Kingston & Area Local News

📜 Robbie's Legacy Lives On: MPP Hsu's Organ Donor Recognition Bill Passes Second Reading
📚 She's Back! Isabel Turner Library Branch Reopening June 6

Community Champions

🏆 Hear Ye, Hear Ye! Kingston's Chris Whyman Wins His 9th Provincial Town Crier Championship
💛 A Heart of Gold: Anonymous Donor Gives $11,500 to Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario

New Events In and Around Kingston

🌿 Friends of Lemoine Point Spring Native Plant Sale | Lemoine Point Conservation Area | May 16
🐑 Snuggle a Lamb at Topsy Farms | Amherst Island | Starting May 17
🐾 Free Pet Nail Trims: The Kelsey Grant | Ren's Pets | May 17
🐝 BEES! Exhibition | PumpHouse Museum | Until Oct 31

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

When Kingston's own Robbie Sherren made history as the first adult in Canada to donate a heart after circulatory death, his family turned unimaginable grief into an extraordinary gift. Now, MPP Ted Hsu wants to make sure families like theirs have the option to see that gift recognized publicly. Bill 3, Robbie's Legacy Act - which would allow hospitals to honour deceased organ and tissue donors by name - passed its second reading unanimously in the Ontario Legislature, and heads next to the Standing Committee on Social Policy.

Full story via Kingstonist

After nearly two years of renovations, the Isabel Turner Branch is finally reopening on Saturday, June 6 - and they're throwing a party. Stop by from 1 to 4 PM for a fun-filled celebration with face painting, a photo booth, and prizes, plus a chance to explore the beautifully refreshed space including a new maker area, a calming sensory room, and indigenous-inspired artwork by local artist Jaylene Cardinal throughout the branch. Note that the Cataraqui Centre Branch closes May 22 to prep for the big day.

Grand Re-Opening event details | More about the branch

For over 40 years, Chris Whyman has been the booming voice of Kingston - and he's still the loudest in the province. The 65-year-old claimed his ninth Ontario Town Crier Championship in Ottawa this past weekend, just weeks before the 42nd anniversary of taking on the role (a job he originally thought would last one year!). Up next: the World Town Crier Championships in England this September, a title he has already won three times. Gan's town crier Brian Mabee also represented the region proudly at the competition.

Full story via Global News | Gananoque's Brian Mabee at the championships via Brockvilleist

Someone in Kingston quietly went through cancer treatment, leaned on a circle of friends they called the "Sandhurst friends of the UHKF," came out the other side - and then turned around and gave back. An anonymous donor has gifted $11,500 through the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation to the Adult Special Services Fund at KHSC's Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario, to provide comfort and care for patients and families walking a similar path. That's community at its best.

Full post via UHKF on Facebook

If you're looking to add some beautiful native plants to your garden, the Friends of Lemoine Point's popular annual plant sale is back! Stop by from 9 AM to noon for a great selection of native trees, shrubs and wildflowers. Trees and shrubs are $15, wildflowers are $5, and Paw Paws are $15 for two. All proceeds go back into the nursery and conservation area. Cash, credit and debit accepted.

More info via Cataraqui Conservation

Snuggle a lamb at Topsy Farms starting May 17 - and help a vulnerable baby survive while you're at it. Foster lamb visits are back at the beloved Amherst Island farm, where you can bottle-feed and cuddle bottle-raised lambs guided by a Topsy staffer. You can also adopt a foster lamb to help cover the cost of their care. Open Fridays to Sundays.

Book a visit or adopt a lamb

Bring your furry (or not so furry) friends in for free nail trims - cats, dogs, guinea pigs, bunnies and ferrets all welcome! This month's Kelsey Grant event supports For The Love Of Ferals, a local rescue doing incredible work trapping, neutering, vaccinating and rehoming cats across the Kingston area. Donations are welcome but never required.

Full event details

The whole hive is invited! BEES! is a bilingual, immersive exhibition packed with hands-on activities, surprising facts and plenty of movement for curious minds of all ages - climb through a giant honeycomb, try a Waggle Dance, and check out a Live Hive Cam, all inside Kingston's gorgeous 1851 waterworks. Included with regular museum admission.

Plan your visit

🌿 Friends of Lemoine Point Spring Native Plant Sale | Lemoine Point Conservation Area | May 16

🐑 Snuggle a Lamb at Topsy Farms | Amherst Island | Starting May 17

🐾 Free Pet Nail Trims: The Kelsey Grant | Ren's Pets | May 17

☀️ Victoria Day: Live Music, Drones & Fireworks | Confederation Park | May 18

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

🎤 Open Voices Carnival of Song | TBD | May 30

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

🐾 Puppies + Jazz | The Caesar Company | June 28

🐝 BEES! Exhibition | PumpHouse Museum | Until Oct 31

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