The Year That Was
While there are three weeks remaining in 2010, for the most part, the big news stories and issues that shaped the year have already passed. In the year MMX, Harvey Rosen handed over the gavel to Mark Gerretsen, the 35 year old son of a former Mayor and current MPP, John Gerretsen. Kingston and the Islands’ MP, Peter Milliken, announced that he would not seek re-election, which spurred a runoff for the local Liberal nomination. When the dust settled, Ted Hsu, the Executive Director of SWITCH, emerged victorious over Rosen and many others. Lower Princess Street went under the knife to repair ancient infrastructure, and a hotel parking garage partially collapsed. The Olympic torch passed through the Limestone City on its way to Vancouver. An organization named DARN! helped drum up support for downtown businesses, and successfully pulled off the pedestrian friendly Princess Street Promenade. While some were talking about Five Guys, Smokes and Harpers, the attention of others was focused on the ominous third crossing, the possibility of a bridge to Wolfe Island and the heartbreaking closure of our Prison Farms. Then there was the Lake Ontario Park revitalization, backyard chickens, return of the roller derby, debate over clear garbage bags, construction of the Isabel Bader Performing Arts Centre, two tragic deaths on Queen’s campus and the list goes on. In retrospect, our final poll of the year asks:
What news story best defines 2010?
- Prison Farm Closures (51%, 97 Votes)
- Gerretsen Wins Election (13%, 25 Votes)
- Lots of Burgers and Poutine (12%, 23 Votes)
- Something Else. (12%, 23 Votes)
- Milliken Stepping Aside (9%, 18 Votes)
- Debate Over Third Crossing (3%, 6 Votes)
Total Voters: 192
Loading ...For Kingstonist, I think that one of the most significant events of the past year was the establishment of the weekly poll. The response and support from our readers has been outstanding, as three of our top five posts, in terms of comments, are weekly polls. While I was initially reluctant to set up a regular schedule involving a weekly poll, it has definitely worked out and allowed for more in-depth analysis of fun and serious topics alike. I look forward to continuing our poll feature in the New Year, and as always, we’re certainly open to suggestions for future poll questions and themes. In the meantime, keep on voting and be sure to drop off a comment or two regarding what issue, for better or worse, best represents 2010.
Thanks to *vlad* for today’s photo.
The prison farm issue for me crystallized a number of important issues around our attitudes to crime and justice, food and consumption, what it means to take responsibility for where you live, and more.
The fact that the Conservatives at national level still don't seem to even understand that this was important in any way just shows how wedded they are to Harper's ongoing and insidious ideological transformation of Canada away from its (still lingering) global reputation for tolerance, humanity and moderation, towards something that is colder, nastier and less sympathetic. In other words, something more akin to the US right's agenda (and let's not forget that Harper's background is a 'continentalist who would rather Canada didn't exist at all, and we all lived in the USA): next year look out for more overt moves in this direction, in terms of moves to a (US-determined) perimeter security policy…
Well said. I can't help but wonder why the appeals for the protesters who were scooped up are being drawn out so many months later. To me, that says a great deal about support for closing the Prison Farms, or rather a lack thereof, at other levels of government. A true shame to see them go in spite of the public support.
David – While the issue defenitely drew input from all areas as you outlined, I'm not so sure that it was a Kingston isue, but rather a National issue that had implications (albeit significant) to Kingston.