Eastern Ontario Business Journal, Insider Only Top Stories

Kingston conference centre moving forward and other news from around eastern Ontario

December 1, 2025

Kingston Conference Centre down to one bidder The City of Kingston is negotiating with a preferred vendor for its downtown conference centre and hotel complex. According to a Nov. 18 update to city council, staff are currently in talks with Kingston-based residential developer Patry Group, the lead proponent of a trio of companies that includes […]

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Kingston Conference Centre down to one bidder

The City of Kingston is negotiating with a preferred vendor for its downtown conference centre and hotel complex. According to a Nov. 18 update to city council, staff are currently in talks with Kingston-based residential developer Patry Group, the lead proponent of a trio of companies that includes Indianapolis-based mixed-use developer Milhaus and Montreal-based commercial construction developer Broccolini. Once negotiations conclude with the developers, the project and necessary rezoning will come to a vote at council, which is expected to be in a few months’ time. The conference centre, which would be located next to Slush Puppie Place arena in the downtown core, would be the first of its kind in Kingston. It would include a 59,000-square-foot conference centre, including a 15,000-square-foot event and exhibition hall, as well as smaller conference and meeting rooms. The development would also include a hotel and two 25-storey residential towers with a total of 340 units blending condominiums and rental units.

Alto moves forward, land expropriation expected

Government officials say consultations with eastern Ontario municipalities on the future high-speed rail project could begin in February. A senior director of public relations for the Alto project also recently told Peterborough city council that the project’s goal is to have shovels in the ground within four years. Alto is a public-private partnership project that would add dedicated high-speed rail lines and accompanying rail service connecting Toronto and Quebec City. The planned line features no stops in eastern Ontario outside of Ottawa. That doesn’t mean the project won’t impact the region. The Montreal Economic Institute, a think tank, recently said the Alto project will have “sweeping new expropriation powers.” In a news release, the think tank said a recently passed federal bill, The High-Speed Rail Network Act, suggests that project officials may not need to send an offer, negotiate or demonstrate that a purchase attempt was made before attempting to expropriate land belonging to a business or individual that is in the path of the new rail line.

Frontenac County considers accommodation tax

Short-term rentals in Frontenac County might start charging a municipal accommodation tax. A report to county council suggested that levying the tax on visitors at 400 short-term rental properties in the area could generate up to half a million dollars in annual revenue, which would be reinvested in tourism and economic development. The county’s manager of economic development will meet with the four local councils in the region to test the idea and will report back to county council early in the new year.

Kingston seeks to be more business friendly

Could the City of Kingston be more friendly to businesses? Coun. Jimmy Hassan thinks so – and his council colleagues agree. At a Nov. 4 meeting, city council voted unanimously in favour of Hassan’s motion to have city staff review the permitting process for businesses with a view to reducing red tape. Hassan is a small business owner himself and told OBJ the biggest disconnect he sees is between inspectors that work for the city, the fire department and for the local public health agency. These inspectors occasionally contradict one another in their advice to business owners and do not align their schedules when conducting inspections, according to Hassan. Staff will report back early in 2026.

Benson Group purchased by UAP

Cornwall-based Benson Group has been sold to UAP Inc., the Canadian subsidiary of international auto parts giant Genuine Parts Company. The company employs 730 people across its 85 automotive parts stores, service centres, heavy-truck tire and service shops and distribution centres. Twenty-two of those Benson locations are in eastern Ontario.

Lotus Capital invests in eastern Ontario

Vancouver-based Lotus Capital has purchased four shopping centre properties in eastern Ontario from Choice REIT. The properties, located in Cornwall, Kingston, Rockland and Hawkesbury, total 291,551 square feet of space and each location is a retail plaza anchored by a grocery store. In a statement, CEO Shenoor Jadavji called the acquisitions a strong strategic fit within Lotus’ broader retail thesis and noted the acquisition of these properties supported the company’s continued expansion into “well-established, necessity-based markets.”

Frulact changes hands

Portuguese food preparation manufacturer Frulact has been sold to Italy-based investment firm Nexture by its current owner, France-based investment firm Ardian. “We are deeply grateful to Ardian for their unwavering support and commitment to Frulact’s growth over the past years,” Dinorah Mandic, Frulact’s CEO, said in a statement. “As we enter this new chapter, we are thrilled to partner with Nexture to continue building on our strong foundation and accelerating our growth strategy in the years ahead.” Frulact’s North American headquarters is its Kingston-based manufacturing plant, which employs approximately 130 people. The sale is expected to close in early 2026.

Taylor AutoMall joins Myers Family

A long-standing GM dealership in Kingston has joined the Myers Automotive Group. The Taylor AutoMall on Princess Street in Kingston’s west-end switched hands on Nov. 4 as owner Jason Taylor retired from the automotive industry. In announcing the sale on social media, Taylor noted an industry trend toward consolidation that is allowing dealerships to centralize key functions such as accounting, marketing and HR. He also said Myers would be keeping existing staff to ensure a smooth transition. Barring other acquisitions, this will be Myers’ 18th dealership and its furthest from its Ottawa headquarters. The next furthest is a Chevrolet dealership in Kemptville.

A spirited idea from Maple Ridge Farms

You’ve heard of maple syrup, maple sugar and maple butter … how about maple wine? An eastern Ontario commercial maple spirits manufacturer is making its debut in December. The operation was started by Yan Chen, a tourist who visited B.C. a decade ago and purchased maple syrup in an airport gift store. It inspired Chen to buy Maple Ridge Farms in Apple Hill, north of Cornwall, in 2018 and, following years of renovations, the first bottles of maple wine and spirits made from 100 per cent fermented maple syrup are now ready for sale. Chen intends to sell the products in his native China as well as in Ontario through the LCBO. Chen tells OBJ that Chinese consumers have a strong interest in products with clear origin, natural ingredients and authentic Canadian identity and he notes both wine and whisky have seen steady sales growth in China in recent years. The maple syrup-based wines and liquors are currently available via the farm’s website under the brand names Maple King and Maple Queen.