Fonds F2266 - Kingston Heritage Tattoo Society Fonds

The Kingston Heritage Tattoo Society was formed in 1992, following earlier military tattoos produced by Kingston Educational Society, Inc. (KINGFEST), in conjunction with CFB Kingston in 1986, at Richardson Stadium, and again in 1987 and 1988. At the conclsion of the 1988 event, the Board of Kingfest decided not to run anymore shows due to financial difficulties. William J. Patterson and Doug Thompson disagreed, and thought that tattoos belonged in a city that had had a military presecence for 350 years. As a result, they organized the Kingston Heritage Tattoo Society, and had their first tattoo at Fort Henry in 1993. The show was a success, so the Society decided to hold a second tattoo in 1995. It soon became a weekend event, attended by thousands. In 2003, however, Mother Nature intrervened, and the second day was rained out, with disastrous consequences. While rain insurance covered lost ticket sales, and planning for 2005 was well under way, a number of longtime backers pulled out, leaving the Society, and its Board, needing $30,000 to continue. With no financial support from the community on the horizon, and President Patterson and Vice-President Chris Wellwood retiring, the Board reluctantly voted to cancel the 2005 show, and dissolve the Society.