‘NIAGARA 1814 CAMPAIGN’ EVENTS TO BE ANNOUNCED ON 04-14-14 BY NIAGARA 1812 LEGACY COUNCIL DURING LAST YEAR OF WAR OF 1812 BICENTENNIAL

NIAGARA REGION, ON (April 3, 2014)–  The Niagara 1812 Legacy Council will be announcing the Signature War of 1812 events for the Niagara 1814 Campaign, on Monday, April 14, 2014, at the Niagara Falls History Museum. 1812-Committee members from across the region will outline details for their events; most of which land on the exact 200th anniversary. Joined by Niagara Parks Commission Chair Janice Thomson, Niagara Region Chair Gary Burroughs, Niagara Falls Mayor Diodati (represented), the Legacy Council will also highlight their national marketing campaign that showcases these re-enactments and commemorative events.

This being the last year of the bicentennial, some of the bloodiest battles unfolded.  In 1812 the conflicts took place in the North-end (Niagara-on-the-Lake) but during the Niagara 1814 Campaign, the fighting stretches south along the parkway through Niagara Falls, Fort Erie and Cook’s Mills.

Last year the Battle of Fort George kicked-off the event lineup in May; Grimsby was invaded during the Engagement at the Forty; The Laura Secord Walk had over 1,000 participants; the Battle of Beaverdams was commemorated with the Six Nations; The Legacy Council and partners presented the St. Catharines 1812 Tall Ships Visit with over 7,000 attendees and the Honouring performance at Old Fort Erie; and to top it off, the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake , Fort Erie and Buffalo were “up in flames” in December.

The beginning of the War of 1812 bicentennial was a huge success with thousands of people attending the commemorative events.  His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada joined the Legacy Council at their official 1812 Opening Ceremonies on June 16, 2012, at Queenston Heights Park. This was a highlight of the Opening Ceremonies Weekend that the Legacy Council organized as part of the 2012 Cultural Capital of Canada program.

Parks Canada saw record-breaking numbers in 2012 that can be attributed to the bicentennial activities and awareness. They had over 100,000 visitors to Fort George and their other Niagara-on-the-Lake event sites; this up from their previous record of 70,000. The Niagara Parks Commission also saw a high increase in visitors to Old Fort Erie.

For more details and the complete list of events, join us at the launch on Monday, April 14th, at the Niagara Falls History Museum at 5810 Ferry St. The ceremony begins at 11:00 a.m.

Activities in Western New York will be launched on April 16, 2014, at the Buffalo History Museum.

The Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council is a bi-national not-for-profit organization established to commemorate the War of 1812 and celebrate the 200 years of peace between Canada and the United States.