Holiday schedule for public services and facilities

With Christmas and New Year’s Eves both happening in the next two weeks, the schedules for a number of different public services and facilities will be altered to accommodate the holidays.

We know it’s a pretty busy (and sometimes chaotic) time of year, with family get-togethers, parties, events, and, of course, last minute rushing around. To help you plan – and avoid that sinking feeling that comes with missing your garbage and recycling day, or rushing up to a building only to find that it’s locked – Kingstonist has compiled a list of the public schedules that will be affected (City of Kingston and Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Public Health), as well as some other helpful reminders.

Above all else, please remember to drive safely, regardless of the weather, or how late you are for an engagement. Students in the Limestone District School Board and the Algonquin Lakeshore Catholic District School board will be off school for holidays, with their last day of classes on Friday, Dec. 21, 2019, and classes resuming on Monday, Jan. 7, 2019. This means there will be more young ones out and about around the city. Particularly if we get a dumping of snow, please drive with caution, especially in areas where children play.

And with all of the holiday revelry, please remember: Do not drink and drive.

City of Kingston affected facilities and services

Christmas and New Year’s holiday green bin, garbage and recycling schedule

There will be no collection on Tuesday, Dec. 25, Wednesday, Dec. 26, or Tuesday, Jan. 1. Monday collections are not affected by the holidays. Unless your pick-up day is Monday, put your collectibles out two days after your normal pick-up day on the week of Christmas (even if that means putting it out on the weekend) and one day after your normal pick-up day following New Year’s Day.

REMINDER: Kingston households can put out two un-tagged bags or cans of garbage for their first collection day after New Year’s Day (two-bag collection days will occur on January 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7).

Kingston Transit schedule

– Christmas Eve: Monday, Dec. 24 – Regular weekday service.

– Christmas Day: Tuesday, Dec. 25 – No service.

– Boxing Day: Wednesday, Dec. 26 – Sunday service – except for Route 18, which runs on regular weekday service.

– New Year’s Eve: Monday, Dec. 31 – Regular weekday service.

– New Year’s Day: Tuesday, Jan. 1 – No service.

Kingston Access Services schedule

– Christmas Eve: Monday, Dec. 24 – Regular on-road service and hours. Office closes at 5 p.m.

– Christmas Day: Tuesday, Dec. 25 – Limited on-road service, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.  Office closed.

– Boxing Day: Wednesday, Dec. 26 – Limited on-road service, 6am-11:30pm. Office opens 8:30 to 11:30 a.m

– New Year’s Eve: Monday, Dec. 31 – Regular on-road service and hours. Office closes at 5 p.m.

– New Year’s Day: Tuesday, Jan. 1 – No service. Office closed.

Office and facilities schedules

Administrative offices, including housing and social services on Montreal Street and Provincial Offences will be closed on December 25 and 26, and January 1.

Utilities Kingston and Kingston Hydro will be closed December 25 and 26, and January 1. In the event of a utility emergency, such as a gas smell, power outage or a water main break, call the Utilities Kingston 24-hour number at 613-546-1181. Hydro One electricity customers in the west and east ends can call 1-800-434-1235. Union Gas customers can call 1-877-969-0999. REMINDER: for electricity used on weekends and holidays, electricity prices are off-peak.

Kingston Frontenac Public Library branches will be closed from December 23 to 26, and from December 30 to January 1.

Artillery Park Aquatic Centre will be open until 4 p.m. on December 24 and 31, and closed on December 25 and 26, and January 1.

INVISTA Fitness and Wellness Centre will be open until 4 p.m. on December 24 and 31, and closed December 25 and 26, and January 1.

Rideau Heights Community Centre and Library will be open until 4 p.m. on December 24 and 31, and closed December 25 and 26, and January 1.

Arenas will be will be open until 4 p.m. on December 24 and 31, and closed December 25 and 26, and January 1.

Grand Theatre Box Office will be open noon to 4 p.m. on December 24 and 31, and from noon to 6 p.m. on December 28 and 29. The Box Office will be closed December 25 to 27, and January 1. Tickets for all shows can be purchased online 24 hours a day at www.kingstongrand.ca.

Kingston Area Recycling Centre (KARC) will be closed December 25 and 26, and January 1. REMINDER: Christmas trees can be dropped off free-of-charge at KARC, 196 Lappan’s Lane.

The Tett Centre will be closed to the public December 24 to 26, December 31, and January 1.

The Heritage Resource Centre will be closed from December 19 to January 2.

Reminder from Kingston Fire and Rescue: Never burn wrapping paper or Christmas trees in your fireplace. They burn too hot and create creosote, which can cause chimney fires.

Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington (KFL&A) Public Health programs and services

Main office

The main office will be closed December 24, 25, 26 and 31, and on January 1.

There will be no breastfeeding clinics Thursday, December 20, 2018 to Tuesday, January 1, 2019.

There will be no immunization clinic on Tuesday, December 25, Wednesday, December 26, and Tuesday, January 1, 2019.

There will be no sexual health clinic on Tuesday, December 25, Thursday, December 27, and Tuesday, January 1, 2019.

There will be no gay men’s sexual health clinic on Monday, December 24 or Monday, December 31, 2018.

The Food for You, Food for Two program will be closed from Monday, December 24, 2018 to Monday, January 7, 2019. Regular programs will resume on Tuesday, January 8, 2019.

On days when offices are closed, no KFL&A Public Health programs, services, drop-ins, or information lines will be open.