Queen’s – Costume Party Backlash

Queen’s University Principal Daniel Woolf says the university is investigating a controversial costume party called Beerfest that took place on Saturday.  Woolf says he’s deeply upset about the costumes worn by students attending the party.

Photos posted on social media had shown a number of students dressed as Mexican with sombreros, Middle Eastern sheiks, Viet Cong guerrillas and Buddhist monks.  The costumes have been called culturally inappropriate and even racist.  A committee of the Commerce Society had hosted Beerfest in the past but the Commerce Society banned the party this year.  It took place anyway.

It’s the second incident at Queen’s with racist overtones this month.  The Queen’s Vagabond Theatre group cancelled its production of Shakespeare’s Othello after criticism for choosing a white woman to play the title role of a black man.

Apartment Buildings

Three new apartment buildings will be sprouting from the vacant land on grounds of the Sisters of Providence convent on Princess Street near Sir John A. Macdonald Boulevard.

The Sisters of Providence approached Homestead with the proposal to provide affordable housing units and the company is buying four acres of the 30 acre site.

Homestead will be applying to the city to start construction of the first 10 storey building this spring.  60 of the 93 apartments will be affordable units for seniors.

Students – Native Studies

A unique project brings together students and the city to remove some trees from Belle Park and construct two indigenous teepees for use by the Limestone District School Board.

About a dozen students from the Katarokwi Aboriginal School and Second Chance program are scheduled to cut down 25 poplar trees in the city owned Belle Park today.

Door to Door Sales

Police and Utilities Kingston are warning you about people going door to door in the area.  These people tell you they’re from Utilities Kingston or another company and then tell you they’re just going to come into your home to inspect your water quality or other equipment.  Utilities Kingston says it does not do any kind of door to door sales and Kingston’s water is regularly tested and completely safe.

Napanee OP says at least four people have complained about these aggressive tactics in Loyalist Township, Stone Mills Township and Napanee.  Their advice – don’t let anyone into your home – ask anyone coming to your door for identification…ask them to leave your property and if you’re suspicious…contact police immediately.

Gilmour – Fund Raising for Gord

Kingston hockey hero Doug Gilmour is going to bat for Gord Downie.

The Kingston Frontenacs general manager has started an online fund raising campaign for the Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto…the place where Downie has been treated for his brain cancer.

Gilmour has launched the “Courage: Let’s Do It For Gordie” online fund raising campaign.

There’s a chance to win prizes…including a trip to Toronto to see a hockey game in a private suite with the Gilmour.

 

www.boon-town.com.

Filed under: apartment-buildings, costume-party, door-to-door-sales, fundraising-for-gord, gilmour, native-studies, queens, scam, Students, utilities-kingston