The War of 1812; The Founding Event of Our Nation

‘Following a period of mild unrest in the two provinces of Canada in the late 1830s Lord Durham was sent to assess to the situation. Among many of his recommendations he suggested welding the two provinces into one. In 1840 this was accomplished and one year later the new constitution came into effect. Unlike many other colonies of the British Empire every Canadian enjoyed the same rights as an Englishman, and Canada was the first colony to become a dominion within the British Empire. Simply put, the valour, steadfastness and unity of Canada during the War of 1812 proved to the Mother Country and the Empire that it was fit to both defend and rule itself to some degree. We had a special place as the fighting Canadians. Not to be forgotten also is the fact that Canada’s successive victories over the Americans and later over the Fenian raiders set the country up for active participation in all the important Imperial wars, from The Boer Wars and the famous Siege of Mafeking to the First World War. Generations later men the likes of General Arthur Currie would still have the collective memory of Isaac Brock standing tall on the heights at Queenston. What is most important is that the war that forged the nation placed Canada in a place of respect and power in the largest and most benevolent empire the world has ever seen, and that is not something to be forgotten.’