Join the conversation  </a>Article contentAnn Copland will never forget the evening she was brought to the cool
dry morgue at Kingston General Hospital to identify her deceased husband of 47 years
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Patrick had been out cycling one of his regular routes on Taylor Kidd Boulevard near the west end of Kingston
Copland had gone for a walk at the Lemoine Point Conservation Area on her own
but Copland expected Patrick home around mid-afternoon
She called the police and asked if there had been a collision involving a cyclist
The operator seemed to be trying to keep her on the phone but wouldn’t confirm any information
When officers walked through her front door 15 minutes later
the lives of her three daughters would be forever altered
Sitting at her dining room table earlier this winter Copland’s voice breaks
All the officers told her that evening was that Patrick had been involved in a collision with a vehicle
Copland received more devastating news from the Kingston Police: the Amherstview driver investigators had charged in connection to Patrick’s death would not be facing any consequences from provincial court
The Kingston Police had exceeded the provincial limitation period which
required investigators to swear provincial charge of careless driving causing bodily harm or death in court within six months
One year and three months after Patrick was killed
Kingston Police wrote in a statement to Postmedia they are exploring the possibility of laying criminal charges instead
This was something they’d previously told the president of the Kingston Velo Club and Copland’s lawyer David Shellnutt last year as the family prepared a civil lawsuit against the driver involved
The fact police still exploring this avenue was news to Copland at the end of February
She claims the communication between her family and local police since Patrick’s death has been unprofessional and thoughtless
looking at the police sergeant in awe when he explained the driver wouldn’t be facing any consequences
They explained their father was a retired child psychologist
do-anything-for-his-daughters dad who was also a near-professional cyclist
but he was paid in experiences only few could imagine
His idea of a vacation usually took the form of a solo adventure cycling across North America and countries all around the world
Patrick surfed for the first time in Australia at 76 years old
He wore a bright reflective vest when he rode and was a stickler for cycling safety
his daughters and fellow club members remembered
They said he was so confident following the rules of the road that he felt comfortable riding in even the busiest areas of downtown Toronto
It was common for Patrick to cycle hundreds of kilometres a week around the Kingston region
He’d leave his and Copland’s Sunnyside neighbourhood home
enjoy the lunch he’d packed and then ride back
Copland smiled at the familiar memory while sitting in her home earlier this year
Patrick rode eastbound on Taylor Kidd Boulevard
either alone or with a group from the Kingston Velo Club
the paved area on the outside of Taylor Kidd Boulevard’s white fog line starts to shrink
parts of the paved shoulder have eroded so much that even parts of the fog line are gone
The information surrounding the case of Patrick’s death presented in this article were gathered from his family
a Kingston Police General Occurrence Report
a complaint submitted to the Ontario’s Law Enforcement Complaints Agency
the Coroner’s Report into Patrick’s death and a statement of claim filed against the driver involved
None of the alleged facts have been tested in court at this time
The driver of the Subaru remained at the scene as several Kingston Police officers responded to the collision and spoke to witnesses
Their statements are compiled in the general occurrence report
a woman who had been driving a Chevrolet Impala behind the Subaru told an officer that before the collision she saw a cyclist wearing a bright
fluorescent vest riding along the paved shoulder ahead of both vehicles
She recalled wondering how the cyclist was going to navigate the deteriorating shoulder and transition onto the roadway
cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers on the roads except on control-access highways such as the 400-series
When a motor vehicle wants to overtake a cyclist on a municipal or county road
This one-metre distance refers to the extreme right of the vehicle and the extreme left of the bicycle
Just as the shoulder narrowed and the driver of the Impala was thinking that she’d eventually have to go around the cyclist
she saw him fly into the air and land on the roadway
Travelling at the 80km/h posted speed limit
she slammed her foot on the brakes of her Impala
She searched for Patrick’s pulse as others — the volunteer firefighter who had been parked on the side of the road nearby and a driver who had been headed in the opposite direction — joined her in giving emergency first aid and calling 911
Emergency crews arrived five minutes later to continue emergency treatment
Paramedics rushed Patrick to Kingston General Hospital at 3:48 p.m
He was pronounced deceased at about 4:20 p.m
Patrick’s Coroner’s Report shared a clean toxicology analysis and concluded he’d died of multiple blunt force injuries
The Kingston Police’s general occurrence report indicates Patrick was identified at about 5:35 p.m.
when an officer retrieved his wallet from his back pocket
a neon green reflective jacket and a pair of battery packs for his sock heaters
less than an hour after she called the police searching for Patrick
Copland was on her way to the hospital to further verify her husband’s identity
While the Kingston Police never publicly released who was driving the Subaru
the Motor Vehicle Collision Report places Christopher Sheridan behind the wheel
Sheridan told Postmedia Network that he has been advised not to comment for this story
He has not filed a statement of defence in response to the lawsuit from Patrick’s family
The two parties are currently in settlement discussions
According to the general occurrence report
and he told officers at the scene that he’d been driving about 85 km/hr in the 80 km/hr zone at the time of the collision
The officer who interviewed Sheridan remarked in his notes there were no skid marks on the road as he would expect from a collision such as this
He also noted the Sheridan’s vehicle was “quite far” from both where Lynch was stuck and where he landed on the roadway
“He advised that he was eastbound on Taylor Kidd Blvd,” the officer’s notes read
“He stated that a vehicle travelling west bound started to veer into his lane forcing him to veer right
“He stated he saw the cyclist but had to veer and couldn’t avoid hitting him.”
Later in the report Sheridan is paraphrased stating he first saw Lynch about 100 yards in advance of the oncoming vehicle veering slightly towards the centre line
The report states Sheridan told police that the oncoming vehicle’s driver’s side tires may have entered his lane
wrote in the report that neither Sheridan nor his child were injured
and that the driver stated he had not been distracted by his child or his cellphone
Sheridan’s small vehicle sustained major damage to the front
He provided police with his vehicle permit and a recently expired insurance card
Sheridan told the officer the policy was up to date and the policy number was the same
The Motor Vehicle Collision Report indicates that at the time of the collision
he wasn’t suspended from driving and no breathalyzer test was administered by police
The general occurrence report states Sheridan was sober at the time and had previous driving convictions on record
It did not state what offences the convictions were
Investigators found the vehicle had no mechanical defects
The investigative team met two months later on April 23
They presented their findings of the investigation prior to the collision reconstructionist report being finalized
Koopman summarized the results of the meeting in his concluding report:
“They advise that Patrick Lynch was operating his bicycle eastbound on Taylor Kidd Blvd on the south fog line
close to the end of the paved portion of the roadway and near the dirt shoulder
A tire mark from his bicycle provided the area of impact when the Subaru directly struck him from behind
allowing them to give distances from the shoulder of the road
as a result of striking the rear tire of the bicycle
indicates the right tire and side of the vehicle would have been past the fog line and very closely approaching the dirt shoulder of the roadway.”
The investigators agreed that with the witness statements and the statement from the driver involved
they had formed grounds to charge Sheridan under the Highway Traffic Act with Careless Driving Causing Bodily Harm or Death
The occurrence report states that just after noon on April 23
Koopman informed Provincial Prosecutor Rikki Voskamp of the charge against the driver
and she told him that she’d review the case once it has been sworn in court
Three hours later Koopman called the driver twice
When Sheridan called Koopman back 30 minutes later the sergeant explained he needed to speak to him in person
Sheridan explained he worked in Port Hope and that he would be able to meet two days later
The sergeant gave Sheridan the Part III Summons to appear in provincial court on July 8
Koopman then returned to Kingston Police Headquarters and called Copland to inform her of the charge against Sheridan
She agreed to a media release being distributed
Koopman swore Sheridan’s court Summons before a Commissioner of Oaths
It was nearly a full month before the six-month limitation period set out under Ontario’s Provincial Offences Act would expire
A limitation period is the time between when the offence is alleged to have occurred
Kingston Police’s Court Services Staff weren’t scheduled to swear the charge in provincial court until July
a month-and-a-half past the legal limitation period
They made calls to Patrick’s remaining siblings
According to a complaint submitted to Ontario’s Law Enforcement Complaints Agency by Copland’s lawyer David Shellnutt
the evening of Patrick’s passing was the last time the Kingston Police actively reached out to Copland about the progress of the investigation
For four months Copland said she had no idea how her husband had died
It was only when she received the Coroner’s Report in March that she learned Patrick had been struck from behind
Copland says she was the one who reached out to Koopman and asked to meet with him and to receive her husband’s belongings back
She said Koopman provided her with a brief progress report but couldn’t return any of Patrick’s belongings because the appropriate staff were off for the holiday
Postmedia approached the Kingston Police for an interview about this case on Feb
Koopman sent an email declining the interview and providing a statement instead
After requesting an interview again and being turned down
Postmedia sent a list of questions for Koopman to respond to
Koopman said investigators followed their policies in regard to communicating with a deceased’s family in this case
Koopman explained there are only formal communication policies for cases that meet the Ontario Major Case Management model
complexity and as part of the management model
Koopman explained a fatal motor vehicle collision such as the one that killed Patrick did not meet the threshold for the major case management model
Koopman said they followed their policy by notifying Patrick’s next of kin
any further communication is informal in terms of timing and consistency
there was communication with Patrick’s family in person
He wrote that the family was informed of progress in the investigation
they delivered Patrick’s belonging to Copland’s home
they informed her of the charges they’d laid against the accused and they asked permission to identify her husband in releases to the public
Copland felt she was met with reluctance during the meeting on Good Friday
She reminded Koopman at the time that the six-month limitation period was looming
Copland said he told her that he would be revisiting the case with the intention of laying charges after the total solar eclipse on April 8
Koopman said it would be OK for her to email him after the eclipse to remind him of the case
The month after Sheridan was charged Copland asked to view the police investigators’ reports
the Kingston Police’s Records department informed her that they could not release the files unless they received direct guidance from the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General
the ministry had “asserted that they have a greater interest in any police incident involving a motor vehicle accident resulting in a death.”
Copland reached out to the Attorney General who then referred her back to the Kingston Police
She said again the local records department were reluctant to release the files
Copland spoke with a representative from Pro Bono Ontario
who emailed the Kingston Police on her behalf
Ann received a copy of the Kingston Police’s General Occurrence Report that same evening
and the Kingston Velo Club started asking for more information about Sheridan’s date in court
Copland said they called nearly every courthouse looking for the date
Copland does not recall ever receiving the date from police and it was not included in the media release announcing the charge
In the days leading up to when Sheridan was scheduled to appear in court
She recalled him informing her that the charge of careless driving causing bodily harm or death laid against Sheridan had been dropped because the official charge information had not been sworn within the office of the court within six months of the collision as per provincial legislation
“Immediately upon learning of the loss of the Highway Traffic Act charge due to the administrative error and ensuring there were no other recoverable legal options available
the investigator personally attended the family member’s residence to advise them of the regrettable outcome,” Koopman recalled of the meeting in the statement
Copland couldn’t believe what the sergeant was telling her
Greg Stobbart was training for a triathlon
to let her know he was pondering whether to go for a swim or to take his new bike out for its first ride
“He loved that bike,” McMahon told Postmedia this past January
McMahon recalled her husband wanted to get outside either way
They said they loved each other before they hung up
Less than an hour later Stobbart was cycling up a steep hill on Tremaine Road
The driver of the truck decided to pass the vehicle in front of Stobbart
but when he pulled his truck out into the opposite lane
another vehicle came over the crest of the hill
The driver of the truck swung it back into his lane but his mirror clipped Stobbart
He eventually died of his injuries and McMahon
The driver of the truck was convicted of careless driving
He was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and had his licence suspended for a sixth time
At the time there was no careless driving causing bodily harm or death in Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act
There were no increased penalties for taking the life of another when driving recklessly
Stobbart’s widow had become the Liberal MPP for Burlington
In addition to officially creating the charge
McMahon’s bill called for stricter punishments over the general careless driving offence
and even harsher penalties if a cyclist or pedestrian was the victim
It also gave investigating officers two years to have the charges sworn before a Justice of the Peace
McMahon said she had worked with police to create the bill and was proud of it
She was confident it would receive royal assent
According to the Ministry of Transportation
McMahon’s bill was killed when former Premier Kathleen Wynne prorogued the legislature on Sept
portions of Bill 213 were included in others over the next eight years
They requested the province increase the timeframe to two years
Bill 223 received royal assent and came into force on Dec
just over a year too late for Patrick’s case
Postmedia asked the Kingston Police how many charges of Careless Driving Causing Bodily Harm or Death they’d issued between January 2019 and December 2024
The force reported issuing 14 of the charges: none in 2019 or 2020
The charge against Sheridan involved in Patrick’s death is reflected in the 2023 number
How many of the charges resulted in convictions was not immediately available
Koopman said it is not common for Kingston Police investigators to miss a provincial limitation period
but “we are unable to track statistics in this regard.”
investigators were aware of the limitation period and issued a summons on the accused before the six-month limitation period
but due to an administrative error it was not brought forward to Provincial Offences Court to be formally sworn to,” Koopman said
“As a result of this process both the Traffic Safety Unit
and Court Services were all advised of this circumstance as a point of training to ensure this does not reoccur.”
Koopman described missing the limitation period deadline as “an extremely unfortunate and frustrating administrative process that appears to have no remedy.”
Koopman explained in the email that his office believed they’d met the limitation period when he charged the driver in person and swore the charge before Commissioner of Oaths at the end of April 2024
He explained that the driver was scheduled to appear in July to allow more time for investigators to complete a summary brief of the incident and their collision reconstruction report
“We have worked extremely hard on this case and were looking forward to testifying
to see a successful outcome,” Koopman wrote at the time
“While not important in comparison to Ann’s emotions and the community’s expectations of justice and accountability
I am personally disappointed and devastated by this apparent outcome and am making any and all attempts to see if there are still any options available to us.”
Koopman told Russell they learned at the end of June that the charge wouldn’t be proceeding
“In our opinion we reached the threshold of reasonable and probable grounds the offence had been committed,” Koopman wrote Russell
“The accused was officially served notice of the offence
and the vast majority of evidence had been completed.”
he wrote that while they were seeking advice from the Crown Attorney’s Office to find an alternative solution
According to the report submitted to the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency by Shellnutt in late December 2024
Koopman told him he wasn’t confident the Crown would be convinced
Shellnutt learned that the complaint they’d submitted to the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency had been screened out because the case was still ongoing
Shellnutt reached out to Kingston Police for an update on the case on March 3
Koopman told Postmedia in response to our questions that it would “be premature to publicly discuss potential charges prior to police participating in a final case conference with the Crown Attorney’s Office.”
When asked why criminal charges were considered after investigators missed the provincial limitation period
Koopman said both federal and provincial charges are considered at the beginning of any investigation
additional insight and input is being requested by investigators from the Crown Attorney’s Office in such areas as the researching of case law and the reasonable prospect of conviction
dependent on the offences being considered,” Koopman explained
the Kingston Crown Attorney’s office reported the case was an Ottawa matter
The Ottawa office said they don’t provide any information to the media
Postmedia has reached out to the Ministry of the Attorney General for more information
Koopman said in his statement to Postmedia that the Kingston Police Safety Unit embraced the December 2024 amendment to the Highway Traffic Act
giving them two years to investigate Careless Driving Causing Bodily Harm or Death
“We can confirm these investigations are indeed becoming increasingly complex and technical in nature
both in terms of our evidence and data-collecting capabilities and equipment
as well as the ongoing automation and computerization of motor vehicles with infotainment consoles
integration with personal devices like smartphones
Whether the case is to be tried in the criminal court or not
Shellnutt urged waiting nearly a year and a half for a matter such as this to be resolved isn’t fair to a family who lost their father and husband
Shellnutt said the state of the investigation raises questions for him
He urged Kingston’s cycling community to work with elected officials to ensure something like this doesn’t happen again
“We pay so much for policing that we expect the utmost to service to our communities and this case certainly lays bare how that can be wanting… to put it mildly,” Shellnutt said
would his family still be engaged in the same run around with police and prosectors?”
Koopman said investigators did not treat the case any differently because the victim was a cyclist
Keavy Lynch proposed officers expressing the limitation period was too short for the complexity of the case is just an excuse for incompetence
several more pedestrians and cyclists have been killed in Kingston since my dad,” Keavy wrote to Postmedia
“I have no confidence that the Kingston Police takes these deaths seriously
and I think no family should have to deal with the uncertainty that the police’s lack of care added to an already horrible situation
“Ultimately the police had a basic duty to know the law (a five-year-old law!) and to treat my mum with respect
and I think they massively failed at both,” Keavy Lynch wrote
“How many other cases were mishandled between 2018 and 2023
“My hope is that if these failures are made public
then the police will make an effort to change the way they handle these cases.”
Copland is proud of her daughter’s strong words
Koopman apologized for the case not proceeding in court
but Copland said she’d like an apology for how her family was treated
“I don’t see how this could be professional behaviour,” Copland said
recalling the months she says she went without answers
The months of giving the driver the benefit of the doubt and second guessing her husband’s actions that day
Copland felt their family was never made the priority during the investigation by police
She pointed to the General Occurrence Report where it states Sheridan’s vehicle had been released to him before Patrick’s family received any of his belongings
the officer referred to Sheridan by a nickname
seemed to suggest Koopman was sympathizing with the driver
In the complaint to the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency
it explained that Koopman’s behaviour made Copland wonder whether the officer and the accused knew each other prior to the collision
Koopman denied sympathizing with Sheridan and confirmed neither he
had any previous connections with the former accused prior to the investigation
Copland said that on the day Koopman told her the charge had been dismissed
he described Sheridan as “a good man,” and told her that had the charge gone through the courts and he was found guilty
there wouldn’t have been “much of a sentence anyway.”
Copland took this as an attempt to excuse his neglect of duty and failure to properly charge Mr
Sheridan,” Shellnutt wrote in the complaint to the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency
Koopman was trying to convince her that the prosecution of the man that killed her husband was not something she should be concerned with.”
Koopman declined to comment on past conversations with any of the parties involved
“There is a regret of the loss of this charge and the opportunity to hold the driver legally accountable for their actions under the authority we had via the Highway Traffic Act,” Koopman wrote
“I take my role as the Traffic Safety Unit supervisor extremely seriously
where in our position as collision reconstructionists we experience and observe the aftermath of vehicle-related fatalities
and how they have life-altering effects on the involved parties
In an effort to find closure and accountability
filed a statement of claim against Sheridan on behalf of Copland and her daughters
“Isn’t that now the only route?” Copland replied when asked why they’ve filed suit
“I don’t see how there’s any other way and we’d get some sort of compensation.”
Copland explained she hasn’t abandoned her mission for accountability because they don’t want what happened in Patrick’s case to happen to another family
She’s also frustrated with the Kingston Police and wants them to review their policies related to communicating with victims’ families
“The whole situation is just really unfortunate,” Shellnutt said
“We’ve got a family that has lost a loved one
at least as far as accountability of the driver
It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster for them and I think we should
avoid this when we’re dealing with people who have lost loved ones
“I just really wish a better job had been done here.”
Postmedia gave Sheridan multiple opportunities to have his voice included in this story
In the claim Patrick’s family is seeking a combined $6.5 million in damages for loss of care and companionship
but also to cover costs incurred since Patrick’s death — costs including ongoing therapy to deal with the loss of their loved one and the stress of having limited answers from police
The statement of claim was served to Sheridan on Dec
but litigation was delayed when Sheridan did not forward the claim to his insurance company
Shellnutt’s office did this for Sheridan and discussions have begun with his representative
“We are engaging in discussions to potentially resolve the matter
Copland and her daughters a fair amount of time and the discomfort that comes with litigation around the loss of a loved one,” Shellnutt said
in most of the cases that we deal with fatalities
I find that the insurance companies for defendant motorists are usually pretty willing to resolve.”
In the wake of her husband’s passing Copland is on the edge of accepting that she’ll never truly know what happened to Patrick and that no one may be held accountable for taking him from her
peering around the home she shared with Patrick for 39 years
He’d fixed up everything in the old war-time home
Everywhere she looks she sees him and the work he’s done
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Kingston, Ont.&#8217;s Wyatt Lee <a href="https://runningmagazine.ca/sections/runs-races/is-this-kingston-ont-sprinter-the-next-andre-de-grasse/#:~:text=Wyatt%20Lee%2C%20a%20rising%20sprint,impressive%20time%20of%206.71%20seconds.&amp;text=Wyatt%20Lee%20storms%20to%20the,the%20Canadian%20Indoor%20Championship%20title!">continues his whirlwind rise through Canadian track and field</a>
At Friday&#8217;s Track Night Invitational at Icahn Stadium in New York City
the 17-year-old sprint phenom broke his second national record in as many months
His blistering performance smashed the Canadian U18 record of 10.46 held by Olympic champion Aaron Brown since 2009–just a year after Lee was born
It also stands as the fourth-fastest U18 time in the world this year
<a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJMrME_Jok1/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by WYATT (@wyatt_l5)</a>
Lee entered the meet with a personal best of 10.70, set during the first official race recorded on his <a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/canada/wyatt-lee-15161088">World Athletics</a> profile
He ran a wind-aided 10.43 in heats (+2.4 m/s wind) before snagging the record in the final
edging out 19-year-old Shaun McCoullum of Philadelphia by four-hundredths of a second
A member of the Flying Angels Track and Field Academy and student at Kingston&#8217;s Frontenac Secondary School
Lee only started sprinting competitively in 2024 after transitioning from football
His progression has been nothing short of extraordinary; last May
he made his high school debut with a 11.51 seconds–and within three months
he had lowered that personal best to 10.61 seconds
Lee went on to medal in 100m and 200m at OFSAA
<a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DIw0HCRvp8B/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Athletics Canada (@athleticscanada)</a>
Lee is still fresh off a record-breaking run from March&#8217;s Canadian Indoor Track and Field Championships
where he shattered the U18 national best in the 60m
Racing at the Toronto Track and Field Centre
Lee posted an impressive 6.71 seconds to surpass Brandon Bobb&#8216;s 2012 mark of 6.73
See full results from NYC&#8217;s Track Night Invitational <a href="https://ny.milesplit.com/meets/674712-track-night-nyc-2025/results/1164366/formatted/">here</a>
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 The Kingston Western police have placed a man in custody in connection with the seizure of an illegal gun and 34 rounds of ammunition
a Canik nine millimetre pistol affixed with a magazine containing 16 rounds of ammunition was seized
They say a further search revealed 18 additional assorted rounds of ammunition
The man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a prohibited weapon and unauthorized possession of ammunition
The Denham Town police are investigating the matter
 Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at <a href="mailto:onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com">onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com</a> or <a href="mailto:editors@gleanerjm.com">editors@gleanerjm.com</a>
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at Molly Brant Elementary School — after the day’s classes have finished and the last school bus has left — and the halls are alive with the sound of music
 Article contentThose sounds come courtesy of Sistema Kingston
after-school music program that teaches students how to play stringed instruments and sing
students who wouldn’t have the opportunity to do so otherwise
The decade-old program — named the city’s “Arts Champion” at the Mayor’s Arts Awards earlier this year — runs four days a week at Molly Brant and at St
three kilometres away on Norman Rogers Drive
The program is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year with a concert Thursday at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts
and the program’s participants at Molly Brant are busy preparing on a Monday afternoon
a half-dozen “Primos” — the name for those in the first year of the program
who only do singing and percussion instruments — are rehearsing the song Cantamos (We Sing)
but I think I like it,” she said while contemplating her decision
They had been looking for a “space where Naomi could explore music.” Since music programs aren’t always available in elementary schools
their only other option was to enrol Naomi in private lessons
While Naomi is only in the second year of the program
he has already seen her confidence and sense of belonging grow
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“What stands out is it’s a very inclusive and diverse program. Naomi is surrounded by kids from all walks of life. There is this real spirit of respect and shared purpose. That’s what I’ve seen,” her father said.
“She feels at home there, and a sense of belonging, which makes a huge difference. She has a place in that room. That’s something every child deserves.
“And, as a parent, it has been a gift to see her in a space that’s very nurturing, but also demanding in a way.”
He remembers Naomi coming home and telling them, “I want to show you something.”
“She set up chairs and gave us a living room concert,” Firew recalled, adding that Naomi attempted to play Vivaldi’s “Spring.” “It was a grateful moment.”
The program has helped her personality blossom, he said.
“We have seen the impact, not just in her playing, but in her sense of purpose as well,” Firew said. “She’s learning how to stay with something, and she really owns her role in a group. So, yeah, it’s just like a whole inclusive personality that Sistema is giving her.”
In the classroom across the hall, Everest Raudsepp Johnson and another student are receiving instruction from their teacher.
Raudsepp Johnson is in his third year of playing the viola. He chose the instrument because it’s “unique.”
“I feel like it’s good to know an instrument,” he said confidently, “because it can teach you great discipline.”
He comes from a musical background, as mother Laine Raudsepp plays guitar and sings, while her father taught music in a Toronto high school.
Everest isn’t interested in sports, Raudsepp said, and she thought Sistema Kingston might be a program that would interest him.
“I wanted something more than what I could provide for him in terms of anything after school,” Raudsepp said. “And then it wasn’t until after that I realized that they also did choral singing and drumming, and they do mindfulness and supply a healthy snack, so I thought, ‘That’s even better.’ ”
Everest has embraced at his instrument, and one day a week, he walks over to Kingston Secondary School next door to join the A-Strings — the introductory group of the Kingston Youth Orchestra for which he auditioned and was accepted into — for rehearsals.
“And even if he doesn’t end up playing viola, if he wants to learn a different instrument” — he’s keen on learning the piano, he said — “all of this instruction is helping, and it’ll help in other ways in life.”
Everest is following in the footsteps of former Sistema Kingston member Grace Jeon, who was in the program from 2019 until last year. A few weeks ago, she was named one of three recipients of the Kingston Symphony’s Harriet Scott Memorial award, which covers her cost of playing in the Kingston Youth Orchestra.
It all started when Grace’s mother, Jinah, picked up a Sistema Kingston pamphlet at a book sale held at Molly Brant, where Grace was enrolled. Grace had tried some other activities, but none of them stuck, until Sistema.
“I was working and I’m alone here, so there was no one to take care of Grace, and she’s an only child,” her mother said. “The (Sistema Kingston) environment is a safe place, and they have great teachers and instructors and mentors there. So for me, it was a great choice.”
For Grace, it was watching Karma Tomm, Sistema Kingston’s director and a former professional violinist, that convinced her to take up the violin.
“The first day I saw Karma doing crazy stuff with the violin,” Grace remembered. “She was playing normal at first, and then she decided to take it off her shoulders, and put it in between her legs, playing it all over the place. I was like, ‘That’s really cool. I want to play that.’ ”
Grace enrolled in Sistema Kingston in 2019, the year after she and her mother settled in Kingston.
In 2020, though, the program, like almost all in-person activities, came to a screeching halt with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sistema moved its instruction online, and Grace was one of the few students who continued to show up for every practice online.
“I’m so proud of her. She’s worked so hard.”
Grace has now transferred to the French immersion program at Module Vanier, housed next door in Kingston Secondary School.
While she’s no longer enrolled in Sistema Kingston, she still returns to Molly Brant on Tuesdays as a volunteer. She helps the instructors keep the students organized, and also plays with the kids.
She sometimes walks by the Molly Brant playground during her lunch break, and likes what she sees.
“The new kids, when they first started, I think they were really wary of each other, not knowing how to talk to a stranger.
“And now they’re all friends. They’re a big, big group of friends, not like those mini groups of friends of two or three people. They’re a full community now,” she said.
The Kingston edition of Sistema was started in 2015 by Karma Tomm, Jan LeClair and Terry Snider.
A former violinist with the famous Boston Pops orchestra (among others) who came to Kingston to teach at Queen’s University, Tomm was dismayed to find that the elementary schools in Kingston didn’t have musical instrument programs like they’d had where she lived before.
“My son did his Grade 3 year in Massachusetts, and they had a strings program in the town that we lived in, and every kid in Grade 3 started playing a stringed instrument, and every kid in Grade 3 played in the town-wide string orchestra on Saturday morning. It was just this beautiful thing,” Tomm recalled.
“And then we moved here for his Grade 4 year, and we had a meeting with the principal, and (my son asked), ‘So what’s your instrumental music program like?’ The principal said, ‘Oh, we don’t have that until Grade 7, and then it’s band.’ ”
Discouraged, Tomm offered to find her son private lessons, but he wasn’t interested.
“He said that if it’s not in school, if it’s not with his friends, if it’s not with other people, he didn’t want to do it as an extra thing,” she said.
Tomm first heard about the El Sistema system as she was leaving Massachusetts, as the New England Conservatory had just set up a fellowship program in the name of Jose Antonio Abreu, the Venezuelan founder of the El Sistema program.
“I thought, ‘Oh, I would love to do that,’ ” she said. The timing wasn’t right, and she filed the idea away for the time being.
She may not have realized it at the time, but her son’s interest of only playing in an ensemble and working toward a common goal was one of the five pillars of El Sistema. The others are:
• social change, which is “social transformation through the pursuit of musical excellence;”
• frequency, playing for hours four days a week;
• accessibility, which means it must be free and without barriers;
• and, lastly, connectivity, which is to “foster connectivity between students, teachers and families to build stronger communities.”
Tomm remembers seeing a few Sistema projects starting elsewhere in Canada, then attending a symposium in Ottawa put on by the people behind the OrKidstra.
“That’s where I met people from across Canada doing this work, and that’s what made me start to think that maybe I could try to set something up here,” she said.
It was through a mutual friend that Tomm was introduced to Jan LeClair, who was the principal at the former First Avenue Public School back in 2015.
LeClair, in turn, brought Terry Snider, then the president of the Joe Chithalen Musical Instrument Lending Library, into the conversation.
“I knew he’d be a huge help, and he’d have lots of creative ideas about instruments,” she said. “And sure enough, Joe’s MILL just jumped all over it.”
LeClair, a musician herself, always had some form of music at her school, but she knew that other schools didn’t. She also knew that many of the residents in her catchment area had financial challenges — only one student in her entire school could afford to play ice hockey, she said — and that a free after-school program would be warmly welcomed.
“I just said, ‘I want this program in Kingston, and I want it at my school.’ I knew my teachers would follow me to the wall on it, and they did. They were amazing,” LeClair recalled.
“I had lots of great relationships in the community, and we took some awesome kids in and families were just so keen about it.”
While LeClair had lots of connections in the city, Tomm helped get Queen’s University involved. They would bring in students in the second year of the university’s education program to do placements with Sistema Kingston.
She also helped get funding from Bader Philanthropies Inc. to start in the first place.
“If we didn’t have the support from Bader Philanthropies, we wouldn’t be existing in our current form,” Tomm said frankly.
Now, the operating costs for the program are dependent on donations and grants.
While First Avenue was the first site of the program, it was slated to close and then moved to what is now Molly Brant Elementary School.
And then the pandemic came along and almost sunk the program entirely as schools shut down and they had nowhere to play.
They lost a number of participants as a result as students found other things to occupy their time.
As LeClair said, the program isn’t just about playing music.
“We don’t have as an objective that the kids are going to be musicians,” LeClair said.
“We want them to tap their inner best and their creative sides and find out something about themselves that maybe they didn’t know before.”
The program eventually bounced back, and opened at Molly Brant. They’d planned, pre-pandemic, to open a second location that was along a bus route so that it was accessible by student instructors as well as families.
They chose St. Thomas More Catholic School in the Calvin Park area, and LeClair, now retired, offered to run it.
That first year at St. Thomas More, Sistema Kingston had 20 kids enrolled in the program.
Now, enrolment has almost doubled to the point where almost 20 per cent of the school’s students are in the program, LeClair said.
In one of the classrooms, Mieraf and Lucas Awoke are standing with a dozen other students, rehearsing ahead of Thursday’s concert.
Afterward, the siblings said the field trips are what they enjoyed most about Sistema.
“It’s fun to learn,” Mieraf said quietly, adding that she’s told her friends back in Ethiopia about the program.
“They’re a little bit shy,” mother Melkitu Melak said. “I believe this program is helping them develop their confidence.”
It has helped them become more sociable, she believes. She remembers Mieraf telling her about making a new friend from Molly Brant Elementary.
The program has had a “positive impact on our family,” she said. “They’re getting more interested in the way they see, the way they listen.”
The program has also helped Regina Bautista Menendez, whose family relocated to Kingston from Mexico last year.
Since she’s in her first year, the Grade 3 student is part of the choir and also does percussion.
While the other students in her group are learning how to play the xylophone, she’s been learning the glockenspiel.
Her parents, Andrea Menendez and Eduardo Bautista, love it, too. They agree that Sistema has “helped (Regina) discover her artistic side.”
“All of this change since we came here has been hard for them. So I think this program helped her to be more social, to open herself to others,” Eduardo said.
“And also to feel confident about herself,” Andrea added.
Her parents said that Regina now composes songs on her new ukulele, and that she and her friends are writing a play.
“I wait every day for the moment I go pick her up just to see her face and her smile because she’s always happy after the classes,” Eduardo said.
“She’s really enjoying it, and you can see it in her eyes.”
Both the St. Thomas More and Molly Brant choirs took part in this year’s Kiwanis Music Festival, and the former even opened the festival’s “highlights” concert last month.
That and the Mayor’s Arts Award it received in January has gained the program some recognition.
“We used to be a bit of a buzz in town when we first started this program over at First Avenue, and then COVID hit and it lost its buzz because people weren’t seeing us, they weren’t hearing about us,” LeClair said.
“I want the buzz. I want people to be talking about us. I want us to be a known entity in the city, and the more that we can do that, I think the better we’ll be. And it’s starting to happen again.”
That “buzz” continues Thursday evening, when they present their 10th anniversary concert, titled “Ten Seasons of Love,” at the Isabel Bader Centre of the Performing Arts.
They always hold a fundraising concert every year, but, obviously, it’s not every year that you celebrate a decade.
“For me, the greatest thing is seeing the kids be proud of what they’re doing and proud of themselves for working on this thing and making it happen,” Tomm said.
“And some of the most beautiful moments are actually watching adults, family members, parents, grandparents, guardians, whatever, watching their child. Watching the adults watch the kids is so moving sometimes. It’s just really beautiful.”
Tomm is hopeful the program’s first decade is the first of many to come.
“With all of the different challenges that so many people face, if we can take one thing off people’s plates and then bring their child joy, what’s not to love about that?”
What: Sistema Kingston presents its 10th anniversary concert, Ten Seasons of Love.
Where: Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts, 390 King St. W.
Cost: Admission is donation at the door. Online donations can be made to www.givetoqueens.ca/project/view/661.
A week after the Kingston Frontenacs cleared out their stalls at Slush Puppie Place
coach Troy Mann and his staff put the team’s picks from this year’s Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection for through their paces on the ice at Slush Puppie Place on Saturday morning
giving a bunch of teens their first taste of major junior hockey
 Article contentWhile most eyes were focused on the Frontenacs’ top two picks
skilled forward selected ninth overall from the Don Mills Flyers
the 17th overall selection from the Huron-Perth Lakers
Given that the practice sweaters didn’t have names or numbers and all but one of the 15 picks made it to the workout
it was hard to keep to keep straight who was who
While fans pay only fleeting notice to players chosen in the last round of the OHL draft
Kingston fans would have taken notice when they saw the Frontenacs selected Raycroft with the 286th pick from the Cape Cod Whalers AAA team and the Dexter Southfield prep school in Brookline
— likewise fans of the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs
Mason is the son of former NHL goaltender Andrew Raycroft
a Belleville native who played with the Wellington Dukes before moving on to the Sudbury Wolves and the Frontenacs in his OHL days
The elder Raycroft won a Calder Trophy with the Bruins in 2004 before they traded him to the Leafs when GM John Ferguson Jr
led a struggling franchise ever deeper into the wilderness
The 15-year-old Raycroft was still a toddler when his father played his last NHL game in 2011 and has only vague memories of his father’s last professional season in Sweden’s second division
“I’ve seen lots of videos and highlights of him.”
Andrew Raycroft is a broadcaster with NESN
the network that carries Bruins games in New England
which gives his son lots of access and exposure to the game
OHL news and expert analysis from Postmedia reporters across the province
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Like Kulemin, whose father Nikolai also played for the Leafs as well as the New York Islanders, Mason Raycroft grew up around NHL players and dressing rooms, albeit with his father in the media. Because of that he came into his first major-junior practice having already worked with pros and not just his father.
“I’ve skated with (Bruins’ No. 1) Jeremy Swayman, which was really cool” he said. “I was around Linus Ullmark (now with the Ottawa Senators) and this year I talked with (Bruins back-up) Joonas Korpisalo.” he said.
The younger Raycroft said he doesn’t look at any current pro as an influence or role model, but tries to pick up points from watching any NHLer up close while they put in the work.
“I like to go to quite a few games and talk to coaches,” he said. “I get to see the professionalism and the physical skills, how fast they move, how smart they are. I’m watching and taking mental notes and trying to figure out to implant that in my game.”
Ultimately, though, it’s the goalie who drives him home from the Bruins’ games that’s his biggest influence.
“It’s perfect for me working with my dad because he can coach me on the ice like a real coach and then off the ice, he can talk to me more personal,” Mason said. “He sees both sides of it, which is really helpful and with his experiences he can tell me where he did things right and wrong. I can pick that up and learn from it.”
Raycroft and his parents weren’t looking at the OHL as an option in his hockey future until last November when the NCAA dropped its longstanding prohibition on CHL players. As of the 2025-26 season, CHL alumni will be eligible to play U.S. college hockey and receive scholarships.
“That changed everything,” Raycroft said. “Without that I wouldn’t be here right now. My parents want me to go to (a U.S. college) and get an education, so I wouldn’t have been playing or got drafted here if that didn’t open up like it did. Now that it’s available, (the OHL) went from not being possible to the best option.”
And in the OHL, Kingston might not have been the only option but the clearly the best fit. “My grandparents are in Belleville, and we come up here every summer and go to their cottage on the lake,” he says. “My dad liked his time in Kingston. The Frontenacs were the only team we talked to.”
The Raycrofts don’t expect they’ll be sending off Mason for the season when he heads to training camp in August. He’s enrolled at the Cushing Academy for the coming school year and will play for the prep’s varsity team, which is coached by Boston royalty once removed, Ryan Bourque, hall of famer Raymond Bourque’s son.
“My father says it’ll be a year or two at least until I can play here,” Raycroft said.
For it to happen, though, Raycroft understands that his landing in the Frontenacs’ lineup will largely ride on one thing largely beyond his control — simply put, he has to get larger.
The Frontenacs have listed Raycroft at five-foot-nine and 130 pounds, while eliteprospects.com, a respected youth-hockey website, lists him at 5-6 and 110 pounds. The latter might be out of date, the former generous, but Raycroft doesn’t turn 16 until July.
Frontenacs GM Kory Cooper has known Andrew Raycroft going back to their teens sees similarities between the father and son.
“Mason is highly skilled but the lacks physical at this point, though when you see him on the ice he doesn’t look that small,” Cooper said after watching the mini-camp. “Andrew was like that — Andrew’s six-foot-two, maybe a little more than that, but he wasn’t big when I was playing in Belleville, before we played junior together in Sudbury. Andrew came into a growth spurt and it looks like Mason could, too.”
Andrew Raycroft experienced more than the pressures of hockey’s most unforgiving position, one where a single hiccup can burn a team’s fortunes in a game or even a season — he stood in the nets of two Original Six teams, including a tenure with the Leafs when the team’s fortunes nosedived, and players were taking singeing heat.
On top of the usual pressures that go with the position, the younger Raycroft will have to deal with an extra level because his father is a former NHLer and a media personality. With his braces and rail-like build and absence of peach fuzz, he might be able to get away with being a ringer in a peewee tournament, but he sounded like an old soul when it came to the matter of his name and expectations.
“My father says there’s pressure playing goal and other pressures that you’re going to face,” he said. “He’s been through things and he says I will, too, different thing. It’s definitely present (being an ex-NHLer’s son). But he tells me you can’t focus on it, you kind of move on and do your own thing.”
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City of Kingston unveils renovated stadium
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but what happened in one local city was a horror movie scene that came to life
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Police just recently charged the suspect tied to this case with a felony
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Maxine Hong Kingston (born October 27, 1940, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Stockton" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Stockton</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/California-state" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">California</a>
much of whose work is rooted in her experience as a first-generation Chinese American
where she held a series of teaching jobs for the next 10 years
The Fifth Book of Peace (2003) combines elements of fiction and memoir in the manner of a Chinese talk-story
a tradition in which elements of both the real and imagined worlds become interpolated
I Love a Broad Margin to My Life (2011) is a “memoir-in-verse.”
In 2014 Kingston received the National Medal of Arts
 admin May 2, 2025<a href="https://5280fire.com/category/https-5280fire-com-category-2025-incidents/" title="View all posts in: &ldquo;2025 Incidents&rdquo;">2025 Incidents</a>, <a href="https://5280fire.com/category/home/" title="View all posts in: &ldquo;Home&rdquo;">Home</a>, <a href="https://5280fire.com/category/https-5280fire-com-category-2025-incidents/may-2025/" title="View all posts in: &ldquo;May 2025&rdquo;">May 2025</a>
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A Long Island man has been convicted of gunning down his former neighbor in a ruthless
broad daylight attack that left a father dead outside a North Bellport home
Lee Houpe (left) who was fatally shot by Shati Smith (right)
was found guilty of Felony Murder in the Second Degree for killing 28-year-old Lee Houpe
According to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney, Houpe was standing in a friend’s driveway at 615 Post Avenue around 1:45 p.m. when Smith pulled up in a car, got out, and opened fire—shooting him three times, as <a href="https://dailyvoice.com/ny/massapequa/police-fire/man-extradited-to-face-murder-charge-in-shooting-of-former-north-bellport-neighbor-police-say/839685/">Daily Voice previously reported</a>.
When Houpe collapsed, Smith stood over him and fired seven more rounds into his face, chest, and arm before fleeing the scene in his vehicle, Tierney said.
Smith was later located in Newport News, Virginia, by members of the Suffolk County Police Department and the U.S. Marshals New York/New Jersey Fugitive Task Force. He was extradited back to New York in August 2022.
Following a jury trial before Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei, Smith was convicted of the following on Monday, May 5:
Smith is scheduled for sentencing on Wednesday, June 5, 2025. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison.
He is represented by attorney Jonathan Manley. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Elena Tomaro and Veronica McMahon. Detective Michael Ronca of the Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad led the investigation.
Francois Desjardins watched the parade and wreath-laying service marking the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic at the Naval Memorial Park on Ontario Street on Sunday with a belief that these were at once an honoring of traditions and the delivery of message to all those in attendance, including those in uniform.
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Members of the HMCS Cataraqui were commemorating Canada’s role in the Battle of the Atlantic, which stands as the longest battle in the Second World War. “The nation went from a handful of ships to having the third largest navy among the allies,” said Desjardins, the commanding officer of the HMCS Cataraqui. “It’s important the sacrifice the sacrifices made by those who served during that time and relate to why we’re here today.”
The pageantry, ceremonies and speeches remembered the past and honoured the more than 4,600 Canadian servicemen who lost their lives in the Battle of the Atlantic, including more than 2,100 sailors in the Royal Canadian Navy.
Commanding officer Desjardins said the memorial service has an effect on those in the service and in the reserve, those who marched and filled other roles in the ceremonies.
“The memorial grounds them,” Desjardins said. “It helps them understand their place and purpose. The things we do or the traditions that we have harken back to those days. It gives them a meaning and purpose — as much as we’d describe it to them, hearing the stories today and hearing about the history of the unit from this area makes it relatable.
“Understanding the Battle of the Atlantic helps them understand what we’re defending to this day, the freedoms that the Canadian population holds dear.”
Editor’s Note: This article contains some details and language that readers may find disturbing
The daughter of Patrick David “Paddy” Millar shared these words in remembrance of her father
who was brutally killed at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 631 (Collins Bay Legion) in October 2022 by Anthony Whitlock
for no reason other than that he defeated Whitlock at pool
originally charged with first-degree murder
pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 16 years
But not before hearing from two of the people his actions victimized
Following the horrific details presented to the court in the agreed statement of facts
was the first of two people who presented victim impact statements on Tuesday
The other was the ex-common law partner of Whitlock
addressed the court and the man who murdered her father
and some friends were also present in the courtroom
She noted that April 29 was “the day before my dad’s 72nd birthday… Tomorrow
She first became aware of the death of her father on Saturday
it was a friend who called her to offer condolences after learning about the murder on social media
“She quickly realized I didn’t know about my father… She mustered up the courage to tell me about the homicide at the legion,” Sara recounted.
“I didn’t understand. I didn’t understand what she was trying to tell me, and I didn’t believe the words that were coming out of her mouth. ’Your dad’s dead.’ How did she know that before me?”
In the panic that ensued, Sara said, she hung up the phone and tried to call her dad multiple times, but each time it went to voicemail.
“Finally one of his friends picked up, and all I hear is a heavy, ‘Hi, hon. I’m so sorry,”’ she shared with the court.
Sara was the one who then had to call her brothers, still without having any details as to what had happened. What followed were days of heartbreak and confusion, filled with rumours about the murder of her father.
But unfortunately, the truth was even worse than she imagined: Millar had been beaten and stomped to death over a game of pool.
“It sounds so stupid and petty,” Sara stated flatly. Then she turned to Whitlock, with fire in her eyes, and said, “That’s because it is… Did you think your ego was gonna win against him?”
Addressing the court, Sara described her father as “a family man.” The retired correctional officer was a union representative who “took a lot of pride and passion in fighting for workers’ rights.”
Married for 43 years, Patrick and his wife, Janet, had “three kids, five grandkids, and six great-grandkids,“ Sara said, emphasizing that his murder ”in such a violent, senseless manner“ was ”something that will burden our family for generations to come.”
At the time of his killing, Sara said, the family was still healing from the loss of their mother the year before. In that time, she said, “I got to see my father in a more vulnerable light. I got to know him on a different level than I did before.”
She recounted growing up with beautiful memories of a life spent outdoors, camping as a family. Her father was the go-to camp chef and a great cook.
“My father loved Christmas, too,” she went on. There were always “wall-to-wall” Christmas presents, she said, and, “Watching the grandkids at Christmas brought my father immense joy; Christmas was about them.” He even volunteered his time with local school children who visited his richly decorated yard.
Sara described her father as a generous person with both his money and his time, always lending a hand to those he loved. “Before this tragedy, my father was strength, kindness, and someone you could always go to for a harsh truth and advice — even if you didn’t want to hear it.”
“Since both my parents died, I have struggled to find meaning in my daily life,” Sara shared, describing her sleeplessness, anxiety, and never-ending grief, as well as the haunting emptiness of the family home.
“The world feels heavier, and I find myself questioning everything I once took for granted,”
After reading the coroner’s report, she said, she was horrified.
“The size difference between the two, my dad being 4’10“ and 115 pounds… He was the size of a 14-year-old boy,” Sarah said in court.
By comparison, Whitlock is about a foot taller and weighs over 200 pounds.
“The brutality and the rage was evident in this report. It’s disgusting,” Sara said, turning again to address Whitlock. “Do you feel better about yourself? Do you think that fight was fair? Do you think that’s something to brag about — killing someone so tiny and fragile? It’s pathetic and sad.”
As her remarks drew to a close, Sara promised her father’s killer she would be at every parole hearing “to speak for my family. So you’d better get used to my face.”
“I’d like to end this with your favourite saying,” she said to Whitlock, referring to part of his confession: “You fucked with the bull; you got the horns. Enjoy your time in PC protective custody, Tony, surrounded by the screws that you love so much. I’m a firm believer in karma, and I heard she’s a real bitch.”
Next, Whitlock’s ex-common law partner shared her statement. The woman described her grieving process and sense of guilt over the death of the Millar family’s patriarch.
“That should be the focus… The Millars have lost their father, their grandfather, and their friend,” she said.
She described the loss of any personal privacy due to his notoriety, the horror of his sending the crime scene photo to her, and how she went through his packed suitcase only to find Millar’s wallet. Addressing Whitlock, she said, “I came to the realization that if my older brother hadn’t called the police… I would have come home to you. You would have insisted that I help you, and when I refused… you would have killed me, too.”
“When you sent me a photo of what you had done, I was in disbelief that it was real,” she said. The image was “more gruesome than any trauma I had participated in in my career” as a health care professional. “Knowing that you caused another human being that harm has caused me to have panic attacks and has prevented me from being able to work in health care.”
“Even when you had a no-contact order in place, you continued to find ways to intimidate and harass me,” she said.
Whitlock has since been charged with breaching the no-contact order.
She also described the damage Whitlock’s actions have caused not only to her and the Millars, but to Whitlock’s own family, including his mother, who has since died.
Whitlock shook his head at various times throughout her statement, which she concluded by wishing the Millar family peace.
Crown attorney Holly Chiavetti, in her final remarks, said, “One of the more disturbing aspects of this case is the senselessness of the murder itself. Mr. Whitlock lost to Mr. Millar in a pool tournament. There’s no conceivable reason why a pool match should have resulted in ending someone’s life, particularly in the brutal and violent way it occurred in this case.”
In his final remarks, defence attorney Paolo Giancaterino reminded the court of Whitlock’s long-standing addiction to both drugs and alcohol, coupled with mental health issues, bipolar disorder, and psychotic disorder.
“And as a result of an incident where he was significantly injured, he suffers from cognitive impairment,” Giancaterino said, noting he was sharing this, “not to condone, not to make an excuse, but to provide some background and factors about the offender.”
While the court adjourned for lunch, the Millar family embraced each other and the woman who had given her statement.
After more than two hours of deliberation, Justice Tranmer read his sentencing decision into the record.
“Firstly, I want to thank the people who have attended this difficult and heartbreaking day in our court,” he began, noting that, in particular, “I want to thank Sara Millar and Whitlock’s ex-partner for sharing eloquently the tragic and horrendous impact Patrick Millar’s murder has had on his family, his friends, including the school children who so love his Christmas spirit.”
“Sara Millar’s statement to the court was a loving, poignant, heartfelt, and articulate tribute to her father,“ the judge said. ”By all accounts, Patrick Millar was a fine person, perhaps small in stature but so clearly large in love, care, kindness, and compassion.”
By contrast, Tranmer called the crime “brutal and savage,” a senseless beating by “hand and boot… by a person of significantly greater stature… who showed no mercy. Indeed, he left Millar to die alone in a bathroom, took his wallet, and had a couple of beers… procured some cocaine for himself, and prepared to flee.”
“As Ms. Millar described, no one should have to receive a call like she received,” he said plainly.
“No criminal prosecution or court sentence can return Patrick Millar to his rightful place and day-to-day life,” Tranmer went on, before sentencing Whitlock to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 16 years.
“The basis for the murder, a pool game, defies reason. The crime was brutal… and gruesome. There were no defensive wounds. The Crown described it as ’fortuitous violence’; that means with no reason, and I agree with that. The photo attests to the violence. The size disparity between the two is an aggravating factor. The after-offence conduct that I’ve mentioned is an aggravating factor. The life-altering impact on the family and the community is an aggravating factor.
“The lives of many others — grandchildren, great-grandchildren, children, fellow campers, pool friends, and Christmas revellers — will never be the same… Hopefully, a plea of guilty does indicate an acceptance of responsibility and some start towards remorse,” the judge mused.
“Perhaps no one needs to be reminded, but I’ll say it anyhow: a human life is precious. It’s a gift. It’s a light in the world. Mr Millar’s light was extinguished for no fault on his part.”
The judge then brought his statements to a close.
“To the extent that the criminal justice system can address the horror of his death, justice is done by such a sentence,” Tranmer concluded.
“It’s not lost on the court that those who live on and cherish the memory of Patrick Millar have also been sentenced to a life sentence — likely even more acutely painful. That void will live on for all time. Hopefully your wonderful, happy memories will bring comfort, perhaps peace, in time.”
Michelle Dorey Forestell is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter with the Kingstonist. The LJI is funded through the federal government.
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The quarter-finals of the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) Wray and Nephew Major League delivered high drama and exciting football action on Sunday, as four clubs booked their spots in the semi-finals.
Red Hills FC produced a gritty performance to edge Allman Woodford FC 2-1 in Quarter-Final 2. Goals from Donovan Segree and Gwayne Gooden secured the win for Red Hills, cancelling out an early strike from Ervino English for Allman Woodford.
Seaview Gardens FC relied on the brilliance of Romario Watson, who struck twice to lead his side to a hard-fought 2-1 win over Police National FC. Gavin Thorpe pulled one back for Police National, but it wasn’t enough to deny Seaview Gardens a place in the final four.
In another close contest, New Kingston FC clipped Maxfield Park FC 2-1, with Shawn Samuels and Latrea Harris finding the net for the victors. La-Quam Reynolds scored for Maxfield Park, but their campaign came to an end.
The final quarter-final saw Cooreville Gardens FC edge Mountain View FC 3-2 in a five-goal thriller. Cooreville's attacking trio of Akeem Peterson, Oniel Blackwood, and Darieo Dacres did the damage, while Mountain View’s Jamarly Whyte and Naquian Smit kept their side in the fight.
With the semi-final stage now set, the race for the KSAFA Major League crown promises even more excitement in the weeks ahead.
KINGSTON — City council is to look at options for a new intersection on the main road through the east end of the city.
The city had planned for the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Hwy. 15 and Summer Valley Terrace, which is to be the entrance to a subdivision being built in a former quarry.
The subdivision’s developer committed $375,000 to the roundabout and the city budgeted $3.8 million for the roundabout project, but a projected cost increase of more than $1.4 million cast some doubt on the project.
A roundabout would require significant realignment of Hwy. 15, both vertical and horizontal, relocation of infrastructure, changes to the Greenwood Park stormwater management pond and recreational trail. A roundabout would also require a municipal environmental impact assessment.
“These factors are contributing to the request for budget increase and also bring risk to the outcome of the project,” stated a report last month to council from Paige Agnew, commissioner of growth and development services. “As studies (stormwater management report and geotechnical study) are incomplete there are unknowns that could lead to delays in the project or additional costs beyond the current budget request even with standard buffers.”
The cost increase would be funded by development charges reserve fund and the municipal capital reserve fund and bring the total budget for a roundabout to more than $5.2 million.
In response to the projected cost increase, the developer offered to build the roundabout at a cost of $3.4 million. The city would still need to increase the budget for the project by $350,000 to cover the additional costs.
An alternative to the roundabout is an all ages and abilities signalized intersection, similar to recent intersection rebuilds across the city. This option would cost about $1 million.
“The construction of a signalized intersection provides cost savings in this location compared to a roundabout as it can be constructed in the existing alignment of Hwy. 15 with expansion of the existing footprint occurring only to provide dedicated turning lanes,” the report stated.
“The cost savings from constructing a signalized intersection, estimated at $2.8 million, would be earmarked to be used in later budgets to support intersection upgrades in the east end including future roundabouts.”
City council is to consider its options for the intersection at its Tuesday night meeting.
Creativity kicked off the first weekend in May at the Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning
which featured 40 of the region’s finest artists
watercolour and fabric — stretched on canvas or available in print — adorned the lower level of the Tett Centre over the weekend
gems and jewelry aplenty were main attraction
one of the notable creators featured at the showcase on Saturday
said she has been an artist most of her life
Evans said she came by her talents honestly
a chartered accountant but an artist at heart
encouraging her to paint at a very young age
She still has his paint box on display in her studio today
The graphic designer-turned-art teacher has mastered many disciplines and is a stranger to very few mediums
“I will create something in watercolour, then the same image in an oil painting or acrylic,” Evans said. “I’ll sketch something then go and do it again another way. For me, I like to repeat image, not medium.”
During a recent trip to Portugal with her sister-in-law, Evans said she took a hiking tour along the Camino trail, near the border to Spain, where stops were made every 25 km. There, she captured the beautiful surroundings in sketches and quick watercolours, snapped a few photos for reference, then later rendered select images in oils or acrylics.
Many artists would stop there, quite pleased (or tortured) with their results, but Evans’ desire to explore new mediums had her hunkered down at a sewing machine where she stitched together the final rendering, in what she calls “thread painting.”
“I use the thread as my paint. So, wherever I want to put colour, I use thread,” Evans said.
She has been working in this medium for about a year and a half and claims it was born out of injury.
“We had just purchased a new home, and I was in the basement when I hit my head on a pipe, fell back and hit it again on a box, then down on the concrete, bang, again. Three hits turned into a nasty concussion,” Evans explained.
As part of her therapy, Evans took to thread painting more seriously. With lots of recovery time on her hands, 40 hours a week for about 10 weeks, she honed her talents to reinvent herself as an artist, delving deeply into a new medium.
Evans is currently planning another trip to Portugal where she will lead an art tour of her own.
Meanwhile upstairs at the Tett on Saturday, the Kingston Lapidary and Mineral Club’s Metal Rocks Show and sale took place, featuring rocks, gems and jewelry aplenty.
Jagoda Niesluchowska, a 76-year-old Polish artisan who emigrated to Canada from Ostroleka — a city north of Warsaw — for a better life, eventually found that in Kingston.
Her husband came first to Canada to gain employment in 1992 and she and their two daughters soon followed.
Niesluchowska said on Saturday that she always loved jewelry, but could never leave it alone.
“Whenever I bought jewelry, it was never enough. I would always have to add something or change something,” Niesluchowska said. “I had a friend who had this big, very nice, bracelet. She told me there was this place where I could also go and make my own jewelry like she did.”
That’s when Niesluchowska came to the Lapidary and Mineral Club and learned how to make it herself. Her first piece was a silver bracelet she gave her daughter for graduation.
It started as a hobby for Niesluchowska in 2005, crafting gifts for friends and family. Once retired, this shiny pastime grew into much more.
“I couldn’t stop. I just enjoyed it so much,” Niesluchowska said. “The designing, forging and polishing the metal into a finished piece of jewelry was so satisfying.”
“When I first joined the Lapidary Club, I saw a woman vigorously pounding metal with a hammer. I asked her, ‘Are you angry?’ She said, ‘Not anymore.’ We are friends to this day,” Niesluchowska said.
The jewelry maker said it also brings her joy to teach others. As a member of the Lapidary and Mineral Club, she shares her gifts through jewelry making classes.
Niesluchowska said, as she wrung her hands, “I hope I can continue. I have arthritis and I must use my hands a lot for this. That would be bad if I had to stop,” said Niesluchowska.
You can find Niesluchowska on Instagram at silveretcetera.
                  <a href="https://www.domesdispensary.com/" target="_blank">www.domesdispensary.com</a>
By <a href="/profile-346/nick-craven.html" class="author">NICK CRAVEN</a> 
Tragic royal Thomas Kingston's company was chasing debts totalling almost £50million when he took his life
Financier Mr Kingston, 45, husband of Lady Gabriella Windsor, daughter of Prince and <a style="font-weight: bold;" target="_self" href="/news/princess-michael-of-kent/index.html" id="mol-75410ce0-25ae-11f0-a6f2-f79032daa371">Princess Michael</a> of Kent
died in February 2024 of self-inflicted gunshot wounds following 'an adverse reaction to medication' after suffering from anxiety
Mr Kingston died from a head injury at his parent's home in the Cotswolds
An inquest into his death was told he had stopped taking medication in the days leading up to his death
Lady Gabriella also warned the inquest, held last December, about the side effects of drugs used to treat mental health problems.
In her statement read out by Katy Skerrett, senior coroner for Gloucestershire, she said: 'I believe anyone taking pills such as these need to be made more aware of the side effects to prevent any future deaths.
'If this could happen to Tom, this could happen to anyone.'
Thomas Kingston with his wife Lady Gabriella Windsor. The couple married in May 2019
The pair at Royal Ascot in 2023. At the inquest into Thomas's death, it emerged that he had struggled with anxiety and had been taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) as anti-depressants – but had stopped using them
In the months leading up to his death, Thomas experienced work-related stress and sought medical assistance for trouble sleeping
She also said: 'The fact that he took his life at the home of his beloved parents suggests the decision was the result of a sudden impulse.'
The coroner Katy Skerrett concluded Kingston took his own life, adding: 'He was suffering adverse effects of medication he had recently been prescribed.'
Now it's emerged he was having financial issues around the time of his suicide.
The Daily Mail’s Richard Eden revealed last week how his company Devonport Capital Ltd owes creditors £29.5million and that the company has been placed into administration.
An administrators’ report also said that more recently, some creditors had been considering legal action against Devonport to recover their debts, prompting the decision to place it into administration in February 2025.
Now it’s further emerged that Mr Kingston and his business partner Paul Bailey had also been struggling to repay their own creditors after two major companies defaulted on loans.
Since Mr Kingston’s death, his family have campaigned for changes in how antidepressants are prescribed and for more awareness of possible side effects.
But the scale of the financial struggles facing Devonport Capital also throws new light on the pressures with which Mr Kingston was confronted.
Two major borrowers were defaulting on combined debts of $64million - or around £48million.
Thomas and Lady Gabriella tied the knot at St George's Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle, surrounded by family and friends, on May 18, 2019
Thomas and Lady Gabriella smile for photographers at the 2023 Wimbledon Tennis Championships 
</a>The company was set up in 2015 by Bailey
and former hostage negotiator Mr Kingston joined in 2017
post-conflict' environments - including Iraq
An African gold mine company working in Ghana owed $18.3 million (£13.75m) and a USA-based renewable energy business owed $46m (£34.57m)
Administrators Michael Goldstein and Avmer Radomsky
said: 'Whilst the company was undoubtedly successful
the environment in which it operated meant that inevitably there were bad debts suffered along the way
'Over time the interest compounding on amounts outstanding to lenders when the company's borrowers failed to repay became increasingly challenging to manage
'There are two significant loans in default (a total of approximately $60 million
including default penalties and accrued interest which have very significantly impacted the company's performance.'
The report said they are seeking to recover £49 million in loans but 'at this stage it is uncertain as to the recoverability of the debts'
As a result they are predicting repayment could be anywhere between 20% and 60% of the value - or £9.8 million to £29.4 million
A Statement of Affairs document for the company showed the company owed creditors £29.5 million
but was expected to realise £32 million in assets
Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston watch the racing from the Royal Box at Royal Ascot in 2023
Thomas appears in high spirits as he speaks to Camilla during Royal Ascot 2023 
he and Mr Bailey had secured the backing of New Zealand-born billionaire Christopher Chandler
Mr Chandler is currently owed nearly £13 million by the company
A Devonport Capital spokesperson told the Mail last week: 'In February 2024
the decision was taken to wind down the business of Devonport Capital
'Having made significant progress realising and securing funds
it became clear earlier this year that the best way to ensure fair and proper allocation of outstanding recoveries was to place the business into administration.'
barrister Martin Kingston KC appeared on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on the first anniversary of his son's death in February
arguing that patients should be told explicitly about the potential side effects of the medication – including the possible consequences if they stop taking it
visit samaritans.org or visit www.thecalmzone.net/get-support
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The Ontario Hockey League named the Kingston Frontenacs’ Kory Cooper as the winner of the Jim Gregory OHL General Manager of the Year Award for the 2024-25 season on Friday.
 Article contentThe Frontenacs finished with a 40-20-5-3 record, good for 88 points, an 18-point improvement from the 2023-24 campaign. With additions of veteran players at the trade deadline, the team shattered the franchise record with a streak of 16 consecutive wins at home in the second half of the season. Kingston swept the Sudbury Wolves in the first round of the playoffs, but lost to the Barrie Colts in a tense Eastern Conference semi-final that went the full seven games.
Several managerial moves were key to the team’s uptick, among them the hiring of Troy Mann as coach. The previous coach, Luca Caputi, had experience in the NHL, but none behind the bench at any level. Mann came in having previously been the coach of the Ottawa Senators’ American Hockey League affiliate in Belleville.
A goaltender in his playing days, Cooper played for the Belleville Bulls and the Sudbury Wolves, before embarking on an eight-year career in the minors. Upon his retirement in 2005, Cooper joined Kingston as a goaltending coach. He later served as a goaltending coach with Brampton in the East Coast Hockey League and a development coach with the Ottawa Senators for five seasons. The Frontenacs appointed as GM in July of 2021.
Previous winners of the Jack Gregory Award include Steve Staios, currently the GM of the Ottawa Senators, and Mark Hunter, whose London Knights team have won two Memorial Cups and five OHL championships. Cooper, a 48-year-old native of Winsloe, Prince Edward Island, was nominated for the Jim Gregory Award by the league’s GMs and selected by a committee made up of media, a representative of the NHL Central Scouting Service and OHL officials.