Weather – Crashes – Fatality

A blast of snowsquall activity led to dozens of crashes on roads and closed the 401 in multiple locations on Wednesday.  One person died in a crash on the westbound 401 east of Brockville.

Leeds OPP say they were responding to a collision on the westbound lanes at noon yesterday when a second crash took place involving eight vehicles, including tractor trailers.  A person in one of the vehicles was fatally injured.  The westbound lanes of the highway didn’t reopen until early this morning.

 

The westbound lanes of the 401 near Napanee were closed following a collision that involved about 30 trucks and passenger vehicles around noon yesterday. The highway was reopened around 3:30 in the afternoon.  There were only minor injuries reported in the crash.

A school bus was used to take about 18 people involved in the collision to the Strathcona Paper in Napanee.

 

Kingston Police also reported multiple crashes in the city during the blowing snow.

 

Teachers – Negotiation Update

Ontario’s four major teachers’ unions will hold a joint news conference this morning to give an update on their ongoing contract talks with the province.

They are expected to announce a court case against the government at the news conference today.

The unions represent both elementary and high school teachers in public, Catholic and French school boards.

Last month the four unions issued a joint statement condemning passage of the government’s wage cap legislation saying capping increases at one percent for three years violates their charter rights.  They said at the time they were preparing a court challenge of the legislation.

 

Community Centre – Greenhouse Gases

The new Kingston East Community Centre on Highway 15 will include energy saving features the city says will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  The groundbreaking ceremony for the centre was held yesterday.

The building will have a geothermal heating and cooling system…LED lighting and rooftop solar panels.

The city says those features along with others will cut greenhouse gas emissions by 86 percent and save the city 38 thousand dollars a year.

  1. Sullivan & Son will be constructing the Centre and it is expected to be complete in 2021.

 

Health Benefits Program

The city of Kingston says low-income residents can continue to apply for health benefits through the My Kingston Health Benefits Program.

City Council has approved a permanent continuation of the program.

It offers a maximum of 600-dollars for individuals, and 800-dollars for families for dental, vision care, or prescription medication costs.

Full details about the program can be found on the city’s website.

 

Ryan Bennett – GoFundMe

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help the family of former Kingston Frontenacs athletic therapist Ryan Bennett.  Bennett is currently working in the Athletic Department at Queen’s and is in hospital after a freak accident at his home last week.  He fell and suffered significant injuries and is expected to be in hospital for up to eight more weeks.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-hockey-healer-ryan-beaner-bennett