Kingston

Located 175 km southwest of Ottawa, at the junction between the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River, the Kingston area shows evidence of Aboriginal settlement from 7,000-1,000 BCE. It is in the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. It was later explored by Samuel de Champlain in 1615, settled in 1783, and incorporated as a city in 1846. Kingston hosted a significant military presence during the War of 1812, driving an increase in population and economic growth. It was even the capital of the new Province of Canada from 1841 to 1843! Kingston is now a major port for shipments of outgoing lumber and wheat, and incoming merchandise and passengers. It is the home of the reputable Queen’s University, a 175 year-old institution that boasts a green campus thanks to its multiple environmental sustainability initiatives. Kingston hosts a popular waterfront and numerous must-see historic sites, including the Bellevue House, Fort Henry, and Canada’s Penitentiary Museum. It is also a city rich with parks, such as Lake Ontario Park, City Park, Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area, Grass Creek Park, and more!