This new edition adds materials that amplify the historical biography of this very distinctive place. The narrative takes the reader through successive phases of First Nations, French, and Loyalist settlement in this region and then addresses the evolution of an urban centre with its commercial, military, and governmental roles in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Its crucial geopolitical location has ensured that Kingston has been integral to the national chronicle. Its rich cast of interesting citizens in the realm of politics, commerce, and culture has served to draw attention to this role. And, since 1988, another theme has been added: the search for a strategy that seeks to enhance Kingston's economic and social viability, while also protecting its distinctive sense of place and enhancing its quality of life and ambience.

Author Biography

Brian S. Osborne is professor emeritus of geography at Queen's University, Kingston. He has published extensively on the Kingston area. His most recent volume is The Rock and the Sword: A History of St.Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Kingston (2004). He has served as a consultant for the National Capital Commission, Heritage Canada, Parks Canada, Canada Post, and the National Film Board.