Your Stories, Our Histories

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Consultation has concluded


The engagement phase in the Your Stories, Our Histories project has now concluded. Thank you for taking the time to provide input into an updated cultural heritage strategy for Kingston. Staff are reviewing all input received and will report back to Council in the winter of 2020. You can learn more about next steps here https://www.cityofkingston.ca/city-hall/projects-construction/your-stories


Kingston, as a community, has evolved and changed over time. Help us shape the exhibits, programs, and spaces that the City of Kingston creates for residents and visitors by getting involved in Your Stories, Our Histories. Your feedback may be used to identify a list of themes, issues and topics that could be used to develop future programming that includes exhibits, events and educational offerings on-site at Kingston City Hall as well as across other City-owned sites.

As a subset of the Your Stories, Our Histories project the City also invited residents to offer their perspectives on Sir John A. Macdonald and how his history and legacy can be positioned within a broader understanding of local history. This consultation is now complete. Learn more about the actions arising from this consultation at https://www.cityofkingston.ca/explore/culture-history/history/sir-john-a

We are listening! Here is how to get involved:

In person:

  • Come chat with us! We will be in the community at special events throughout the spring and summer. Take a look at the key dates, then plan to stop by and visit with us.
  • Attend a workshop that dives into themes and ideas that matter. Sign up to express your interest and availability - we will contact you once we have finalized the dates and locations of these workshops.
  • Visit the Sir John A Macdonald room in Kingston's City Hall and leave a comment card.

Online:

  • Offer your input below. Share your story, thoughts and ideas on how we can make Kingston's history more inclusive.


The engagement phase in the Your Stories, Our Histories project has now concluded. Thank you for taking the time to provide input into an updated cultural heritage strategy for Kingston. Staff are reviewing all input received and will report back to Council in the winter of 2020. You can learn more about next steps here https://www.cityofkingston.ca/city-hall/projects-construction/your-stories


Kingston, as a community, has evolved and changed over time. Help us shape the exhibits, programs, and spaces that the City of Kingston creates for residents and visitors by getting involved in Your Stories, Our Histories. Your feedback may be used to identify a list of themes, issues and topics that could be used to develop future programming that includes exhibits, events and educational offerings on-site at Kingston City Hall as well as across other City-owned sites.

As a subset of the Your Stories, Our Histories project the City also invited residents to offer their perspectives on Sir John A. Macdonald and how his history and legacy can be positioned within a broader understanding of local history. This consultation is now complete. Learn more about the actions arising from this consultation at https://www.cityofkingston.ca/explore/culture-history/history/sir-john-a

We are listening! Here is how to get involved:

In person:

  • Come chat with us! We will be in the community at special events throughout the spring and summer. Take a look at the key dates, then plan to stop by and visit with us.
  • Attend a workshop that dives into themes and ideas that matter. Sign up to express your interest and availability - we will contact you once we have finalized the dates and locations of these workshops.
  • Visit the Sir John A Macdonald room in Kingston's City Hall and leave a comment card.

Online:

  • Offer your input below. Share your story, thoughts and ideas on how we can make Kingston's history more inclusive.

Tell your story

As we start this conversation, we need your help to ensure your stories help our histories to be as inclusive as possible.  Please share your stories that may be less well known but are important to capture.  If you don't have a story you can also share your thoughts and ideas about local history so we can capture a diversity of themes, issues and ideas that are worth exploring. 

Please remember that this is a safe space for you to share your thoughts, feelings and opinions.  By sharing, you are helping to foster a community conversation. We ask that if you are inclined to use strong language that you do so in a responsible, respectful manner. Words are powerful, so please choose them wisely. 

Thank you for participating.  Your feedback will form part of the City of Kingston's larger 'Your Stories, Our Histories' public engagement project.  Want to keep talking?  Want to get involved?  We encourage your continued participation in this conversation by signing up for the Your Stories, Our Histories e-mail list.

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  • Share Don't try to extinguish history - provide a place to engage with the truth on Facebook Share Don't try to extinguish history - provide a place to engage with the truth on Twitter Share Don't try to extinguish history - provide a place to engage with the truth on Linkedin Email Don't try to extinguish history - provide a place to engage with the truth link

    Don't try to extinguish history - provide a place to engage with the truth

    by Stewartm, over 5 years ago

    Sir John A lived in our city and belonged to it. That does not mean that we condone everything he and his contemporaries did. 

    Trying to extinguish history by taking down the statue would not serve the purpose of expanding people's knowledge of the full story, and the pain and suffering caused to Canada's first nations  by one of the Fathers of Confederation. 

    There is plenty of space around the statue that can be used to explain all the facets of that early history of this country. It could become a great gathering place for all, and a place to... Continue reading

  • Share Looking Forward, not Back on Facebook Share Looking Forward, not Back on Twitter Share Looking Forward, not Back on Linkedin Email Looking Forward, not Back link

    Looking Forward, not Back

    by David More, over 5 years ago

    Reconciliation Should Not Rebuff 

    Sir John A. MacDonald

    Canada’s Father of Confederation

    By: Robert P. Wells[i] and David More

     

    September 18, 2018

      

    The first stage of the journey towards the healing of Canada occurred when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada published their findings as of December 18, 2015. The commission verified that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples as the original peoples of this country, and as self-determining peoples, have Treaty, constitutional, and human rights that must be recognized and respected.

      

    The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada believes that for Canada to flourish in the twenty-first... Continue reading

  • Share Who was Responsible? on Facebook Share Who was Responsible? on Twitter Share Who was Responsible? on Linkedin Email Who was Responsible? link

    Who was Responsible?

    by eddie, over 5 years ago

    With regard to John A. Macdonald and the residential schools, I would like to make two points.

    1.  Although there is firm evidence that he supported the implementation of these schools, I have heard no evidence that he ever advised that the children there should be mistreated. The blame for the mistreatment belongs elsewhere. Where?  Apparently, the schools were operated by Christian churches of certain denominations. The greatest offender was the Roman Catholic church and its representatives, priests and nuns. The same organization has been responsible for abuse of children and its coverup in many countries since that time. Its... Continue reading

  • Share Reconciliation Should Not Rebuff Sir John A. MacDonald Canada’s Father of Confederation on Facebook Share Reconciliation Should Not Rebuff Sir John A. MacDonald Canada’s Father of Confederation on Twitter Share Reconciliation Should Not Rebuff Sir John A. MacDonald Canada’s Father of Confederation on Linkedin Email Reconciliation Should Not Rebuff Sir John A. MacDonald Canada’s Father of Confederation link

    Reconciliation Should Not Rebuff Sir John A. MacDonald Canada’s Father of Confederation

    by Robert (Bob) Wells, over 5 years ago

    Reconciliation Should Not Rebuff 

    Sir John A. MacDonald

    Canada’s Father of Confederation

    By: Robert P. Wells[i]

    September 11, 2018

     

    The first stage of the journey towards the healing of Canada occurred when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada published their finding, as of December 18, 2015. The commission verified that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, as the original peoples of this country and as self-determining peoples, have Treaty, constitutional, and human rights that must be recognized and respected. 

    The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada believes that for Canada to flourish in the twenty-first century, reconciliation must... Continue reading

  • Share Time to overcome black and white thinking on Facebook Share Time to overcome black and white thinking on Twitter Share Time to overcome black and white thinking on Linkedin Email Time to overcome black and white thinking link

    Time to overcome black and white thinking

    by Anja Troje, over 5 years ago

    After immigrating to Canada from Germany, a country that had to go through a painful review of its history for decades, I was struck by the often naive idealization of "heroes" such as Sir John A. or the military, the glorified fighters in the First World War and many others. It is of course true that some human beings sacrifice their health or even life to serve others, but even these people may have done this by ignoring the bigger picture. They may have fought for the Queen and killed indigineous people, would that make them then villains or are... Continue reading

  • Share Share the Blame on Facebook Share Share the Blame on Twitter Share Share the Blame on Linkedin Email Share the Blame link

    Share the Blame

    by Steve Cross, over 5 years ago

    If we insist on judging those that went before us, should we also not insist on shuttering every catholic and protestant church in the city, the actual perpetrators of the abuse.

  • Share LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE on Facebook Share LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE on Twitter Share LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE on Linkedin Email LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE link

    LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE

    by D. Kimmett, over 5 years ago

    With regards to stripping the city of all that is Sir John A. MacDonald based on his implementation of Residential Schools- Sir John A. MacDonald was the first Prime Minister of this great country that has been home to me all of my life, my children's and grandchildren's lives and my ancestors lives. He did many great things for this country and he made mistakes as well. You know why? Because he's human and not perfect, JUST LIKE THE REST OF US. He made a decision about Residential schools that seemed to be the right choice at that time in... Continue reading

  • Share Yes please let's balance our understanding of the past by removing statues and renaming streets and schools on Facebook Share Yes please let's balance our understanding of the past by removing statues and renaming streets and schools on Twitter Share Yes please let's balance our understanding of the past by removing statues and renaming streets and schools on Linkedin Email Yes please let's balance our understanding of the past by removing statues and renaming streets and schools link

    Yes please let's balance our understanding of the past by removing statues and renaming streets and schools

    by Linda Fair, over 5 years ago

    Imagine what it would say to indigenous peoples today and settlers' children if most statues were removed and reinterpreted in alternative locations? If statues honoring indigenous peoples and immigrant minorities were raised in highly visible locations. If the names of schools were to reflect the name of the indigenous territories on which they stand? If street names were at least 50-50 indigenous language?

    That would be a good start toward reconciliation to my mind.

  • Share Best Practices on Facebook Share Best Practices on Twitter Share Best Practices on Linkedin Email Best Practices link

    Best Practices

    by Linda Fair, over 5 years ago

    As we begin this conversation I think it is important to look at what other cities, provinces and countries are doing to address this issue. Here's a link to an article from the US that does that:

    https://www.chronicle.com/article/What-Happened-When-One/244481

    I just happened upon this article. Why not ask the professional researcher/librarians at the Kingston Frontenac Public Library to do a comprehensive search on the topic and post the results on this project site so that everyone can take a look at Best Practices elsewhere? 

  • Share Its History - Move On on Facebook Share Its History - Move On on Twitter Share Its History - Move On on Linkedin Email Its History - Move On link

    Its History - Move On

    by Richard Porritt, over 5 years ago

    The continued attempts to vilify and nullify the works and greatness of Sir John A MacDonald is pathetic.  It is history and what was done was done in the context of the times and the attitudes prevalent then.  As Canadians we have to stop apologizing for ever past action and event, it seems the Liberals and the liberal press can't seen to find enough people or events to apologize to!   You do not see the US demonizing either Washington or Jefferson, both presidents that owed slaves.  Please leave it alone and continue to praise the greatness of our first Prime... Continue reading