Route 1812 ~ Keeping Sponsors “Happy”! … Funding …

Welcome to Route 1812 ~ Pathways to Peace ~ Western Corridor War of 1812-1814 website at www.westerncorridor1812.com

Pathways to Peace ~ Western Corridor War of 1812-1814

Adrienne Horne, M.A., Regional Project Manager, Western Corridor War of 1812 Bicentennial Alliance ~ Interview Continues

Route 1812 ~ Keeping Sponsors “Happy”! … Funding …

With the economic challenges today, it would seem it critical to obtain/maintain Sponsor funding and Other Sources of funding. I asked Adrienne how did they about obtain funding?

There was the coordinated financial support from the Hamilton Halton Brant Regional Tourism Association, Southwest Ontario Tourism Corporation, The Trillium Foundation, WCA members including municipalities, tourism organizations and museums as well as private businesses. Each of these entities funded, granted and purchased ad space all in an effort to see Route 1812 become a reality. Adrienne tells us … We applied for many grants and were able to receive funding from the newly formed Regional Tourism Organizations in Southern Ontario. The Trillium Foundation provided funding to print the map & guide book. We also sold ad space in the printed map & guide book to help cover the costs. The businesses involved were also generous and lowered their standard rates for the project.

One of my important questions I like to ask is how do you keep “Sponsors” interested in supporting your efforts and “keep them happy”? Adrienne’s reply was precise …You deliver on your end of the arrangement and continue to provide them with projects that they can support.

My final question in this Blog to Ms. Horne…    In what capacity do you feel our Governments (Local, Provincial and Federal Governments) play a role in assisting with the ongoing pursuits of this important Project ~ Route 1812? She tells us … The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport provided the resources to create the 1812 regions. It was the coordination efforts of those regions that made this project possible and will see to the legacy of the route so that it continues to be utilized by local communities. Join us next time for “Time to Explore!” Stay tuned for more news …

Route 1812 ~ Co-ordinating Efforts … Obstacles & Overcoming Them …

Welcome to Route 1812 ~ Pathways to Peace ~ Western Corridor War of 1812-1814 website at www.westerncorridor1812.com

Pathways to Peace ~ Western Corridor War of 1812-1814

Adrienne Horne, M.A., Regional Project Manager, Western Corridor War of 1812 Bicentennial Alliance ~ Interview Continues

Route 1812 ~ Co-ordinating Efforts … Obstacles & Overcoming Them …

Route 1812 was an enormous coordinated effort. The Western Corridor Alliance made up of 16 municipalities and Counties, set up a working group. This group consisted of 15 people, both historians and curators. The 15 people represented areas along the route, so each person (usually in pairs) were responsible for their area, determining the route and sites to list. The group members then went back to their communities and asked their local historians and elders for the information and stories about the activities of the War of 1812. As many of the members of the committee were historians themselves, much of the research was their own. It all came together to create a comprehensive history of this area of Upper Canada.

At the same time that the WCA’s working group was developing Route 1812, a class of Canadian History students at Western University were tasked with doing the same for the Tecumseh Parkway in the Southwest 1812 region, which includes the Chatam-Kent and Windsor-Essex Counties. Find the routes, locate the sites, tell the stories and find images when possible. Then the 2 1812 regions joined forces and combined the trails to complete Route 1812 throughout Southern Ontario. Join us next Blog for Keeping Sponsors “happy”! … Funding … Stay tuned for more news …

Welcome to Route 1812 ~ Low Cost Family Fun! …

Welcome to Route 1812 ~ Pathways to Peace ~ Western Corridor War of 1812-1814 website at www.westerncorridor1812.com

Pathways to Peace ~ Western Corridor War of 1812-1814

Adrienne Horne, M.A., Regional Project Manager, Western Corridor War of 1812 Bicentennial Alliance ~ Interview Continues

Route 1812 ~ Low Cost Family Fun! …

As our interview continues, I was interested to know from Adrienne what the demographic of the Route 1812 Project would consist of and where will the key visitors to Route 1812 come from?

We promote to three types of people; those with time and resources, usually retired people who are interested in history; then families looking for local fun activities that don’t cost a lot, and finally adventure seekers looking for experiences and unique trips that again are not too expensive. So we look to locals who want to plan “staycations”; but we are also encouraging the same sort of people from the States, as they may journey into Canada on their travels looking for more local stories. Ms. Horne goes on to tell us … As part of regional tourism marketing campaigns, word about Route 1812 is part of national and international call outs. The Western Corridor Alliance webpage has all the information to learn more about the route and to get the items needed to travel the route, such as the mobile app, the map & guide and the cd of stories of the War of 1812 along the way.

Route 1812 ~ Challenges Along the Way …

Ontario Visited wondered what might be some of the challenges that the “visitors” might expect during their “Tour through Route 1812”? Adrienne tells us … I would expect that navigation is going to be the most challenging aspect. The mobile app is based on a Google map, so that gets to the detail needed to get to the sites which are mainly off the beaten paths. We did produce a paper map, which also gives that level of detail, but I would imagine that people might still have challenges along the way. The whole point of Route 1812 is to follow the original trails from 200 years ago, so it naturally follows the smaller roads.

Unfortunately, we have not created uniform road signage for the trail. There have not been the resources to coordinate such an effort, as it requires working with all the municipalities and counties along the route and a lot of signs would be required.

To overcome some of these challenges, Adrienne says … Well, I encourage people to use the mobile app; it gets to the detail needed to navigate the route. The mobile app also has other information about the area, such as restaurants, hotels and other attractions to make the journey more enjoyable.  Stay tuned for more exciting news …

Welcome to Route 1812 ~ Impact & Importance in our Society Today! …

Welcome to Route 1812 ~ Pathways to Peace ~ Western Corridor War of 1812-1814 website at www.westerncorridor1812.com

Pathways to Peace ~ Western Corridor War of 1812-1814

Adrienne Horne, M.A., Regional Project Manager, Western Corridor War of 1812 Bicentennial Alliance ~ Interview Continues
Route 1812 ~ Impact & Importance in our Society Today! …

I was able to ask Ms. Horne, just how important is the “Route 1812” Project and how does it impact our society today? She shares with us … Today, people are looking to find out about their roots in this land and Route 1812 gives them an outlet to share their stories. Each area created their section of Route 1812, the community told me where the paths were in their area and what stories to tell. Route 1812 gives people a canvas for them to tell their story in their own way.

So a project like the Southwestern Ontario Barn Quilt Trail has taken off and is growing every day. This project uses the trails along Route 1812 to display 8 foot square barn quilt blocks which are images representing elements in the community’s history. What I love about this project is that communities come together to create them. Quilters, researchers, artists, carpenters, farmers and community groups come together to write the story, select the blocks, make them and install them on barns or buildings. It is a real community effort and they are proud of their story when it is done and want people to also learn the stories and enjoy finding the blocks.  

Although I can see that we will learn from visiting the historic sites, museums, events, colourful Barn Quilts along the way while visiting Route 1812 historic trails … I asked Adrienne in what way will the local stories tell how the war affected various settlements? I also asked, will these “Barn Quilts” tell us clearly the social impact of the settlers who had to defend their homes and send men off to fight during the War of 1812?

Ms. Adrienne Horne says …Beyond the Barn Quilts, you will find museums along the way are creating wonderful War of 1812 themed exhibits, telling the local stories in their own way. For the Western Corridor, this is mostly about how the war effected the local populations and their homes. Visitors will learn about raids, traitors, burnings and yes, battles too. The Ontario Visual Heritage Project has nearly completed their film on the War of 1812 in Southern Ontario; titled A Desert Between Us and Them: Raiders, Traitors and Refugees in the War of 1812. This documentary brings to life all the stories told along Route 1812. Stay tuned for more. It launches at 6 pm on August 24 at the Sanderson Centre in Brantford.  … Low Cost Family Fun & More … Stay tuned for more … Low Cost Family Fun & More …

Welcome to Route 1812 ~ Passion & Enthusiasm ….

Welcome to Route 1812 ~ Pathways to Peace ~ Western Corridor War of 1812-1814 website at www.westerncorridor1812.com

Pathways to Peace ~ Western Corridor War of 1812-1814

Adrienne Horne, M.A., Regional Project Manager, Western Corridor War of 1812 Bicentennial Alliance ~ Interview Continues

Welcome to Route 1812 ~ Passion & Enthusiasm ….

If you have ever had some time to speak with Adrienne, you might notice the conversation has far more “passion” then just discussing “history”. It’s not just her knowledge that you notice either. I asked Adrienne if she could share some of the passion and overall enthusiasm for this Route 1812 Project.

Adrienne replies … I suppose I have always had a love for history. I studied Cultural Anthropology in University, and then took up the role of Family Historian from my grandfather. My family has had a long and influential impact on Canada’s history, including roles in the War of 1812.

I was so excited when I was hired to help the province commemorate the War of 1812. I was finally able to use both my Anthropology and Family History in my career. It helped that I have a strong background in museum studies and project management too!

For me Route 1812 gives communities the opportunity to tell their own story of their history. I never liked history in grade school and I think it was because it went from one war to another. I always thought there must be something more to history then just fighting and so I went into Anthropology, to learn how people live together. As ironic as it seems now to be in yet another war, Route 1812 has given me the outlet to tell the people’s stories, off the battlefields.

Route 1812 is about the social impact the war had on the citizens. It is the social impact that I am interested in. How did we defend our homes and come together in times of trouble, to then stay together to form a great nation? It is that legacy that Canadians should be proud of and celebrate. Stay tuned for more exciting news ...