Gina’s
BBQ SMOKEHOUSE
Connected to Your Community
Total Distribution 474,000
Kingston
Try our amazing smoked chick en & ribs
Serving City of Kingston and Loyalist Township
Dine In, Take Out & Delivery
1759 Bath Rd. • 613-634-1833 (Beside Frontenac High School) Tuesday - Friday CLOSED Sunday - Mondays
Thursday, August 8, 2013
www.Kingstonregion.com
Block Talk: Is a conference centre in downtown Kingston feasible?
Inside NEWS
By Bill Hutchins Reporter
Teddy Bear Picnic Pg. 4
sports
Kingston Kobras softball Pg. 15
Events
Here fishy, fishy, fishy EMC Events - The Kingston Canadian Open of Fishing took place from Confederation Basin from July 25 – 27. The live release tournament combines both amateurs and professionals and attracts boats from Canada and the U.S. Chris Johnston of Peterborough was the eventual winner, claiming first prize on Saturday afternoon. Above: Darren Izumi and John Macdonald with their catch at Confederation Basin. Photo/John Harman
Reporter
EMC News – Two months after closing its doors, the Cataraqui Archaeological Research Foundation (CARF) is looking for ways to keep its vast collection of artefacts from leaving the Kingston area. “It’s a done deal as far as CARF is concerned,” said John Coleman, president of the foundation’s board of directors, dismissing any hope the organization can be saved. “The issue now is whether we can secure funding to retire gracefully.” The not-for-profit organization faces a daunting task in winding down its 30-year operation. There are about 900 box-
es of artefacts at CARF’s 2,000 square feet climate-controlled office on Princess Street that need to find a home, soon. Coleman says volunteers are now trying to contact every archaeologist who holds a license to the unearthed material to see if they want it back and, if not, what to do with it. “Technically none of this belongs to CARF. This material is the responsibility of the archaeologist who excavated it,” Coleman explained. The storage material includes everything from broken pottery pieces and nails to iron works that were unearthed during local digs over the past three decades. Although many of the items are not considered museum pieces, CARF must sort out the complex ownership issues without a paid staff and a building lease that’s quickly running out.
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Continued on page 3
Cash-strapped archaeology group struggles to exit ‘gracefully’ By Bill Hutchins
Town Crier Competition Pg. 34
EMC News – A decision on whether to allow a mediumsized conference centre across from the K-Rock Centre in downtown Kingston could be made by city council this fall. City officials say a $50,000 conference centre study is now underway – jointly funded by the city and its economic development agency, KEDCO - to examine the demand for a conference facility and whether it should be fully funded by a private developer or through a partnership with the city. “I’m a proponent of a conference centre in the City of Kingston. I think that would be a good location. I’m hoping that comes back in some of the proposals because I think that’s what we need,” said Mayor Mark Gerretsen. The conference centre study could form a key part of the city’s plan to seek development ideas for the prime downtown block. The city is currently mapping out the details of a Request for Proposals (RFP) to seek out a private developer and buyer for the space known as
Block 4 - one of the four underdeveloped blocks that make up the downtown’s North Block District. The city-owned block - bounded by Ontario Street, Queen Street, King Street and The Tragically Hip Way - is currently home to a utilities substation, a few low-rise heritage buildings and a 170-space municipal parking lot. In addition to a possible conference centre, the city is seeking a “signature” building that will rise six to 18 stories. The site is currently zoned for a maximum of six stories but councillors are willing to relax the height limitations to spur development. The Downtown Kingston BIA supports hi-rise development on Block 4. “A 16 to 18 storey building could make a dramatic statement on Kingston’s skyline and make a new landmark in the downtown,” the BIA’s managing director Doug Ritchie has stated. The city has big plans to sell this prime property described as a gateway to the downtown because of its high-profile location near the LaSalle Causeway, Wolfe Island ferry dock and the
While Supplies Last!
“Time is the important element right now. We’ve got no money,” said Coleman. The City of Kingston may yet play a role in buying the organization some time to sort through the collection and possibility keep some or all of it in local hands. Sources say CARF and the city entered into recent talks to provide municipal funding to at least cover the building’s rent for a few more months. However, the outcome of those negotiations remains uncertain. City council agreed to float the beleaguered organization $30,000 in bailout funding in May. But it wasn’t enough to keep the doors open. CARF closed on June 8 and laid off its Continued on page 7
Bob’s butcher shop August PAck
5 lbs. AA or higher steaks 5 lbs. burgers 5 lbs. bbQ Chicken legs $ 5 lbs. Pork Chops 10 lbs. bag/Potatoes
7500
730 FRONT RD. @ DAYS RD. • 613-634-1bOb(1262) • OpeN 7 DAYS A week!