Kingston News, October 18, 2017

Gord Downie – Obit

The Tragically Hip’s Gord Downie dead at age 53
Gord Downie, the poetic lead singer of the Tragically Hip whose determined fight with brain cancer inspired a nation, has died, according to a statement on the band’s website.
He was 53.
In the wake of his diagnosis with glioblastoma – an incurable form of cancer – the musician became a symbol of perseverance in the face of his mortality.
He spent the last chapter of his life raising funds for brain cancer research and advocating for the rights of Canada’s Indigenous Peoples.
One of the country’s most revered singer-songwriters, Downie penned a steady stream of 1990s rock radio staples including “New Orleans Is Sinking,” “Blow at High Dough,” “Courage,” “Ahead By a Century” and “Bobcaygeon.”
The country was shocked when Downie revealed his terminal cancer diagnosis in May 2016. The band’s subsequent tour sold out nearly immediately.

Source: The Canadian Press

Robbery Suspect Arrested

A 52 year old Kingston man wanted for the robbery of the CIBC branch at Brock and Bagot Streets last week was arrested at a shelter in Belleville on Monday.

Laura McLean of Jessie’s House in Belleville says the man broke down in tears when he told her what he did and she convinced him to call police.

52 year old Michael James Behan was arrested by Belleville police and returned to Kingston where he attended a bail hearing yesterday.

Lyndhurst – Break In

The Leeds and Thousand Islands detachment of the OPP is hoping the public can help track down whoever stole guns and ammunition from a home in Lyndhurst.

Police say the home was broken into sometime overnight on October 13th and 14th.

Thieves removed firearms, ammunition, a television, tools and alcohol.

Anyone with information that might help the investigation is being asked to contact the OPP or Crime Stoppers.

Napanee OPP – SIU

A Napanee OPP officer has been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing after a woman suffered injuries last year.  The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) says there are no reasonable grounds for charges.

The investigation into the incident found the 23-year-old woman suffered a fractured wrist on April 2nd of 2016 after the driver of a vehicle she was a passenger in refused to stop for police, and crashed into a bridge abutment in Napanee. The SIU says the injury occurred when she got out of the vehicle in an attempt to evade police and fell down an embankment.

Lyndhurst – Break In

The Leeds and Thousand Islands detachment of the OPP is hoping the public can help track down whoever stole guns and ammunition from a home in Lyndhurst.

Police say the home was broken into sometime overnight on October 13th and 14th.

Thieves removed firearms, ammunition, a television, tools and alcohol.

Anyone with information that might help the investigation is being asked to contact the OPP or Crime Stoppers.

William Reason Sr. – Obit

He’s being remembered as a sportsman, humanitarian and a loving family man.

People are sharing fond memories of William Reason Sr. after his passed away on Sunday at Providence Manor.  He was 94 years old.

Reason is a member of the Kingston and District Sports Hall of Fame.

He coached hockey and baseball for 50 years and was a founder of the Kingston Voyageurs hockey team.  Visitation takes place tomorrow at the Gordon F. Tompkins Funeral Home on Colborne Street.

The funeral mass will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Friday morning at 10:30.

Study

Survey says…Kingston is a good place for women to live.

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives has ranked 25 cities in Canada and Kingston is fourth on the list.

Victoria, Gatineau and Hamilton are ahead of Kingston and Vancouver is ranked fifth.

The study looked at differences between men’s and women’s access to economic and personal security, education, health and positions of leadership in Canada’s 25 biggest cities.

Shipwrecks

A plaque will be unveiled today to recognize Kingston’s War of 1812 Shipwrecks as a national historic site…two years after the government made the original announcement.

Parks Canada and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada will unveil the plaque at a ceremony this morning at Fort Henry.  There are three known 1812 wrecks in the Kingston area.