It's good news for local organizers of the many important 1812 celebrations that will take place in Niagara-on-the-Lake, from the opening ceremonies next June to the re-enactment of the battles of Fort George and Queenston Heights, the burial of Brock, the famous trek of Laura Secord, the occupation and the burning of the town.

All of those bicentennial events are in the planning stages and will take place with or without federal funding, but some "hard cash" from the federal government will help with the logistics, explained volunteer Jim Alexander.

Those involved in the NOTL 1812 committee and other organizations planning events have known there was funding coming for about two weeks, and have already begun the application process, said Alexander

They have been assured that if the applications don't meet criteria for this round of grants, there are other sources of funding that can be accessed.

In the announcement at Fort George Tuesday, Heritage Minister James Moore and Justice Minister Rob Nicholson spoke of the importance of the 1812 celebrations to Canada, and to Niagara in particular.

The money is expected to help pay for a national education campaign, support for about 100 historical re-enactments and celebrations, a permanent War of 1812 monument in Ottawa and improvements to more than 40 national historic sites that are significant to the war.

Kenneth Gansel , chair of the Legacy Council, presented a picture of the grand opening weekend of the 1812 celebrations at Monday's meeting.

He said June 15, 16 and 17 of next year will be the grand opening weekend.

Gansel told councillors there would be a Military Tattoo at Fort George which will include a musical presentations from the Fife and Drum Corps and a musket and canon demonstration.

There will be a parade down Queen Street featuring the Governor General Horse Guards, a military cavalry and the Lincoln and Welland Regiment.

The Niagara Historical Society and Museum will celebrate with a Declaration of War and Brock Ball and the Niagara Symphony Orchestra will play at Fort George.

Concluding the weekend, church bells will ring along the Niagara River on both sides of the border to signify 200 years of peace.

All events are pending and subject to change, said Gansel.

Tony Chisolm and Rick Meloen, members of the 1812 committee have been planning the re-enactment of the burning of Newark.

They spoke to the councillors and asked for the Town's support to allow them to carry out their plans and to use parts of the town.

There are two significant events, Chisolm said — NOTL will be under American occupation from May to December, 2013. On Dec. 7, 2013, the town will symbolically be lit with red lights to commemorate the burning of the town.

Chisolm said the committee plans to hire students to dress as American soldiers and patrol Queen and King Streets.

"The idea is for the students to interact with residents and tourists and to inform them about the American Occupation beginning with the battle at Fort George and ending with the burning of the town in December."

Chisolm said he hopes to see a guard house on King Street with an American flag from that time period, which had 15 stars and 15 stripes.

During the symbolic burning a video playing on a 50 foot screen at the back of the Market Square will highlight the history and the burning of the tow

Homes and businesses in Old Town will be lit up in red lights over several nights in December to signify the burning.

"These ideas are still in their infancy and they need more time for refinements and additions," Meloen told councillors.

***Correction: Legacy Council Chair is Tom Schoefield, not Ken Gansel.

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