It's Thursday and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union is raising concerns over St. Lawrence College's creation of senior leadership positions while at the same time laying off nearly three dozen support staff and middle managers. 

Meanwhile at City Hall, council voted 10-1 in favour of a settlement that will allow a development to proceed along Bath Road that avoids a coming Ontario Land Tribunal hearing. 

Also, we're kicking off our annual Christmas hampers campaign, which seeks to raise $215,000 to support more than 3,000 households in the Kingston area.

Those stories and more, below:

The entrance to St. Lawrence College's Kingston campus on April 13, 2024. Meghan Balogh/The Kingston Whig-Standard/Postmedia Network Photo by Meghan Balogh /The Whig-Standard

St. Lawrence College hires managers amid layoffs, union says

St. Lawrence College is creating new senior leadership positions while laying off 30 support staff and middle managers, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) said this week. The academic and support unions representing the college’s staff and faculty say it has been “devastating” to morale that administration is increasing high-salary positions while cutting jobs in student-facing areas. The unions claimed in an open letter Wednesday that the administration had increased the number upper-level management roles at a time when dozens of positions were cut due to declining enrolment of international students. 

Kingston council approves settlement for Bath Road development

City council signed off on a settlement that would avoid an upcoming Ontario Land Tribunal hearing. 

Christmas hampers campaign sets goal of $215,000 to support 3,300 households in Kingston

Once again, we are preparing for the busy Christmas season and many of you are thinking about the true spirit of giving. We are so grateful for the many friends who have given of themselves and their resources over the years to brighten and encourage the lives of others who find this time of year so difficult to manage. 

National news

He's 51, a councillor and a skateboarding graffiti artist: Meet one of Canada's newest army recruits

Ontario doctor who 'engaged in the sexual abuse of a patient' reinstated

Boissonnault's departure severs Trudeau cabinet's last link to Alberta and Saskatchewan

TTC attacker who texted 'stabbed someone and got away with it' pleads guilty to murder

University of Victoria cancels talk by radical hate preacher Younus Kathrada

Prince Edward County council has set aside an entire week for 2025 budget deliberations from Dec. 2 to Dec. 6 pending any scheduling changes. POSTMEDIA

Prince Edward County set to begin 2025 budget talks

Prince Edward County council has set aside an entire week for 2025 budget deliberations from Dec. 2 to Dec. 6 pending any scheduling changes. Council will meet at Shire Hall at 7 p.m. on Dec. 2 when Amanda Carter, director of finance and IT, will provide an overview of the 2025 proposed budget.

More news from the region:

Brighton mourns loss of former councillor Byron Faretis

Gananoque, TLTI reach cost sharing agreement

Quinte West council to review development charge deferrals with QHBA

The Kingston Meistersingers are presenting the musical "Bonnie & Clyde," which stars Rachel Savlov as Bonnie Parker and Rowan Engen as Clyde Barrow. Supplied photo Photo by Supplied photo

Entertaining: Bank-robbing folk heroes the focus of Meistersingers' musical

While she has directed many productions over her two decades in local theatre, Rachael McDonald’s first foray was last year, when the Kingston Meistersingers staged “We Will Rock You.” Similarly, as an actor, she has only appeared in two musicals, both as the “comic relief” character because of her “voice and co-ordination. I’m not a triple threat, let’s put it that way,” McDonald laughed. She had “so much fun” directing “We Will Rock You” last year that she decided she wanted to direct another musical this year. She sat and sifted through a stack of musicals with producer Liane Penny, and they landed upon “Bonnie & Clyde,” which opens tonight and runs until Dec. 1. 

More Entertainment:

ICYMI: Here's a look at what the rest of 2024 holds for entertainment in the Kingston area

Easton Cowan of the London Knights waits for a shot from the point in front Barrie Colts goaltender Sam Hillebrandt during their OHL game at Canada Life Place in London on Friday October 11, 2024. Derek Ruttan/The London Free Press

Easton Cowan's 'insane' 52-game point-scoring streak, in context 

London Knights star Easton Cowan is on the verge of history, with his point-scoring streak now at 52 regular-season games – three shy of the OHL record of 55. He could break it next Thursday, in Peterborough, and LFP sportswriter Ryan Pyette has put the stunning streak in context alongside other legendary scoring runs.

More Sports:

Joseph Woll provides the backbone in Maple Leafs' character win over Vegas

Edmonton Oilers not on top of their game just yet, but tending in that direction

GAMEDAY: Mark Stone out? Vegas Golden Knights vs. Ottawa Senators

Sudbury Wolves Sports and Entertainment to convert downtown water tower into ‘The Biggest Goal Light in the World’

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THE VALLEY PULPIT: Another little letter

Since it only occupies 14 verses, the Third Epistle of John is easily overlooked. Many of us tend to focus on the Gospels in our daily Bible reading, along with the Psalms, supplemented by the occasional foray into favourite chapters in the letters of Paul. I suspect that the ‘little letters’ of the New Testament are largely neglected in today’s Church. Yet, ALL Scripture is inspired by God and even these very short epistles have their value. 

Periods of rain continuing throughout the day and overnight, into the weekend. Expect 10 to 20 mm today. High 7.

Below is your forecast for Kingston:

See the latest Obituaries, Memorial Notices and Other Sympathy Announcements at thewhig.remembering.ca.

Did you know?

In 1902, hockey broadcaster Foster Hewitt was born in Toronto. Hewitt, who coined the phrase, “He shoots, he scores,” called the first game from Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens when it opened in 1931. Hewitt died in 1985.

Do you have questions or concerns about today's news, or feedback on our coverage? We want to hear from you. Please write to us at whig.local@sunmedia.ca