Dear Larry,
I've been involved in concerts and events commemorating the 1812 war. It was started in 1812, but ended in December 1814. The start of the war at Fort York is being remembered with various events at Fort York. June 21, a native festival, will see the Metis Fiddler Ensemble there. The City can give you a list of events they are planning there.
Events are taking place right along the north shore of Lake Ontario into Niagara, Fort Erie (where it ended) etc. The tourist offices of those communities will have their events listed. The American and Canadian Naval forces will be re-enacting a naval battle on Lake Ontario this summer. It was (I think) the only defeat for the
British/Canadians. The Toronto Symphony has commissioned a new 2012 Overture from Philip Glass to be performed at Fort York as well. This twins with the 1812 Overture of Dvorak which was composed, NOT for the North American conflict, but for the European conflict with Napoleon. I think this event is part of LuminaTo.
Our parliament buildings were burned (as we all know) and in retaliation, the British forces came up from New Orleans and burned the White House in Washington and after the white paint job, it became what we now know as the White House. The American national anthem was also composed during the 1812-14 war. ..rockets bursting in air, etc.
Maybe we could invite Rolo Myers to come to a meeting and give us more interesting tidbits about the conflict, hardship on the women, children and native
peoples, etc, who were caught having to choose between family and country. Musical instruments we found in both Fort York and Fort George were those brought by the English, Scottish and Irish soldiers stationed here. We were able to get a couple of them restored. Ann