Fort La Presentation makes push to draw Canadians to its big event

OGDENSBURG — Fort La Presentation Association officials are reaching out across the St. Lawrence River to ensure its Founders Day events draw Canadian crowds, despite increased security at the border.

The fort association has seen a large increase in Canadian re-enactor registrations since the February cancellation of the re-enactment of the defeat of French forces at Quebec City's Plains of Abraham. Although officials are expecting more than double the usual turnout for Founders Day, which has two battle re-enactments, some association officials are concerned the new border crossing regulations might temper the success.

"It is a concern that people don't understand that it is going to be faster, but not everybody does have a passport," association President Barbara J. O'Keefe said. "The river is a psychological barrier itself sometimes, so we want to stress the cooperation that we're getting from Prescott and Ontario and Quebec this year. We want to let people know we have a shared history."

For Michael P. Whittaker, the only association board member who is Canadian, the border changes have made his trips across the Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge easier. However, some Canadians are wary, he said.

"We're not sure what the broader public is thinking about, what we call in Canada the 'thickening of the border,'" he said. "We haven't seen any evidence that it's going to turn people away, but people have expressed some concern."

According to association officials, Canadians accounted for more than half of the 110 people who attended the War of 1812 seminar held in May.

Since June 1, crossing the border requires passports or other secure identification, so the association has taken steps to increase its visibility in Eastern Ontario.

The Fort's Canadian Advisory Group has been providing French translations for its literature, surveying Canadian attendance at events and promoting the fort in the Prescott business and museum communities. As a result, the association will hold its first Canadian fundraiser and open house at the Red George Public House in Prescott in August.

This year's Founders Day, to be held July 18 and 19, will also be the first time Fort Wellington, across the border in Prescott, will join in the event by returning cannon fire during the battle reenactments.

"We want to work on cross-border cooperation to help people see that this could be good for both sides of the border," said Mr. Whittaker. "We'll do what we can to promote events on both sides to get a flow going."

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Fort La Presentation:

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