by Glenn Rea.
There is no doubt about it, Kingston Ontario is an awesome community, filled with awesome people doing awesome things.
I know, that word gets used a lot, and partly because of one particular organization called Awesome Kingston. Awesome Kingston is a group of ten Trustees whose sole purpose is to host a monthly “pitch party” to hear from selected community members before handing over a brown paper bag filled with $1,000 in cash to that month’s winner to help their awesome initiative.
No strings attached and no follow-up necessary. Plus, those that don’t win get to network, receive mentorship, and are encouraged to reapply…some “pitchers” have actually won on their second or third attempt!
I’ve been one of those ten Awesome Kingston Trustees for over ten years now, and we meet in person for a “pitch party” on the third Thursday of the month, 10 months of the year. We each contribute $100 to that brown paper bag, and it may be the best money I’ve ever spent.
Every time I leave a pitch party, I feel exhilarated and so lucky to live in Kingston, because meeting these people and hearing their stories and projects truly helps “fill my cup”, as the saying goes.
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70 Chapters of Awesome, and We Are Thrilled to Be a Part of It!
We often “fund the un-fundable”; and we have helped a wide range of organizations, charities, artists, and entrepreneurs over the years. From student volunteer theatre groups to neighbours stocking food pantries for the less fortunate. From butterfly robots to tobogganing parties for recently displaced refugees. From seed money for Indigenous themed hoodies to a new alphabet book that’s specifically written and designed for Kingston. The list goes on and on.
There are now 70 chapters in 11 countries across the globe, and the Awesome Foundation has funded over 8,000 projects to date and is still going strong. And November 2026 actually marks our local Kingston chapter’s 15th anniversary. Woohoo!
So, whether you have an awesome idea or just want a healthy dopamine hit by attending a “pitch party” as an audience member, you can discover all the details here.
Just in case Kingston doesn’t already sound like the best place in Ontario, you’ll find even more reasons to love it in the posts below:
- Why Families Are Falling for Kingston
- Exploring Our Favourite Nature Trails in Kingston
- Check Out Kingston’s Fabulous Entertainment Scene!
Kingston Waterfront Rotary Club
When it comes to doing good work in the community, another worthy group comes to mind: Rotary.
That’s exactly why I joined the Kingston Waterfront Rotary Club in 2014. There are actually a few different Rotary clubs in the Kingston area, but the Kingston Waterfront Rotary Club seemed to fit my schedule and my vibe best. We meet Monday nights at 5:30PM, and with a more relaxed “rulebook”, one might say.
Officially the Rotary International slogan is “Service Above Self.” But the Kingston Waterfront Rotary Club has an unofficial motto, which is:
“It’s all about shenanigans and do-goodery!”
Like many people, I actually had no idea what Rotary was until a friend of mine invited me to attend a meeting many moons ago; and “meeting” really is too formal a word for our particular club. We sit around a table listening to community speakers, or brainstorming ways to help… or we rotate around patios during the summertime, doing more of the same while soaking up the sun and sipping on a favourite beverage. And the more the merrier!
Rotary is a great way to meet new people and everyone is always welcome to pop by as a guest and check us out any time. Our club alone is filled with individuals from all walks of life; including managers, fundraisers, accountants, engineers, bankers, marketers, retired military, and of course realtors.
Speaking of shenanigans and do-goodery, there’s a whole lot of both happening here!
Sharing a Laugh and Giving Back
Rotary isn’t affiliated with any religion or political party; it’s simply a group of people who enjoy getting together, sharing some laughs, while giving back and making a difference in their communities.
Whether we’re picking potatoes in a community garden to help stock local food sharing programs, or making lunch for the less fortunate at Martha’s Table, or delivering meals in partnership with Lionhearts Kingston (whose goal is to feed people not landfills), or even providing microgrants to local charities and school groups to provide funding for their phenomenal projects, we are always happy to help.
In fact, when Corus Entertainment chose to close down their local radio and TV live production office in town a couple of years ago, we offered to take on the extremely important Clothes for Kids campaign, which provides new snowsuits to hundreds of kids in need every winter. Corus had been instrumental in growing this campaign over decades, and we just didn’t want it to end.
With the help of some amazing businesses, and the incredible kindness of our community, we have raised over $70,000 each year and that has translated into over 800 snowsuits being distributed annually through the school system to deserving kids. One of our favourite fundraisers for the C4K campaign is hosted by the Cataraqui Centre and A&W Restaurant, and it’s called “Breakfast with Santa.” I get so excited to hang out with Santa and Rooty Root Bear that I can hardly sleep the night before.
Having breakfast and helping others with the big man himself: another lifelong dream fulfilled!
Fun Fact:
Rotary was first created in Chicago in 1905, when a businessman named Paul Harris decided to invite other business leaders to get together weekly to network and give back to the community. Each week they would rotate meeting locations amongst the businesses, hence the name Rotary. Rotary International has now grown to over 1.2 million members in over 45,000 clubs around the world. And as a Rotarian, I would be welcomed into any meeting in any club with open arms.
Did You Know?
Rotary is also famously known for helping curtail the spread of polio around the world. In fact, Rotary has had a goal of eradicating polio once and for all by providing vaccines and support wherever we can since the 1970s.
Kingston is also fortunate enough to have the nation’s only public museum of healthcare that is filled with fascinating artifacts and displays, including one of the original iron lungs used at the Toronto Sick Kids Hospital during the peak of the polio outbreak in the 1930s. The iron lung would simulate breathing for afflicted individuals by rhythmically changing air pressure in the unit, thereby allowing people’s lungs to contract and expand to replicate real breathing patterns.Did you also know that some people afflicted with this horrible disease ended up having to live in iron lungs for decades? One gentleman literally lived for over 70 years in an iron lung beginning at age six. He even became a well-respected lawyer. His name was Paul Alexander.
Another Fun Fact:
The Canadian Museum of Healthcare is located in the original nurses’ dorm beside KGH and it has an underground tunnel to the hospital, so the nurses could make it to work on time no matter the weather. And despite it originally being a females-only faculty, more than a few nurses later admitted that their boyfriends would climb up the outside downpipes for a quick visit after dark.
Seniors Association Kingston
If you want proof that age really is just a number, all you have to do is check out the Seniors Association Kingston Region. With over 6,000 members spanning several facilities across the area, there really is something for everyone who may have aged a little, but are still very much young at heart.
Sure, Kingston is well-known as a fabulous area to retire in because of the Kingston Health Sciences Centre, the lower cost of living, the amazing proximity to the lake, and the vast countryside just minutes away. But it has a vibrant social scene for seniors too!
Just for example, our own family have thoroughly loved staying active and getting more fit and flexible through the centre’s Tai Chi classes; and they absolutely rave about travelling around the world virtually from the comfort of a chair through the virtual reality classes offered as well. Caldwell and Co. has even sponsored an Italian-themed wine and food pairing event that was an instant sellout and a huge success.
From art classes to pickleball tournaments, from cooking classes to fresh food markets sponsored by Lionhearts, there really is something for every senior out there. They even have a full-service restaurant open for lunch every Monday to Friday called Hatters Cove, offering reasonably priced meals to enjoy while socializing with new friends and old alike.
Is your dream home waiting for you right here in Kingston? Find out by browsing some of our featured listings.
Boys and Girls Club
For those that are not just young at heart, but also young of mind and body, the Boys and Girls Club of South East Ontario is a fantastic organization offering vitally important services for kids in our community that may otherwise fall through the cracks through no fault of their own.
Every kid deserves to experience a wide variety of amazing experiences, especially as their minds and bodies continue to grow. Whether a girl or boy loves to swim, play games, learn to play an instrument or cook, create art or build robots, they should get the opportunity to do so and have a ton of fun trying out a whole bunch of cool new stuff along the way. As my father used to say, “Better busy than bored.” After all, is there anything better than the sound of a child’s laughter?
BGC of South East Ontario feels the same way and has expanded several times over the years, with an incredible array of programming operating out of seventeen different locations across the region. Their mission is “to provide a safe supportive space where children and youth can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships, and develop confidence and skills for life”; and their vision is “that all children and youth discover and achieve their dreams and grow up to be healthy, successful, and active participants in society”.
Plus, you can rent many of their spaces for team-building events that help support their mission. How awesome is that?!
Are you convinced to live in Kingston yet? The posts below will help to set you up for a successful home buying experience:
- Buying Your First Home? Kingston Is Calling!
- Should You Buy a Resale Home or a New Build in Kingston?
- Home Inspections in Kingston, Ontario: What You Don’t Know Could Surprise You!
Speaking of children’s laughter, this epic park with soft, rubberized surface should do the trick!
Inclusive Play Project
And every single child deserves the opportunity to laugh and play in the park too, which is why the Inclusive Play Project came into being. Sure, our city has a plethora of playgrounds for many kids to enjoy; but not all kids.
You see, parents of children with mobility constraints or neurodivergent needs, can quickly discover the obstacles playgrounds often present. Sure, wood chips can soften the landing from a jump off the swing or monkey bars, but those same wood chips can make it nearly impossible to navigate if you’re using wheels to get around. And yes, some kids can even become flight risks when anxiety hits (teachers call them the “runners”).
Well, that’s not a problem as of September 2026, after an amazing group of passionate volunteers spent several years advocating and fundraising for a fully inclusive playground at Shannon Park in the Rideau Heights District. This park was an ideal location because it already has several accessibility features, and is close to the Community Centre with an accessible washroom.
The goal was simple: create a space where every child can feel included. That meant including a “communication board” for children who are non-verbal, a perimeter fence for kids who have a tendency to take off at the drop of a hat, build more play structures featuring accommodations, and install soft rubberized flooring for those using wheelchairs and walkers.
Watching a child with special needs grin from ear to ear as they play with their friends or family will instantly bring a smile to your own face… and possibly a happy tear rolling down your cheek. And this is another reason why we love living here.
These are just some of the amazing organizations making a positive difference in our community. There are awesome people doing awesome things in Kingston every single day, and we are extremely grateful for every single one of them.
Are you looking for a new community where you’ll feel welcome and valued? You couldn’t ask for a better place than the “Limestone City,” and our Kingston real estate agents are here to help! Reach out to us at caldwellco@royallepage.ca or call 613.449.6588 today.
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