Kingston, Ontario

Kingston is roughly half way between Toronto, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec along the three major east-west transportation routes in Central Canada: the Saint Lawrence Seaway, Ontario Highway 401 (the Macdonald-Cartier Freeway, which turns into Quebec Autoroute 20), and Canadian National Railways' Windsor to Québec City Corridor. Kingston also lies at the south end of the Rideau Canal, originally built to connect Lake Ontario with the Ottawa River in order to provide a safe transportation route far from the American border. Kingston's airport, Norman Rogers Airport (CYGK), has regularly-scheduled air service to Toronto.

Culture

The city hosts several festivals during the year, including the Limestone City Blues Festival, the Kingston Canadian Film Festival, Fanfayr, Kingston Busker's Rendezvous, Kingston Sheep Dog Trials, Kingston Jazz Festival, Kingston Dragon Boat Festival, Canada DanceSport, the Festival of Trees, and the Chilifest.

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The Kingston Symphony Orchestra performs at Kingston's Grand Theatre, as do several amateur and semi-professional theatre groups. (Following a successful fundraising campaign, the Grand Theatre has been closed for renovations and will reopen in the fall of 2006. http://www.cityofkingston.ca/residents/culture/grand/news.asp) Also in the city, is Theatre Kingston (formerly Theatre Beyond), a professional company.

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The city has spawned several musicians and musical groups, most of whom are known mainly within Canada, but a few of whom have achieved international success. These include members of The Tragically Hip, The Mahones, jazz singer Andy Poole, Tomate Potate, Betablokka, Sarah Harmer, The Arrogant Worms, The Headstones, The Inbreds, David Usher (formerly of Moist) and Kingston is the birth place of Bryan Adams. Singer Avril Lavigne, from nearby Napanee, began her career after gaining notice singing at a Kingston fair and bookstore. The first winner of the television series Canadian Idol was Kingston native Ryan Malcolm.

Related Topics:
The Tragically Hip - The Mahones - Sarah Harmer - The Arrogant Worms - The Headstones - The Inbreds - David Usher - Bryan Adams - Avril Lavigne - Napanee - Canadian Idol - Ryan Malcolm

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Actor Dan Aykroyd makes his home near Kingston.

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