The initial spark for what developed into Kingston Stands With Canada was Globe and Mail columnist Andrew Coyne’s well-substantiated March 4, 2024 piece under the blunt headline Donald Trump is trying to destroy Canada. Several of us began to think through the implications and, over the next month, conceptualized a citizens’ activist group to better engage with the community.  Our first formal meeting was held at Queen’s University on April 6.

Over the course of that month, we formally agreed on our mission of promoting community, solidarity, and action in support of Canada’s independence, democracy, shared values, economy, and environment in the face of external threats. Simultaneously, we developed designs for lapel buttons and the capacity for producing them as an important tool for community engagement.  By late April, we already had tables at both Kingston Earth Day events, giving out buttons and engaging in conversations with attendees. We also participated in a peaceful demonstration for Canada’s continued sovereignty in front of the US Embassy in Ottawa.  At those tables and a subsequent event, we collected 75 signatures on our petition to the House of Commons asking newly-elected MPs to echew divisive partisanship in favour of a united stand to preserve Canadian sovereignty. The petition was then submitted in late May to the office of Kingston and the Islands MP Mark Gerretsen.

Ours is a resistance rather than protest movement.  We strive to remain as positive as possible for as long as possible, seeking to preserve what is good about Canada and encourage our governments to protect our country as a compassionate, diverse refuge for caring people and a continued, much-needed beacon for hope for what has been a darkening world. We invite you to join us in that endeavor.

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