War of 1812 - Interview Series

by Judi McWilliams

Sandra Shaul - Part Two

200 Years of Peace!
Sandra tells me “our National message is how the War planted the seeds to form our nation”. She went on to tell me “that the seeds were planted for the formation of the Nation, we have 2 distinct Nations that continue to grow in North America”. Sandra is asked often by people … “aren’t we all the same”? … To which she replies to them … “Boy if you think that, you haven’t done your homework!” Sandra went on to say that she is not fond of the statement … “We are all one, the same” … she states … “we are not! We all have something unique to add to the society and the communities we live in”! Ms. Shaul says “We are really a different society” (from that of the US). She seems to dislike the saying …“together we are all the same, together as one”! She was born in USA, and has dual citizenship leading a life in both countries. She quotes herself as “multi-generational”! This is in part where Sandra finds herself today … trying to convey a message to a multi-generational, multi-cultural society. In particular. Sandra wants to articulate to people “What does 200 years of peace mean” Sandra quotes herself “good at spinning”, but she does not need to “spin” stories about the War of 1812 and re-enacting etc. She went on to say that “you can’t kid them”, they know their stuff! Sandra helps me understand “that the challenges in Toronto start when you start talking with the youth about the War of 1812 and that it occurred right here at Lake Ontario at Fort York." The students ask “what Lake?” "They live in areas such as the Jane/Finch area and never get to travel outside the immediate location”.
(To be continued)

War of 1812 - Interview Series

by Judi McWilliams

Sandra Shaul - Part One

The War of 1812 in Toronto
Plans are well under way for the War of 1812 Bi-centennial Celebrations. I have been on a quest to understand why “living history” and “re-enactments” are important to us today. Each and every time I interview different people, I learn something new. What I wasn’t expecting was a completely new perspective that Ms. Sandra Shaul, City of Toronto, Museum Administrator, Special Projects, shared with me. Ms. Shaul is also the Museum Administrator Special Projects Bicentennial War of 1812 Museums and Heritage Services City of Toronto Cultural Services. She has some insights and perspectives that are highly relevant, enlightening and informative. Sandra has a distinct message that is different from the other Regional areas of Bicentennial celebrations. The demographics of the Toronto area and region are not rural and have a very distinct audience from other areas. Sandra’s region is composed of about 2.6 million people, 50% born outside Canada, thus creating a vast diversity of multi-cultural and diverse ethnic backgrounds. Sandra tells me part of her challenge stems from the marketing question of WIFM (What’s in it for me?). What does the War of 1812 have to do with me? Ms. Shaul says the big answer is “we are a different country because of that War”. Sandra is constantly amazed in how much the War of 1812 is reflected in our lives today! Sandra quotes herself as “not a military bluff”, but she is surprised how much she has learnt. She says “if you understand the context of the War of 1812, and that it should never have happened, you will see how it has led to who we are today”. Because of the multi-cultural diversity in the Toronto region, Sandra tells me she was surprised by a question when asked, “do you think “the people” will want to be part of the Bicentennial Celebrations”, Sandra said, “you mean us, the people”! What Ms. Shaul tells me is that “Toronto wants to tell the stories of the War of 1812 and engage the all the people of this dynamic diversity to make them feel part of it!” What Sandra is looking for in Toronto “is balance of honoring the memory regardless of who fought in the War”? She wants to “focus on the social history of the time AND the 200 years since … who we are today and how we became here!” The City of Toronto was working on a slogan for the upcoming Bi-centennial celebrations, but Sandra’s goal was to try to fill the gap! Sandra believes, in part, that the big message to be conveyed, is to focus on the 200 years of peace.
(To be continued)

Keeping It FUN!

by Judi McWilliams

Chris Robins - Part Seven

"The Ten Foot Rule..."
I asked Mr. Robins if he knew about “the ten foot rule”. I wrote about this in my article dated October 20th, 2010 called "Do You Pass the Ten Foot Rule?". Chris had not heard of this, but tells me that his uniforms are mostly accurate for the time. His hunting frocks, as he says, “look kind-of cool". They are made out of linen, which was authentic to the time, but, during the summer re-enactments, are a whole lot more comfortable! I asked him if spectators were critical of either the authenticity of their uniforms, gear or the actual battles themselves that they re-enact. He states, only twice, once being a re-enactment of the American Civil War in Norwood, where a spectator wanted to see the War of 1812, not the American’s. Chris was ready with a great response to this criticism by inviting the gentleman back next year to watch the 1812 battle! And, sure enough, the gentleman showed up that following year! The other criticism that Chris immediately fixed was that of an incorrectly labeled musket on his website. In doing so, he came to see the actual Baker riffle, when a gentleman took the time to bring it along to show him. This leads me right back to where Chris started, when he said he loves the live of re-enactments and living history. He tells me that “it just was the way they did things”. His final story of the day was a time when he was in a re-enactment. There was no wind at the time and many cannons went off leaving a thick mass of smoke in the air. He was portraying a British soldier that day and they did not know how many folks they would be “battling”. Suddenly jackets started to appear coming right through the dense smoke, hundreds of jackets, hundreds of men. Chris tells me that he said out loud “ that’s so cool” (and I saw the glimmer in his eyes even though we were just standing in his classroom as he remembered) … then he said out loud “we’re so screwed”. Chris does re-enacting for the love of it, but, mostly, as I’ve witnessed, he does it for the FUN of it!

Keeping It FUN!

by Judi McWilliams

Chris Robins - Part Six

"History Class"
The students were working on three dimensional projects making forts out of wood, clay, wire mess, twigs, paint, glue and fun stuff. While the students were making their bunkers/forts, Chris finally got to share with me an exciting part of my day with him, that being his “Christmas decoration trunk”. This is where he keeps his prize possessions, the uniforms for the re-enactment battles. He even has a dedicated space in his home, in the basement crawl space, which is cement. It's clean and dry! There you will find over 15 extra large "Christmas decoration trunks" full of treasures! Without the support of Chris’s spouse, he tells me it would be impossible to have obtained, created, sown! They dedicate so much of their lives to the life of re-enacting! His spouse supports him fully, but, the first condition, apparently, was that she was willing to sew the uniforms, but he, too, would have to learn how to sow! This is where I got excited! Chris opened the treasure box and the amazement began! First up were the Northumberland Militia Soldier uniforms. Chris and his wife meticulously and professionally sewed each uniform. The jackets mostly start out as everyday suit jackets, that they pick up at our local thrift shops. Chris has an amazing eye when it comes to altering clothing. He can take a double breasted suit, add buttons, cut, hem, add too, and take off, all in the part of spectacular replica uniforms! He has approximately 19 sets of the Northumberland uniforms. The helmets themselves are also hand-made. They take Bristol boards, sculpt them, add felt, and then spray for protection. They hand braid the rope around the hat and then use a vinyl peak. The plume that gets inserted into the helmet is also handmade from wool and a coat hanger manipulated to fit! Chris has 12 sets of the red US Infantry, with the engraved metal plaques on the helmet. The plaques engraved by a local engraver. He has uniforms of the incorporated militia of Upper Canada. The Imuk unit is based out of Port Perry. The plates are so intricate that they had to purchase them at an expensive in the amount of $60 for each gold plated plaque. Chris proudly shows me one of the 16 sets of the First Kentucky Mounted Jacket unit. He says it is a little ironic for them to be called that, as they just rode to the battle, and then jumped off to fight. These amazing uniforms were sown from scratch, about three years ago, by his students. Sixty, yes I said, sixty units were made of the cartridge boxes used by students. They were hand-made by a friend from one of the re-enactment groups.
(To be continued)

Keeping It FUN!

by Judi McWilliams




Chris Robins - Part Five

"Practice Continued"
The students were extremely intent on listening to Mr. Robins and learning. A few of the seasoned students, in their fourth year of re-enacting, hammed it up a bit. But, when it became time to be serious, they were! As they practiced, Chris tossed in a scenario about being in battle, saying that if you see people in different uniforms, we kill them! The kids laughed and cheered! Chris explains to the students that the chance of getting wounded and not killed were better while marching in close line. A very interesting part of the lesson was teaching them to walk “right oblique”. As he explained the process to the kids, it looked to me like a bunch of kids walking in a drunken disorderly way, putting a left foot down and swinging the right foot forward and off to the side! Chris was so funny, even the students laughed, when he said “you try this now, me, I’m getting the heck out of the way. We will be over here laughing … or we will be amazed.”! The students marched in the "oblique way" and we were amazed! No one tripped over anyone else. As Chris told them … “not too shabby at all!” I had a chance to ask Chris why the soldiers would march this way in battle. He said that it was a great way to get from here to there, at a 45 degree angle, while the soldier kept facing forward to the enemy. I guess, too, they are less likely to be hit, as they zig zag with no definite pattern. Our time in drill practice seemed to fly by, the school bell rang out again and Chris invited me back to his homeroom for a grade ten history class.
(To be continued)