History
THE CITY OF KINGSTON: CITADEL OF UPPER CANADA
Kingston is a city with a population of approximately 123,000 (including surrounding regions)
and is situated at the junction of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, roughly 168km
southwest of Ottawa, 296km west of Montreal and 256km east of Toronto. Kingston is one of the
most historic cities in Canada. It is believed that Kingston and its surrounding counties
boast more historic plaques than any other comparable area in Ontario and perhaps in Canada.
It is also interesting to note there are more than 80 historical markers in the City of
Kingston not including those in the historical district.
The City of Kingston holds an important place in the history of the Province of Ontario,
because it was here that military, political, religious, educational, commercial and cultural
life of Canadians, had its origin.
In the city and surrounding countries, many historic figures and events have been commemorated
by memorials erected by the Dominion of Canada, the Province of Ontario, the Kingston
Historical Society and other societies and groups. There is not enough space
on this website to mention everything, but further information may be obtained from the Kingston Historical
Society, P.O. Box 54, Kingston, Ontario.
FORT FRONTENAC
Fort Frontenac is situated on the west side of the Cataraqui River as
it enters Lake Ontario and is one of the earliest sites of permanent
European habitation in Ontario. Louis de Baude, Comte de Frontenac
and Governor of New France, established the first fort in 1673. The
first Commandant, Robert Cavalier, Sieur de LaSalle, who was to become
one of Canada's great explorers, used the Fort as a base for his explorations
into the interior of the continent. The Fort was often used as
a staging area for, and occasionally the scene of, numerous battles between
natives and French, French and British, and British and Americans.
Under British control in 1783, the military garrison of Fort Frontenac
attracted merchants who established businesses in the area. In time,
this merchant settlement developed into the City of Kingston. Fort
Frontenac was the original home station of the Royal Canadian Horse
Artillery (RCHA) from 1905-1939. Today, Fort Frontenac is home to the
Canadian Land Force Command and Staff College, elements of LFDTS
HQ, the Fort Frontenac Officers' Mess and the Army Library.
BARRIEFIELD CAMP
From 1914-1918, Kingston was a military centre where First World War troops were stationed
at Barriefield Camp. In 1937, Vimy Barracks opened at Barriefield Camp as part of the Royal
Canadian Corps of Signals who later became the Royal Canadian School of Signals. During the
Second World War, the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps had a training centre at Barriefield Camp.
From 1945 to 1969, the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers School occupied a
part of Barriefield Camp now McNaughton Barracks, which is named after General A.G.L.
McNaughton, the first wartime commander of the Canadian Army in the Second World War.
Kingston is home to a number of important military units, schools and colleges, renowned for
their colourful historic pasts. Canadian Forces Base Kingston Headquarters supports these
units, schools and colleges. This support extends to the cities of Kingston, Cornwall,
Barriefield Camp, Brockville Armouries, and includes the Regular and Reserve Force and Cadet
Services of Canada.
In April 1966, Canadian Forces Base Kingston came into being as
a result of the closing out of
the Eastern-Ontario Area Canadian Forces Training Systems Base with its first
Headquarters located on King Street in the city of Kingston. This Headquarters was relocated
to CFB Kingston in Carruthers Hall, Vimy Barracks in February 1969. In September 1985,
Headquarters was relocated once more to the former Defence Research Board Laboratories,
11 Mercury Cres. (Building H-55), where it is currently located. On 30 March 1995, CFB Kingston was transferred to Army command as part of Land Force Central Area.
