| September 25, 2011 By Don Glynn Niagara Gazette Column by Don Glynn — One of the most exciting projects that WNED-TV (the PBS television station in Buffalo) has ever undertaken is “The War of 1812” that will air nationwide Oct. 10. People familiar with the inner workings of the two-hour documentary are confident the film prove a key factor in educating people about an important — yet often forgotten — war so little-known to countless Americans and Canadians. Living near the border, where so much of that drama unfolded, we should be better informed than someone residing in Kansas or Colorado. In a word, in less than three years (1812-1815), Americans engaged in numerous battles against the British, Canadian colonists, and the native warriors. By the time the fighting ended, the geographical boundaries of North America were defined. Unlike what some experts had predicted and despite the odds, Canada retained its own identity. A special preview of the film is slated for 2 p.m. today at the David S. Howes Theater at Brock University, St. Catharines. Proceeds from the $10 admission are earmarked for the Niagara 1812 Legacy Council’s marketing efforts. “We’ve been anxiously waiting to see WNED’s film and when we got the opportunity to host a preview screening, we jumped on it. This film will certainly spark an interest when it airs nationwide,” said Brian Merrett, the CEO of the Legacy Council. The council is a cross-border nonprofit organization established to commemorate the War of 1812 and celebrate 200 years of peace between the U.S. and Canada. |
War of 1812 film will air next month
