Military history of yesterday and today was on display last Saturday at Fort Malden National Historic Site of Canada.
Fort Malden presented its Living History Festival with re-enactors dating back to the Roman Empire to modern-day military members and a wide variety of re-enactors from eras in between joining the War of 1812 re-enactors that usually call Fort Malden home.
Corrine Ross, visitor experience team leader at Fort Malden, stated they had Indigenous representation as well from the Caldwell First Nation. There were also people in attendance from the Canadian Transportation Museum, the Gibson Gallery, United Empire Loyalists, Southern Ontario Military Muster, and Belle Vue.
“This is expanding on our military history to include other heritage organizations as well,” explained Ross. “We’ve got a lot of eras covered.”
Members of the public enjoy coming through the grounds of Fort Malden National Historic Site of Canada to learn more about history, Ross added.
“It’s a chance for people to experience it,” she said, adding they learn from people who lived like the soldiers did in previous times. There were also displays that people could see and touch.
“These re-enactors are eager to speak to people and answer questions,” said Ross. “They are experts on their timelines.”
Different technologies were on display including how to cook over open fire to weapons demonstrations. Such things as musket firings and artillery displays are unique to sites like Fort Malden, she indicated.
“You can’t see this everywhere,” said Ross. “Not every historic site does this.”
The interest from the public “gives us the energy” to keep organizing the events, she said, as the public that attend show genuine interest and are engaged. She added there are people that attended as children that come back with their own kids, citing a person from Hamilton who used to attend Fort Malden as a youth.
“People are coming from all over and bringing their children and grandchildren,” she said.
Victoria Beaulieu from the Maidstone Bicentennial Museum said they were doing such things as 18th century cooking and showing what life in the fur trade was like as part of their encampment that was along the Detroit River. She said they were showing what life could be like in that era.
Re-enactors from Fort Malden National Historic Site often attend events at the Maidstone Bicentennial Museum and they were now returning the favour.
“It’s nice because (Fort Malden) helps Maidstone with our encampments,” said Beaulieu. “We just wanted to come and help.”
Chad Bonifazi of Amherstburg was representing Loyalists in the Mohawk Valley in 1779 during the American Revolution. He said he is originally from Pennsylvania and has family still there. He noted he had ancestors who fought for the Patriots in the American Revolution and he wanted to see the other side of the story.
“I’ve always found interest in the flipside of the American Revolution,” he said.
Bonifazi said he met a Loyalist-themed re-enactor group and they travel as far as Mackinac, Pennsylvania and as far as Florida.
“I think this is fabulous here,” he said of the Living History Festival.
Bonifazi believed it allows people to reconnect with various parts of history, and credited Fort Malden staff on how well they were treated.
“Parks Canada should be proud of this site,” he said.
“I love this event,” added Terry MacEachern from the Provincial Marine.
Russell Goddard, also with the Provincial Marine, agreed and said he was in his fifth or sixth year as a re-enactor at it.
Fort Malden’s murder mystery returns this Saturday from 6-8 p.m. That will allow people to play detective in an event where summer students will be in various roles around the grounds, offering clues to see if people can solve the mystery.
Cost is $20.25 with pre-registration recommended. People can register by e-mailing fortmalden@pc.gc.ca with payment made on site upon arrival. The murder mystery is weather dependent and, should inclement weather hit, cancellations will be posted on Fort Malden National Historic Site of Canada’s Facebook page.
For more information, call Fort Malden at 519-736-5416.
Living History Festival blends military history of yesterday and today
By Ron Giofu
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