Saturday April 27 will see the city of Toronto commemorate the centenary of the Battle of York, an integral but controversial part of the War of 1812. All three levels of government, from federal through provincial to municipal, will cooperate to remind us of our history.
The Americans Invaded Fort York in the War of 1812
The Americans invaded Fort York, just west of the settlement named York, on April 27, 1813.
The American strategy was to strike at British military bases as soon as ships could navigate in Lake Ontario after the winter ice, but before the British could send support along the St. Lawrence River.
Spooked by reports of signicant numbers of troops guarding Fort Henry in Kingston, the Americans chose Fort York as being less defended.
Both sides performed controversial acts. Did the British commander blow up Fort York to injure the American troops while negotiating terms? Did he abandon the citizens of York to protect his troops? Did the Americans commit atrocities or simply pillage the no longer defended settlement?
How to Commemorate the Battle of York in Toronto
On April 27, 2013, choose from a variety of events to commemorate the Battle of York in Toronto.
The First Nations Sunrise Ceremony for the Battle of York
Descendants of native warriors allied with the British will lead the sunrise ceremony at 6am at the Palais Royale.
The official Toronto site asks you not to park in the Palais Royale parking lot; they recommend Budapest Park on the Martin Goodman Trail, or Exhibition Place as your alternates. (Budapest Park is south of Lake Shore Blvd West via Parkside Drive. The Palais Royale is just east of this park). However, they recommend that you take the TTC to the intersection of King St., Queen St. and Roncesvalles Ave. and then walk south over the footbridge.
Walk Like an American from the Palais Royale to Fort York
From 10am-12:30pm, follow a guided tour of the route the American invaders took from the Palais Royale on the shore of Lake Ontario, to Fort York.
Pre-register by e-mail or telephone; see the information just above the map on the “Bicentennial Commemoration of the Battle of York” page.
You get 2.5 hours to walk 5Km over flat terrain (except for the slight incline getting from Fleet Street to York Street).
Military Parade from Queen’s Park to Fort York
This parade begins at 11:30 at Queen’s Park, finishing at Fort York at 1pm.
Sick people viagra without prescription midwayfire.com exhaust easily, and have deprived sleep. The medicine holds a very good name amongst other pills for impotence because it has never disappointed any of its consumers and so price tadalafil tablets you will never love in the real world. Physical or organic causes are numerous such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, check these guys out cialis 10 mg diabetes, obesity, arteriosclerosis amongst others. He introduced a fascinating table order discount viagra on the simple math of discounting.
The route goes south on University Ave., west on Richmond St., south on Portland St., west on Front St., south on Bathurst St., and west on Fort York Blvd.
You could catch the parade anywhere along the route, but I might intercept it via subway; for example, at the Queen’s Park or St. Patrick subway stations on the University line. If you’re already at Fort York, just stick around.
More Memorials for the War of 1812 at Fort York in Toronto
From 1:30-2:30pm, you can watch re-enactments and listen to military bands, children’s choirs and various dignitaries at Fort York.
A dedication service for commemorative plaques follows from 3-4pm.
Several other events are planned for Fort York on April 27, 2013; check the official site noted above.
Learn More about the War of 1812
“Pierre Berton’s War of 1812” is a double feature containing Berton’s “The Invasion of Canada” and “Flames Across the Border“. “Invasion” recounts the origins and first year of the War of 1812. The “Flames” title evokes an image common to several of the battles of the War of 1812: the cities and forts burned on both the American and Canadian sides of the border. Pierre Burton applied all his talents as a researcher and writer to presenting this compelling narrative of the War of 1812. Amazon readers gave this book a 5/5 rating in four reviews.
Continue exploring the battlefields and monuments to the War of 1812 with the “Guidebook to the Historic Sites of the War of 1812“. This revised edition points to over 400 historic sites associated with the War of 1812 in both countries. As one reviewer puts it, “The only major missing location in the USA is Pensacola”. Gilbert Collins combines his extensive travel experience with his passion for the history of native interactions with the European colonization of northern North America.
Where is Fort York in Toronto?
The location of Fort York in Toronto is in between Bathurst Street and Strachan Avenue, south of the railway but north of Lake Shore Blvd West, Fleet Street and the Gardiner Expressway. Actually, Fort York Blvd connects from Bathurst Street. and Garrison Road from Fleet Street.
I’d take the 511 Bathurst streetcar south from the Bloor subway. You could bicycle along the Martin Goodman Trail and cross at Bathurst, too.
Looking for More Annual Toronto Events?
Do you crave more events in Toronto?
Things to do in Toronto
Check the “annual events” or “Toronto events” categories toward the end of the left-hand menu. We’d like to cover all Toronto summer attractions, and indeed all special events in Toronto; especially for Canadian holidays. Today’s article is a bit of an exception, since it covers a once-a-century spring event in Toronto.
Disclaimer: DeHaan Services has no relationship to the organizer(s); I am not reimbursed for writing this article. However, DeHaan Services does write web site or advertising copy for clients. Our skills are demonstrated in online articles in Decoded Science and Decoded Pregnancy. That’s why DeHaan Services highlights these online articles on this site.
Thanks for reading about how Toronto plans to commemorate the Battle of York in the War of 1812.
