The Kingstonian Podcast

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Her Dad loved museums and her Mom was a teacher.  So it seemed only natural that Jamie McKenzie-Naish would someday combine that ‘heritage’ as a museum guide, curator and now facilitator working with the Kingston & Area Association of Museums, Art Galleries and Historic Sites.  As Managing Director of the organization, she works to support those sites, so they continue to grow and thrive.  

This conversation follows Jamie’s journey from Kingston, to Peterborough, to Leicester in the U.K., and back to Kingston.

For more information on the organization, check out their Facebook page or head over to their website at www.kingstonmuseums.ca   

Our theme music is “Stasis Oasis”,  by Tim Aylesworth

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Episodes also air weekly on CJAI at 101.3fm (Tue. at 4pm) 

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Helen Cooper was first elected to municipal council in Kingston back in 1980.  Eight years later, she became the first woman to take on the job of Mayor.  This episode profiles life before politics, during her time around the municipal ‘horseshoe’, and positions she occupied post elected office.  Local government is obviously a very important part of community service, but volunteerism plays a critical role with almost every aspect of our society.  In addition to her career in politics,  Helen continues to contribute.

Our theme music is “Stasis Oasis”,  by Tim Aylesworth

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Episodes also air weekly on CJAI at 101.3fm (Tue. at 4pm) 

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Podcasts featuring local history have been very popular with listeners.  Bill Stevenson was my guest for a show focused on the Facebook Page he set up – “Vintage Kingston”.  Chris West shared plans for the revitalization of the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes.  Brian Johnson told us stories of his 30+ years as captain of the Wolfe Island Ferry – stories about the Island and the waters between it and the City of Kingston.   This is another in the series but a little unique.  Jim Reid is the fourth generation to own and operate James Reid Funeral Home here in Kingston.  It all began when his Great-Grand Father, the original “James Reid”, arrived here with his mother and siblings.  He put his name on the facade on the building at 256 Princess Street in 1854 – and it’s still there!   

Our theme music is “Stasis Oasis”,  by Tim Aylesworth

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Episodes also air weekly on CJAI at 101.3fm (Tue. at 4pm) 

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Rob Watkins is back with a new conversation.  As with many singer/songwriters during the pandemic, he spent a good chunk of his time writing songs.  When it came time to recording them, he chose to present the music in its simplest form, offering listeners the opportunity to hear the songs as he had written them.  In this episode, we speak about that, as well as his desire to seek out other musicians in the community, whose styles may be different from his, with a view to possibly integrating new elements into his own music.  We also spent time talking about performing – what venue does he prefer these days, after decades of entertaining.  

For more info on Rob’s latest collection of music – a CD called “Euphoria” – send him a message through his Facebook page.

Our theme music is “Stasis Oasis”,  by Tim Aylesworth

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Episodes also air weekly on CJAI at 101.3fm (Tue. at 4pm) 

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Peter Milliken served as the Member of Parliament for Kingston & the Islands for 23 years, and, during that time he sat in the big chair as Speaker of the House for 10 years.  Given the election of another minority government in September of 2021.  I thought it might be worthwhile to discuss the pros and cons of both majority & minority governments.  Do MP’s act any differently?  How do party leaders strategize to get their agendas dealt with?  And what about a Speaker; is their job any different?  In this episode, we go ‘behind the scenes’ and get a sense of the inner workings of Parliament.

Our theme music is “Stasis Oasis”,  by Tim Aylesworth

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Episodes also air weekly on CJAI at 101.3fm (Tue. at 4pm) 

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John Price has been a successful realtor for over 30 years – and has seen some changes.  Along the way, he has developed relationships with the military community in Kingston – particularly with the Family Resource Centre.  His other passion involves a love of Corvettes and somewhere near 400 of them are expected to join him for a weekend in June – an event John and his wife, Heather, have organized for the second time in four years!

The Kingston Corvette Invasion II – June 17-19, 2022

Our theme music is “Stasis Oasis”,  by Tim Aylesworth

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Episodes also air weekly on CJAI at 101.3fm (Tue. at 4pm) 

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For those listening from outside the area, Kingston is home to a large military base.  Thousands of families have been posted in and out of this community.  Kingston is also where you’ll find the Royal Military College (RMC) – a degree-granting university whose primary purpose is training military officers.  Alex Landry is an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces.  He has been posted to bases in New Brunswick, Ontario, Ukraine and Turkey.  Community involvement has also been important to him – working on flood relief in Ottawa, and volunteering as a firefighter and first-aid responder in New Brunswick.  He is passionate about both.  In this episode, I chat with Alex about the last ten years, about the experiences of integrating both passions – from entering RMC to serving with the Canadian contingent at the NATO base in Turkey.  

This conversation was recorded virtually in late February 2022.  

Our theme music is “Stasis Oasis”,  by Tim Aylesworth

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Episodes also air weekly on CJAI at 101.3fm (Tue. at 4pm) 

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Morning news on radio has long been a staple of our work day.  We have long relied on local newscasters to get up in the middle of the night to write those stories to keep all of us informed.  Tony Orr moved to Kingston in 1977 to take up the morning shift at CKLC and Y98; 24 years later, he moved 'across the street' to a brand new operation that included KROCK and Country 93.5.  He was there for another 20 years.  There is more to Tony than just the news.  He got involved in his community, joining different groups - all with the goal of making his new home town a better place.  Over the past 40+ years, he has told many stories and shares some in this episode.

This episode was recorded virtually in February 2022. 

Our theme music is “Stasis Oasis”,  by Tim Aylesworth

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Episodes also air weekly on CJAI at 101.3fm (Tue. at 4pm) 

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Georgette Fry is a name familiar to music fans in Southeastern Ontario.  She has been singing her heart out for over 40 years.  Her vocal style has bridged the gap between jazz, soul, blues and gospel, with the power of Etta James and the rasp of Bonnie Raitt.  Her debut solo LP, back in 1996, “Rites of Passage”, was nominated for a Juno Award.  Georgette continues to perform with some of the best musicians around, reinventing herself to showcase the talents that have made her a favourite.  In 2002, she spearheaded the organization of choirs in over two dozen communities, offering women the opportunity to get together and sing!  SHOUT SISTER is 20 years old and continues to thrive!  This is a new conversation recorded in mid-February, 2022.

Here is the link to the video Georgette and I spoke of during our conversation.  Hold the cursor over the link, press Ctrl & click …. And enjoy!

Watch and Listen | Shout Sister Choir

Our theme music is “Stasis Oasis”,  by Tim Aylesworth

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Episodes also air weekly on CJAI at 101.3fm (Tue. at 4pm) 

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Lubomyr Luciuk is a Professor at the Royal Military College in Kingston.  He was born and raised in this city in Southeastern Ontario, whose parents immigrated to Canada from Ukraine in the late 40’s.  He obviously has an emotional attachment to his ancestral home.  At the same time, his passion has been the study of Ukraine and the surrounding geography.   He is an author of many books on the topic and has been sought after to comment on the current crisis.  In this extended episode, Lubomyr sits down with host, Dave Cunningham, to help us try to understand the past, the present and the future of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.  

This episode was recorded virtually on March 10th, 2022

During the episode, we refer to a local fundraiser.  For more information, go to the Facebook page, “The Mayor’s Fund for Students from Ukraine”

Our theme music is “Stasis Oasis”,  by Tim Aylesworth

Follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Instagram,  & Threads 

Send comments & suggestions to  [email protected] 

Episodes also air weekly on CJAI at 101.3fm (Tue. at 4pm)