston.
She was impressed with the story of former Team Canada water polo player Waneek Horne-Miller who was a child during the Oka Crisis in 1990 and was injured during a melee and later suffered through the traumatic incident.
“The fierceness she had and this desire to always stand up for the underdog.”
Keith Munro said the Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame just doesn’t honour athletes for what they can do during their sport but athletes who have given back to their community.
Keith Munro has done that too raising about $800,000 for Toronto’s Variety Village from her swims among other fundraising events she’s been involved in over the years.
Keith Munro, who still holds 16 world records in marathon swimming, was asked what’s more difficult; swimming across a large lake or coaching another athlete in a marathon swim?
“They’re both challenging for different reasons but I think you have the opportunity to lose control of the situation when you’re coaching somebody else. You have to guess what’s going on sometimes, you have to put yourself in someone’s shoes to try and figure out what’s going on sometimes and that being there and not having complete control is more challenging.”
She said the most important thing to teach a young person is independence.
“To believe in themselves and then be able to take ownership of what activity they’re doing and to move it along to the best of their ability and I think if we give them the ability to believe in themselves, give themthe independence to work by themselves we’re giving them an opportunity to achieve great levels,” she said.
Keith Munro was born in Winnipeg and has lived in Ottawa, Pointe Claire, Quebec and Kingston when she moved here with her family while in high school.
He favourite thing to do is Kingston is to walk around downtown with her husband John.
“We love to walk Princess Street and just window shop, we love to go to Fort Henry. and be part of some of the ceremonies there and love to go to the waterfront and just spend time down by the water.”
And Lake Ontario is a body of water Keith Munro is quite familiar with.
Kingston’s Jayna Hefford is one of Canada’s most decorated hockey players, male or female.
It’s hard to beat five Olympic medals, four of them gold and in 12 World Championship appearances. She’s won seven gold medals and five silvers. In an 18-year career she has 157 goals and 291 points in 267 international games.
Retired from playing since 2015, Hefford has stayed in the game as a coach, league administrator, hockey camp director and once in a while, a hockey mom.
Hefford was born in Trenton but moved to Kingston with her family when she was young.
As a child she was wanted to play hockey but the opportunities for girls and women in Kingston in the late 1980s and 1990s were few and far between. So Hefford played both boys and girls hockey and eventually her dominant skill led her to Olympic glory and all those world championship medals.
In women’s professional hockey she led the Brampton Thunder of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League to three straight Clarkson Cup appearances and in 2008-09 she won the Angela James Bowl as the CWHL’s leading scorer. The CWHL now awards the Jayna Hefford Trophy to the league’s most outstanding player as voted on by the players.
Hefford is currently the commissioner of the CWHL which is currently on hiatus while Hefford and other board members try to make the women’s game more sustainable.
“It’s been a really good learning process I’d like to see the game from a lot of different angles and it’s been an interesting transition and I’m grateful to still be part of the game and I’m obviously passionate about it,” Hefford said during an interview about the various chapters of her hockey life.
“It’s been a big learning process but I can also say I’ve never been more optimistic for the future of the women’s game.” She said of the CWHL issues. “It’s been a challenging time certainly and difficult in certain ways but at the same time it’s a time for change for the sport.”
Women’s professional sports including women’s hockey needs more infrastructure and financial support behind it for it to be viable.
Hefford was only the sixth female hockey player to be named to the Hockey Hall of Fame and recently was also inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame with another Kingston athlete, marathon swimmer Vicki Keith Munro.
Hefford said making the hockey hall in 2018 is the pinnacle of her hockey career and being named to the Canada Sports Hall of Fame is satisfying because she’s being honoured outside of her sport.
She calls the evolution of girls and women’s hockey over the last few years as incredible and with that many more women will be named to the Hockey Hall of Fame as Hefford was.
When she started playing there were only three three girls teams is Kingston. Now, at the INVISTA Centre, the Kingston Ice Wolves organization has hundreds of girls playing hockey in Kingston and an ice pad to call their own.
“Now to be walking into an arena on a weekend and see the place full of girls playing hockey,” she said. “It’s just nice to see how the game has grown and the most important thing it’s normal for girls to play, nobody thinks twice about it.”
“Women that came before me weren’t even allowed to play the game and now it’s completely normal.”
Hefford wouldn’t mind her three young children, Isla, 6 Lachlan 4 and Arwen, 2 to play hockey but Hefford said it’ll be up to them if they want to stay in the game.
“I want them to experience it, I consider it very Canadian, I consider skating much like riding a bike, It’s something I want them to learn to do.Whether they take it on as a sport they love or not is obviously something that’s totally up to them.”
Another mark Hefford has made on Kingston is her popular girls-only hockey school she runs at the Invista Centre with former Team Canada teammate Lori Dupuis.
The camp has sold out almost every of their 21 summers.
Hefford said it’s the only camp in Eastern Ontario where young girls can learn and experience being on the ice with national team players.
“Hopefully for them to get some really good instructions from women who play the game at a high level,” she said. “We wanted them to learn a little bit about hockey but it’s really about having some fun with the game and get a little bit better.”
“I love to come back to Kingston and give back a little bit in a small way to the community that I grew up and to see the girls there and the support I’ve had over the years is really nice. As long as there’s a demand there we’ll continue to run it.”
I’m a Kingstonian born and raised. I’ve always lived downtown, although my definition of downtown has definitely changed since I was a child. I run Mio Gelato and love being able to bring something fun and different to the Kingston dessert scene as well as spending time supporting many local causes. I keep a positive attitude, and more often than not you’ll see me with a smile on my face. I never thought I’d settle in Kingston, but now I can’t imagine living anywhere else.
Read on to discover 10 of my favourite things in Kingston.
The beer garden at Amadeus. I consider this one of the best-hidden gems in Kingston. With a patio in the rear, you are hidden from the street, which is a nice change. Another bonus: it’s covered in beautiful green vines giving it a less city-centre feel.
Of all the markets in Kingston, this one is my go-to. I love the range of items available on any given Sunday. Plus, to my knowledge, there are no re-sellers here meaning everything is produced by those selling it!
I have the privilege of living in the McBurney Park neighbourhood and the community is always putting on wonderful things in the park. From smaller neighbourhood events like a parade on Halloween, or an egg hunt on Easter to larger events like the Skeleton Park Arts Festival, there is an amazing community feel surrounding our Park.
Another favourite is hanging out in Springer Market Square. During the summer, on non-market days, there are tables and chairs set up in the square. It’s the perfect place to sit and eat lunch or knit while I’m on break from work.
This is my group’s go-to location for any type of celebration, from birthdays to engagement announcements, we do it all at Tango! The Carne Picante is by far my favourite dish there and I would eat it every day if I could.
My favourite spa in Kingston is tucked behind the Scotiabank. This is my place for massages, shellac manicures and pedicures. The beautiful exposed limestone — pretty much a Kingston staple — and amazing service has me going back again and again.
Growing up in Kingston, I hated that I couldn’t go anywhere without running into some I knew. Now, I love it! It’s such a little thing that really makes Kingston home. Even if you don’t specifically run into someone, you can see others bumping into each other and stopping to chat on the city sidewalk.
68 Princess Street Easily my favourite sandwich in Kingston. It doesn’t hurt that they also have an amazing patio in the summer and make different feature cocktails depending on the season.
1-39 Montreal Street Kingston has an AMAZING scene of local makers and it’s delightful to be able to browse a selection of them in one location. Open Studio also does pop-up clothing shops where you can find a curated selection of second-hand clothes. As someone who loves the sustainability of second-hand but hates the time commitment of thrifting, these events are made for me!
Describe Kingston in 3 Words: Historic, Friendly, Creative What’s Kingston’s Theme Song:Blow at High Dough – The Tragically Hip Complete the sentence: Kingston makes me… grow.
As the weather warms in Kingston, we’re looking forward to summer months full of events! From Pickleball Championships to the Football Canada Cup and celebrating the 50th Anniversary of CORK, read on to learn about the top five Summer sport events in YGK.
Kingston will play host to the 2019 and 2020 Pickleball National Championships; welcoming almost 1,000 participants from across Canada to the Invista Centre. “Pickleball is among Canada’s fastest growing sports and we see its popularity here in Kingston,” says Mayor Bryan Paterson. “We look forward to these exciting events growing the awareness and popularity of this great sport.” The tournament is expected to have an economic impact of $2 million to the city over two years.
The season will kick off in early July in Kingston at Queen’s University’s Richardson Stadium. Eight provincial teams from coast to coast – Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, British Columbia and host Ontario will play in Kingston to compete for gold in the national championships. The competition also showcases the top players in the country, and is the main recruiting event for USports programs.
Drop by Portsmouth Olympic Harbour for the 2019 World Sailing – ILCA Laser Radial Youth World Championships. This year, we’re expecting at least 200 participants from 29 countries. Athletes will have qualified in their own country to compete in this championship. Racing starts every day a noon with up to eight races per day. If you’re looking for a location to spectate, CORK recommends the waterfront pathway between Portsmouth Olympic Harbour to the Kingston Yacht Club and even on Wolfe Island.
Kingston will welcome at least 160 athletes from 31 confirmed countries around the world in August. Similar to the ILCA Laser Radial Youth World Championships, athletes will be in the younger age range of 13-17 years old. Many of the sailors return to Kingston year after year and have significant family ties to the sport. Keep your eye out for a few Kingston athletes representing Canada at this competition!
The Chess’n Math Association, the Chess Federation of Canada and the World Chess Federation will be hosting the 16th Annual North American Youth Chess Championships at Queen’s University. This will be the first time Kingston hosts a FIDE event and the fourth Canadian city to host this international 9 round tournament. Kingston will welcome players from Canada, United States and Mexico during the 6-day competition.
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