JASON SETNYK
Crysler’s Farm Battlefield, a National Historic Site near Morrisburg, remains one of the most defining locations in the War of 1812. Representatives from the Friends of Crysler’s Farm Battlefield were among the exhibitors at the Heritage Fair, where they spoke with visitors about the site’s history and ongoing preservation work.
The battle, fought on November 11, 1813, saw a small British, Canadian, and Mohawk force defeat a significantly larger American army.
“We had about 800 men against roughly 2,000 Americans coming down the river,” said Kim McInnis, secretary of the Friends group. “They were headed for Montreal as part of a movement to shut down shipping on the Great Lakes.”
Parallels can be drawn between Canada and US relations today. “It’s basically where we’re back to square one with tensions, just like in 1813,” McInnis added.
McInnis noted the group’s next major event will be the biennial reenactment on July 11-12, which typically draws 200 to 250 participants.
“Visitors can walk through the encampment and speak with reenactors and period merchants,” she said.
Treasurer Gabriele Thomas reflected on attending the 200th-anniversary ceremony in 2013, when then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper marked the battlefield’s bicentennial.
“It was wet, cold, sleet-almost identical to the day of the original battle,” she said. “Some of the reenactors were just about dying of hypothermia,” stated Thomas with a hint of hyperbole.
Thomas highlighted recent improvements to the monument grounds at Upper Canada Village.
“The place is beautiful. The stones are flat, the walkways are improved, and we’re adding interpretive panels so people can learn more anytime they visit,” she said. She added that the upgrades came through a combination of grants, support from the St. Lawrence Parks Commission, and contributions from the Friends. “Most of our fundraising goes toward the reenactment, but we try to invest in upkeep whenever we can.”
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