War of 1812 Bicentennial Plans Released

Tories to spend $28 million to help Canadians understand that Laura Secord is more than just a chocolate shop.

The Conservative government has unveiled its plans for a $28-million, year-long commemoration of the bicentennial of the War of 1812. Among the events planned are more than 100 recreations of battles from the four-year-long war, in which the U.S. invaded what was then British North America (present day Ontario and Quebec), burned down the capital, then got beat back across the border before having its own capital set ablaze by Canadian militias British forces*. We have yet to learn if one of the recreations will feature the White House getting burned down, but, man, Stephen Harper has our vote if he pulls that one out of his hat**. That $28 million will also cover the cost of building a War of 1812 memorial in Ottawa, a year-long education campaign on the war's importance, and renovations to sites that were integral to the war, such as Fort York in Toronto. War figures, such as Laura Secord, Tecumseh, and Gen. Isaac Brock, will be honoured next October, which will be a month dedicated to the war. Our only hope is that the Fenian Raids and rebellions of Upper and Lower Canada get their fair share once their bicentennials pop up, too. That, and that the educational campaign makes it clear that the war essentially put an end to any hope of territory being permanently set aside for the continent's original inhabitants.

* = H/T to Dylan Reid for pointing out that it was British regulars, not the Canadian militia, that burned down much of Washington.

** = Kidding.