Kingston. The World of the Novel.

was, however, the home of Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald and on June 13 1841 was the site of the first meeting of the Parliament of Canada.Fortenca County: Frontenac County, as defined by Statistics Canada, is a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario. The City of Kingston is included in the census division, but is separated from the County of Frontenac. Frontenac County, has a population in 2001 was 138,606 and in 2006 was 143,865.First Settlers:  The French originally settled upon a traditional Mississaugas First Nation site called Katerokwi (French pronunciation) 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 during the Seven Years' War in 1758. A receiving centre for fleeing refugees from the American Revolution some years later, Kingston 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 - Tyendinega), 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. All still exist, and Fort Henry is a popular tourist attraction. In 2007, the Rideau Canal and the fortifications at Kingston were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Kingston Penitentiary: Kingston Penitentiary (known locally as KP and Kingston Pen) is a maximum security prison located in Kingston, Ontario between King Street West and Lake Ontario.Originally constructed in 1833–1834, and officially opened on June 1, 1835 as the "Provincial Penitentiary of the Province of Upper Canada," it is one of the oldest prisons in continuous use in the world. Kingston Penitentiary is one of nine prisons in the Kingston area which range from low-security facilities to the maximum-security facilities Kingston Penitentiary and Millhaven Institution (which was initially built to replace Kingston Pen). The penitentiary's western wall adjoins the Portsmouth Olympic Harbour, which hosted the sailing events for the 1976 Summer Olympics.Immediately across the road to the north is the now closed Kingston Prison for Women (now part of Queen's University).Today the facility houses between 350 and 500 inmates, plus another 120 at R.T.C. (the Regional Treatment Centre) contained within the prison. Every inmate is given an individual cell.On April 30, 1997 Kingston Penitentiary was designated a National Historic Site.Prison Escapes: In 1999, prisoner Ty Conn escaped from within the prison; although this feat had been accomplished on at least 26 occasions beginning in 1836, Conn was the first to succeed since 1958. Conn's body was found in Toronto: he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound while speaking on the telephone to a producer from the CBC. Recognition: Kingston celebrated in 1996 its 150th anniversary of incorporation as a city, featuring a successful blend of old and modern tradition. The elegant limestone buildings which stand alongside impressive condominiums, have earned it the popular nickname of "limestone city". The long tradition of ship building is kept alive by firms such as MetalCraft Marine which has supplied the Canadian Coast Guard with their latest vessel. Culture: 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 Buskers' Rendezvous, Kingston Jazz Festival, Reelout Film Festival and Feb Fest.