Good Morning, it’s Monday June 20th, I’m Karim Mosna with your daily news brief. A gorgeous day today, Sunny with a high of 24. Right now, it’s 13. In the news…
Queens University is welcoming back the classes of 2020 and 2021 along with this year’s graduates as in-person convocation ceremonies return. The Ceremonies start today and run through Friday June 24th at The Leon’s Centre. It’s estimated that a total of 8 thousand graduates will cross the stage to receive their degrees over the course of this week. Ceremonies run at 10am and 3pm each day, and will also be live streamed via the university’s website. City Hall will be lit up in Queens official colours tonight and then again on Wednesday through Friday evening to honour the graduates. These are the first in-person convocation ceremonies since 2019.
Kingston Community Health Sciences Centre is decommissioning its pandemic alternate facility by next Thursday June 30th. According to the KHSC the decision comes as COVID-19 related hospitalizations trend downward and provincial funding for large scale pandemic management activities is ending. The Ministry of Health requested the 70-bed facility at 340 Union Street be created to provide care for non-COVID medically stable patients. Medical equipment will be sent back to KHSC’s two hospital sites to support equipment needs and replace older equipment. The facility was leased from Queens University and Providence Care, the space will revert back to Providence Care.
An interdisciplinary group of Queens PHD students have completed a project to help an Ottawa based organization that supports those living with disabilities. ABLE2 supports over five thousand people with disabilities to integrate and become a valued member of the community.. The group of Queens students worked with ABLE2 to find solutions to recruit and retain volunteers for their matching program, where volunteers are paired with those who live with disability to go out into the community socially for coffee, to sporting events and more.
Leader of the Queens team and PHD student in the cultural affairs program, Jaqueline Giesbrecht says, “The main thing we were hearing from volunteers… they felt a little bit isolated…the largest suggestion was for ongoing training and networking opportunities to keep building the community.”
Giesbrecht says while she plans to continue in academia, this project really sparked her interest in working with an organization. Join me tomorrow afternoon at 5 on Citizen K for my full interview with Jaqueline Giesbrecht.
The Beat Beethoven Race returns after receiving a Resilient Communities grant valued at over 15 thousand dollars. For close to 30 years, participants would attempt to complete a walk or run before the Kingston Symphony completes a 50 minute performance of Beethoven’s music. This year it’s a virtual event running until the event of June, participants can choose their own racetrack, and they will receive a link to download Beethoven’s 3rd symphony.
That’s all for your daily news brief, I’m Karim Mosna. If you have any news tips, email me: news@cfrc.ca