DK!, KFPL hold What the Dickens Walk on Brock contest
The Kingston Frontenac Public Library (KFPL) invites Kingston and area residents and visitors to have the best of times during the What the Dickens Walk on Brock Contest.
Why Dickens? In May 1842, near the end of his North American tour, Dickens and his wife Catherine stayed at Daley’s Hotel at King and Clarence Streets for three days, according to a release from KFPL. While in Kingston, the library said that Dickens visited Fort Henry, Kingston Mills and the Rideau Canal, and Kingston Penitentiary.
“Kingston, now the seat of government in Canada, is a very poor town rendered still poorer in the appearance of its marketplace by the ravages of a recent fire,” he wrote. “One half of it appears to be burnt down, and the other half not to be built up.”
Read more about the tour in his book American Notes; chapter 15 includes his time in Kingston, the library said.
The Downtown Kingston! Business Improvement Area What the Dickens Walk on Brock event, happening this December, commemorates that long-ago visit. KFPL is participating in this fun contest open to all adults. Perhaps you’ll discover — or re-discover — a favourite Dickens novel.
From Dec. 10 through Dec. 20, interested participants can pick up an entry form from the Central Branch at 130 Johnson Street or download and print a copy from https://bit.ly/WalkOnBrock. Visit the eight participating downtown businesses on or near Brock Street and look for the Charles Dickens book cover and quotation in each window. Signs will be posted with the information facing outward onto the street for your convenience, KFPL said.
Fill in the “Title” blank on the entry form for each participating business, and include your name and contact information. KFPL asks participants to please observe all masking and physical distancing rules in effect.
Drop off completed entry forms no later than 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 30 at the Central Branch, using either the ground-floor service desk or the outdoor book drop. Correct entries received by the deadline enter into a January draw for one of four $25 gift certificates from Novel Idea Bookstore (limit of one prize per household).
KFPL thanks the Friends of Kingston Frontenac Public Library for sponsoring contest prizes!