Need business assistance? 

Check Kingston Economic Development’s COVID-19 Resources for Small Business Page for a comprehensive list of resources to help your business.

For business information, updates and support, contact:

• Kingston Economic Development

• Kingston Chamber of Commerce

• KFL&A Public Health Unit 

• KFL&A Public Health vaccine information

• Government of Ontario vaccine information

• Government of Canada vaccine information

Local Vaccine Clinics

Clinics, participating pharmacies, primary care clinics, and mobile clinic locations and times can be found by visiting kflaph.ca/vaccine.

Proof of Vaccination

As of March 1, 2022, Ontario no longer requires businesses and organizations to check proof of vaccination to enter settings. Proof of vaccination is not required to enter municipal recreation and cultural facilities. Some businesses and organizations may choose to require proof of vaccination upon entry.

• The Food Sharing Project: Healthy meals and snacks available at every school, for any student, every day! Contact your school.

• HIV/AIDS (HARS): 844 Princess St. Takeout Breakfast, Mon. - Thurs., 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. Sandwiches (based on availability, staff) from 1:00 - 4 p.m. 

• Lunch by George: 129 Wellington St. Hot takeout meals or bag lunches. Mon. - Fri., 11:00 -11:30 p.m. 

• Martha’s Table: 629 Princess St. Hot takeout meals, 7 days a week, 11:00 - 1:00 p.m. Meal delivery available, email mealdelivery@marthastable.ca or call 613 546 0320 ext 0. 

• North Frontenac Food Bank: 14152 Road 38, Sharbot Lake. Call 613-279-8855 for appointment Partners in Mission Food Bank: 140 Hickson Ave. Please call 613-544-4100 for appointment. No walk-in service. Mon. - Fri. 8:30 - 12:00p.m. & 1:00 - 4:00p.m. 

• Rural Frontenac Community Services: Meals on wheels 3 days a week. North & Central Frontenac & Bedford Twp. 613-279-3151. 

• Salvation Army: 342 Patrick St, Open Mon., Wed., Fri. 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. by appointment, providing prebagged groceries. To make an appt call 613 548 4411 press 0 for reception. 

• Seniors’ Food Box: Offering food boxes for seniors including produce, non-perishables & staples. Call 613-530-2239 for more information

• Southern Frontenac Community Services and Food Bank: Frozen meals available for delivery daily. Hot meals delivered 3 days a week for South Frontenac/rural Kingston residents. Call or book online. Food bank hampers also available. 613-376-6477

• St. Vincent de Paul: 85 Stephen St. Hot takeout meals. Food Pantry Mon.-Fri. 9:00 - 1:00 p.m. Warehouse closed, but items available, call 613-766-8432 . 

• St. Mary's Parish Centre: 260 Brock St. Drop-in Centre, light food and snacks, Mon. - Fri. 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. 

As of March 21, the Government of Ontario has lifted most public health measures related to COVID-19.  Kingston Grand Theatre is now open at full capacity and mask wearing is no longer mandatory, but those who wish to continue wearing one are encouraged to do so.  Passive screening remains in effect. Visit COVID-19 Protocols for more detailed information. 

The box office is open by phone at (613) 530-2050, Monday – Saturday, 12 to 4:30 p.m. and two hours before each performance.  Tickets and gift certificates can also be purchased online and inquiries can be sent via e-mail at grandtheatre2@cityofkingston.ca. 

Visit the Grand website for the most up-to-date information. Inquiries related to current or future rentals should be directed to Dianne Zemba, Manager, Kingston Grand Theatre, at dzemba@cityofkingston.ca or at 613-546-4291 ext. 1139. 

The City is working closely with the lead agency KFL&A Public Health and other community partners to monitor the global situation and respond accordingly. 

Limit the spread by:

• Washing your hands often. Use soap and water and scrubbing for at least 20 seconds.
• Maintaining a 2-metre physical distance from people who are not in your household.
• Wearing a face covering.
• Coughing and sneeze into the bend of your arm or cover your mouth and nose with a tissue.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Staying home if you are sick.
• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.

Housing and Social Services remains open. Residents are asked to help limit traffic to the local office at 362 Montreal St. by conducting as many interactions as possible online and by telephone. Please contact your case manager before visiting the office.

Access further housing and social services support:

• 211ontario.ca

Ontario Works

Call your case manager if you need assistance and avoid visiting the office. Some useful links:

• MFAP Application
• DRB Application
• My Benefits

COVID-19 related unemployment and Employment Insurance (EI)

Dedicated line addressing EI applications/claims due to quarantine, illness/isolation, or work closure due to COVID 19:

• EI Website
• Phone 1-833-381-2725

Enhanced Healthcare Coverage

Ontario is waiving the three-month waiting period for Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) coverage. Additionally, the province will cover the cost of COVID-19 services for uninsured people who do not meet the criteria for OHIP coverage.

• Find out more

Emergency Financial Assistance

The City, through provincially approved funding, is providing emergency financial assistance for all individuals who are currently without an income. 

The province has also approved the expansion of discretionary benefits to support vulnerable Ontarians as the COVID-19 public health crisis evolves globally and locally. This is additional support is for Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) recipients who are facing one-time exceptional costs related to COVID-19 and is not intended to offset general costs or income support. 

Please call or email your Ontario Works or ODSP caseworker to request consideration for this discretionary benefit.

Kingston Transit passes are available for purchase or renewal at a variety of sales outlets, including City Hall. Passengers using monthly passes are recommended to renew their monthly pass online.

As of 12 a.m. on Saturday, June 12, masking requirements on public transit will expire. Bus operators and passengers are encouraged to wear a mask if they feel it is the right choice for them. Please be kind to all riders and operators – we are all on this ride together.

Current service levels

Kingston Transit service levels remain at levels that were in place prior to the stay-at-home order. Schedules are available at KingstonTransit.ca/Schedules .

Weekday service

• Express routes will operate on a 30-minute service level from approximately 6 a.m. – midnight. During morning and afternoon peak periods, service will increase to 15-minutes on all Express routes, except for Routes 801/802 which will continue to operate on 30-minute service.
• Local routes will operate at pre-pandemic service levels, except for Route 18 which remains suspended until further notice.

Saturday/Sunday service

• All Express and local routes will operate at pre-pandemic service level, except for Route 18 which remains suspended until further notice.

Front-door Boarding and Fare Collection

Front-door boarding and fare collection on all Kingston Transit buses will continue. Passengers are required to enter through the front door and exit through the rear door, if possible, to support physical distancing measures and ensure one-way flow. Passengers with disabilities, strollers, carts or other needs will still be permitted to exit using the front door.

Transit passes are available to purchase at a variety of sales outlets, including City Hall. Visit KingstonTransit.ca to learn more about the different fares and passes available.

Post-Secondary Student Pass

Kingston Transit is offering a new post-secondary student pass for the winter semester in collaboration with The Alma Mater Society of Queen’s University and The Student Association of St. Lawrence College. Eligible students attending either post-secondary institution have the option to purchase the pass online at KingstonTransit.ca/Students.

Administrative Office

The Kingston Transit administrative office is closed to the public until further notice. Passengers requiring assistance, including the pick-up of lost and found items, should call 613-546-0000.

Planning Applications 

You may apply, update, and complete application-related tasks online through the DASH portal. For current planning applications, please contact the Planner assigned to the application through email or phone. Please leave a detailed voicemail (your name, contact information, and nature of your call), and a staff member will follow up with you directly.

For general planning inquiries, please call 613-546-4291 ext. 3180 or email planning@cityofkingston.ca.

Heritage Resource Centre

The Heritage Resource Centre is open. Staff can be contacted by email at heritageplanning@cityofkingston.ca or by phone at 613-546-4291 ext. 1389.

Planning Committee and Committee of Adjustment

The City is now holding Planning Committee and Committee of Adjustment meetings in an online format. Residents can live-stream committee meetings on the Kingston City Council YouTube page. Residents interested in participating in a meeting can learn more on the Planning Committee of Committee of Adjustment webpages. Meetings will still be occurring at their regularly scheduled times.  

Payments 

1211 John Counter Blvd. is open to the public, however residents may also make payments through one of the following means:

• Pay online through the DASH portal 
• Use the secure dropbox for cheque payments at the front door of 1211 John Counter Blvd. 
• Call or email to make credit card payments: 613-546-4291 ext. 3150 or licensingapplications@cityofkingston.ca 

The POA Court facility at 362 Montreal Street is open.

Fines can be paid online, in-person, by phone with a credit card, or by mailing a cheque or money order payable to ‘City of Kingston’.

If you need more time to pay a fine, please contact our office by phone 613-547-8557 or email poacourt@cityofkingston.ca

All matters scheduled for Court are by telephone or internet only.  If you received a summons to attend court and do not have the connection details, please contact our office at 613-547-8557.   

If you have questions about your fine or court date or the options available to you, please contact us by phone at 613-547-8557 or email poacourt@cityofkingston.ca

Beginning on March 14, 2022, the following changes are in effect at Rideaucrest Home:

• All residents, regardless of vaccination status, can enjoy social absences for any duration including overnight. Testing requirements upon return remain in place.
• There are no requirements for residents to remain in cohorts except for during dining or in an outbreak situation.
• Social group activities can be increased in size (more than 10) as spacing allows.
• Large social group activities where potential crowding can occur (ex. large gatherings in the conference rooms) should continue to be avoided, and IPAC measures should continue to be followed by staff, residents and visitors.
• All general visitors, including children under the age of five, can resume visits.
• Caregivers and general visitors do not need to physically distance themselves from residents they are visiting, however, must remain masked while in the Home at all times.
• Caregivers and general visitors may join group activities with the residents where space permits.
• For indoor visits, up to four visitors (including caregivers) may visit a resident at a time.
• There are no limits on the number of individuals permitted at outdoor visits.
• Rideaucrest will continue to obtain a rapid antigen test from all individuals who enter the Home. Staff and caregivers do not need to wait for their results prior to proceeding to the Terrace all other individuals must wait the 15 minute time period.
• Rideaucrest will continue to request proof of full vaccination from all individuals who enter the Home.
• Screening requirements remain in place for all individuals who are visiting or working on the property.
• Surveillance testing (rapid test) will not be required for those visiting outdoors or for support workers who solely do work outside of the Home (ex. roof maintenance).  
• All individuals who previously had a confirmed COVID-19 infection will not be required to do surveillance testing (rapid test) for 90 days post-infection resolution. A positive PCR test is required to be exempt from surveillance testing.

Please see the following links for further clarification of the changes effective March 14:

• Visitor absences and social gatherings snapshot
• COVID-19 policies: What residents can expect in long-term care homes
• Key messages to support residents and families

Please contact Rideaucrest Home directly for more information on visiting the Home during the COVID-19 pandemic.