The standard student discount lists are full of deals at Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Prime — things that don't require you to be in Kingston to use. This is the local version: businesses in Kingston specifically that reduce prices for Queen's and Loyalist students, where your student card is the credential.
Food and Drink
Various Princess Street restaurants: Several Kingston restaurants offer student discounts that aren't widely advertised. The easiest way to find them: ask. "Do you offer a student discount?" is a question that often gets a yes when there's no sign posted, because smaller restaurants run informal policies rather than formal programs. Worth asking anywhere you're spending $15+.
The Grad Club (Queen's Campus): Pricing is already student-oriented, but members of the Queen's Graduate Students' Society get additional discounts. If you're a graduate student, confirm your membership status.
Entertainment and Recreation
Cineplex / Landmark theatres: Student pricing available with valid student ID. Typically $1-3 off standard admission. Tuesday discount days stacked with student pricing give you the cheapest possible ticket.
Kingston Frontenacs (OHL Hockey): Student tickets for the Kingston Frontenacs at the Leon's Centre are significantly discounted. A regularly-priced ticket for students runs $15-20 versus the full adult price. The Frontenacs are a legitimate OHL team and the arena is a good experience. Worth going at least once if you're in Kingston for multiple years.
YMCA Kingston: The Y offers student membership rates. If you're not using the Queen's Athletic Centre (or want an alternative), the YMCA membership is cheaper on student pricing than standard adult rates.
Queen's Athletics membership: Already included in student fees for most students. Confirm your access level — some student categories have more limited access than others.
Services
Transit: The U-Pass covers Kingston Transit entirely — no additional discount needed, it's already free with your student card.
Local gyms: Several Kingston independent gyms offer student pricing when asked. Club Regent Fitness and others have historically offered below-standard rates for students. Ask before signing up.
Software: Not Kingston-specific, but worth noting: Microsoft Office 365 is free for Queen's students through the university's licensing. Adobe Creative Cloud has steep student discounts. GitHub Pro is free for students through GitHub Education. These collectively save hundreds of dollars.
How to Actually Find Discounts
The practical approach: ask everywhere. Many local Kingston businesses offer informal student pricing that isn't listed on their website or menu. The question "do you offer a student discount?" takes five seconds and occasionally saves you 10-15%.
The Queen's AMS Deals and Discounts page maintains a more comprehensive and updated list than any third-party guide — bookmark it and check it at the start of each semester as the participating businesses rotate.
What local Kingston discounts do Queen's students get?
Kingston Frontenacs hockey tickets at student pricing, Cineplex student ticket rates, YMCA student membership rates, and various restaurant and service discounts through the AMS deals page. Transit (Kingston Transit) is fully covered by the U-Pass included in student fees. Many businesses offer informal student discounts not publicly listed — ask at point of purchase.
Do Kingston restaurants give student discounts?
Some do, mostly informally. There's no central database of which ones. Asking "do you have a student discount?" at local restaurants occasionally gets a yes — 10-15% is common for restaurants that have informal policies. Chain restaurants have standardized discount programs (typically 10% with ID); local restaurants vary.
