Committees are diligently working on their proposals for re-enactments, historic site clean-ups and marketing campaigns in hopes of getting cash before the anniversary rolls around.

"Everybody is busily working on that right now," said Brian Merrett, chief executive officer of the Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council.

The legacy council is planning the opening ceremonies for the bicentennial, as well as co-ordinating efforts for groups on both sides of the border. There are at least 10 bicentennial committees in the region that will submit proposals for money to the federal government, with the legacy council putting forward an overarching marketing plan.

Merrett said many groups have activities in the draft stage but were waiting to find out the guidelines and process for submitting proposals. Now, the government is looking for letters of intent for projects.

"We are trying to put a Niagara approach on all of the applications so when they are received in Ottawa at the ministry, Niagara tries to speak with one voice," Merrett said.

Unlike some Ontario communities that have one or two historic 1812 events planned, Niagara is a hub of bicentennial events that will take place across the region over four years.

"We are trying to wrap them in a Niagara envelope saying, 'Here's the whole Niagara story,'" Merrett said. "We are going to be the nation's focus, so we are being strategic as far as our positioning ourselves."

There is no deadline for submissions to the federal purse, but groups want to get them in ASAP. The opening ceremonies are just eight months away.

The legacy council meets with officials from Heritage Canada regularly and will see them again at the end of month.

"They're committed to expediting the process," Merrett said. "They realize it's taxpayers' money, so obviously it has to be handled in an appropriate way. They certainly recognize our deadlines and we've echoed that to them loud and clear, that we need to get moving and they've acknowledged that."

The walls of DeCew House — all that remains after a fire — have already been refurbished and restored but the grounds need clearing, the trees trimmed and historic signs posted, said committee chairman John Burtniak.

He said now that there is a funding commitment, the group can forge ahead with the easiest way to apply.

"We'd like to tap into some of this $28 million. Why shouldn't Thorold get some?" Burtniak said, explaining they are still working on how much to request.

The city is supporting the plan, he said, as the DeCew House will continue to be an attraction after the bicentennial celebrations.

"We want it to be very much a local Thorold public place as well," he said.

Other groups are still hoping to hear back from other federal funding sources.

Friends of Fort George want support for a re-enactment of the Battle of Queenston Heights in October 2012. Executive director Erika Alexander said they are waiting to hear back about a proposal that would help pay for details from parking to black powder for muskets.

"It's one of the most significant events in Canadian history. Whether it's a large amount of money or a small amount of money, we are going to do some kind of commemoration," she said. "The event's going to happen, but I guess the dollars will dictate how big it can be and how many extras we can add onto it."

Clark Bernat, manager of Niagara Falls Museums, is still hoping for a pedestrian bridge to connect portions of the historic Battle of Lundy's Lane site across Ferry St. The estimated cost is $1 million — not the kind of minor capital expense the 1812 money was meant for. Bernat said the museum has applied for infrastructure money, rather than seek 1812 money for the project.

The museum is currently finishing a $10-million expansion and renovation through Infrastructure Canada with money from the federal and provincial governments, the City of Niagara Falls and fundraising endeavours with a July 2012 grand opening set.

kwalter@stcatharinesstandard.ca

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