Letters to the editors

Farewell S&R

Dear Editors,

We would like to wish farewell to a downtown icon, S&R Discount Department Store. We wish S&R president, Michael Robinson, his family and staff all the best in their future endeavors. We also wish the building at 27 Princess a great future. Originally houses and stores in 1820, the building became more commercial—becoming a piano factory, a federal warehouse and finally S&R in 1959.

In the past 25 years or so, downtown Kingston has transformed from a general merchandising area to an urban entertainment district featuring restaurants and specialty retail. Steacy’s, Woolworths, Kresgies, Biway, Zellers and others closed while the number of restaurants grew from 35 to more than 100. Specialty stores like Cooke’s, Agent and Pan Chancho did well and restaurants and nightclubs added patios and live entertainment.

Downtown traffic grew to the point that national and international chains like Indigo, Gap, Staples, Lululemon, American Apparel, Roots and Urban Outfitters now call it their home. Heritage buildings have been renovated and put into hip, current uses.

The Prince George, located on Ontario Street, has gone from a mens’ boarding home, to a hotel, to fabulous loft-style apartments. Vacant lots have been developed into The Royal Block, A&P and Four Points Sheraton. Two surface parking lots have been transformed recently into Springer Market Square and the K-Rock Centre.

As the evolution of downtown continues, the S&R building presents a fabulous opportunity. Imagine retail and restaurant at street levels with a boutique hotel, offices, or luxury condos above!

We look forward to the future of 27 Princess.

Maria Cronk

Chair, Downtown Kingston B.I.A.

Cuban conference “one-sided”

Dear Editors,

Almost two weeks after Queen’s University hosted “The Measure of a Revolution. Cuba, 1959-2009,” conference from May 7 to 9, I am writing to the Journal as both a Cuban native and a Canadian citizen.

As a Cuban, I was appalled to see Queen’s had no problem organizing a one-sided event that was supposed to be of an academic nature. It was indeed embarrassing to lend a precinct that symbolizes debate, openness and free speech to host an event promoting a “revolution” that has made oppression and poverty the trademarks of an island formerly known as the pearl of the Antilles.

As a Canadian, I feel shocked to know our federal government sponsored a “cultural and academic” festivity that welcomed the victimizers while denying the victims—the people of Cuba—the opportunity to express their viewpoints.

While these invited groups of unelected, appointed and self-appointed representatives were able to enter Canada, our elected Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Americas, Peter Kent, was deemed too subversive for the Castros’ taste. It’s now well known that Mr. Kent’s visit to Cuba, originally scheduled for May 19 to 21, has been postponed until “conditions are more appropriate,” which I understand as “when Prime Minister Stephen Harper leaves office.” Obviously, the Castros felt very uneasy at Mr. Harper’s remarks during the Summit of Americas, when he denied Cuba’s attendance at the Organization of American States (OAS) without prior compliance with Canada’s democratic principles.

To the faculties at Queen’s, I suggest organizing a follow-up event in which members of Cuba’s courageous and world-decorated civil society are invited to expose their side of the story. This would provide students and scholars with the hidden facts of the so-called achievements of the revolution.

Because these people are paying the highest price for speaking their minds, Queen’s owes them the chance to be heard.

Nelson Taylor Sol,

Ottawa Representative Director

Cuban Canadian Foundation

All final editorial decisions are made by the Editor(s)-in-Chief and/or the Managing Editor. Authors should not be contacted, targeted, or harassed under any circumstances. If you have any grievances with this article, please direct your comments to journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca.

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