Parks Canada Seeks Public Input On Kingston Fortifications National Historic Site

By NPT Staff - August 21st, 2023

Murney Tower is a national historic site within Kingston Fortifications National Historic Site in Ontario/Parks Canada

Parks Canada is seeking public input as it plans the future of the Kingston Fortifications National Historic Site, including Fort Henry National Historic Site and Murney Tower National Historic Site.

Public feedback gathered by Sept. 29 will inform the creation of a new management plan which will guide decisions and actions in protecting the fortifications for the next decade and beyond.

As part of the Rideau Canal UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Kingston Fortifications are focal points of the landscape in the Ontario city east of Toronto. Built around the Kingston Harbour, they are an imposing defence complex that speaks to the importance of the country’s former capital.

As the largest tourism attraction in the Kingston region, the fortifications draw 100,000 visitors a year and offer enriching and meaningful heritage experiences that highlight the links between each defensive structure and their strategic role in Canada’s history. They are also places to learn about Indigenous history and perspectives.

Fort Henry is a national historic site within Kingston Fortifications National Historic Site/Parks Canada

A new draft management plan for the site is proposing two key objectives:

• Address the conservation challenges of these historic structures so that their protection is prioritized and Canadians can continue to enjoy memorable and authentic experiences at these sites.

• Bring the community together through ongoing dialogue with managing partners, local residents, visitors, Indigenous communities, local tourism and cultural heritage partners, and stakeholders to plan for the future of the site.

The best way to ensure the new plan captures the perspectives of culturally diverse populations in Canada is for a broad range of people to participate in the consultation process.

People can review and comment on the draft plan online, through email at [email protected] or by mailing: Public Consultations – Kingston Fortifications NHS, PO BOX 665, Station Main, Kingston, ON K7L 4X1.

The fortifications site includes five separate 19th-century military installations. Built between 1832 and 1848 as an inter-related defense system, the concentration and orientation of the limestone fortifications towards the water convey their essential purpose as a defensible platform for guns.

The fortifications were built to defend the Rideau Canal and Kingston’s naval dockyard from potential American attack. Canada’s second Prime Minister, Alexander Mackenzie, who worked as a stone mason before entering politics, helped build the fortifications.

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