War of 1812-14 BiCentennial

 

Burlington Streets Whats Behind the Name?

Pathways to Peace

A number of Events and initiatives are occurring in 2012-2014 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812-14

In anticipation and preparation of the upcoming commemoration of the Bi-Centennial of the War of 1812-14, Burlington Ontario, due to the strategic position she held on Lake Ontario, the events that took place in her jurisdiction and the contributions by the locals who heeded the call of duty, is joining in the commemoration of this 200th anniversary and 200 years of peace.  Discover the past...Explore the past...Learn from the stories of our past.

The stories, the lore, the legends….Burlington’s role in the War of 1812-14.

Beginning in June 2012, through into the end of 2014, residents of Burlington and communities all along the the Great Lakes will kick-off commemorative events, themed festivals and projects to mark the Bicentennial of the War of 1812.  This war played a significant role in the shaping of Canada, the United States of America, and Six Nations, and their peoples.  The end of the war marked the beginning of 200 years of peace between our nations.

There is history to be explored, stories to be told.  Although Burlington and the surrounding area were not sites of many significant battles, the geography and the people were significant.  The Burlington area (although not named this at the time) was, and is still known as a safe place, a place of trade, a cross roads, a landmark, and a resting point  - A destination to for food, shelter, and shared resources.

Heritage sites, academic, cultural, tourism and community groups from across this geographic territory have been working collaboratively to prepare for this event.

 

How can you and your organization get involved??  Link here.

Historic Merchant's Market - Visit the Twelfth Annual, Historic Merchants’ Christmas Gathering - An Old-Fashioned Christmas Gift Market.  Saturday, November 26th, 2011 10 am - 4 pm.  Discover a Christmas Market right out of the pages of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens!  Held concurrently with Doorways to the Holidays at RBG.

Canadian Art Cards Exhibit: The Western Corridor Alliance is proud to present the Canadian Art Card print exhibition: Pathways to Peace: Art Studies of Upper Canada during the War of 1812.  The Hamilton, Halton, Brant Regional Association is sponsoring the premier exhibition of this collection at the Woodlands Cultural Centre from November 8 to December 30, 2011.  Woodlands is hosting a Reception for this exhibition on November 19.  Link here for more information about the Reception on November 19th and here for Exhibit Hosting information.

Burlington Historical Society - Speaker Series: 2012 Marks the start of the celebration for the  War of 1812.  The Burlington Historical Society in Burlington Ontario, will commemorate with a 2012 Program starting on January 9, 2012. Zig Misiak will be the first speaker in this series.  Zig will talk on "The War of 1812 and the Six Nations." This presentation will follow the Annual Meeting. Start time is 7pm at the Centennial Room, Burlington Central Library, 2331 New Street, Burlington - all welcome!

Speaker Series Dates:
January 9: The War of 1812 and the Six Nations- Zig Misiak
February 13, 2012: Ruby and Thomas McQueston- Mary Anderson
March 12, 2012: The Burlington Races - Prof. Tom Malcomson
April 9, 2012: William Halton and Halton County - John McDonald
May 14, 2012: The War of 1812

Call to confirm meeting date, time and location.

Oakville Historical Society - Speaker Series 2012

Wednesday, February 15th 2012:The Avro Arrow – a video and talk by Steven Shaw
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012:The War of 1812:  Speaker Mr. Ken Weber
Wednesday, October 17th, 2012: Women and the War of 1812  Speaker Cheryl MacDonald
Wednesday, November 21st, 2012: The Home Children with focus on those who came over from the Dr. Barnardo Institute.   Speaker Elaine Guther
All programs will be held at St. John’s United Church, Randall Street, Oakville, and begin at 7:30pm.  Refreshments are served.

Learn the significant role that the area now known as Burlington, and it’s local peoples played by visiting Burlington’s Joseph Brant Museum. Enjoy a guided tour of the Museum, where you can learn about Joseph Brant, father of John Brant (Ahyouwaighs) who distinguished himself in War of 1812-14 by supported the British throughout the War of 1812 by participating in the Battle of Queenston Heights and encouraging other members of the Six Nations from along the Grand River to fight the American invaders.  Located on the Burlington’s waterfront, this museum ‘s location is significant as the site where many nations of peoples gathered and met and it is also recognized as a crossroads of traveled routes, by water and land.

Joseph Brant Museum will be honouring John Brant on Monday August 6, 2012, at the annual Joseph Brant Day Festival an annual event held each Labour day Monday at LaSalle Park,Burlington.  John Brant Day, at the annual Joseph Brant Day Festival.

John Brant, Ahyonwaeghs 1794-1832

During the War of 1812, John took part and fought at Queenston, Beaver Dams, Chippewa, Lundy's Lane and Fort Erie, alongside the Grand River members of the First Nations.  In October 1812 in Queenston Heights, John fought beside John Norton and helped stop an American attack.  In the years following the war, John Brant worked hard to better the lives of the First Nations, following his father's foot steps in 1821 and travelling to England to petition the Crown for control over native land.  Despite losing the petition, he was successful in ensuring schools were built for his people.  In 1828, John became the resident Superintendent for the Six Nations of the Grand River, and in 1830, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada.  His election was appealed in 1831 and his appointment removed; he was the first member of the First Nations, however, to be elected to parliament as a lawmaker. In 1830, he was named Chief of the Six Nations by Catherine Brant.  John Brant died at the age of 38 during the Cholera epidemic in 1832.

Royal Botanical Gardens - Explore Canada’s largest botanical garden, featuring over 1,100 hectares (2,700 acres) of breathtaking gardens and spectacular nature sanctuaries. Royal Botanical Gardens is a ‘living museum’ that acquires, collects, researches, exhibits, conserves and interprets a living horticultural collection.  Royal Botanical Gardens is a must stop, on your War of 1812-14 Bicentennial Commemoration exploration in 2012!  Watch for themed gardens, horticultural and education events.

Plant your Red Geraniums to commemorate War of 1812.  article- Niagara This Week.

Burlington Ghost Walks - Take a Walking Tour of Burlington and hear the stories of Joseph Brant and Burlington Bay, then known as Lake Mecassa, meaning "shimmering waters".  Tour and Ghost walk information will be posted for the 2012 summer and fall.  See the website for more information and contact information.

Heritage Park Project: Historic St. John's Nelson Anglican Church: St.John's Wood.

Rural Raids and Divided Loyalties - Southwestern Ontario and the War of 1812- Burlington's Part in the War Multi-Media Project. This multi-media project commemorating the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 will highlight the importance of Burlington and our neighbouring regions. The project's television documentary series, web site, driving tours and mobile application will help to showcase our region's 1812-related tourism assets for years to come, and we are excited to work with our regional tourism partners to link all of Southwestern Ontario's 1812-related museums and historic sites into a multimedia driving tour.

Brock's Walk Trail Project - A joint project with neighbouring communities. A commemoration of Isaac Brock's overland journey from Burlington to Long Point in August 1812, as he both gauged the loyalty of, and rallied the support of Native Peoples and settlers on his way to the eventural capture of Detroit.  When he reached lake Erie, Brock embarked on vessels with his troops for the remainder of their journey to Amherstburg.  It is generally agreed that Brock's journey could be commemorated with a series of projects and events in and around the communities through which he passed.

Heritage Mississauga hosts a War of 1812 Exhibit: In partnership with the Region of Peel Heritage Complex, Heritage Mississauga is delighted to host the War of 1812 travelling exhibit from the Archives of Ontario from January 10th until February 24th, 2012. This free exhibit will open on Tuesday, January 10th, from 6:30 to 8:30pm.  The Archives of Ontario’s War of 1812 travelling exhibit sheds light on formative events in the history of Ontario. The War of 1812 had long-term effects on the economic, social and political life of the province. This exhibit is a history resource that showcases some of the personalities and locations that played a role in the war, and explores the events of that conflict using the correspondence and diaries of those who lived it. Their words are illustrated with artwork, maps and photographs from the holdings of the Archives, many being made widely available for the first time. We invite you to explore this exhibit and learn about the War of 1812 in Upper Canada.  For more information, Contact: Matthew Wilkinson, Historian at Heritage Mississauga.

Fighting for the Frontier: Remembering the War of 1812 and Historic Mississauga Research Project: Heritage Mississauga, in partnership with the University of Toronto Mississauga Historical Studies Department is undertaking a research project aimed at documenting the residents of Toronto Township (historic Mississauga) who served during the War of 1812. This research project in ongoing. Thank you to UTM students Milan Gocmanac and Suzanna Elmazi.  For more information, Contact: Matthew Wilkinson, Historian at Heritage Mississauga.

Add to the Event list - You can add your event to this growing list by letting us know about your plans.

History, Stories, Myths and Legends:

Ireland House, Museums of Burlington  at 2168 Guelph Line, Built in 1836 for Joseph Ireland, Joseph Ireland didn't arrive in Canada until 1819. His brother John preceded him to Canada and was involved in the War of 1812, but there is very little information on him.  He came to Canada at age 19 as a regimental officer with the British Army during the War of 1812. In 1836 Joseph Ireland was Overseer of Highways. He purchased this land from Daniel O'Reilly and farmed it successfully until his death in 1869. His son John (born 1839), grandson George, and great-granddaughter Marie Ireland Bush were all born in the house. It was bought in 1987 by the City of Burlington and in May 1991 was officially opened as an historic house museum.

Nathaniel Bell (1790 - 1852) is believed to have been the first licensed medical doctor in Halton County. He was a son of Benjamin Bell and Elizabeth Pettit, who left Roxbury, New Jersey, with their family, to come to Grimsby in 1791. His sister Mary (b. 1784) married Dr Cyrus Sumner in 1803. Nathaniel studied under Dr Summer at Beamsville. In 1812 he was assistant surgeon with Dr Kerr; was captured by the US forces, escaped, was recaptured and shot in the leg.
Nathaniel received his 2nd licence from the Upper Canada medical board after April 1819. Practised from Hamilton to Guelph: bold, determined and careful operating surgeon, good at amputations.

David Fonger - In 1804 John Fonger Sr. settled in East Flamboro at 192 Plains Road East, with his wife, 5 sons, and 5 daughters. In the 1840s the Fonger farmland was acquired by David Fonger, who had immigrated in 1804 at the age of 22. He fought in the War of 1812, and in 1875, at the age of 93, he was one of 42 veterans of that war to be received in Hamilton City Council Chambers, and to be awarded a certificate and a belated pension in recognition of his military service.

Plan of John Chisholm and John Brant properties on the old channel and outlet- Drawn from a copy made after a plan owned by Mr F. Macklen, which he received from Mr [John] Chisholm in 1794. The original map, attributed to S. H. Ghent, is in the McMaster University Library Special Collections. Copies are held in the Map Room of the Geography Department, McMaster University.

A Great Read

Regional Commemoration Efforts:

For More information about the Bi-Centennial Commemoration of the War of 1812-14.  Please refer to Western Corridor Bi-Centennial Alliance website.

Media Release - Announcment of Western Corridor Bi-Centennial Alliance Logo launch - May 2011

Media Release -Announcement of Western Corridor Bi-Centennial Alliance Website launch - Aug. 2011.

Western Corridor Bi-Centennial Alliance Summer 2011 Newsletter.

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