Queen’s – Sexual Violence Policy

The Queen’s University Board of Trustees has approved the university’s new policy on sexual violence.

The policy aligns with the province’s proposed legislation.

Clare Gummo of the Sexual Health Resource Centre at Queen’s says a dedicated policy on sexual violence is an important step in promoting a cultural shift within university campuses.

The policy outlines the options that are available to anyone who has witnessed or experienced sexual violence and the university’s responsibilities relating to awareness, education, training and reporting.

Queen’s is also hiring a new dedicated Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Coordinator.

Fire – Spindlewood Street

Nobody was injured in a fire at a home in Cataraqui Woods last night.

The fire started in an SUV parked in the driveway of the home on Spindlewood Street.

The fire spread to the garage of the home.

There is no word on what caused the fire or a dollar figure on the damage.

Retrofits

The president and CEO of St. Lawrence College says the federal government has an opportunity to help transform college campuses and address climate change.

Glen Vollebregt is urging the Trudeau government to invest infrastructure money in retrofits and repairs to old college building.

Vollebregt says it is an opportunity to create a new generation of buildings and help people acquire skills to improve energy efficiency across the economy.

Ontario colleges have repeatedly put of maintenance of buildings and the backlog in work is estimated at a billion dollars

Nobel Prize Winner – Parliament

Queen’s University professor emeritus and Nobel Prize winner, Dr. Arthur MacDonald, will be honoured on Parliament today.

McDonald will be meeting with Science Minister Kirsty Duncan and will be recognized in the House of Commons by speaker Geoff Regan for his Nobel Prize-winning research in physics.

Perch Derby

The annual children’s fishing derby at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour has been saved.

The Kingston and District Fish and Game Club said it would have to cancel the derby because of dwindling membership and a lack of resources to organize the event.

Correctional Officer Mike Deslaurier has stepped forward to run the derby after getting a note from Corrections Commissioner Don Head.

Deslaurier and his wife have started their own company called Lip Locked Baits and they’ll organize the event.  Correctional officers will help run it during the actual day of fishing.

Roundabout Crash

A 28 year old Kingston woman faces an impaired driving charge after a vehicle hit a tree and an unoccupied home after failing to negotiate the roundabout on Highway 2 in Loyalist Township.

The OPP was dispatched to the crash at 5:38 Saturday morning.

The driver of the vehicle was arrested and charged with impaired driving.

Alcohol – Snowmobiles

A 16 year old has been charged with impaired driving after a snowmobile crash in a field near Rosedale Road in Sydenham.

When the OPP arrived at the scene late Friday afternoon…a male passenger was being treated by paramedics and was taken to hospital for treatment.

The 16 year old male driver was charged by police.

 

Police are investigating whether alcohol was involved in a snow machine crash on Collins Lake on Sunday.

The driver of the machine was catapulted into the air when it came to an abrupt stop and the man hit a rock near the edge of the shore.  He was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

International Women’s Day

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Equality is not a threat, it is an opportunity.

A commentary by Trudeau on International Women’s Day has been published in the Globe and Mail.

Trudeau says, “Unfortunately, gender discrimination and violence remain commonplace around the world”.

The Prime Minister also says, “Powerful cultural change cannot happen when only half of the population works toward that change”. He says, “Men need to act, set examples and be role models”.