City of Kingston welcomes new and returning students, announces UDSI, traffic and parking changes during move-in weekend

The City of Kingston would like to welcome new and returning post-secondary students to the community, and wishes all students, faculty and staff a safe and successful 2025/2026 academic year. 

Good neighbours make for stronger, safer neighbourhoods 

Whether you’re living in an on-campus residence or in the neighbourhoods surrounding your school, you are a valued member of the Kingston community, sharing in the privilege and responsibility of being a good neighbour. 

The City created the Good Neighbour Guide to provide community members with a better understanding of how the City of Kingston operates, the services and opportunities available, and how residents can build a foundation of trust and respect in their neighbourhoods. 

The University District Safety Initiative is in effect Aug. 28 – Sept. 7 

Students and neighbours are reminded that the University District Safety Initiative (UDSI) will be in effect from Thursday, Aug. 28 at 11:59 p.m. until Sunday, Sept. 7 at 11:59 a.m. The purpose of the UDSI is to educate community members and to mitigate the risks of large unsanctioned gatherings, including strains on emergency services. During this time, community partners, including City By-Law Enforcement Officers and Kingston Police, will have an increased presence in the University District. By-Law Enforcement Officers can also require people to pay Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs) for contraventions of the Nuisance Party By-Law, the Noise By-Law or other by-laws. 

As part of the UDSI, the City will close Gord Edgar Downie Pier and Breakwater Park beach to the public nightly, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 28 to Monday, Sept. 8. The decision to close the park during this time is to ensure the safety of community members in the University District, as large unsanctioned gatherings in this area pose a major safety risk, particularly at night. 

Parking restrictions and traffic control during move-in 

Student move-in at Queens begins in the evening on Friday, Aug. 29 and goes until Saturday, Aug. 30 at 5 p.m. To keep traffic moving during student move-in, some area roads will have parking restrictions, and some will be designated as one-way traffic: 

Overnight parking restrictions 

Friday, Aug. 29 at 4 p.m. through Saturday, Aug. 30 at 5 p.m.: 

• Albert Street, between Queen’s Crescent to King Street
• Stuart Street, between University and Albert
• Collingwood Street, between King Street and Albert Street
• Bader Lane
• Queen’s Crescent
• Earl Street, between Frontenac Street and Alfred Street
• St. Lawrence Avenue, East Side
• King Street, from Lower University Avenue to Beverley Street 

Street parking not permitted Saturday, Aug. 30 between 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.: 

• Arch at Union Street
• George Street at Stuart Street
• O’Kill Street at George Street 

Streets designated one-way for the day (Aug. 30, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.): 

• Albert Street, southbound between Union Street and King Street
• Queen’s Crescent, westbound from Albert to Collingwood Street
• Bader Lane, westbound
• Stuart Street, westbound between University Avenue and Albert Street
• St. Lawrence Avenue, southbound from Stuart Street to King Street
• Collingwood Street, southbound from Queen’s Crescent to King Street
• University Ave, southbound from Union Street to Stuart Street