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Most historic sites across Canada have a legitimate claim to public acclaim for their special recognition of significant events in the past, or as structures housing noteworthy collections of artifacts. Each in its own way contributes to the recounting of important stages as this nation developed over many decades. However, many sites can’t tell the entire story they present because they are unable to inject a human component into their presentations. Fortunately, Fort York is not so hamstrung! It is able to make its buildings, artifacts and collections come alive through the Fort York Guard.
Each year, about two dozen dedicated students at the fort spend their summers recreating the Canadian Fencible Regiment. This regiment, raised originally in 1803 in the Scottish Highlands among Highlanders wishing to emigrate to the Canadas, was soon brought into open rebellion by rumours of its being sold to the East India Company. Consequently it was disbanded and the commissioned and non-commissioned officers transferred to the Canadas to start over. By the opening of war in 1812, the Canadian Regiment had a strength of over 600 rank and file. The Fort York Guard represents in its uniform, drill and music the Canadian Fencible Regiment circa 1815. From late June to the end of August the Guard gives life to the historic site and puts the buildings, artifacts and collections into proper perspective. It entertains visitors daily with demonstrations of musketry, canon firing and music.
Among the notable events involving the Guard this summer were: • The Fife & Drum Muster and Soldiers’ Field Day held every August at Fort George, Niagara-on-the-Lake. This event brings together fife and drum groups from various locations to provide presentations of period military music. The Guard has participated every year since 2001, and gave an excellent account of itself as usual. In addition, the Drill squad won yet again in competition with similar units from Fort George, Fort Malden and Fort Erie. • A splendid weekend at Black Creek Pioneer Village. For a second successive year the Drums were present, entertaining visitors and promoting the fort. While students come and go as part of the Guard, it is only through skill, experience and hard work that young leaders are created to provide the supervision and guidance that makes this program possible. We have been blessed with having had several notable individuals who have handled these important responsibilities. This summer the Drums were again under the direction of Ewan Wardle and Jessica Hanna who provided excellent guidance and musical direction to the group. Since the Drums are the showpiece of each regiment it is critical that they
present themselves both musically and visually as impeccably as possible, and the unit did not disappoint. Ned Gallagher continued to provide his dedicated efforts to the improvement of the Drums. Unfortunately, this was the last summer with the Guard for Lt. Keiko Twist after six years of loyal and dutiful service. Only through her dedication and perseverance has the Guard has been able to achieve its mandate. We thank Keiko for her hard work and significant contribution to its development. She has demonstrated abilities that no doubt will prove useful in her future endeavours. Despite the loss of Keiko, the future for the squad looks bright with the emergence of Sergeant Edward Bell and the attainment of a recognizable level of ‘esprit de corps’ within the group. The latter may have been helped in part by the Guard being quartered together in the East Blockhouse, rather than divided between two locations as was the case last year. The Friends of Fort York have made support of the Guard a priority and have focused on facilitating the human experience–the reason the fort’s structures and artifacts existed in the first place. As a result, a visit to the site becomes so much more than bricks and mortar.
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