Part of the War of 1812, the Battle of Stoney Creek is largely seen by scholars as a turning point in the war between British forces in North America and the invading Americans, with the former pulling off a major strategic victory. A re-enactment of the pivotal battle was held annually since 1981 before the pandemic forced organizers to pause the signature event. After a two-year hiatus, the re-enactment was expected to move forward, but instead it once again cancelled for 2022, with certain city staff managers angling to get the event permanently axed due to non-COVID-related reasons. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
On May 19, 2022, City of Hamilton senior staff informed Battle of Stoney Creek re-enactment organizers at a controversial invite-only community meeting that the city would be permanently ending the annual event. The decision was made by the cultural and tourism managers.
However, there was some confusion as to whether city staff were simply cancelling the 2022 event (normally held the first week of June) or whether they were cancelling all future re-enactments. The event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID. The 2022 event was also cancelled due to planning time constraints spurred by the pandemic.
All aspects of the re-enactment take place outdoors, with vendors, a mock battle, and a large fireworks display being some of the main attractions.
But then city staff claimed that they were not permanently cancelling the event, so it appears that they may have simply cancelled the 2022 event and then raised issues with specific aspects of the re-enactment and demanded widespread changes to how it is held for 2023. Nevertheless, the (perhaps permanent) cancellation of the battle and the reasons for it remain confusing.
First reported by the Stoney Creek News, a senior manager reportedly called the re-enactment a “football game” and “spectacle”.
Staff also said that the event needed to be “more inclusive”, particularly through the incorporation of more Indigenous peoples. There were also concerns about non-Indigenous people portraying Indigenous fighters and selling Indigenous items. None of the organizers had any problems with working to improve those aspects of the battle. However, they strongly objected to the “derogatory” tone that senior staff used to deliver their message.
As a result, the Friends of Battlefield Museum, a key charitable group that helps organize the event, withdrew their support. The group has been associated with the re-enactment for 40 years.
The Battlefield House grounds also host an annual Apple Festival which is now in jeopardy for unspecified reasons.
After community backlash and questions as to why staff had never brought the issue forward to council, Ward 5 interim councillor Russ Powers brought forward a motion to direct city staff to bring back the Battle of Stoney Creek re-enactment for 2023. It was passed unanimously on June 8 by Hamilton City Council in a 13-0 vote.
The motion directs city staff to work towards an in-person re-enactment for 2023, while promising to portray the event in a “respectful and historically-accurate manner”.
But, as it remains, the Friends of Battlefield Museum are so far sticking to their decision to pull out their support.
Whether or not the group will come back to the table, or whether the 2023 re-enactment will move forward as usual without them, remains to be seen. Other key groups involved in the event include the Stoney Creek Historical Society and the Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce. Their involvement continues.
Based in Hamilton, Ontario, Kevin Geenen reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He is a regular contributor with The Hamilton Independent and has also been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, Niagara Independent, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. He is known for Hamilton crime updates and social media news graphics. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal from Governor General David Johnston. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
