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.
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    A Well Intended Approach

    by D. R. Dafoe, over 5 years ago

    Was it wrong to attempt to assimilate the indigenous people of Canada? Perhaps, but what was to be done with them. They represented a cross culture, which was totally at odds, with the white race, who had been moved unto their land and who had become obsessed with establishing a new nation. Treaties pave the way for the white race to progressively take over the land, which was relinquished by the indigenous people, because white settlers who abutted indigenous land, would trespass upon it and kill off the wild harvest. Once the game was exhausted the land became useless for... Continue reading

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    Keep your statues, there are yours not ours.

    by Revelle, over 5 years ago

    As an Indigenous writer I appreciate everyone’s thoughts and opinions on Sir John A Macdonald in the pastweek or so on the many letters that have been written, but from a Native viewpoint we do have a different interpretation on Macdonald. One writer stated that “He’s our history, leave him alone” when he should be saying SirJohn A is his history as a descendant of Colonialism in this country.Residential schools and starving of the plains tribes to bring them under the reservation system may be something that he may regal in for his history and he history of all who... Continue reading

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    Who’s/What’s next?

    by David Gray, over 5 years ago

    There will always be an opportunity to review someone in retrospect. In doing so we’re bound to find flaws, regrettable actions and failures. Sir John A was no different than many others of his time. Half the Presidents in the US could likely be vilified in the same manner. That doesn’t mean we have to tear down statues or change names of streets and schools at the whim of a few. Yes, times and beliefs have changed but that will continue in the future. I think it is silly to alter things now. Next thing will be to unmark or... Continue reading

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    Decisions, decisions

    by Gordon Sinclair, over 5 years ago

    People charged with making decisions know that the more information one has, the better the decision. It was no different in the 1860s and 70s. When John A Macdonald was faced with a decision about what would be best for our indigenous people, he relied on the most up-to-date thinking he could find, and there was a strong feeling at the time that the best outcomes for indigenous people would be found in the Candian mainstream. Add to that the Victorian proclivity for altruism and the decision to create residential schools was one that was intended to benefit the indigenous... Continue reading

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    Sir John A on Trial

    by Martha Harris, over 5 years ago

    The legacy of Sir John A MacDonald is a difficult concept to consider as Kingstonians. As a lawyer, he began his law practice here in Kingston. As a politician, he represented Kingston throughout his entire career. As a Canadian, his tale was very similar to other Canadians in coming from a European nation to settle elsewhere. And, as an individual, he was flawed like we all are.   

     

    I believe it is impossibly illogical to view history through today’s lens. We are a very different country now. The world itself has changed.

     

    “Kingston: Where history and innovation thrive.”

    I ask, how... Continue reading

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    Sir John A

    by Richard Tindal, over 5 years ago

    I hope this is the correct place for responding to the city's consultations about the recognition of Sir John A. My view is that it is unreasonable to judge the behaviour of historical figures by today's standards. On such a basis, almost no one would measure up because what is acceptable - or unacceptable - is constantly changing. With all his faults (many not relating to the treatment of Natives), Sir John A was the driving force behind the creation of Canada out of four colonies living in the shadow of the USA. Had he not prevailed, had we been... Continue reading

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    RECONCILIATION AND ICONOCLASM

    by Christopher Sproule, over 5 years ago

    An issue which I have been pondering the past several months is reconciliation in general and specifically the place of iconoclasm in it. There have been , in my opinion, a number of reasoned articles on the topic recently. Most are written by white, males but dismissing them for that reason is argumentum ad hominem. But, I would like to hear more from the other side.

    Recently, The Whig Standard had an editorial by Brian Crowley which I thought was cogent concerning the removal of JA Macdonald's statue in Victoria. He opines that reconciliation requires a focus on the future... Continue reading

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    Sir John A

    by Two cents worth, over 5 years ago

    Without a doubt residential schools created a painful situation for First Nations people. It appears that the schools evolved from the models of British boarding schools and from USA approach to their First Nations people. The schools were a partnership between the government and the churches.

    Yes, Sir John A was indeed prime minister but he did not act in isolation. He and his cabinet made decisions. Therefore, if we remove all tributes to him we must include the others who were part of the decision making.

    Also, residential schools continued to operate for many years under the leadership of... Continue reading

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    Compassion

    by Michael Capon, over 5 years ago

    Compassionate living is an ideal we should all aspire to, as individuals and as a society. Author Karen Armstrong's "Charter for Compassion" states that "compassion impels us to...dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there."

    Our historical treatment of indigenous people has not only lacked compassion, it has been disgraceful. While we cannot change our past, we must focus on doing better in the present and the future. In the spirit of compassion, that will involve dethroning ourselves and elevating them.

    I have read letters and articles lately that bemoan the trend to "rewrite history" or... Continue reading

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    IN DEFENCE OF OUR HISTORY

    by LARRIE COLE, over 5 years ago

           AT THE TIME OUR FIRST PRIME MINISTER TOOK OFFICE, THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF EVERYTHING THAT CAME BEFORE HIM WERE IN THE HANDS OF OTHERS.  THE OWNER AND QUEEN OF CANADA ASSIGNED HER OWN REPRESENTATIVE THE GOVERNOR GENERAL. BECAUSE NATIVES ASSISTED IN THE WAR THAT BRITAIN WON GIVING HER OWNERSHIP, SHE AND HER FATHER  KING GEORGE, ACKNOWLEDGED THEM BY ASSIGNING SOME OF HER LAND AS RESERVATIONS FOR THEM TO LIVE TAX FREE.

          THE GOVERNOR GENERAL WAS TO DEAL WITH THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF ALL NATIVES INCLUDING THEIR MEDICINE BAG., FOOD, CLOTHING AND SHELTER, 

          EDUCATION AND ASSIMILATION REQUIREMENTS WERE ALREADY BEING MET... Continue reading