Kingston Welcomes You!

The clock tower on Kingston’s historic City Hall looms above a garden of brilliant red tulips. Photo: Wayne Hiebert

Our beautiful waterfront city is located on the shore of Lake Ontario at the entrance to the St. Lawrence River and Thousand Islands. We are a short drive from Toronto, Montreal and Canada's capital city of Ottawa. We are also close to the U.S. border.

Founded in 1673 by French explorers, Kingston is home to people from many different backgrounds. Two of Canada's oldest universities — Queen's University and Royal Military College — are located here. The city is also home to a community college, three hospitals, a vibrant arts community, modern recreational facilities, a military base, and many historic sites and museums, including a UNESCO world heritage site.

Kingston is safe, clean and easy to get around — an ideal size for raising young families. We also have some of the best weather in Canada!