This slideshow requires JavaScript.

More than 300 soldiers were on parade Sunday in Ridgeway as members of the Canadian Forces and a couple thousand members of the public celebrated the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Ridgeway.

The Battle of Ridgeway, June 2, 1866, has major significance in the history of Canada and is considered to be one of the major catalyst in Canadian Confederation which was almost one year after the battle.

The event was really well attended by the public and veterans celebrating Canadian military history.

Two of the regiments taking part in the ceremony included the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada and the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, units that were originally formed as the 2nd Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles of Toronto and the 13th Battalion Volunteer Militia of Hamilton. These two units took part in the Battle of Ridgeway.

They were supported in today’s parade by members of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment and members of the 2966 Royal Canadian Artillery Cadet Corps of Fort Erie.

“It was a wonderful day, we couldn’t have asked for better weather,” Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop said.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better planning committee too,” he said. “The work that Jane Davies, Russ Wilson their colleagues, the Queen’s Own Rifles staff and the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry staff made this all possible.”

He talked about the event and the significance of the battle in Canadian History and how the residents of Fort Erie and Ridgeway supported the military then as they still do now.

“This is a major event in the history of Canada, little known. It certainly was well supported by the Town of Fort Erie and all of the residents here in Ridgeway and the military units that fought here,” Mayor Redekop said.

Mayor Redekop did express one disappointment of the day; “The one thing that I would say is that I’m a little disappointed that we didn’t have representation from the federal Government of Canada, in so far as the Battle of Ridgeway was a significant event in the Confederation of the British Colonies (into the country of Canda) in 1867.”

“This was an important moment in Canadian history and we are all very proud of the ceremony that took place today and the dedication and all the work that was undertaken by the Town of Fort Erie to make this possible,” Rob Nicholson, M.P. for Niagara Falls said.

In speaking of the Battle of Ridgeway M.P. Nicholson said; “We have much to be grateful for in this country and to have these soldiers that came to the defense of the people of this area is a great moment in Canadian History.”

“I’d like to thank all the people that put this together from the Town of Fort Erie,” Wayne Gates, M.P.P. for Niagara Falls said. “It’s so nice to watch so many young people here today getting to find about the history and the importance that Ridgeway played in the forming of Canada 150 years ago.”

“I would echo the comments made by Mayor Redekop as well,” he said. “At an event like this we have to, as a country, as a society, we should honour our history, we should be proud of our history, we should be proud of our country and one level of government not being here, not supporting it, I think might have been a mistake on their part.”

“Other than that, it’s a wonderful day,” he said. “As an M.P.P., as a citizen of Niagara and representing this riding it is my honour to be here.”

“Some days when you do things in the riding, this is one of those days where I am absolutely honoured and blessed to have this job and to be part of something as important as this that will go down in history,” he said.

The day’s activities started with a Freedom of the City March through Ridgeway by the units of the Military. They assembled at the Ridgeway Battlefield Park marked with a parachute drop by a member of the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, plaque unveiling in memory of the Canadian soldiers who died during the battle and laying of wreaths. The ceremony included the last post with rifle volleys and the playing of the Royal and the National Anthem.

After the ceremony, everyone proceeded to the Crystal Ridge Arena for military displays by the participating units and food.

“It has been a real privilege to work with the Canadian Armed Forces, with the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada and the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry on this,” Jane Davies, Manager Fort Erie Museum and Cultural Services and member of the planning committee for this event said.

“To honour such an important event in our history and to honour the men, the soldiers who died here, they will not be forgotten,” she said. “I think the thousands of people who turned out today have proved that they are not forgotten.”

The 150th celebration of the Anniversary of the Battle of Ridgeway continues.

“Next week, we have the reenactment of the Battle of Ridgeway at Old Fort Erie,” Davies said. “And the Ridgeway Battlefield Park is open seven days a week and has exhibits all about the Battle of Ridgeway, Memorials to the Ridgeway Nine (The first Canadian soldiers from the Queen’s Own Rifles, killed in battle), plaques on the Memorial Cairn and Heritage Ironwood tree. So, people can come here anytime as a family and pay tribute to these soldiers and explore our history.”

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

LinkedIn

Reddit

Tumblr

Pinterest

Pocket

Telegram

WhatsApp

Skype

Print

