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Queen’s University has committed $750,000 over five years to the City of Kingston to address pressures on municipal services throughout the year, especially during unsanctioned street parties.
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“The university felt that a financial contribution to the city was an appropriate way to acknowledge and address some of the additional pressures placed on our municipal services throughout the year,” principal and vice-chancellor Patrick Deane said in a news release.
“As an active and supportive member of the Kingston community, the university recognizes and appreciates the hard work of our many municipal and community partners.”
The funding will be distributed annually through $150,000 contributions each year starting this year on to 2026. Last October, the school promised $350,000 to the city to help cover the costs of policing numerous street parties nearly every weekend through September and October.
Kingston Police racked up a nearly $1-million bill policing the University District last fall. John Howes, director of finance for Kingston Police, told the police services board last Thursday they expected to receive $310,000 of the $350,000, but had not yet.
Howes said at the time that the city’s treasurer, Desiree Kennedy, was following up with the school. Queen’s confirmed the new funding is not part of the money they promised in October.
On Feb. 15, the school announced it would be creating a task force, chaired by Deane, to address the large street parties in the University District. The group includes members of the school administration, student leaders and the City of Kingston.
This isn’t the first working group that has been created to address street parties in the University District. In June 2005, 13 sweeping recommendations were published by a working group assembled by then-principal and vice-chancellor Karen Hitchcock.
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Despite the recommendations, the 2005 Homecoming street parties were notorious and described as a “drunken street brawl.” The front pages of many daily newspapers following the party featured a young Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute student dancing on top of an overturned vehicle.
Deane said in Thursday’s release that the country’s universities and society as a whole “are grappling with significant social issues that require working together on strategies that will lessen the burden on the city and other social services.”
“The challenges we face are complex, and as members of the Kingston community, we are committed to doing the work alongside our partners required to introduce real and lasting positive change.”
Queen's commits $750000 over five years to City of Kingston - The Kingston Whig-Standard
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