Many Canadians are by now sick to death of War of 1812 reminders, more than a historical commemoration it is now associated as much with a campaign tool of Stephen Harper's Conservative government or fodder for stand up comics as it is with a series of events that shaped the fate of an entire continent.
More than universal health care, more than official bilingualism, even more than hockey, events like the Battle of York (Toronto) shaped Canada as a nation, and the future direction it would take.
A year before this event, in year 1812 it seemed almost certain that Upper and Lower Canada would be added to the newly founded Untied States, it was among other things a combination of swift action by British Commander (Issac Brock killed in 1812), his alliance with a Native leader (Tecumseh - also to later die in battle near present day London Ontario), timidity on behalf of certain American Commanders and some just plain good luck that saved the provinces from assimilation.
It is a shame and a poor comment on Canadians in general - and Torontonians in specific - that so few know about these events and even fewer seem interested. If Toronto was truly "a world class city", if it was a European, Latin American, or US City individual citizens would know the history of the place they live, celebrate it and take pride in passing knowledge of it to visitors.
Perhaps it's a legacy of us as a nation always having a protector or big brother (France then the UK, then the United States) that makes us complacent, makes us take our collective heritage for granted like the child of wealthy parents always assuming mommy and daddy will be there for him. However it is long past time that as a people we take pride on our heritage and not just celebrate it but truly become knowledgeable about the events that shaped who we are. Whether you're 5th generation Canadian or just arrived here from Somalia last year, if you live in Toronto, this event is part of your cultural heritage.
It is not enough on July 1st to say you love Canada, yet not know anything about the country as whole. It is rather like someone who says they love their wife but can't remember their favourite colour, favorite movie or what foods they like. You can't truly say you love something if you don't know anything about it.
More than universal health care, more than official bilingualism, even more than hockey, events like the Battle of York (Toronto) shaped Canada as a nation, and the future direction it would take.
A year before this event, in year 1812 it seemed almost certain that Upper and Lower Canada would be added to the newly founded Untied States, it was among other things a combination of swift action by British Commander (Issac Brock killed in 1812), his alliance with a Native leader (Tecumseh - also to later die in battle near present day London Ontario), timidity on behalf of certain American Commanders and some just plain good luck that saved the provinces from assimilation.
It is a shame and a poor comment on Canadians in general - and Torontonians in specific - that so few know about these events and even fewer seem interested. If Toronto was truly "a world class city", if it was a European, Latin American, or US City individual citizens would know the history of the place they live, celebrate it and take pride in passing knowledge of it to visitors.
Perhaps it's a legacy of us as a nation always having a protector or big brother (France then the UK, then the United States) that makes us complacent, makes us take our collective heritage for granted like the child of wealthy parents always assuming mommy and daddy will be there for him. However it is long past time that as a people we take pride on our heritage and not just celebrate it but truly become knowledgeable about the events that shaped who we are. Whether you're 5th generation Canadian or just arrived here from Somalia last year, if you live in Toronto, this event is part of your cultural heritage.
It is not enough on July 1st to say you love Canada, yet not know anything about the country as whole. It is rather like someone who says they love their wife but can't remember their favourite colour, favorite movie or what foods they like. You can't truly say you love something if you don't know anything about it.
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