Drones, dresses, and a downtown shake up

Gooood morning, Kingston!

Midweek already? We’re stacked between Monday chaos and long weekend bliss, with just enough weird in the middle to keep things spicy. Stretch your shoulders, scroll at your pace, and let’s see what’s stirring around town.

The Mid-Week Skimm

Bird’s-eye view of the French tall ship in Kingston
Check out this stunning drone footage of the French navy ship that docked in Kingston, courtesy of SkEye Stream. Aerial angles, nautical flair, and serious YGK pride.

Kingston Pen Tours are back
Canada’s most notorious prison just reopened for another season of spine-tingling strolls. Book a Standard, Extended, or Express tour and walk the cellblocks of history.

Drones vs Phones
Kingston Police used drones to catch distracted drivers mid-scroll, handing out 20 tickets during a traffic blitz. Eyes in the sky, tickets on the fly.

Kingston Frontenacs’ Kory Cooper named OHL GM of the Year
Surprise win for Kory Cooper, who snagged top honours after a 40-win season with the Fronts. The GM says it’s a team effort—and Kingston’s just getting started. (Kingston Daily)

Note: News notes with three asterisks (***) means that there is a pay wall to read the article.

Local Biz

General Brock’s Commissary announces retirement, hands over to new owner 

After 11 years on Brock Street, Chris and Cindy are retiring and passing the torch to Andy Meyer this June. Stop by for their retirement sale and score deals on mugs, tea, t-shirts, and more before the “change of command.”

Local Business Recommendation

Agent 99 is passing the vibe check AND the dress check.

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Ali wrote in to YGKtoday to shout out Agent 99 after her daughter found the perfect Grade 8 grad dress—with pockets, no less. The staff go the extra mile by jotting down the dress and school to help avoid grad-night twinsies. Oh, and The Agent 99 Big Spring SALE is on now, so it’s the perfect time to snag something fabulous on Princess.

Got a favourite spot you think deserves a shoutout in our ‘Local Biz’ section? Send us your rec — we love a good tip-off.

Events

This week

Ottawa REDBLACKS Fan Fest | Saturday, May 17 | Doors open 12:00 p.m. | Richardson Stadium | Free | Meet the team, enjoy the kids zone, and soak up the game-day energy at this free fan fest with the Ottawa REDBLACKS.

Piñata Decorating Workshop | Saturday, May 17 | 2:00–5:00 p.m. | Tett Centre | $22.63 | Turn a pre-made star piñata into your own vibrant creation at this hands-on workshop. Materials included.

Kingston Stories: Local Documentary Showcase | Saturday, May 17 | 4:00 p.m. | The Screening Room | Four homegrown docs, fresh from the 2025 Kingston Canadian Film Fest, return to the big screen for one local-packed afternoon.

Announced

Steak Masterclass at HEIST

Thursday, May 29 | 6:00 p.m. | HEIST, 168 Wellington St. | $89+ | Five courses, one expert butcher, and all the steak wisdom you can handle at this flavour-packed masterclass with Enright Cattle Co.

Martha’s Table Spring Fundraiser | Friday, May 30 | 7:00–9:00 p.m. | Martha’s Table, 629 Princess St. | $100 | Wine, cheese, live music, and a powerful gallery show. All in support of feeding Kingston’s most vulnerable.

Housewife at The Broom Factory | Friday, June 27 | Doors 7:00 p.m., Show 7:30 p.m. | The Broom Factory | $15 | KPP Concerts brings Housewife, Luella, and Jessica Wolowich to the stage for an all-ages night of indie sound at Kingston’s most intimate venue.

Hosting an event? Submit it to our calendar here.

_{Note: Events may be cancelled or have changed times. Be sure to see our event calendar and reach out to the venue before going.}

Hot Links 🔥 

Kingston Live Music is giving away 2 tickets to see Dwayne Gretzky’s Country Classics show on June 21. Enter by May 15.

HomeGrown Live saw record turnout in 2025 and raised big support for Joe’s M.I.L.L.

Echelon Wellness opens in Kingston as Canada’s first clinic focused exclusively on veterans and RCMP members.

Ramekins may be missing their signs, but they’re still serving up takeout, heat and eat meals and more.

Weather

Wednesday
High 19°C 🌡️ Low 14°C | 🌧️ 

Thursday
High 15°C 🌡️ Low 12°C | ⛅️ 

🌡️ See today’s weather | 🚗 Live traffic  | ⛽ Local gas prices

Signing Off

That’s your Wednesday wrap. Short, sharp, and stacked like a market tote. Catch you Friday with more Kingston goodness (and maybe a few long weekend teasers)!

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