Kingston has officially been ranked the most gender diverse city in Ontario, according to the 2021 Census. It made the list for having the largest proportion of transgender and non-binary people in Ontario and has the fifth most gender diverse urban centre in Canada. Read the full story: Kingston ranked most gender diverse city in Ontario
We're proud to say that not only are we an official "Intelligent Community" but that the BBC named Kingston as one of the greatest university towns in the world. Kingston is a home-away-from-home not only for students from Queen’s, but also for those attending the Royal Military College and St. Lawrence College - nearly 30,000 in all! We are a student town.
Described by students as both “quaint” and “eclectic,” Kingston is big enough to provide all the conveniences of modern life, and small enough for students, staff, and faculty to feel instantly comfortable and at home.
Queen’s is an integral part of the Kingston community, with the campus nestled in the core of the city, only a 10-minute walk to downtown where all the shopping, dining and water sports occur - it's a happening place.
Where to Eat in Kingston
More restaurants per capita than any other city in Canada - we know food - good food.
Visitors can enjoy delicious tastes from around the globe without ever leaving the city and indulge in exquisite foods fresh from the field. Within minutes, you can easily walk to over 75 dining establishments from trendy food trucks to Harper's Burger Bar which was featured on You Gotta Eat Here. We also have all the popular chains like Jack Astors with a rooftop patio with views of Lake Ontario, Lonestar Texas Grill in the old fire hall and the very first Pita Pit.
In addition to all of the usual chain restaurants that we all know and love, Kingston has some local favourites and unique dining experiences such as Chez Piggy, Crave and Sima Sushi.
On campus alone there are several dining options from Starbucks to Tim Horton's and a variety of dining options.
We are a dining mecca - hope you're hungry.
Things to Do
Within walking distance of campus here's a sampling of what your weekend could be:
- Go to Market Square for seasonal activities like Movie in the Square, or skating.
- Go to a concert at the Leon's Centre
- Take in a cool indie show at the Grad Club
- Go for a stand up paddle board on Lake Ontario
- Go on a haunted walk and learn about our past
- See some cool art at the Union Gallery or the Agnes Etherington
- Go for a rock climb at the Boiler Room Climbing Gym
- Go for a sail where many olympic sailors come to train
Location
We are half way to everything - that's what makes Kingston perfect. Within a few hours you can drive to Toronto, Montreal, New York State and even less to drive to Ottawa. No daily traffic challenges that these large urban centres experience but still easy to get to when you need to. We have a train station that has frequent stops every day, an airport with daily flights, frequent bus services to other urban centres including one right from campus and city transportation once you're here.
Weather in Kingston
Kingston is also one of the most consistently windy cities in Canada (take note, sailors!). While temperatures have been known to reach upwards of 34 degrees Celsius in the summer and as low as -34 degrees Celsius in the winter, on most days Lake Ontario has quite a moderating effect on Kingston weather:
- an average January day charts a low temperature of -12°C and a high of -3°C;
- an average July day charts a low of +16°C and a high of +25°C;
- over the course of the year, Kingston sees a lot more rain than snow.