I enjoyed visiting Fort York in Toronto last weekend for the annual commemorations of the April 1813 Battle of York. I volunteered and worked at this War of 1812-era historic site for eleven summers, eventually serving as Drum Major of the Fife and Drum Corps.
It was an honour to deliver the keynote address at an event marking the renewed partnership between Toronto History Museums and the Friends of Fort York, a community organization dedicated to supporting and enhancing the site. This agreement will, among other initiatives, see the relaunch of the Fort York Guard living history program.
I also had the pleasure of giving a public talk to visitors and leading a workshop for the site’s interpretive staff.
I got a kick out of seeing new banners on the Fort York Visitor Centre, one of which read: “1812. Canada’s Original Elbows Up!” The accompanying lineup of historical figures includes Shadrack Byfield, the subject of my recent article in The Journal of British Studies.
1812 and all that 