Big crowds, big guns A vintage 1776-pattern smoothbore field gun is fired by a well-rehearsed Fort York Guard gun crew. They’re wearing uniforms just like those of the modest Royal Artillery detachment – 16 officers and men – that was unlucky enough to be here in April 1813 to fight the Battle of York. This year’s Artillery Day was spread over May 26 and 27 during the weekend of Doors Open Toronto. The weather was fine and thousands of people turned out. A gunner (lower right) leans into his instrument. Both his uniform and the gun – a 25-pound howitzer, the standard field piece of Commonwealth armies – are vintage Second World War. They belong to the volunteer Limber Gunner Association, volunteers who keep their guns and tractors operational. In the foreground is the same 6-pounder seen firing above. Also on display were the fort’s rare Coehorn and a modern C3 105 mm howitzer of the 7th (Toronto) Regiment, Canadian Artillery, based at Moss Park.
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than 30 performances by Indigenous artists from across Canada. The festival included traditional and contemporary music, dance, theatre, storytelling, visual arts, crafts and food. On the weekend was Na-Me-Res Toronto’s Annual Traditional Pow Wow, “Indigenous Day Live” hosted by the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) and performances on the TD Main Stage presented by the Red Ride Tour (highlights are at www. toronto.ca/IAF). A special thank you to Kristine Williamson, Erica Roppollo, Leslie McCue and Lindy Kinoshameg for all their hard work in making the festival such a success despite the dampening effects of the rain. The summer of 2018 is shaping up to be another stellar season for the Fort York Guard. This year we had several experienced members return to the guard who were able to hit the ground running with daily demonstrations of musketry, artillery and music. Special thanks are owed to Friends of Fort York volunteer and former guardsman Anton Degiusti for sharing his encyclopedic knowledge of 19th-century drill. The aim of the Fort York Guard, with Anton’s help, is totally authentic drill. We’re finally nearing the end of much of the construction that has plagued the site for the past several years. The Bentway’s Strachan Gate is almost finished, landscaping is proceeding on several fronts, and Garrison Crossing – the footbridge over
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A new monument is unveiled on the lawn of Fort York Armoury on June 10 by the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Jonathan Vance (left), to honour the 162 Canadians who died during operations in Afghanistan. Members of the Royal Regiment of Canada are in their ceremonial scarlets. Several hundred soldiers of Toronto reserve regiments – including many from the Royals, The Queen’s York Rangers and 32 Signal Regiment, all based at this armoury – served in Afghanistan between 2003 and 2014, where they got to know these machines well. It is a LAV III designed and built by General Dynamics in London, Ontario, and regarded as the best light-armoured personnel carrier in the world. It weighs about 14,000 kg, has a 25 mm cannon, and carries three crew with seven passengers. These monuments are being placed across the country by Canada Company, a private organization that supports military families. Photo: Canada Company’s LAV III Monument Program (Kayce Photography)
