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AS YOUR COUNCILLOR

Greg works to try and improve the community through his leadership, advocacy, and undertaking initiatives. This includes work on committees, the introduction of motions at Council to create City policy, and working with staff, Councillors, representatives at other levels of government, and community members to find solutions.

BOARDS & COMMITTEES

BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

Here are a selection of the Boards and Committees Greg has served on in his first term as Councillor.

 

  • Administrative Policies Committee (Jan 2023 – present)

    • Chair, Jan 2024 to Jan 2025

    • Vice Chair, Jan 2023 to Jan 2024

  • Arts, Recreation, and Community Policies Committee (Jan 2023 – present)

  • Arts and Culture Advisory Committee (Jan 2024 – Jan 2025)

  • Downtown Business Improvement Area (Jan 2023 – present)

    • Director, Board of Directors

  • Housing and Homelessness Advisory Committee (Jan 2023 – Jan 2025)

    • Chair, Jan 2024 to Jan 2025

  • Kingston Area Taxi Commission (Nov 2025 – present)

    • Chair, Nov 2025 to present

  • Kingston Economic Development Corporation (2025)

    • Director, Board of Directors​

  • Kingston Frontenac Housing Development Corporation (2026)​

  • Kingston Police Services Board (Jan 2025 - present)

    • Chair, Feb 2026 to present​

  • North King’s Town Secondary Plan Working Group (Jan 2023 – Feb 2025)

  • Nominations Committee (Jan 2024 – present)

    • Chair, Jan 2025 to present

  • Committee of Revision (Jan 2026 – present)​

  • Tourism Kingston (Jan 2023 – Jan 2025)

INITIATIVES

INITIATIVES

FOOD SECURITY AND AFFORDABILITY

Having experienced food insecurity personally, Greg has worked to expand community resources and address growing needs. In 2025, KFL&A Public Health reported that 1 in 3 families in Kingston experience food insecurity. Key actions include:

  • Supporting the City’s $2 million investment in the St. Vincent de Paul expansion site (2024).

  • Securing over $100,000 with City staff for a food pantry pilot program designed to reduce stigma around food bank use (2024).

  • Supporting the Food for Fines pilot program and its continuation.

  • Meeting with MP Mark Gerretsen to discuss rising food insecurity and poverty.

  • Seconding the motion declaring a food insecurity emergency in Kingston (2025).

  • Sharing his personal experience with food insecurity through national media, including CBC’s The National and Vassy Kapelos’s program, to raise awareness.

  • Creating a $200,000 municipal grant program for organizations addressing food insecurity (2025).

  • Supporting national advocacy for a school food program with the Food Sharing Project.

  • Helping develop the City’s Food Framework program.

  • Supporting $1.75 million in additional funding for Kingston and Partners’ Food Bank to expand capacity and increase food availability (2025).

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ROADS, TRAFFIC SAFETY, AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

Greg has consistently supported investment in road maintenance, traffic calming, public transit, and safer infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists. Accomplishments include:

  • Supporting increased funding for road repairs and maintenance.

  • Replacing or maintaining 100 sidewalk panels and adding 19 new sidewalk panels (2024–2025).

  • Completing 715.4 tonnes of asphalt repairs and repairing over 1,000 potholes since August 2024.

  • Advancing new all-way stops at Rideau and Cataraqui Streets and Patrick and John Streets.

  • Supporting new pedestrian crossings at key intersections, including Place D’Armes, Division and Guy Streets, Stephen and Patrick Streets, and Montreal Street and Hickson Avenue.

  • Advocating for additional public transit resources.

  • Working with residents, staff, and partners on parking solutions, particularly in the Inner Harbour.

  • Supporting traffic calming measures that reduced speed limits in the Inner Harbour by 10 km/h.

  • Advancing the North King’s Town Secondary Plan, creating a foundation for new active transportation trails and expanded sidewalks along the Montreal Street corridor.

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PARKS, RECREATION, AND CULTURAL PROGRAMMING

Greg has worked to strengthen Kingston’s public spaces, recreation opportunities, and arts and culture sector. Accomplishments include:

  • Supporting the planting of 362 new trees in King’s Town between 2022 and 2026, including 125 street trees and 237 park trees.

  • Securing funding for a new park at Adelaide and Cowdy Streets (2024).

  • Supporting the refurbishment of Hillside Park, including new lighting.

  • Securing additional lighting improvements in district parks.

  • Supporting Equip Sport Lockers to provide free recreational equipment in parks.

  • Supporting youth recreation programming for those impacted by opioid addiction.

  • Helping reprogram City Arts Fund grants.

  • Introducing a $100,000 budget amendment for additional arts grants (2026).

  • Advocating to provincial representatives on the cultural and economic importance of live performance.

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SUPPORTING THE UNHOUSED

Greg has focused on practical solutions for people experiencing homelessness and those impacted by mental health and addictions challenges. His work includes:

  • Advancing an eviction moratorium for Belle Park from January to March (2023).

  • Co-hosting a CBC Radio discussion with London Mayor Josh Morgan on homelessness across Ontario (2023).

  • Supporting the declaration of a mental health and addictions crisis in Kingston.

  • Serving two years on the Housing and Homelessness Advisory Committee, including one year as Chair.

  • Requesting a municipal analysis of the cost to address homelessness, estimated at approximately $1 billion over ten years.

  • Serving on the United Way Housing and Homelessness Advisory Consortium.

  • Supporting the $2 million St. Vincent de Paul expansion project.

  • Encouraging the development a water distribution plan for unhoused residents and helping secure additional water supplies during extreme heat.

  • Supporting affordable, supportive, and transitional housing initiatives, including transitional housing for families with children.

  • Meeting with provincial Ministers and Deputy Ministers to advocate for mental health, rehabilitation, and addiction treatment supports.

  • Presenting to the Provincial Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs on the need for increased investment in mental health and addictions treatment.

  • Supporting the HART Hub application, CTS funding advocacy, and the extension of Our Liveable Solutions’ tiny cabin storage timeline to support Crossroads Village.


NORTH KING’S TOWN SECONDARY PLAN

Developed beginning in 2016 and approved in 2024, the North King’s Town Secondary Plan provides a long-term vision for the revitalization of the Inner Harbour area through to the Waaban Crossing.

The plan establishes a framework for:

  • Improved infrastructure, sidewalks, and active transportation connections.

  • Environmental remediation of brownfields.

  • Housing intensification through updated zoning.

  • Potential growth of up to 7,500 additional housing units over 20 years.

MOTIONS

Council motions provide direction to City staff on policies, programs, and operations. Working collaboratively with colleagues, Greg Ridge has introduced numerous motions and seconded 28 additional Council initiatives — all of which have passed. These motions have addressed housing, homelessness, public safety, food security, transparency, economic development, and community services.

Key examples include:

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Supporting Housing and Affordability

  • Addressed homelessness and housing affordability by initiating a report on the resources required to house everyone on the Social Housing Registry and By-Names List, including wraparound supports. The resulting report estimated the cost at approximately $1 billion over ten years.

  • Advanced affordable housing solutions by directing staff to identify resources and strategies to accelerate the creation of new affordable housing.

  • Improved housing accountability by requesting reporting on approved housing units, including development outcomes and municipal revenues.

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Strengthening Public Safety and Accountability​

  • Increased transparency in policing by establishing quarterly financial reporting from Kingston Police and later expanding public reporting to include crime statistics by electoral district.

  • Supported stronger community safety planning by requiring safety and consultation measures related to the Integrated Care Hub and directing analysis of emergency service calls.

  • Strengthened representation and accountability on the Kingston Police Services Board by supporting increased diversity in its membership.

  • Responded to concerns with the Kingston Area Taxi Commission by calling for governance changes and greater accountability.

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Addressing Food Security

  • Declared food insecurity a community priority and advocated for increased provincial support for school food programs and social assistance rates.

  • Created through a budget amendment a $200,000 municipal grant program using reserve funds and Food for Fines revenues to support local organizations addressing food insecurity.

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Supporting Community Services and Quality of Life

  • Protected access to primary care by supporting $1 million in funding for physician recruitment without increasing taxes.

  • Invested in Kingston’s arts sector through a $100,000 increase to the City of Kingston Arts Fund.

  • Supported local journalism by advocating for stronger government support amid declining local media resources.

  • Improved transparency with community partners by requiring the collection and review of service agreements, financial information, and governance documents.

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Building a Stronger Economy

  • Advanced business-friendly reforms by directing staff to identify ways to streamline licensing and approval processes to reduce barriers for local businesses.

  • Promoted responsible transportation investment by amending advocacy for an ALTO rail stop to ensure the City's support is contingent on a stop being in Kingston and aligning with regional transportation needs by being along the 401 corridor to minimize impacts on rural communities.

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Supporting Mental Health, Addictions, and Housing Supports

  • Advocated for continued addictions and mental health services during provincial CTS funding changes by supporting a transition plan, protecting shelter capacity, and advancing the creation of a HART Hub.

  • Following advocacy, Kingston’s HART Hub funding increased significantly and CTS funding was extended through the transition period.

  • Supported community-based housing solutions through continued advocacy for affordable, supportive, and transitional housing.

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Greg’s approach to Council motions has focused on practical solutions, measurable accountability, and collaboration to address the challenges facing Kingston residents.

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