With $12 million in
Federal funding allocated to Parks Canada for the commemoration of
the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, it is good to see Ottawa
acting on this issue. In addition the Canadian War
Museum has been planning an exhibition for over a year and should be
commended for trying to get ahead of the curve. However a
coordinated effort of Federal departments, I believe, would generate
more bang for the bucks invested.
In Ontario, the provincial government has
tasked the Minister of Tourism to coordinate Ontario's War of 1812
commemorative efforts. More than that, Ministry of
Tourism has 1812 representatives in designated regions throughout
various parts of Ontario and have a draft master list of 15 priority
commemorative spots based on their historic importance in the war.
This is what is required at the federal
level, especially since the 200th anniversary offers wonderful
opportunities for inter-provincial events and cooperation. In the
Prime Minister's "Plan for Canadians" election platform last year, the
proper commemoration of the War of 1812 was committed to.
More specifically, the present government said it will "ensure that" it
achieves "the national recognition" it deserves.
It achieve "national recognition", an
inter-departmental plan needs to be created with specific outcomes or
goals identified to measure success. For example, if cabinet
envisions a television production to help achieve this goal and the CBC
is tasked with producing it, than specific money can be set aside.
But the government should take it one
step further and require the CBC to allow other federal entities to
broadcast components of the production as multi-media content for
federal museum and virtual displays and kiosks. Therefore this
creates savings for the federal government because the federal museums
nor Parks Canada will need to independently produce useable 1812
footage. Canada: A People's History was a huge success ten yeas
ago. An 1812 documentary seems like a no brainer in helping
measure if the message is getting out. However re-broadcasting
parts of it in national museums for decades after the 200th anniversary
shows a commitment to the lasting commemoration of those who fought and
died on Canada soil for their country.
This is only one example of why a more
coordinated federal effort would be beneficial. Hopefully the
decision makers in Ottawa will see that this approach has merit. I
am not asking for the carpet-wall cubical dividers be knocked down
between departments. It would be nice though if they poked their
heads over the dividers and had a little conversation about remembering
the War of 1812.
Just to show I am sincere, I will buy the
beer if the ministers, and/or Deputy Ministers and/or ADMs sit down for
a drink and chat about working together on this file. However I am
torn. Do I serve beer from Molson's since the family served in the
war, or from Wellington Brewery out of Guelph, Ontario who are wonderful
at supporting 1812 commemorative efforts?
CBC's Canada: A People's History
Conferences
January 23 - Queen Charlotte's Birthday Ball, Fort York,
Toronto, Ontario.
A War of 1812 staff will be
key note speaker:
"From
the Royal Court to Canada: The Impact of Germans on Regency Society"
by Robert Henderson
Synopsis:
“Royal scandals, conspiracy theories, military heroism, and the
power of a beautiful face, are all explored in this study of the
impact of Germans on British and Canadian society around the time of
the War of 1812.”
February 27th - Living History Conference, London, Ontario.
"Hustlers, Bumpkins,
and Patriots" Recruiting the British Soldier in the War of 1812by Robert Henderson
October 3rd - Bicentennial Lecture Series, Prescott, Ontario.
Warof1812.ca staff
will be contributing:
Love, Lust and
the British Soldier in the War of 1812by Robert
Henderson
War of
1812 Bicentennial and Museum News
Recent News -
Conferences - Museum Corner - Travel - Editorial
The Chelsea Pensioners Receive News of the Victory
at Waterloo (photo of original in Wellington Museum)
Recent News
January
29th, 2010 Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
Fort George National Historic Site, the place Sir Isaac Brock was first
buried after the Battle of Queenston Heights, is receiving a $2.75
million face lift to its 80-year-old reconstructed buildings.
Hopefully the Canadian government will also realize that a
state-of-the-art Visitor Centre at one of the most visited historic
sites in Canada would also make sense, especially for the bicentennial.
--------------
January
23rd, 2010 Monroe, MI River
Raisin celebrates its new designation as a National Battlefield Site.
While an American defeat, it became a rallying cry for the successful
campaign the following year. "Remember the River Raisin" has
finally been heard in Washington.
--------------
December
8th, 2009 Montreal, QC A
recent poll by the Association for Canadian Studies found that 37% of
Canadians lack the knowledge on the war to answer the question "Who won
the War of 1812?". Broken down by province Ontario
respondents were most likely to answer the question, while Quebec
residents were the least likely. In fact, the majority of
Quebecois who expressed an opinion thought the United States won the
war; while over 50% of Ontarians said Canada won. Charles De
Salaberry and the French Canadian heroes of the Battle of the
Chateauguay must be turning in their graves! Hopefully Quebec's
motto "je me souviens " (I remember) will inspire the provincial
government will correct this glaring memory gap.
--------------
December
4th, 2009 Toronto, ON Fort York's
plan for a new visitor centre received a shot in the arm with the
Federal Government promising $4 million to the enterprise.
-------------
November 15th, 2009 Boston, MA
The USS Constitution (Old Ironsides)
is getting a major renovation that will restore the vessel back to its
1812 configuration. This ambitious project will be complete for
the War of 1812 bicentennial celebrations.
--------------
November
5th, 2009 Hamilton, ON On their
visit to Hamilton's Dundurn Castle, Prince Charles and Camilla, the
Duchess of Cornwall, discovered a little more about Camilla's Canadian
great-great-great grandfather Sir Allan Napier MacNab. Not only
was MacNab a former prime minister of the united province of Canada but
at the age of 14, had served in the Canadian militia during the War of
1812. See his
biography here.
--------------
October
26th, 2009 Frankfort, KY
A walking trail has been named after a War of 1812 Canadian POW. Master
James Miller was a member of the Provincial Marine when he was captured
and imprisoned in the POW camp in Frankfort. Being the only
recorded captive to die at the camp, Miller is now honoured with the
Miller trail.
---------------
October
16th, 2009 Toronto, ON
After being trapped between a highway and railway tracks for decades,
Fort York in Toronto will be getting a walkway link to the site from the
rest of the city. The estimated link will cost $17 million and is
part of a $35 million revitalization of the site, including an $18
million state-of-the-art Visitor Centre.
More on this can be found here.
Fort York National Historic Site, Toronto
---------------
October
15th, 2009 Toronto, ON Rick
Mercer, a popular Canadian comedian, took a fun look at War of 1812
Reenactment. Airing on the Rick Mercer Report on October 13th, his
experience as a reenactor can be seen below:
---------------
October 8th, 2009
Put-in-Bay, OH - The US Mint has
just announced that an image of the column constructed to mark Oliver
Hazard Perry's victory in the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813 will grace the
U.S. Quarter in 2013. Administered by the U.S. National Park
Service, Perry's Victory received a new $2.4 million visitor centre in
2002 that receives 200,000 visitors annually.
Perry's Victory can be
visited here.
Perry's Victory (NPS)
---------------
October 7th, 2009
Washington, DC - Carl Levin,
Senator for Michigan, has introduced a resolution for a US Postal stamp
commemorating the War of 1812 . The resolution has received
bi-partisan sponsorship and if passed. direct the Postmaster General to
issue the stamp or stamps by 2012.
---------------
October 2nd, 2009
Sault St. Marie, ON - The Ontario
Government has announced that Ermatinger-Clergue National Historic Site,
operated by the municipality of Sault St. Marie, will receive $60K in
funding for War of 1812 bicentennial celebrations. A
brochure of Site can be found here and a
biography of Charles Oakes Ermatinger is also available online.
Ermatinger served as a militia during the surprise attack and capture of
Fort Michilimackinac on Mackinac Island (Michigan) on July 17, 1812.
Ermatinger-Clergue National Historic Site
---------------
September 26th, 2009 Port
Dover, ON- Robert Nichol,
colonel of Norfolk militia in Upper Canada (Ontario) was remembered by
the Ontario Heritage Trust with a plaque for his service in the war,
particularly at the capture of Detroit and his community leadership in
Port Dover.
---------------
September 14th, 2009
Patuxent River, MD- The US
Navy is considering raising a sunken vessel that served as part of the
flotilla that protected Baltimore from an amphibious assault by the
Royal Navy in 1814. If approval is given, the project would be in
conjunction with the bicentennial.
further info read here
---------------
September 10th, 2009
Washington, DC - A bill
recommending the production of Silver coins commemorating the War of
1812 has passed the House of Representatives and awaits Senate approval.
Under the bill, the proceeds of the coin sale are planned to be used to
finance the National War of 1812 Bicentennial commission (another bill
now in Committee).
---------------
August 30th, 2009
Albany, NY- As
War of 1812 bicentennial activities start to move into full gear, NY
Governor David Patterson, put his state's involvement into 'park'.
Citing budget concerns, Gov. Patterson vetoed his state's 1812
Commemoration Commission bill. Hopefully the national 1812
commission bill in Congress will see the light of day and fill the
gapping hole left by Gov. Patterson's decision to, in effect, cancel
this state's involvement in this important observance.
Sackets Harbour Battlefield State Historic Site is one of the
1812
locations affected by this unfortunate decision
---------------
August 20th, 2009
Kingston, ON - At long
last, Fort Henry appears to be getting its own visitor centre.
Considering the size of the famous Fort, it is long overdue and will
add greatly to the visitor's experience at the majestic location.
Visit Fort Henry. (Sword and
knot on the site's opening image was provided by
MilitaryHeritage.com) Also
read an article on life
in camp at Fort Henry in the war.
---------------
August 18th, 2009 Amherstburg, ON -
Fort Malden National Historic Site near
Windsor, Ontario received $0.5 million in federal funding to
help upgrade their War of 1812 exhibit so as to better tell the
important role the historic site and community played in the
conflict. The site is part of Parks Canada.
Read an article on
the Fort Amherstburg in the war.
----------------
August 17th, 2009 Prescott, ON -
The St. Lawrence valley will be getting
another Museum Visitor Centre, this time at Fort Wellington National
Historic Site.
With the announcement, it is contemplated by Parks Canada that the
War of 1812 Gunboat, found archaeologically in the St. Lawrence
Islands, will be housed in this facility. This gunboat was historically stationed
at Prescott.
Read an article
on the Fort Wellington during the war.
----------------
July 15, 2009
Crysler's Farm Memorial, ON- The
Ontario Government has announced that it will be financing the
building of a new visitor centre for the Battle of Crysler's Farm
memorial. Considering the present centre dates back to the 1960s,
this announcement was greeted by the Friends of the Battle with
great excitement. Visit the Friends of Crysler's Farm website.
2009 Reenactment at Crysler's Farm
----------------
June 18, 2009
Albany, NY- New
York State's House of Assembly passes a bill to create a War of 1812
Bi-centennial Commission. Focus will be on Niagara River area,
Sackets Harbor, Plattsburg, Ogdensburg, Staten Island, and Fort
Ontario (Oswego).
-----------------
June 17, 2009 St.
Catharine's, ON -
Brock University students in
collaboration with a local firm nGen are developing a War of 1812
educational game that uses role playing, simulations, role playing
and strategy to provide users with a opportunity to see how
decisions and events in the war shaped Canadian History.
-------------------
June 2, 2009 Erie, PA
- A new management
board was put in place at the Brig Niagara in order to keep the ship
sailing this year. It's sailing schedule was put into
doubt when cutbacks were announced by state government that effected
the Historical and Museum Commission, the Brig's chief funding
source. If you wish to help, donations can be made to the Flagship
Niagara League.
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Get
Involved
October 2009
With only a couple of years until the
War of 1812 Bicentennial, Canada needs the Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation (CBC) to begin making a Documentary on the War of 1812.
PBS in the United States started filming at the beginning of
2009. Canada's story will be lost if you do not act now.
What about Canada's story? Please take 15 seconds and
click, sign and send the below message to the CBC and the Minister
of Canadian Heritage to say the sacrifices of 1812 Veterans
should not be forgotten.
UPDATE: Thank you for your support so far. If you have sent your message you
have done a good service to the memories of our 1812 veterans. If you haven't, please do!
Museum
Corner
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