In 2004 Williamsville neighbours and concerned citizens from throughout the community came together to:
prevent the Memorial Centre being sold off to fund city projects and
support the revitalization of the Memorial Centre.
This resulted in the formation of the Williamsville Residents’ Association and Friends of the Memorial Centre who rallied public support. The organization held a well attended and successful public meeting, which gave citizens a much-needed opportunity to speak up and obtain city support to initiate the transformation of the Memorial Centre grounds from a neglected area to a respected and well-used park.
Then in 2008 Williamsville neighbours rallied once again to:
speak out against bad development proposals, and
support good, responsible development initiatives.
The Williamsville Community Association representing Businesses, Agencies and Residents was formed in 2010 with the following mission:
The Williamsville Community Association representing Businesses, Agencies and Residents primary objectives are to participate in decisions that affect our neighbourhood and to act in the best interests of businesses, agencies and residents, to bring community members together in forums, town hall meetings and neighourhood activities that will foster a strong Williamsville voice and means of response to changes in our electoral district. We will strive to recognize and preserve the character of Williamsville in the identification of historic and heritage aspects.
The goals of the Association were:
maintain a balance between the concerns of businesses/agencies and residents in the Williamsville electoral district;
to advocate for development that are in keeping with the character of the Williamsville electoral district;
to promote Williamsville as a ‘buy local’ sustainable neighbourhood in keeping with the vision of Kingston as a sustainable city; and
to join together with other Kingston community groups in common interest endeavours.
The goals of the WCA have been relatively consistent since it was formed.
When the Williamsville Community Association was formed the co-chairs were Pat Hodge and Sue Bazely.
Williamsville Community Association
Representing Businesses, Agencies and Residents
The Williamsville Community Association representing Businesses, Agencies and Residents primary objectives are to participate in decisions that affect our neighbourhood and to act in the best interests of businesses, agencies and residents, to bring community members together in forums, town hall meetings and neighourhood activities that will foster a strong Williamsville voice and means of response to changes in our electoral district. We will strive to recognize and preserve the character of Williamsville in the identification of historic and heritage aspects.
Our Goals at This Time
maintain a balance between the concerns of businesses/agencies and residents in the Williamsville electoral district;
to advocate for improvements that are in keeping with the character of the Williamsville electoral district;
to promote Williamsville as a ‘buy local’ sustainable neighbourhood in keeping with the vision of Kingston as a sustainable city; and
to join together with other Kingston community groups in common interest endeavours.
Williamsville Community Association in 2024
The heart of historic Williamsville is at the crossroads of Princess and Victoria Streets. The District of Williamsville was formally named with the 2002 Naming of the Districts after the 1998 amalgamation established new district boundaries. Today’s Williamsville
extends from Division Street on the east to Sir John A. Macdonald Boulevard on the west and Concession Street /Bath Road on the north to Johnson Street on the south. It is unique in that the district is diagonally bisected by Kingston’s historic main thoroughfare, Princess Street, as well as by Brock and Johnson streets. Historic sites
and buildings tend to cluster at Princess and Victoria streets; North Bartlett Street which is home to one of Kingston’s oldest residences, and post war developments fill the western portion of the district. There are four main parks: the Memorial Centre, as well as Victoria, Churchill, and Compton. Although there have been some notable
improvements to some of these parks recently, the district remains one of the most challenged in terms of per capita parkland in the country!
Since the Williamsville Main Street Study approved unanimously by City Council in 2014, Association members have watched the development there carefully. The original was welcomed by the WCA and by residents throughout the area with its vision of up to six storey high buildings, double-wide sidewalks with a vibrant café/student
culture, and a tree-lined street. Since then, when the City introduced its Tower Policy and allowed ten and up to 25-storey high towers, the WCA has been active in doing all it could to ensure a quality of life for the surrounding established, residential neighbourhoods. That continues today with recent success in keeping the active transport lanes along Princess St. The WCA is also involved in the support of businesses local to the District, especially the year-round farmers’ market at the Memorial Centre.
