Kingston, ON Area Guide

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Family friendly Public transit is accessible Walkable to grocery stores Yards are well-kept Lots of parks Walkable to restaurants Friendly neighbors Safe at night Pet friendly Streets have sidewalks A quiet area Sense of community

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Kingston, ON

Kingston sits at the very east end of Lake Ontario at the beginning of the St. Lawrence River, midway between Toronto and Montreal. Kingston is nicknamed the ‘Limestone City’ because of its beautiful limestone heritage buildings. Its motto is Antiquitate Civilitate Humanitate (A Civil and Creative Community with a Proud Past), as it was established in 1673 as a French trading post. In 1842 it was named Kingston and was the first ever capital of Canada. That if course changed, though the city is still the political centre for the County of Frontenac. Today, Kingston has a strong hand in education, as it is home to Queen's University, the Royal Military College of Canada and St. Lawrence College. It also has a strong tourist industry.

Kingston is one of the top cities to live in in the country. In fact, it was named as one of the ‘best places to live and work in Canada for young professionals’, with earning potential being high and weekend and evening activities being great. There are also numerous heritage sites and historic sites, making it a picturesque city. Some of the key sites that you will find in any Kingston city guide include Fort Henry, Kingston Penitentiary, Bellevue House and Fort Frontenac. As well, its historic limestone buildings are an important part of the city’s heritage, many of which are on Princess Street in Downtown Kingston. This is also the city’s main retail street and where some of the trendiest restaurants can be found.

There is a strong artist community in Kingston, which is another reason why it is such a great place to live. The contemporary art scene is quite vibrant and many famous Canadian musicians hail from the city, including Bryan Adams, Sarah Harmer, John Kay and the members of the Tragically Hip. Another great thing about living in Kingston is its festivals, which includes Kingston WritersFest, the Kingston Canadian Film Festival, Kingston Jazz Festival and Artfest. In short, it is a culturally rich city with lots to offer anyone that lives here. It is also a haven for tourists, with most Kingston locals listing things like sailing, playing a round of golf, ice skating and scuba diving as top things to do while visiting the city.

Living in Kingston can be quite exciting, regardless of your age. Yes, there are many students here, but there are also many retirees and families. In fact, the median age of residents living in the city is around 38. It is also a very safe place to live and is ranked quite high as a top place for women. Plus, because of its close proximity to Quebec, Kingston has both francophone and Anglophone communities, with elementary and secondary schools to match.