Keeping It FUN!

by Judi McWilliams

Fort Mackinac and Nancy Island

Mr. David Brunelle, currently the Project Director of the Southern Georgian Bay War of 1812 Bicentennial Committee, invited us to visit this year’s Wasaga under Siege in July, 2011. It was an exciting re-enactment of a portion of the Relief of Fort Mackinac, portraying events that occurred February to April 1814. The Upper Nottawasaga River is basically the same way it looked like in 1814 and was/is a great opportunity for those hearty re-enactors to experience the environment and hardships soldiers and sailors experienced firsthand on this historical journey. This river excursion was not a leisurely float down the river, as all participants were expected to pull their weight on an oar, potentially cut paths through fallen trees and log jams and get their feet wet, as low fast running water may dictate the guiding the boat by hand and feet. Naval groups got to experience some real first hand river negotiating experience! In 1814, from February to April, the Relief of Fort Mackinac took six officers, 130 men of the RNR (virtually all who remained fit for service), 11 artillerymen, and a naval party of 21. They marched overland, with supplies, during the winter from Kingston to the Nottawasaga River. Moving to re-supply the starving garrison at Fort Mackinac, in a remarkable operation, that demonstrated their capability and determination both ashore, and on the water. They felled trees to build 29 bateaux, and then rowed from the Nottawasaga River across Lake Huron to the fort at Michilimackinac (some 360 miles). They lost only one boat that was crushed in the ice choked waters. What is exciting for us today is, that we can visit Nancy Island, located within Wasaga Beach Provincial Park on the Nottawasaga River. The river flows into Georgian Bay, which, of course is part of Lake Huron. The Island is the resting place for the British Schooner HMS Nancy. Wasaga Beach was the scene of a dramatic battle during the War of 1812. Nancy Island is a great place to enjoy history - the War of 1812, Naval Nostalgia, beautiful landscape, water and pak excitement!