War of 1812 Bicentennial Communications Committee January 4, 2014 8:00 am Community Centre, Niagara on the Lake

Present Jim Alexander, Neil Rumble, Peter Martin, Tom Pekar, Murray Friesen, Ted Rumble, Rick Meloen, Mario Iaizzo, Tony Chisholm

Regrets Louise Farquhar, Lorraine Joyner, Ken Gansel, Rene Bertschi, Rudy Prins, Jack Shrubb

Minutes Approval of Agenda for January 4, 2014 Approval of Minutes of November 2, 2013

Committee Reports

Communications Committee Need to develop calendar of events for 2014 Need to coordinate with other activities for the year. Town has approved $30,000 for this year. Museum – new World War I display will open in February. o Neil to provide Jim with schedule of museum events so we can coordinate. 2014 activities for the calendar: (to be used to plan heritage activities for the next year) o July 1 Canada Day o July 12 – Celtic Festival - Parks Canada o July 26 – World War 1 Dinner (Friends of Fort George & Museum) o August 16/17 – Fife & Drum Muster o Sept 6 – Polo on The Common o Oct 10 (to be confirmed) – Battle of Queenston Heights commemoration o Aug 23/24 Timeline (Parks Canada and Lincoln and Welland Regiment)

Video Committee (Mario) Burning of the Town video – final report Committee commended Mario on success of burning of the town video. Sold about 200 copies of the DVD so far. May consider an extended version. May consider submitting for awards. The bicentennial Committee clearly owns the video and as per the DVD cover and a legal agreement, no one can reproduce the video or submit it for any awards without clear permission in writing from the Bicentennial Committee

Battle of Queenston Heights video Some minor historical inaccuracies to correct. Friends of Fort George and Parks Canada will be responsible. May add some scenes from the funeral of General Brock.

Legacy video Video to describe how a small town comes together to celebrate its heritage. Video committee will make a proposal to the Communications Committee and then to the Board, for approval.

Kiosk (Jim) Need to take down outdated posters.

Volunteer Reception, December 15, (Tony) 65 people attended, including re-enactors from the movie, awards handed out, low key evening, very enjoyable. Volunteers were thanked for their contribution.

Distribution of brochures, magazines and pins (Rick) Bicentennial magazines and Discover magazines at Rick’s place Some becoming dated. Will be given out at future events. 500 bicentennial magazines, 2500 Discover magazines still available.

Commemorative photo album and poster portfolio (Jim) Many high quality images of 1812 events available. Will consider putting them together as a commemorative album. May also do a collection of all the posters.

Fundraising (Tony) Small amounts still coming in from donations, sale of DVD’s. Tony to check if any surplus funds then need to be returned to the Provincial Government as per the document he signed. Both guardhouses have been sold. o Guardhouse revenue: $1000 will go to Niagara on Fire event; $1000 will go to 1812 general fund. Video of Niagara on Fire very well received when shown across the river at 1812 commemorations in the United States.

Golf Tournament Rene is planning for a golf tournament again in 2014.

Volunteers – strollers (Rick)

Strollers want to continue this summer. Brings colour to the main street, well received from merchants. Motion – That the volunteer strollers be recognized by the town as outstanding examples of cooperation in presenting the history of Niagara on the Lake (Tom, Tony) – passed.

Events

Niagara Under Occupation, wrapup report – Rick

Very successful commemoration, with very limited resources. Student soldiers, strollers, flags very well received. Event increased awareness of the history of the occupation of 1813. Rick thanked Parks Canada for their cooperation and support. Thanks to Friends of Fort George for taking on the administration of the funds and topping up of wages to complete the summer. Committee recognized outstanding efforts from Rick and Tony to produce the very successful Niagara Under Occupation and Niagara on Fire events Flags o Flags replaced by town flags. o American flags can be sold, some will be kept for display along with video. Money will go back to general revenue.

Symposium wrapup – November 17, 2013 (Tony)

Very successful event; well attended. Broke even.

Niagara on Fire & St. Marks wrapup (Tony)

Worked out very well Vintage inns sold out for that weekend Full attendance: 3-4000 people attended Merchants were very cooperative St. Mark’s event very well received. o Committee will send letter of appreciation to church and Rev. Bob Wright for successful event. o See Addendum below: Remarks from Dr. Merritt at the event.

Treaty of Ghent (Jim)

Committee has been formed to commemorate the treaty. Will be a government protocol event February 2015. Navy Hall, Courthouse will host events. Friends of Fort George and bicentennial committee will focus on ratification of the Treaty of Ghent and 200 years of peace.

New Years Levee Very successful event. Will be continued next year.

New Business

Motion: Communication Committee recognizes the significant contribution of Rudy Prins to the bicentennial commemorations. (N. Rumble, Tony) – passed unanimously. Rick suggested committee offer to support those commemorating burning of St. Davids in July 1814. Tony – we will continue to advertise availability of the video. Jim to present to the board in February.

Next meeting Saturday March 1, 2014

Adjournment

Addendum:

Text of remarks from Dr. Richard Merritt at the event commemorating the 200th anniversary of the burning of the town, at St. Marks Church, December 10, 2013

BURNING OF THE TOWN

The American occupation of Niagara began on May 27, 1813, and lasted until December 10th when they withdrew to Fort Niagara. It was a time of great distress, anxiety, fear, and uncertainty for the residents most of whom were women, children and old men. Despite American promises of security for lives and property, American forces plundered and harassed town residents. Able-bodied men were away with the militia or prisoners of war so the burdens of looking after children, relatives who were ill, of maintaining the house and perhaps a business, fell upon women. Male relatives were an important part of family structure and also of town society, so their absence greatly increased the stress people felt.

As well, fighting continued as small bands of British soldiers, militia and native warriors frequently attacked American outposts and, sometimes, even penetrated into the town. To defend their position, the Americans dug entrenchments extending from the fort to the rear of St. Marks church. The American troops were supported by the Canadian Volunteers led by Joseph Willcocks. He was a resident of Niagara where he had briefly published a newspaper and had served as an elected member of the Upper Canada Legislative Assembly. He joined the Americans in the summer of 1813, and formed a corps of volunteers who rode about the area gathering intelligence and cowing the population by arbitrary arrests and destruction of property. These men were regarded as traitors.

The American soldiers, living in tents outside the fort, suffered severely from sickness. Frequent rains soaked the tents and turned the ground into mud. These miserable conditions were described by an eyewitness, the chief American surgeon to the army, Dr. Mann: “In October and November diseases were typhus, diarrhoea, dysentery, many died from diarrhoea, being stopped with acetate of lead which brought other diseases.” No wonder their morale, health and discipline deteriorated. Their numbers declined as troops were sent away to other fronts and most of the militiamen departed to their homes as their terms of service ended. By December, the commanding general, George McClure claimed that his force was reduced to about 60 “effective regulars”. He increasingly worried about his ability to defend the town and Fort George even with the aid of 90-100 Canadian Volunteers.

(And so) On the evening of December 10th as the British forces approached the old town from Four Mile Creek, they could see the orange glow in the sky. By the time they entered the town, as W. Hamilton Merritt recorded in his journal, “Nothing but heaps of coals, and streets of furniture that the inhabitants were fortunate enough to get out of their Houses, met the Eye in all directions …”

Earlier in the day, the American commander, McClure conferred with his remaining senior officers and Joseph Willcocks. He explained that he was confident that he had the authorization from his superiors to withdraw to the American side and burn the town … thus denying the British troops any shelter during the approaching winter. The locals were to be given several hours to save what belongings they could.

The older children, women and even the elderly frantically carried out into the snowy streets whatever they could: articles of clothing, quilts, chairs, tables, a grandfather clock, family silverware, a few books; even a treasured mantelpiece was wrenched from the wall and dragged outside by a determined grandmother. There was wanton looting as well. Meanwhile several seriously ill citizens were carried out on their sick beds only to be set down outdoors in the snow, without cover.

A fellow American … yes, an American militiaman, reported the following,

A scene of distress which language would be inadequate to describe. Women and children were turned out of doors in a cold and stormy night; the cries of infants, the decrepitude of age, the debility of sickness, had no impression on this monster in human shape … Wilcox [sic] deserted the cause of his country and actually led (a) banditti through the town, setting fire to his neighbors’ dwellings … cursing … everyone who disapproved of this flagrant act of barbarity.

The inhabitants could only watch as their homes burned to the ground. Stables and other outbuildings were consumed and many of their terrified animals perished in the fire. Of the approximate 150 town dwellings, only two were left standing; one accidentially burned down two weeks later, the other was lost at a later date. In the cold and blowing snow that night the townsfolk sought refuge in root cellars, smoke houses, in make-shift lean-tos up against the remaining standing chimneys and wherever… It would be days before most of the inhabitants found shelter amongst friends and relatives in the township.

Only two structures survive in town today: the original stone powder magazine in Fort George and yes, the stone walls of this very church.

Later, as we leave these warm comfortable pews and go out into the December night and enjoy the camaraderie of the community bon-fire let us not soon forget the tribulations of our innocent predecessors who suffered so much during this unnecessary war.

Richard D. Merritt MD, FRCSC

Read at St. Mark’s Church, December 10, 2013

NOTICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING

Cottage Rentals - Glendale Area R1 and QR Zones

PROPOSED CHANGE A zoning by-law amendment to implement Official Plan Amendment No. 55, which permits Cottage Rentals to be located anywhere in Town where Bed & Breakfasts are currently permitted. Cottage Rental means the commercial use of a single detached dwelling unit having more no more than three (3) bedrooms that may be rented for periods up to twenty-eight (28) consecutive days for use as temporary accommodation. This amendment will introduce the Cottage Rental use in the R1 and QR Zones, subject to specific provisions, which may include but are not limited to: minimum lot area, lot coverage, amenity space, and on-site parking. In addition to the creation of provisions for the R1 and QR Zones in their entirety, the amendment will also specifically consider the permission of a Cottage Rental use at the following properties: 50 Cole Crescent 69 Niagara-on-the-Green Boulevard 381 Wright Crescent 46 Young Crescent 48 Young Crescent

HAVE YOUR SAY Input on any proposed matter is welcome and encouraged. You can provide input by speaking at the public information meeting or by making a written submission to the Town.

PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING Date: January 20, 2014 Time: 5:00 p.m. Place: Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake Administration Offices Council Chambers 1593 Four Mile Creek Road, Virgil, Ontario

WRITTEN SUBMISSION To provide input in writing, or to request personal notice if the proposed change is adopted, please send a letter c/o Town Clerk Holly Dowd, 1593 Four Mile Creek Road, P.O. Box 100, Virgil, Ontario, L0S 1T0.

MORE INFORMATION For more information please contact Aaron Butler at 905-468-3266, extension 294 or [email protected]. A copy of this notice can be found on the Town's website at www.notl.org.

LEGAL NOTICE Section 34 of the Planning Act

If a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written

submissions to the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake before this matter is passed, the person or public body is not entitled to appeal the decision of the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake Council to the Ontario Municipal Board.

If a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting, or make written submission to the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake before this matter is passed, the person or public body may not be added as a party to the hearing of an appeal before the Ontario Municipal Board unless, in the opinion of the Board, there is reasonable grounds to do so.

If you wish to be notified of the decision of Town Council in respect to this matter, you must make a written request to the Town Clerk.

Dated at the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake this 9th day of January 2014