Principal and AMS President urge students to follow public health guidelines
The principal and AMS president have urge students to follow public health guidelines.
On Sept. 1, a 2,000-person street party on University Avenue was broken up by Kingston police.
In an email sent to Queen’s student body, Principal Patrick Deane and AMS President Zaid Kasim urged everyone to be responsible upon returning to campus.
“This is a flagrant disregard for public health and for the law of our province. We support our city enforcement officers and police as they work to address these illegal activities and we will work with our partners when they refer students to us for processing under our Student Code of Conduct,” Deane and Kasim wrote.
Deane and Kasim stressed the behaviour of a few shouldn’t compromise the rest of the students at Queen’s.
To ensure students are aware of city by-laws, the AMS posted a guide to navigating the University District Safety Initiative (UDSI), Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs), and Nuisance Party By-Laws on Instagram.
“Understanding these programs is important for students, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, because of how offences and penalties are being treated this year,” the AMS wrote in an Instagram post.
Kingston Police “disappointed” with unlawful gatherings
In an email sent to The Journal, Chief Antje McNeely said the Kingston Police continues to be “disappointed” with unlawful gatherings in the University District.
“We are also concerned with the increased display of willful disregard for public safety and the hostility directed at both police and by-law officers as they attempted to clear the streets, not only to allow traffic and emergency vehicles to move freely in the area but also to address the concerns about individuals walking on the roadways and into live lanes of traffic,” McNeely wrote.
The Kingston police issued eight Part 1 Summons for having open alcohol contrary to the Liquor Licence Act and one Part 1 Summons for person under 19 have consuming alcohol contrary to the Liquor Licence Act.
McNeely noted that, in partnership with city by-law, Kingston Police will continue to enforce all applicable laws including the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA), City of Kingston By-Law 2018-53—a law that regulates nuisance parties within the city of Kingston—the Liquor Act, and other provincial statutes.
City closes Breakwater Park, Gord Downie Pier
On Sept. 2, the City of Kingston decided to close Gord Edgar Downie pier and the beach area at Breakwater Park as students returned to campus.
Until Sept. 20, the pier will remain closed to reduce large gatherings and risk of potential spread of COVID-19.
People who attempt to access the closed pier and beach area during the emergency closure could subject to a $2,000 fine.
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