Member testimonials

What our membership has to say

Albert Einstein: “If you want to know the future, look at the past.” 
 
This simple phrase is most relevant to Kingston where the past is everywhere: on every street, around every corner and in the grounds and surrounding waters. The key to discovering this past is preservation and perpetuation. 

I discovered the Frontenac Heritage Foundation (FHF) while seeking support for publication of my book Warriors and Warships, which is a history of Point Frederick.  Separated by water from both Kingston and the better-known Fort Henry, Point Frederick was a historic gem that was hiding in plain sight. The complete story had not been told before, and few understood the historic impact of events that occurred on the grounds of today’s Royal Military College of Canada (RMC). 
 
However, the FHF did understand the implications and the need to perpetuate the history for future generations.  FHF spearheaded an application that led to financial assistance and the production of a high quality full-colour award-winning book with audiobook and eBook versions. FHF hosted a book launch to introduce residents to this history. They provided an opportunity to conduct a full author-led tour of Point Frederick. This led to production of a short film with a sold-out large-screen debut and continued popularization of this important Canadian and Kingston history.  
 
Those who watch the film and read the book can walk the grounds of RMC and fully appreciate the beauty and history of Point Frederick.
 
FHF preserves and perpetuates, perhaps a key to understanding the future.  Please provide support.
Robert Banks – member since 2023
I have found that The Frontenac Heritage Foundation has provided a valuable source for people like me who are involved in acquiring, restoring and living with a historic property in this area.
I’ve seen 5 major benefits:
  1. My membership has connected me with people who freely helped me and provided valuable advice when I contacted them and needed help or information.
  2. The Foundation creates a useful bridge between the Kingston city’s heritage staff and the owner occupier. This includes providing important update communications through the Foundation newsletter.
  3. The Foundation promotes the protection of Kingston’s heritage that sometimes seems to get in the way of the current council’s rapid building progress policy in this city…and thank goodness for that. We have damaged, destroyed and lost far too much of our precious and valuable history without giving it the importance it deserves for the ongoing health of the community. We sometimes need to move forward into the past, and the foundation provides an important voice and speaks up as a guardian for heritage preservation as we move forward.
  4. …and it’s not just words. The Foundation people are willing to get their hands dirty by stepping in and taking on the restoration of vulnerable heritage buildings.
  5. The Foundation reminds us that heritage preservation benefits all of us in the community and improves all our lives, and not just the individual developers, politicians and the fortunate few residents who benefit from new-build commercial and residential properties.
Thank you to the volunteer board of directors, organizers, writers, editors and copyeditor, and the members who all work together for the protection of our heritage. This is all about preserving our past to take care of the future.
Peter Lawton – member since 2019
I moved to Kingston 35 years ago for work. The historic downtown that I had visited many times as a tourist was now my home turf. I felt privileged to work, shop, eat, and be entertained in a city that obviously cared for and protected its built heritage. I soon learned, however, that the cityscape I loved was at risk of development that threatened to knock down, “modernize”, or dwarf heritage buildings. I also learned that there was an organization in town dedicated to protecting our Kingston heritage through education, advocacy, and when necessary, litigation. So, I joined the Frontenac Heritage Foundation. It is a worthy cause, and one I am proud to support.
Gavin Anderson – member since 2017
The Frontenac Heritage Foundation provides an essential service to the Kingston community by advocating to save heritage buildings, by organizing talks and awards related to buildings, and by fighting hard to maintain the City’s historical ambiance. This has involved expensive and time-consuming court cases. If you care about Kingston’s downtown, join this reputable and worthy organization.
Mary Farrar – member since 2013
When the City of Kingston had to remove the pillars from the portico of City Hall in 1957, the reaction was more than just ‘Too Bad’. The building had lost its charm and its authenticity. Citizens began to realize that they had to look after older (indeed, any) buildings, or they would deteriorate. And when news of the proposed demolition of much of Sydenham Ward became known, (to keep up with the times), individuals realized that group action was needed – and that there was no group. Thus the foundation of what is now a most successful Foundation, with many successes to its credit (and some failures), but one which will continue to help Kingston retain its historic character.
Peter Gower – member since the early 2000s
Kingston is the birthplace of the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA) that protects the province’s historic structures. The Frontenac Heritage Foundation plays a major role in ensuring that the OHA is alive and well in the city. As a heritage supporter and long-time member of the Foundation, I value the advocacy that the Foundation provides. Their presence has made Kingston a better place for all of us.
John Grenville – member since at least 2005
There has never been a more important time to support the Frontenac Heritage Foundation. My involvement with them dates to the 1980s. At that time, they were “putting their money where their mouth was” in purchasing historic properties that were at risk and restoring them. In more recent years they have often been the lone voice in the wilderness advocating for our built heritage resources and taking on city hall and developers who are advocating for inappropriate developments more and more. 
 
 After nearly 50 years working in the built heritage field, I would say we seem to be moving backwards at the municipal level – less and less support for historic buildings, centralizing decision making at City Hall, usually by them that know least, consistently tossing Official Plan height restrictions out the windows, etc. The FHF needs our support now more than ever!
Craig Sims – member periodically since 2005
The Frontenac Heritage Foundation plays such a significant role in maintaining the historic fabric of our city and region. The board works tirelessly to protect the buildings and neighbourhoods that make Kingston so special. The unique thing about FHF is that although they maintain a strong political voice in development, they also provide interesting and unique experiences in the form of workshops and tours. I know these have been a tremendous help in the maintenance and renovation of our old house.
Richard Strong – member since 2019
For many years I served on the heritage committee of the City of Kingston, and I learned how difficult it is to protect our heritage buildings against the challenges of development and modernization. Heritage is not a priority for City Council and staff, and we have seen many buildings disappear, altered beyond recognition, or obscured by high-rise developments.
Individuals have little power to influence City decisions so the Frontenac Heritage Foundation, an organization representing members of the community that value Kingston’s heritage buildings, plays an essential role. Kingston’s heritage committee has the responsibility under the Ontario Heritage Act to review applications for alteration and demolition and make recommendations to Council. It is difficult for the committee to protect our buildings when staff support proposed alterations and development. The FHF can speak for a sizeable community and its role in making presentations to the committee and Council, and alerting their members and the general public to the impacts of proposed developments is of critical importance.
The FHF also has a community-wide role in providing a forum for educating the public about Kingston’s unique architectural heritage and providing opportunities to observe and celebrate our fine heritage buildings and districts.
It deserves our strong support.
Don Taylor – member since 2007
As member of the foundation I have met lots of lovely people, with a great wealth of knowledge and passion for the history of our beautiful city. Together we can work to preserve it’s wonderful, valuable heritage character.
Kurt Khan – member since 2018
I really enjoy being a Frontenac Heritage Foundation member! I am always learning more of the interesting history of the beautiful buildings and places around me, and more importantly, doing what I can to preserve them.
Nicole Duncan – member since 2018
I first came into direct contact with the FHF at the start of what turned out to be a lengthy and arduous appeal of a downtown development at the former site of the Capital Theatre on Princess Street. My concern was with bad planning and the impact of an almost 20 storey tower on the rising street overlooking historic Kingston.  For me the articulation of this problem as one involving the unique and important historic nature of Kingston was revealed as the case unfolded and I was exposed to the workings of the FHF. 

At times I worked alongside the then President of the Foundation, Shirley Bailey, with expert witnesses who were supporting our appeal. I was so impressed with the expertise involved, the resources both within and within reach of the Foundation, and the members’ passion for this city and their commitment to its particular heritage. I remember well the point being made during the appeal how it was not a single building or two that characterized Kingston, but an entire area roughly – not exclusively- involving the downtown. This included vistas across and between a myriad of historical buildings in place. I learned that what we were fighting for was what so many tourists come to see: not a building or two for their historic importance (although there are many of these) but the historical collection of buildings (mostly one to four storeys) that makes Kingston the delightful, humane, waterside slice of early Canadian history that it is.

I will always be grateful for having what I enjoyed tacitly made explicit and defended so well by the interests and people of the Foundation. We won the appeal as well as a Provincial Court challenge. Now, a nine-storey building -well set back from Princess Street- is almost complete without destroying the character of historic Kingston and with the FHF’s proposal, keeping the original facade of the building intact: win-win.
Annette Burfoot – member since 2020