by Deborah Morrison
The first thing I noticed about John A. Macdonald was the sparkle in his eyes. And why not? July 1, 1866, then as Premier of Upper Canada he was in his element: a promising political future actively selling “his confederation scheme” and its untold prosperity. The crowd appeared respectful, deferential if not receptive, and peppering him with questions about the threat of the Fenians, the prospect of a railway, and the inevitable derisive comments about political corruption. John A. relished every minute of it and it's this “buoyancy of spirit” that Brian Porter thinks is the nicest thing ever said about Macdonald. It's also the character trait he tries to emulate first and foremost.
It is July 1, but Brian Porter (aka John A. Macdonald) and I are strolling inside Upper Canada Village in 2009. With frequent interruptions from passersby — some with cameras, some in period costume — Porter admits one of the toughest challenges of stepping into character is keeping the dates and sequence of events straight. “The details are very important,” he insists.
“When I decided to do this, I wanted to do it right.” Even the physical appearance has been carefully crafted. The visitors in the Village interact with him both as villagers in the era, and as visitors to the heritage park. Porter navigates the blurring of past and present effortlessly and is gentle and entertaining about it, never making visitors feel they are being corrected or “taught at.”
In 1998, when the Brockville Infantry Company invited Porter to take on the role of Sir John A. reviewing the troops in their 1862 re-enactment, he intended it to be a one-time thing. However, as a recently retired middle school teacher with a passion for history, Porter saw this as a great opportunity to stay involved in the classroom and enliven history lessons.
Since then he's talked to hundreds of people about, and as, Sir John A. Macdonald. He has taken the role to schools and community events throughout Eastern Ontario, and recently to television, as part of a series of vignettes produced by CKWS, Kingston (see below).
Brian and Renee Porter play Sir John A. Macdonald and his wife Agnes in two 1-minute vignettes.
Like many re-enactors, it's a family affair in the Porter house. His wife Renee made her own 1860s-era costume for the Brockville Infantry and was part of the posse to recruit Brian to the role. She often accompanies him as Sir John A.'s wife Agnes. “Like the Dominion itself,” Porter quotes, “I am under the sovereignty of my own female monarch.”
Over a decade later Porter shows no sign of fatigue, even with the endless barbs about his drinking habits. He admits, “I'd really like to get beyond that,” but is good natured about it. He'll use every entry point to talk about civics, how government works, and what he hopes may one day be the real Macdonald legacy — that politics can be not only relevant but also fun!
I couldn't resist asking John A. what he thought of all that was happening today in the country he forged 142 years ago. In true patriotic character he readily points out that interprovincial trade has still not been achieved; and he's concerned about the erosion in the concept and practice of the supremacy of Parliament.
So what is the secret to Porter's success? “It takes energy to do this. I don't ever want it to be a business, I always want to be fresh.” Porter demonstrates an amazing breadth of knowledge about his alter ego and admits he's constantly reading and researching as a means to keep his interpretations lively. “The more I read about him, the more interesting he becomes,” attests Porter. He goes on to paraphrase another biographer, “John A. Macdonald was and is good company.”
Does Brian Porter see an end in sight for his time as Sir John A.? He pauses for a moment, and then looks directly at me with that signature twinkle in his eye. “He was around until the age of seventy-six, so I figure I have another ten years at least.”