RELEASE — Today, City Hall will be lit up in blue to show solidarity with and to thank Kingston’s health care workers and all those working in essential services, who are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning today, April 6, and every Monday in April, City Hall and Springer Square Market will be lit up in blue starting at sundown (currently around 7:30 p.m.) until sunrise (currently around 6:45 a.m.).
“In these challenging and uncertain times, it’s more important than ever to show our support to health care workers who are working tirelessly to care for residents throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Mayor Bryan Paterson. “The special lighting of City Hall will symbolize our deep appreciation – and let it also shine a little hope across the city and our community.”
The City Hall illuminations are used to celebrate, commemorate, promote, and create awareness of local history, special events and causes important to the community. Learn more about Lighting up City Hall.
“The decision was made to illuminate City Hall to reinforce and highlight our gratitude to health care workers and those working in essential services,” says CAO Lanie Hurdle. “Our city is experiencing unprecedented times so it’s important to be able to shine a light on their efforts and show them our support.”
To view City Hall lit up from the comfort of your home while physical distancing rules remain in place, visit our Springer Market Square Webcam.
Tonight and every Monday at 7:30 p.m. residents may also hear local church bells ring in solidarity for supporting health care workers and essential service workers in Kingston during the COVID-19 pandemic. St. George’s Cathedral will be ringing their carillon as well as the overseer of Sydenham Street United Church will be ringing an old City of Kingston bell tonight at his house.
The City is also encouraging you to show support for our health care workers and those working in essential services by honking your car horns or by standing outside of your homes at 7:30 p.m. and chiming in with your own musical instrument. In your own way, while practicing physical distancing, everyone can show support for our hard-working and dedicated essential service workers and contribute to a community-wide effort. If you are participating in one of these efforts, please share with the City of Kingston and tag us on Twitter @cityofkingston.ca
Kingston Fire & Rescue raise their sticks in support
Starting April 8, Kingston Fire & Rescue (KFR) will demonstrate appreciation for health care workers by stationing their trucks in front of fire halls at approximately 8:15 a.m. Firefighters will then line-up in front of the trucks, each standing 2 metres apart and holding hockey sticks between them. The hockey stick has become Canadian’s preferred unit of measurement when understanding the distance to maintain between one another, to help flatten the COVID-19 curve.
“This is a gesture to thank all health care workers on the front line and to remind our community of the importance of physical distancing, both for their own health, and the health of our entire community,” says Chief Shawn Armstrong. Firefighters will do this each week throughout the month of April.
Right now this is the view of City Hall shining a light and showing solidarity to health care and essential service workers on the frontlines of #covid19 in our #kingston community. View it now on our Springer Market Square webcam https://t.co/MoWwtxQOux pic.twitter.com/cYr2sLpZz5
— City of Kingston – Municipal Government (@cityofkingston) April 7, 2020
Release | Photo (Twitter): City of Kingston
