Kingston & Area Local News

⚡ Napanee's Massive Battery Project Goes Live, But Who Handles an Emergency?
🌿 Asparagus Season Is Here, and the Good Stuff Comes from Just North of Napanee

Community Champions

💛 'A True Gentleman': Kingston Philanthropist Walter Fenlon Remembered at 93
🏆 $438,000 and 31 Reasons to Love Kingston: CFKA's Spring Grants Are Out

New Events In and Around Kingston

🎨 The Clearing | Rideau Heights Community Centre | May 20–31, 2026
🛠️ Public Works Open House | Kingston Public Works HQ | May 23, 2026
🎵 Kate Voegele & Tyler Hilton: One Tree Hill Tour | The Spire | May 25, 2026
🎸 Spring Reverb Music Festival | Various Kingston Venues | May 28–31, 2026
💙 Kingston Defeat Depression Walk | Kingston Memorial Centre | May 30, 2026
❤️ Red Shirt Day Walk for Inclusion | James R. Henderson Public School | May 31, 2026

Events Calendar

It’s gotten too long to include here in the summary! Click Events Calendar to see our list for the next few days.

👉 Please Share Your Feedback

Ontario's biggest battery storage project just went live in Napanee: the system can power roughly 250,000 homes for up to four hours during peak demand, came in five weeks ahead of schedule, and totals $600 million. The province was celebrating. When Kingstonist reporter Michelle Dorey Forestell pressed officials on who bears emergency responsibility if something ever goes wrong at the facility, the answers got thin fast. The full piece has the details.

Read the full story at: Kingstonist

If you've been waiting for a sign to go chasing fresh local asparagus, this is it. Erinsville Asparagus Farm, about 30 kilometres north of Napanee, is one of the region's best-kept agricultural secrets. Run by Xudong and Huilan (formerly Thornton's Asparagus Farm), the operation grows the Thieson variety in soil rather than sand — lower yields, but noticeably richer flavour. When there's a surplus, they pickle it in regular and spicy versions. The season is short: by Canada Day, it's typically done.

You can find their asparagus at Glenburnie Grocery, Schell's Market in Bath, and Foodland Verona.

Read the full story at: Best Eats Ontario East

Kingston lost one of its quiet giants. Walter Fenlon, who grew up on a farm near Stoco and started out hauling crates at a King Street hardware store, became one of the most consequential philanthropists this city has ever produced. He passed away on May 11 at the age of 93. Over six decades in finance, he built Fenlon Financial at Gildersleeve House (264 King St. E.), co-chaired the campaign that restored the Grand Theatre, served on boards at KGH, Hotel Dieu, the Community Foundation, and the Kingston Symphony, and with his wife Linda Ann Daly established the Fenlon Family/Daly Foundation. He earned the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship and recognition from the Governor General.

Those who knew him best say the accomplishments were almost beside the point. As his wife put it: "He lived a good life as a gentle man, and a true gentleman." A public celebration of his life is set for June 20 at the Grand Theatre. Our thoughts are with Linda Ann Daly and the whole Fenlon family.

Read the full story at: Kingston Whig-Standard

The Community Foundation for Kingston and Area has announced its Spring 2026 Community Grants: $438,000 across 31 local projects in a record-setting round. The funding spans youth wellbeing, literacy, mental health, food security, housing, disability services, newcomer inclusion, arts access, climate action, and rural community connection. The foundation's endowment now sits at over $40 million.

"The strength of the Community Grants Program comes from the generosity of donors and fundholders who care deeply about this region," said CFKA Executive Director Stacy Kelly. Read about all 31 recipients at cfka.org.

Read the full story at: Kingstonist

A shipping container has appeared outside Rideau Heights Community Centre, and it's not what you'd expect. Step inside and you'll find a calm, nature-inspired installation by Kingston artists Marney McDiarmid and Clelia Scala, built from clay, paper, and natural materials. Also inside: a poem by Sadiqa de Meijer, sound design by Matt Rogalsky, and an exterior mural by Lee Stewart.

Bring your own personal papers: old letters, journal pages, notes you've been meaning to toss. There's a shredder on site and your contributions become part of the piece as it evolves. Free, open through May 31, with an artists' Open House on Friday, May 29. Full hours on the City of Kingston website.

Read the full story at: Kingstonist

Every kid who has ever pointed at a garbage truck deserves to see where all those trucks live. Kingston's Public Works Open House brings equipment from Public Works, Solid Waste, Engineering, Kingston Transit, Utilities Kingston, and more out for a free, family-friendly day at 701 Division Street. Hands-on activities and demos throughout. Part of National Public Works Week (May 18–24). Worth putting on the calendar if you have young kids, or honestly if you've ever wondered how the city actually runs.

Read the full story at: City of Kingston

If One Tree Hill was your show, this one is for you. Kate Voegele (Mia Catalano) and Tyler Hilton (Chris Keller) are on a world tour celebrating the music they made for that series, and they're stopping at The Spire (82 Sydenham St.) on Monday, May 25. Not a nostalgia-bait cover night: these are the actual artists behind the songs, playing live. Tickets at thespirekingston.org.

Read the full story at: The Spire Kingston

Spring Reverb is back for four days across Kingston venues, celebrating the local music community that makes this city worth living in. Local artists, local stages, local audiences: the whole thing is built around supporting the scene rather than importing it. If live music is your thing and you haven't made it out to Spring Reverb yet, this is the year to fix that. Full lineup at kppconcerts.com.

Read the full story at: Kingston Live

The annual Kingston Defeat Depression Walk returns May 30 at Kingston Memorial Centre, raising awareness and funds for depression research and support. Depression affects more people in this community than most of us realize, and events like this help make that conversation a little more visible. Walk solo, join a team, or set a fundraising goal. Details and registration at Visit Kingston

Pull out your reddest shirt and mark May 31. Easter Seals Ontario's annual Red Shirt Day Walk for Inclusion comes to Kingston at James R. Henderson Public School, right in the heart of National AccessAbility Week (May 25–31). The walk supports children and youth with physical disabilities, with funds going toward mobility and accessibility equipment.

This year's event is co-hosted with KW Inspire and the Kingston Rotary Club. Walk or run at your own pace, build a team, set a goal. Register at redshirtday.org/walk.

Read the full story at: Kingston Daily

🎪Cirque Mondial  |  Cataraqui Centre  |  May 14–24 (last day May 24)

🎨The Clearing (ongoing)  |  Rideau Heights Community Centre, 85 Maccauley St  |  May 20–31

🏆Kingston Business Awards  |  Isabel Bader Centre  |  May 21

🎭Finnegans Wake: A Dream Play  |  Kingston Grand Baby Grand  |  May 21–June 7

🎨Art After Dark  |  Downtown Kingston, 25+ venues  |  May 22 (7–10 pm)

🧡Resolve's Walk for Wellness  |  Lake Ontario Park, 920 King St W  |  May 23

🎵Summer Kickoff Music Festival  |  South Frontenac  |  May 23

🛠️Public Works Open House  |  Public Works HQ, 701 Division St  |  May 23 (9 am–noon)

🎵Kate Voegele & Tyler Hilton: One Tree Hill Tour  |  The Spire, 82 Sydenham St  |  May 25 (doors 7 pm)

🏆Kiwanis Amateur Sports Awards  |  Memorial Hall, City Hall  |  May 28

🎸Spring Reverb Music Festival  |  Various Kingston venues  |  May 28–31

🌸Almost Home Charity Gala  |  Our Lady of Fatima Parish Hall  |  May 29

💙Kingston Defeat Depression Walk  |  Kingston Memorial Centre, 303 York St  |  May 30

⛳Bayridge SS Teachers Golf Tournament  |  Amherstview Golf Club  |  May 30 (noon)

🐢Turtle Awareness Day  |  Lake Ontario Park, 920 King St W  |  May 30

🎤Open Voices Carnival of Song  |  Cooke's Portsmouth United Church  |  May 30

❤️Red Shirt Day Walk for Inclusion  |  James R. Henderson School  |  May 31 (10 am)

🛍️Ten Thousand Villages Fair Trade Sale  |  The Spire, Lower Hall, 82 Sydenham St  |  May 31

📚Isabel Turner Branch Grand Re-Opening  |  Isabel Turner Branch  |  June 6

🎬Movies in the Square (Season 19) (8 films, Thursdays at dusk)  |  Springer Market Square  |  June 25–Aug 27

🐾Puppies + Jazz  |  The Caesar Company  |  June 28

🎨Women's Art Festival  |  City Park, Kingston  |  August 8, 2026

🤘Forever Hip Night 1: Choir! Choir! Choir! + Miss Emily, The Abrams  |  Springer Market Square  |  Aug 20

BTW, if you don’t want to receive this anymore, please help all the subscribers by just using the Unsubscribe link at the bottom instead of marking this as SPAM… remember, you did subscribe ;-)

All feedback and suggestions are appreciated!

Too long? Too short? About right?
What would you like to see more of, and less of?

Email Les at [email protected]

Do you have a favourite local business, community champion or organization that deserves a moment in the spotlight? (You can nominate yourself too!)

Help us celebrate the people who make the Kingston area shine. Tell us who they are and why they’re great—or give us the "inside scoop" on your own mission or business!

I find way more "local gold" every week than I can actually fit in this newsletter without turning it into a novel! If you want the daily updates, extra tips, and the cool stuff that didn't make the cut, come hang out with us on our social channels.

👉 Follow us at:
Facebook @KingstonSpotlight
Instagram @KingstonSpotlight
YouTube @TheKingstonSpotlight
TikTok @kingstonspotlight
X @kingstonspotlig

Do your friends and circle a solid and forward this their way. You’ll be the hero of the group chat, and they’ll have a good reason to put down the remote.

👉 Spread the love: https://kingstonspotlight.ca