2007:  A Year of Celebration
Rideau Canal National Historic Site of Canada (1832-2007)  

The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada has commemorated Fort Henry National Historic Site of Canada as being nationally significant for three reasons:  it was built during the 1830s to defend the terminus of the Rideau Canal and the naval dockyard in the Kingston Harbour, it was the largest and most costly fortification built in British North America west of Quebec City and it was designed as the key site in a network of fortifications for the defence of Kingston and its harbour.

The year 2007 marks a very special anniversary in Eastern Ontario - the 175th anniversary of the opening of the Rideau Canal (1832-2007) and its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Rideau Canal is part of a Canada-wide family of special places. Each national park, national historic site and canal, and marine conservation area in the Parks Canada family tells its own story. Historic canals trace the routes of exploration, defence, commerce and transportation which helped shape Canada as a young nation.

The Rideau Canal is now an internationally recognized symbol.  In the heart of many it represents the evolution of Canada as a country.  It has seen the old capital of Kingston transfer its powers to Ottawa, today’s capital, chosen by Queen Victoria. 

(Photos:  Guardsmen at the Drawbridge, courtesy Fort Henry National Historic Site of Canada; Lock at Jones Falls, courtesy Ken W. Watson, Rideau175.org. 

CANADA IN AFGHANISTAN

As residents of Kingston know, the Canadian Forces, and indeed a number of Kingstonians, are in Afghanistan at the request of its democratically elected government as part of the NATO-led and UN-sanctioned International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).   Canadians are in Afghanistan to help establish a safe, secure and stable environment.  This work is being guided by an international agreement known as the Afghanistan Compact.  Endorsed by the United Nations, the document focuses on three major pillars of activity:  security; governance, rule of law and human rights; and economic and social development. 

The Kingston Garrison will have a large number of members deployed to Afghanistan including former CFB Kingston Base Commander Col CM Hazelton. Their tour lengths vary from a one month Technical Assistance Visit, to a nine month tour.  The Garrison has 66 members currently in Afghanistan, with 24 of those members returning home at the end of November.  They will be replaced by the same number leaving November 1.  Another ten will leave in December.  As well, 85 members of the Canadian Forces Joint Signal Regiment are training in Kingston with 95 other members from across Canada to deploy to Afghanistan in the New Year. 

Although significant progress is being made, rebuilding a democracy won’t happen overnight.  Canada, along with the international community and the Government of Afghanistan, stands by our commitment to achieve a secure and sustainable future for that country.  

• · To date, six million children have already returned to school (35 percent of whom are girls).  Canadians are directly involved in helping Afghans rebuild schools that were destroyed by insurgent groups like the Taliban.

• · Some 85 percent of Afghans now have access to basic health care, compared to roughly 9 percent in 2001.  Seven million children have been immunized against polio, and millions of vitamin A supplements have been delivered.

• · The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has provided $150 million toward community-based development projects, microfinance, demining and road construction.  To date, over 11,400 projects have been completed nationwide.  Ultimately the goal is to have communities take ownership of their development and reconstruction project.

• · Through demining activities, CIDA funds have assisted in clearing over one billion square metres of land that were once filled with mines and explosives.  This land is now available for Afghans to use productively for agriculture and housing. 

Our military has recently taken over the task of training Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers operating in Kandahar province.  Ultimately ANA troops will be able to provide security for their own country before coalition forces leave Afghanistan. 

The people of Afghanistan have been through a lot in the last three decades—oppression, drought, poverty and ongoing insecurity.  Against these odds they have shown resiliency, a strong work ethic, and a will to show the rest of the world they can recover and forge ahead. 

Helping Afghanistan continues the noble Canadian tradition of taking an active role to bring stability and lasting peace to a part of the world accustomed to turmoil and upheaval.  For more information about Canada’s work in Afghanistan visit www.canada-afghanistan.gc.ca.  

         KINGSTON AND THE ISLANDS