The Famous, New, Exciting SUNSET CEREMONIES ~ Fort Henry ~ St. Lawrence Parks Commission ~ Will Baird

www.forthenry.com

Will Baird, Manager, Fort Henry, St. Lawrence Parks Commission

www.parks.on.ca

Ontario Visited interview Mr. Will Baird, Manager of Fort Henry, St. Lawrence Parks continues …

The Famous NEW, EXCITING Sunset Ceremony … A GAME CHANGER …

The Fort’s famous Sunset Ceremonies have expanded to two nights a week, with a new 3-D projection technology, that will bring the walls of the Fort to life. Will Baird, Manager of Fort Henry - St. Lawrence Parks Commission says “this is a total game changer for us”. The Fort is re-branding its look from just a narrative presentation to more theatrical performance, including the use of a 3D wall projection.

During our past visits to the Fort, the Sunset Ceremonies were exciting to Gary and me. The music was captivating! There was precision marching and firing drill demonstrations! Excitement was in the air! The Fort Henry Guard, dressed in its crimson uniforms, performed highly technical drill maneuvers and then demonstrated mock battle re-enactments. All, demonstrating what friends and foes must have experienced in the 1800’s. "The Sunset Ceremony started off with a bang, drums beating, rifles firing and cannons booming! The receding sun brought magnificent colours to the western sky! As the night grew darker, the noise and colour caused by the re-enactment intensified!" You can read more about our visit in our past article (Please see LINK).

Today, Will Baird, Manager of Fort Henry - St. Lawrence Parks Commission describes the NEW technology as a “game changer”… “The new 3-D projection technology will bring the walls of the Fort to life”... “The concept is to use the wall like a canvas” says Will. “The 3-D technology will be a central part of events such as the Sunset Ceremony".

As I described our visit in the past to Mr. Baird, he points out to me that much of the experience was based on our imagination! The Guards were firing at an invisible enemy with invisible shots. The “new game” may look like this … While the artillery is firing at a Sunset Ceremony, a scene may be projected on the walls to show what an attack on the fort might have looked like. The part played by the guard may be the same, but the images will bring it into the 21^st century. The ceremony will still contain the core elements, focused on the guard, but presented in a much more theatrical way. For example, while the guards are firing artillery, a scene will be projected on the walls showing what an attack on the fort might have looked like.

As Will described to me … Can you imagine the British Flag flying high and fluttering on the Fort wall during the demonstration. It changes the ambience and entire feel. The power of the projection also has Optical Illusions. That will enhance the experience.

Stay tuned for my upcoming Blogs, Articles and Newsletters. In the meantime, please check out Fort Henry website at (LINK) for the Sunset Ceremony details; Upper Canada Village at (LINK) and the St. Lawrence Parks Commission at (LINK).