Applying for a Committee or Board

Recruiting: Two public members and one youth representative

The overall goal of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee is to provide guidance to staff and City Council in the development of policies, initiatives, and programs aimed at reducing barriers in the workplace at the City of Kingston and fostering diversity and inclusion in all areas of the organization, including through its internal operations and interactions with external stakeholders. The Committee will provide guidance to City staff and council in the implementation and evaluation of the Indigenization, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IIDEA) Strategy and Action Plan.

Skills:

Committee membership must possess a diversity of skills, experience and qualifications, including interest in and knowledge of:

• best practices in the following areas of equity, diversity and inclusion with respect to public sector or large organizations; and
  • employment and human resources
  • service provision
  • accountability and governance
  • communications and training
  • capacity building
• community engagement and involvement in the Kingston community, specifically in area of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility

Composition: The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee is composed of two members of Council, up to five members of the public who are part of an equity deserving population, and up to four members of the public who represent organizations or community groups.

Meeting Schedule: The Committee meets up to six times per year at 1:00 p.m.

Appointment Length: For a term expiring on November 14, 2026.

Recruiting: One youth member

The Housing and Homelessness Advisory Committee works to ensure that there is a comprehensive understanding of housing services, affordable housing and homelessness issues, initiatives, and developments. The Committee also provides:

• Advice to Council on housing, publicly assisted affordable housing and homelessness policies;
• Advice regarding the implementation of the Municipal Housing Strategy Homelessness Plan and other municipal strategies, policies, and directives;
• Advice on overall financial investment tools for housing and homelessness but not on individual funding allocation. 

In addition, the Committee maintains close linkages with other City committees and working groups to ensure coordination of housing, affordable housing and homelessness initiatives.

Skills:

• Lived experience, past or present, with homelessness and/or public health policy.
• Professional or volunteer experience in housing, homelessness services, social services, or public health.
• Knowledge of relationship between federal, provincial, and municipal levels of government with respect to housing. 

Composition: The Housing and Homelessness Advisory Committee is composed of two members of Council, one representative from the County of Frontenac, one representative from the Kingston Home Builders' Association, one representative form the Homeless Community Impact Committee (as established by the United Way KFL&A), and six members of the public with preference given to member of the Indigenous community, those with lived or living experience of homelessness, youth, veterans, and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Meeting Schedule: The Committee meets up to six times per year at 1:00 p.m.

Appointment Length: For a term expiring on November 14, 2026.

Recruiting: Four public members 

The Board of Directors oversees the governance of Kingston & Frontenac Housing Corporation which operates social, affordable, and market housing and administers the rent supplement program on behalf of the City of Kingston and County of Frontenac. The Board of Directors reports to City Council, the sole Shareholder of the Corporation. Members must be a resident of the City of Kingston or County of Frontenac.

Members must be willing to serve on at least one of three subcommittees: Advocacy & Stakeholder, Finance, and Governance.

Skills:

• Hold a genuine interest in the quality of life and equitable access for applicants to affordable, safe housing
• Must promote the benefits of social housing in the community.
• Skilled in building partnerships
• Previous experience with business, law, leadership, policy, governance, and strategic planning
• Strong financial literacy and analytical skills

Composition: The Board is composed of two members of Council and six members of the public who have the qualifications and are selected in the manner set out in the shareholders' agreement.

Meeting Schedule: The Board meets monthly on the last Monday of the month at 12:30 p.m.

Appointment Length: For a term expiring on November 14, 2026.

Recruiting: Five public members 

The Kingston and Area Taxi Commission (KATC) is provincially legislated to provide for the licensing, regulation, enforcement and governance of the brokers, plateholders (owners), and drivers of taxi cabs in the City of Kingston and Loyalist Township. 

The City of Kingston is currently in the process of withdrawing from the KATC, which will result in the dissolution of the KATC. The KATC will continue to provide licensing, regulation and enforcement of taxi services until the transfer of responsibilities to the City of Kingston is completed. Commission members will be responsible for oversight of the dissolution of KATC, ensuring a smooth transition of services to the City of Kingston.

Skills: Individuals with experience in finance, policy development and implementation, strategic planning for oversight and delivery of services, communication, governance and law, as well as those with previous experience in developing policies to regulate the taxi industry.

Composition: One member of Kingston City Council, one representative from Loyalist Township, five public members from Kingston.

Meeting Schedule: Meets monthly on every second Wednesday or at the call of the Chair.

Appointment Length: Until the transition of services from the KATC to the City of Kingston is completed, anticipated to be September 2026.

Recruiting: One public member

The mandate and activities of the Kingston Heritage Properties Committee addresses a broad array of issues, opportunities and projects related to the planning and property-based aspects of Kingston's cultural heritage. The Kingston Heritage Properties Committee is appointed in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act that provides a framework within which municipalities can ensure the conservation of properties of cultural heritage value or interest. In all matters, Kingston Heritage Properties Committee's role is advisory and consultative.

The committee acknowledges that cultural heritage includes a combination of tangible, intangible and natural resources. The committee will lead by example in terms of responsible stewardship of heritage properties and community heritage planning practices and will support education and information sharing with community around these matters.

Skills: accordingly, Kingston Heritage Properties Committee membership should possess a diversity of skills, experience and qualifications, including interest in and knowledge of:

• Building restoration
• Architectural building conservation
• Heritage building renovation
• Heritage architectural and design practices
• Heritage trades and construction practices
• Cultural heritage
• Architectural history
• Historical research
• Heritage property ownership
• Local land use planning policies and regulations
• The Ontario Heritage Act

Composition: The Kingston Heritage Properties Committee is composed of two members of Council and seven members of the public that represent a cross-section of local interests and perspectives and that demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of Kingston’s heritage properties.

Meeting Schedule: The Committee meets the third Wednesday of every month at 10:00 a.m.

Appointment Length: For a term expiring on November 14, 2026.

Recruiting: Five public members and one youth representative

As outlined in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the Committee advises Council each year regarding the preparation, implementation, and effectiveness of its annual Accessibility Plan. It also reviews site plans and drawings as described in Section 41 of the Planning Act.

Members will also be asked to take part in Project Teams which deal with specific subject matters falling under the Committee's mandate.

Skills:

• Experience with reviewing building plans/drawings
• Familiarity with Ontario Building Code and the City’s Facility Accessibility Design Standards
• Communications, public education and public engagement experience
• Experience of the barriers faced by persons with disabilities, either through lived experience or personal experience
• Familiarity with strategic planning and goal setting
• Availability to serve on short and medium-term project teams that provide feedback to City staff regarding accessibility for a variety of project types, including construction and renovation of facilities and parks and policy creation

Composition: The Committee is composed of one member of Council and 15 members of the public.

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act requires that a majority of members shall be individuals with disabilities and when advised, specific needs will be accommodated at meetings.

Meeting Schedule: The Committee meets six times per year at 1:00 p.m.

Appointment Length: For a term expiring on November 14, 2026.

Recruiting: One youth representative 

The Rural Community & Economic Development Working Group represents the interests of the City of Kingston's rural residents and businesses as they relate to the rural community, business development and agricultural matters.

Skills:

• Knowledge of the issues impacting rural Kingston from both an agricultural, rural business and/or rural residential lens
• Familiarity with the Rural Kingston Economic Strategy
• Experience in community development, particularly in rural areas.
• Evaluate applications received for the Rural Community Program Fund

Composition: The Working Group is composed of the Countryside District member of Council and one additional member of Council, two rural residential residents, two rural agricultural residents, and one resident who carries on a rural business (farm or non-farm).

Meeting Schedule: The Working Group meets four to six times per year in the evenings.

Appointment Length: For a term expiring on November 14, 2026.