Kingston, Ontario

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Coordinates: 44°14′N 76°30′W
City of Kingston, Ontario
City Hall, Downtown Kingston
Motto: Where history and innovation thrive.

Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
Established	1673 (as Fort Cataraqui; later renamed Fort Frontenac)
Incorporated	1838 (as town); 1846 (as city)
City Mayor	Harvey Rosen
Governing Body	Kingston City Council
MPs	Peter Milliken (LPC)
MPPs	John Gerretsen (OLP)
Area
- City	450.39 km² (173.9 sq mi)
- Metro	1,906.82 km² (736.2 sq mi)
Elevation	70-110 m (230-360 ft)
Population
- City (2001)	114,195
- Density	253.5/km² (656.6/sq mi)
- Metro	146,838
- Metro Density	77.0/km² (199.4/sq mi)
	source: Statistics Canada
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
Postal code span	K7K through K7P
Website: http://www.cityofkingston.ca/

Murney Tower, Kingston.

The Fort Henry Guard performing an historical demonstration.

The Prince George Hotel.

Kingston, Ontario, is a city in Canada located at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, where the lake runs into the St. Lawrence River and the Thousand Islands begin.

Kingston is the county seat of Frontenac County. According to the 2001 Canadian census, the population of the city proper was 114,195, while the population of the metropolitan area as a whole was 146,838 in 2001.

Kingston is nicknamed the "Limestone City" because of the many historic buildings built from limestone.

[edit] History

The French originally settled upon a traditional Mississaugas First Nation site called Katerokwi (Cataraqui in the common transliteration which uses French pronunciation rules, is pronounced CAT - AH - RAH - KWAY) in 1673 and established Fort Cataraqui, later to be called Fort Frontenac. The fort was captured and destroyed by the British in the Battle of Fort Frontenac near the end of the Seven Years' War in 1758. A receiving centre for fleeing refugees from the American Revolution, it became the primary community of south-eastern Upper Canada.

New settlement from the United Empire Loyalists (UEL) and Mohawks from the Six Nations in New York, led by Molly Brant (the sister of Six Nations Leader Joseph Brant - Thayendanegea), formed a significant part of an expanding population in the area at the end of the 18th century.

During the War of 1812, Kingston was the base for the Lake Ontario division of the Great Lakes British naval fleet which engaged in a vigorous arms race with the American fleet based at Sackett's Harbor, New York for control of Lake Ontario. After the war, Britain built Fort Henry and a series of distinctive Martello towers to guard the entrance to the Rideau Canal. Fort Henry still stands and is a popular tourist destination.

Kingston's location at the Rideau Canal entrance to Lake Ontario, after canal construction was completed in 1832, made it the primary military and economic centre of Upper Canada. Incorporated as a town in 1838, Kingston had the largest population of any centre in Upper Canada until the 1840s. Kingston was incorporated as a city in 1846.

Kingston was the first capital of the united Canadas before Confederation from 1841 to 1844, and hosted the first meeting of the Parliament of the United Canadas on June 13, 1841. The city was considered too small and lacking in amenities, however, and its location made it vulnerable to American attack. Consequently, the capital was moved to alternating locations in Montreal and Toronto, and then later to Ottawa in 1857. Subsequently, Kingston's growth slowed considerably and its national importance declined.

Kingston was the home of Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald.

During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Kingston remained an important Great Lakes port and a centre for shipbuilding and locomotive manufacturing, including the Canadian Locomotive Company, at one time the largest locomotive works in the British Empire. Most heavy industry has now left the city, and employment is now primarily in the institutional, military, and service/retail sectors.

Kingston grew moderately through the 20th century through a series of annexations of lands in adjacent Kingston Township, including a 1951 annexation which encompassed areas west to the Little Cataraqui creek (including the village of Portsmouth) where a number of large residential subdivisions were built in the late 1950s and early '60s.

Municipal governance had been a topic of discussion since the mid-1970s due to financial imbalance between the city and the surrounding townships, which now had large residential areas and a population approaching that of the city proper. On January 1, 1998, the City was amalgamated with the Townships of Kingston and Pittsburgh to form a new City of Kingston. The city's boundaries now encompass large rural areas north of Highway 401 and east of the Cataraqui River.

The term "Cataraqui", from the original native name for Kingston, today refers to an area around the intersection of Princess Street and Sydenham Road where a village of that name was located. Cataraqui is also the name of a municipal electoral ward.

[edit] Geography and climate

[edit] Geography

Kingston is located at 44°13′12″N, 76°28′48″W (44.22, -76.48)^GR1.

The central part of the city is located between the Cataraqui River to the east and the Little Cataraqui Creek to the West, with outlying areas extending in both directions.

This section is a stub. You can help by expanding it.

[edit] Climate

Because of its proximity to Lake Ontario, which has a mollifying effect on the micro-climate in the Kingston area, Kingston enjoys less extreme temperatures than those found inland.

This section is a stub. You can help by expanding it.

[edit] Economy

Kingston's economy relies heavily on public sector institutions and establishments. The most important sectors are related to health care, education, government (including the military and correctional services), tourism and culture, manufacturing, and research and development. Of Kingston's major industrial employers of the 20th century, the Canadian Locomotive Company and Davis Drydock are long closed, and the former Alcan and Dupont operations employ far fewer persons than in the past.

[edit] General

According to the Kingston Economic Development Corporation, in a 2004 report, the 20 largest employers in Kingston were:

Canadian Forces Base Kingston 5,277
Queen's University 4,200
Kingston General Hospital 3,085
Limestone District School Board 2,720
Correctional Services of Canada 2,670
City of Kingston 1,500
StarTek 1,400
Invista Canada: 1100
Hotel Dieu Hospital 1,007
Providence Continuing Care Centre 1,000
Ontario Ministry of Health
Royal Military College of Canada 769
Bell Canada 500 (Since downsized)
Ontario Ministry of Transportation 415
Assurant Group: 400
Novelis (formerly Alcan) (Rolled Products and R&D Centre) 373
DuPont Canada Inc. R & D Centre 173
Bombardier Mass Transit 150
Wal Mart: 150
Bosal Canada: 150

Source: http://business.kingstoncanada.com/communityprofile/resources/Economic.pdf

[edit] CFB Kingston

Canadian Forces Base Kingston (CFB Kingston) houses CFSCE (Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics), the Canadian Armed Forces' military communications training centre.

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[edit] Corrections Canada

Canada's largest group of federal prisons, including Kingston Penitentiary, is located in the immediate area of the city.

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[edit] Culture

Kingston City Hall.

Princess Street in downtown Kingston.

Kingston has developed a thriving artistic and entertainment life. The city hosts several festivals during the year, including the Limestone City Blues Festival, the Kingston Canadian Film Festival, Fanfayr, the Kingston Busker's Rendezvous, Kingston Sheep Dog Trials, Kingston Jazz Festival, Kingston Dragon Boat Festival, Canada DanceSport, the Festival of Trees, Feb Fest, the Limestone Classic, and the Chilifest.

The Kingston Symphony Orchestra performs at Kingston's Grand Theatre, as do several amateur and semi-professional theatre groups. (Following a successful fundraising campaign, the Grand Theatre has been closed for renovations and will reopen in the fall of 2006. [1]) Also in the city is Theatre Kingston (formerly Theatre Beyond), a professional company.

The city has spawned several musicians and musical groups, most of whom are known mainly within Canada, but few of whom have achieved international success. These include members of The Tragically Hip, The Mahones, jazz singer Andy Poole, Bedouin Soundclash, Sarah Harmer, The Arrogant Worms, The Headstones, The Inbreds, David Usher (formerly of Moist), and Kingston is the birth place of Bryan Adams. Singer Avril Lavigne, from nearby Napanee, began her career after gaining notice singing at a Kingston fair and bookstore. The first winner of the television series Canadian Idol was Kingston native Ryan Malcolm.

Poet Michael Andre was raised in Kingston, and actor Dan Aykroyd makes his home near Kingston.

[edit] Media

In addition to local outlets, radio and television stations from New York (especially the Watertown market) are readily available in Kingston.

[edit] Radio

960 AM - CFFX, Oldies 960
1380 AM - CKLC, standards
91.9 FM - CKVI, Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute
92.9 FM - CBBK, CBC Radio Two
96.3 FM - CFMK, Joe FM adult variety
98.3 FM - CFLY, Fly FM CHR
99.5 FM - CJBC-2, La Première Chaîne
101.9 FM - CFRC, Queen's University campus radio
105.7 FM - CIKR, K-Rock active rock
107.5 FM - CBCK, CBC Radio One

[edit] Television

Channel 6 - CJOH-6, CTV (transmitter on Mount Carmel near Deseronto)
Channel 11 - CKWS, CBC
Channel 32 - CBLFT-14, SRC
Channel 38 - CICO-38, TVOntario
Cable 13 - TVCogeco 13 community channel

[edit] Print

The city's daily newspaper is the Kingston Whig-Standard, owned by Osprey Media. Smaller local publications include Kingston This Week, Heritage, Kingston Eye-Opener and Independent Voice.

[edit] Sports

[edit] Hockey

Although contested, Kingston lays claim to being the birthplace of ice hockey. This claim arises from a game played in 1886 between Queen's University and the Royal Military College of Canada and is recognised by the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association.

Kingston is represented in the OHL by the Kingston Frontenacs, and in OPJHL by the Kingston Voyageurs.

The International Hockey Hall of Fame, established in 1943 and erected in 1965, is located in Kingston, near the Kingston Memorial Centre. Currently under construction the Kingston Sports and Entertainment Centre located in the downtown core.

Several NHL players, coaches and personalities have been associated with Kingston including:

Bryan Allen
Scott Arniel
Kip Brennan
John Tripp
Wayne Cashman
Don Cherry

Bill Cook
Bun Cook
Lorne Ferguson
Doug Gilmour
Ken Linseman

Jay McClement
Jay McKee
Kirk Muller
Bob Murray
Fred O'Donnell

Rick Paterson
Wade Redden
Mike Smith
Rick Smith
James "Flat" Walsh

[edit] Sailing

The city is famous for its fresh-water sailing, and hosted the sailing events for the 1976 Summer Olympics. CORK — Canadian Olympic-training Regatta, Kingston — now hosted by CORK/Sail Kingston Inc. is still held every August. Kingston is listed by a panel of experts among the best yacht racing venues in the USA, even though Kingston is, of course, in Canada.

Here's a list of major regattas hosted by Kingston over the years.

Kingston sits amid great cruising and boating territory, with easy access to Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River, and the Thousand Islands including the St. Lawrence Islands National Park.

[edit] Diving

Kingston is a well-known destination for fresh-water wreck diving. Some of Kingston's wrecks can be classed among the best fresh water wrecks in the world. Kingston's wrecks are well preserved by its cool fresh water, and the recent zebra mussel invasion has caused a drastic improvement in water clarity that has enhanced the quality of diving in the area.

Here's a catalog of diveable wrecks in the Kingston region, another source is here.

[edit] Demographics

According to the mid-2001 census, there were 146,838 people residing in the greater Kingston area, of whom 49.1 % were male and 50.9 % were female. Children under five accounted for approximately 5.1 % of the resident population of Kingston. This compares with 5.8 % in Ontario, and almost 5.6 % for Canada overall.

In mid-2001, 14.1 % of the resident population in Kingston were of retirement age (65 and over for males and females) compared with 13.2 % in Canada. As a result, the average age is 38.1 years of age as compared to 37.6 years of age for all of Canada. Kingston has a reputation as a suitable place for retirees to settle.

In the five years between 1996 and 2001, the population of Kingston grew by 1.6 %, compared with an increase of 6.1 % for Ontario as a whole. Population density of Kingston averaged 77.0 people per square kilometre, compared with an average of 12.6, for Ontario altogether.

The population of Kingston shows significant turnover because of its relatively large student population (about 10%) and the number of military residents associated with Canadian Forces Base Kingston.

[edit] Religious belief

Protestant: 43.6%
Roman Catholic: 33.1%
Other Christian: 1.6%
No religion: 18.0%

[edit] Education

[edit] Post-Secondary

Kingston is the site of two highly-respected universities, Queen's University and the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC), and a major community college, St. Lawrence College.

Queen's University is one of Canada's oldest universities and offers a variety of degree programs. One of the oldest radio stations in the world, CFRC, broadcasts from the university.

RMC is Canada's only military university and provides academic and officer training to cadets who will be members of Canada's armed forces.

St. Lawrence College offers Baccalaureate Degree programs at its Kingston campus, in Behavioural Psychology, Microelectronics and Nursing.

[edit] Primary and secondary

The Limestone District School Board serves students in the counties of Frontenac and Lennox and Addington. Along with the Limestone School of Community Education, which provides adult education and training programs, approximately 23,000 students attend 56 elementary and 12 secondary schools. The Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board serves students of the Roman Catholic faith. Approximately 15,000 students attend 36 elementary schools and 5 secondary schools in this school district. The francophone community is served by two school boards, the Conseil des écoles publique de l'est de l'Ontario and the Conseil des écoles catholique de langue française du centre-est, each providing one secondary school in the area.

Local secondary schools:

Bayridge Secondary School
École secondaire catholique Marie-Rivier
École secondaire Mille-Îles
Ernestown Secondary School
Frontenac Secondary School
Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School
Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute
La Salle Secondary School
Loyalist Collegiate and Vocational Institute
Queen Elizabeth Collegiate and Vocational Institute
Regiopolis-Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School
Sydenham High School

[edit] Waterfront

Kingston has a rich and beautiful waterfront. Major features include Flora MacDonald Confederation Basin, Portsmouth Olympic Harbour, Collins Bay, Wolfe Island, Garden Island, the Cataraqui River (including Kingston, Ontario Inner Harbour and, within that, Anglin Bay.)