War of 1812 - Interview Series

by Judi McWilliams

Anne Brooks - Part Three
I wondered what kept Anne interested in taking part of the re-enactments. She tells me that it is “The passion re-enactors have for their hobby, I like to learn new things and re-enactors are always wanting and willing to share their wealth of knowledge with you.” If you get a chance to watch or be part of a re-enactment, battle or encampment, I can share with you some of what there is to enjoy and why. I enjoy visiting re-enactments and encampments myself mostly due to the passion that I see from these people and how much effort they take in participating. It is as if you were back in the period of time. It helps make me appreciate what we have today. What Anne enjoys the most is … “I have met a lot of people through re-enactments, so I enjoy talking to re-enactors, getting to know them, and seeing why they enjoy spending their weekends at re-enactments.” There are costs involved, as I have talked about before, but from Anne I was able to further the knowledge of what other kinds of costs are associated with hosting a re-enactment? She tells me … “It depends on the site, each site has separate costs associated with the event, depending on what they want at the event, and what is important to them cost wise. We provide one free meal to all the re-enactors, we have overnight security to make sure everyone is safe. Most re-enactments need to have St. John’s Ambulance. We have a sound system so visitors can get a play by play of what is going on and the meaning behind it.”
(To Be Continued)

War of 1812 - Interview Series

by Judi McWilliams

Anne Brooks - Part Two

As you may know by now, I like to talk about “The Ten Foot Rule” (see article). I just had to ask Anne what her thoughts were about how true to authenticity both she and her groups were in regards to their equipment and re-enactments battles and encampments. I laughed when Anne shared with me … “I am not a very good re-enactor, my dress and outfit isn’t authentic. I just need a dress that passes for a re-enactor, I know I need a new dress this year, since my other one got destroyed by the rain that would not let up at Fanshawe Pioneer Village’s re-enactment last year, so I know I will either make one or buy one for less than $100…If I wanted to get a more accurate one, that was better quality, I would probably spend $300 or so, depending on what I got. I just need a simple one, though, because I don’t attend many re-enactments in kit. I am also horrible at wearing bonnets… I “accidently” forget them so I don’t have to wear them. Fanshawe Pioneer Village does try to stay authentic in regards to re-enactments, but we also have the challenge of being a village that represents the 1820’s to the 1920’s, but we have a re-enactment that represents 1812.” In regards to the regiment, Anne shares that …”I am not in a group, my boyfriend is in the UTMRS and they are pretty true to authenticity, his group is always doing research and trying to find out as much as they can on the First Royal Scots.”
(To Be Continued)

War of 1812 - Interview Series

by Judi McWilliams

Anne Brooks - Part One

It is fortunate that the Festival Nomad and I met Anne Brooks in our travels. Anne is the Marketing and Communications Coordinator at Fanshawe Pioneer Village in London, Ontario. Located in a beautiful setting on the Upper Thames River Conservation Area, Fanshawe Pioneer Village tells the story of rural communities in the former townships of Westminster, London, North Dorchester, Delaware, West Nissouri and Lobo in Middlesex County, from 1820 to 1920, and the founding and development of the City of London up to 1840. Since our meeting, Anne has become a Festival Nomad Correspondent with our Ontario Visited websites, attending several events. She has written articles and taken photos for us. Although Anne is not a member of any re-enactment group, she does work with the Upper Canada Military Re-enactment Society (UCMRS) since 2008 at Fanshawe Pioneer Village. She also keeps busy with the Upper Thames Military Re-enactment Society (UTMRS), since 2009, on a volunteer basis, with events that they plan such as a living history conference and the Bicentennial activities for 2012- 2014.

With this in mind, I thought it would be interesting to talk with Anne about her knowledge and experience with re-enactments and living history. I wondered how someone gets started with their involvement! Anne tells me … “I remember my dad taking my sister and me to re-enactments and all the Ontario forts when we were very young. He is a big history buff. I didn’t learn about living history or re-enactments till I started at Fanshawe Pioneer Vilaage in 2008.” As I have traveled to re-enactments, I always wonder how re-enactors obtain the uniforms/equipment needed in re-enacting, and what kind of cost is associated with these? In Anne’s case, she told me … “I had a bonnet made for me and I have made a dress, and purchased other items from merchants at re-enactments. Most re-enactors either make their own outfits or they buy them from someone else in the re-enacting community, this way their outfit is more authentic then some random person who isn’t familiar with re-enacting. Re-enacting is very expensive, for a soldier to get started it will generally cost around $2000, but it can cost a lot more or a lot less depending on how you go about it. One can purchase old uniforms and guns from other re-enactors, or you can purchase brand new. I know there have been re-enactors that have spent thousands just on their soldier’s jacket.”
(To Be Continued)

War of 1812 - Interview Series

by Judi McWilliams

Sandra Shaul - Part Three

ENGAGE THEM!
She told me a story that helped explain where she is coming from … "This year May 1st fell on a Thursday, the celebrations at Fort York were rained out, but, the youth attended, these kids were from Georgian region and spoke mostly Russian, 10-16 years old. These kids are being trained as Youth Ambassadors. When the Food Historian Cook spoke to the kids, saying that the food was Georgian, talking about cookies, puddings, and cooking in the rain, over the fire … the kids fell in love with the Fort, but, the translation was wrong. They were confused, the kids asked why the food wasn’t at all like at home in the Georgian region, what the historian was talking about was King George III." Sandra’s point to the story, “a new Canadian can be confused”. What was amazing to Sandra that this simple act of cooking over a fire, led to the kids talking about their own stories. The stories start to mingle and they learn to appreciate each other. Sandra’s point … “This story is about the level at which you start to educate, and then you expand from there! ENGAGE THEM!” Sandra says… “You get the right foot planted in the ground, them you move the left foot!” … "ENGAGE THEM!” With all this being said, I asked Sandra if they would be relying on volunteers to assist with their efforts in the War of 1812 Celebrations. Yes, Sandra says, they will need volunteers, but, went on to tell me about a volunteer of the Youth Ambassador Program. This volunteer who runs the program works for the City of Toronto. This program is a leadership program for new Canadians. They want to start an exchange program with Buffalo-Toronto Youth, reaching out to the priority neighborhood children. Sandra has plans and challenges for her promotion of the upcoming special War if 1812 Be-Centennial Celebration. But, Sandra has passion for both her community and the people who live in it and visit it. She has a vision, ENGAGE THEM for success!

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!