George HoughJanuary 31, 2012 15:34 EST

Thank you for the provocative article on this oft hidden aspect of Canadian history. 1812-15 was a long time ago, the battles that raged here were to some a side-show relative to the massive battles with Napoleon in Europe. But they took place here and as the article so aptly notes, their produce was the generation of a distinct identity which is no less compelling today than at any point in our past. Canadians who ponder why we are as different from our American cousins as we are, owe it to themselves to spend time in the pages of the Walrus, and perhaps a few hours tourng about the battlefields of Upper ad Lower Canada.

Rick howarthFebruary 21, 2012 13:31 EST

Just finished reading the article on the War of 1812, and viewing the photo gallery of battlefields and forts. All most interesting. However, more interesting is the total absence of any mention of, or photograph of what has been described to me as the "Bloodiest Battlefield in Canada" I speak of Old Fort Erie in Fort Erie, Ontario.
The Niagara Parks Commission has poured many thousands of dollars into the restoration of the Fort and it's surroundings and has just completed construction of a superb Visitor's Centre, thanks to their committment to heritage, as well as Federal and Provincial stimulus funds. In fact every summer, hundreds of reinactors come to the Fort over several weekends to relive the battles of the War of 1812, as well as other famous battles of the era, such as the Fenian Raids which occured later in the 19th Century and in which the Fort played a significant role , as they did during the War of 1812.
Old Fort Erie will occupy a Centre Point position this summer as a special committee in the Niagara area plans extensive celebration of 200 years of peace with our American neighbours.
The essay and photo gallery provide an interesting take on the War, and does a good job of bringing this important piece of Canadian History to the forefront. However, you should definitely correct your ommission of Old Fort Erie as soon as possible.

Thank you

Rick Howarth
Burlington, Ontario

Andrew StewartMarch 17, 2012 15:24 EST

Stephen Marche is right to point out that Toronto has not been kind to Fort York, especially to the surrounding landscape where the Battle of York was fought in 1813. Toronto is fortunate, however, in having a large collection of military buildings and earthworks that date to the War of 1812. Fort York National Historic Site also has vast archaeological resources embedded across its 43 acres, which includes two military burying grounds, part of the original shoreline of Lake Ontario and a Canadian Forces armoury.

The entire site is being energized during the period of the War of 1812 bicentennial with programming and projects like The Encampment (see www.toronto.ca/1812). With funds we are now raising from the private sector, the Fort York Foundation is helping the City of Toronto to build the Fort York Visitor Centre designed by Patkau Architects in partnership with Kearns Mancini Architects. Their design for the building won a 2011 Canadian Architect Award of Excellence.

It’s true that our side was peopled by heroes mostly forgotten or unknown. Thanks to research by staff at the City of Toronto Museum Services, building on research contained in Robert Malcomson’s 2008 book Capital in Flames, we are beginning to recall some of the names of people who died during the U.S. attack on York (Toronto) in 1813, including First Nations warriors. They include the remains of soldiers, citizen-soldiers and warriors from both sides that have turned up across Toronto’s broad waterfront at various times during the past 200 years. The main concentration is in today’s Exhibition Place, where most of the fighting occurred. This story is told in “Finding the Fallen: the Battle of York Remembered” at Toronto’s Market Gallery (until 8 September). This show enhances our sense of Toronto as a place – if, at times, trying our patience a little — worth defending and celebrating.

Andrew Stewart (chair)
Fort York Foundation
www.fortyorkfoundation.ca