Alwington is a neighbourhood west of downtown Kingston,

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

, Canada. The district is bordered by Union Street to the north, Sir John A. Macdonald Boulevard to the west,

Lake Ontario Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north, west, and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south and east by the U.S. state of New York. The Canada–United States border sp ...

to the south, and Albert Street to the east. Alwington is Kingston's wealthiest neighbourhood, with an average household income of $161,322, which is double that of the city's average. The neighbourhood is one of the oldest in the city, and site of the former residence of the Governor General when Kingston was the capital. Alwington House, built in 1832 by

Charles le Moyne de Longueuil, Baron de Longueuil Charles (II) le Moyne de Longueuil, Baron de Longueuil (December 10, 1656 – June 7, 1729) was the first native-born Canadian to be made Baron in New France. Charles le Moyne de Longueuil was the eldest son of Charles le Moyne de Longueuil ...

, which served as the Governor General's residence (Government House) while Kingston was the capital of Canada from 1841–44.

Charles Poulett Thomson, 1st Baron Sydenham Charles Poulett Thomson, 1st Baron Sydenham, (13 September 1799 – 19 September 1841) was a British businessman, politician, diplomat and the first Governor General of the united Province of Canada.

, Sir

Charles Bagot Sir Charles Bagot GCB (23 September 1781 – 19 May 1843) was a British politician, diplomat and colonial administrator. He served as ambassador to the United States, Russia, and the Netherlands. He served as the second Governor General of ...

and Sir Charles Metcalfe lived at Alwington House. It was badly damaged by fire in 1958 and demolished the following year. Alwington Place was developed on the former single property. A large home was built on the former back terrace of Alwington House in 1963 by Arthur Davies, brother of Canadian author

Robertson Davies William Robertson Davies (28 August 1913 – 2 December 1995) was a Canadian novelist, playwright, critic, journalist, and professor. He was one of Canada's best known and most popular authors and one of its most distinguished " men of letters" ...

and son of former Senator

William Rupert Davies (William) Rupert Davies (12 September 1879 – 11 March 1967) was a Welsh-Canadian author, editor, newspaper publisher, and politician. Davies was born in Welshpool, Montgomeryshire, Wales and immigrated to Canada in the late 1800s after his fa ...

. The front limestone retaining wall and fountain on the east side of this newer home are all that remains of Alwington House. The neighbourhood is also home to St. Mary's of the Lake Hospital, a teaching hospital established in 1946. Along the shores of Lake Ontario, at the east of Alwington, is the J.K. Tett Centre, newly expanded and renovated in 2015. Immediately next door to the Tett Centre is the newly-opened Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts. The Bader Centre's construction was financed in large measure by the generous philanthropy of

Alfred Bader Alfred Robert Bader, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, CBE (April 28, 1924 – December 23, 2018) was a Canadians, Canadian chemist, businessman, philanthropist, and collector of fine art. He was considered by the ''Chemical & Engine ...

, a Queen's University graduate, and his wife Isabel. Two large mid-19th century houses—St. Helen's and Stone Gables—are located on King Street, immediately west of the Tett and Bader Centres. These two mansions have recently been administrative centres for Correctional Services Canada, but have been declared surplus to government requirements in 2014, designated as heritage properties by the city of Kingston, and then placed for sale. Stone Gables was built for Thomas Kirkpatrick—elected as the first mayor of Kingston in 1838, and later MP for the area north of the city—and served as his residence. Several student residence buildings of Queen's University—including Leonard Hall, McNeill House, Morris Hall, Donald Gordon House, and Brockington House—are located on Leonard Field, within Alwington, just west of Albert Street. The western section of the waterfront Breakwater Park also lies within Alwington.

Notable attractions

* Bellevue House * St. Mary's of the Lake Hospital * J.K. Tett Centre * Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts

Image gallery

{{Gallery , Image:Alwington_Park.JPG, Shores of Lake Ontario along Alwington , Image:Home_in_Alwington.JPG, 19th century home hidden behind trees Neighbourhoods in Kingston, Ontario