It has been 200 years since the winds of war last swept across Niagara. But be ready for 2012 — the clock is ticking…
Niagara residents are busy preparing for the celebration of the bicentennial of the War of 1812. It promises to be three years of booming cannons, pealing church bells, speeches, dignitaries, and most of all, visitors from across North America coming to Niagara to take in events marking 200 years of peace — and Brian Merrett is stoked.
“Niagara is 1812,” the chief executive officer of the Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council says, repeating what has become the unofficial catch phrase for the group. The council is the go-to agency for everything 1812 and is helping to coordinate efforts of groups across the Region.
“We've picked out six signature events,” Merrett says as he shows off a glossy brochure produced by the council and rhymes off the list that will get things going.
“We start with the New Year's Levee (in Niagara-on-the-Lake) which will be different,” he says. “The Lieutenant Governor (David Onley) has been invited. It will be much more of a signature event with the Friends of Fort George and will be a great kickoff to the bicentennial.”
“We have two events in Fort Erie, the parade in June (June 23) and the Siege,” Merrett adds. “We have the opening official opening ceremonies June 15 to 18. June 18 is the 200th anniversary of the declaration of war.”
Merrett says plans are still taking shape for the opening ceremonies but there are plans for events throughout Niagara, including signal fires along the river on both sides of the border and Brock's Dinner in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The Premier and Lieutenant Governor have been invited to take part in the June 18 events,
“We have a group working on that weekend alone,” Merrett says.
Other events include the re-opening of an expanded Niagara Falls Historical Museum in July 2012 featuring a gallery dedicated to the Battle of Lundy's Lane. On Oct. 13, one of the war's most significant battles — The Battle of Queenston Heights — will be re-enacted. Part of the recreation will include the burial of Major General Isaac Brock, who perished in the battle.
But it's not all about war. The celebration is meant to mark 200 years of peace that has existed between Canada and the United States since the end of the conflict on Christmas Eve 1814 with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent.
And organizers are expecting a new invasion — one with loaded wallets this time around.
A travel survey predicts that some 40 million travellers are expected to take in 1812-related events at sites throughout Ontario and New York State over the three years. If each person spends $10, that could mean a $400-million boost to economies of the region and Niagara will get a piece of that pie. Both the province and the federal governments have provided funds to help make improvements to Niagara's historic sites. Improvements have been made to Fort George while Niagara Parks Commission sites — the Laura Secord Homestead and McFarland House in Niagara-on-the-Lake and Old Fort Erie — the site of the bloodiest battle in Canada — benefitted from nearly $10 million in funds from both levels of government for improvements. The lion's share went to Old Fort Erie, which now boasts a new 9,000-square-foot Welcome Centre and revised earthworks to reflect the siege of 1814. The Welcome Centre includes a 72-seat theatre and 1,500 square feet of permanent exhibit space dedicated to the war in general and the Siege in particular.
McFarland House, meanwhile, underwent some major renovations which included a new conservatory to be used as a tea patio, new washrooms, an updated tea room and kitchen area, and interior upgrades to the office area.
At the Secord Homestead, a historically renovated 158-year-old Methodist chapel has been moved to the property from its former location on the Niagara Parkway and there is a new visitors' centre located in the former summer kitchen.
But it's just not the NPC sites that have seen changes to prepare for the bicentennial.
Jarred Picher, manager for the Niagara Historic Sites, says Fort George in Niagara-on-the-Lake, has undergone recent renovations that will lend to a more comfortable experience for visitors.
“People will find out during the bicentennial, it's not the Fort George of 20 years ago,” Picher says. “The bastions and palisades have been stabilized and we've updated to a proper climate control system to enhance our evening programing.”
Period musical instruments have been purchased to enhance performances. Artillery pieces have been added as well as “a lot of little things,” Picher says.
Parks Canada also has a few unique events in store. In July 2012, Picher says, a tall ships event is planned along the Niagara River.
“We are partnering up with other groups to arrange a bit of a battle re-enactment,” Picher says.
By way of local events, the Fort Erie 1812 group, with the help of the Dominion Repertory Theatre, will stage several productions over the three years. Kicking off the series of plays is the Lion and the Eagle, which takes place in Moody's Tavern. It is set in the days leading up to the outbreak of hostilities on June 18, 1812.
“It's a unique opportunity,” says Vince Marinaccio, a spokesman for the theatre company. “When people talk about the war, they talk about the military history. We think we have the missing link of human interest — what was going on with these people.”
Moody's Tavern was an actual establishment which was located in the area of the current He's Not Here bar on Niagara Boulevard.
A venue for the play has yet to be determined.
For its second effort, the group will stage a production called Sparks from the Campfire, an outdoor event to be held on property behind Old Fort Erie with a view of both Lake Erie and the Niagara River. The play was written with Canadian playwright Susan Pollock.

More information and a schedule of events can be found at the 1812 Legacy Council's website at www.discover1812.com.

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Get involved:

FORT ERIE
John Johnson
bia@cogeco.ca
905-871-7794
forterie1812.com
Valerie Spear
v18spear12@rogers.com
905-871-0514
GRIMSBY
Brian Purdy
brianpurdy@sympatico.ca
905-309-5554
Ken Hipkin
mkhipkin@cogeco.ca
905-945-2687
NIAGARA FALLS
Clark Bernat
Manager
Niagara Falls Museums
cbernat@niagarafalls.ca
905-358-5082
Gord West
gwest6@cogeco.ca
905-358-5082
NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE
Lyle Williams
Communications
NOTL 1812
lwilliams@notl.org
905-468-8102
1812niagaraonthelake.ca
Erika & Jim Alexander
Friends of Fort George
ffg@computan.on.ca
905-468-7681
1812niagaraonthelake.ca
PORT COLBORNE-WAINFLEET
Brian Heaslip
bheaslip@cogeco.ca
905-835-1458
ST. CATHARINES
Brian Narhi
briannarhi@aol.com
905-934-1744
THOROLD
Alun Hughes
ahughes@brocku.ca
WELLAND
Bill Fenwick
 bill.fenwick@welland.ca
NIAGARA 1812 LEGACY COUNCIL
www.discover1812.com