A lost voice – re-enactment cancelled with public say

by Tyler Hooper

On September 12, 1759, the British army under General James Wolfe defeated Louis-Joseph, Marquis de Montcalm, and the French army on the Plains of Abraham, marking the end of the Seven Year War and French dominance in North America. Now, 250 years later, this event that commemorates the first step in the founding of Canada will not be celebrated since it has become apparent our country is willing to put nationalism before its own history. Canada’s history finds itself under a shadow of controversy, just because a certain group feels that re-enacting the famous battle would be a disgrace to their French ancestors.

The re-enactment of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham was to take place this summer with 2000 individuals in full costume, detailed down to replica weapons. However, because of growing safety concerns and threats of violence that have been issued by protestors, the re-enactment has been cancelled. Andre Juneau, head of the National Battlefields Commission, claimed he has received about 150 threatening letters which he turned over to Quebec authorities. Furthermore, the Battle of Saint-Foy, often referred to as the Battle of Quebec, has also been cancelled for similar reasons. The Canadian media has done an astounding job of voicing the concerns of those who are protesting the event, such as the Parti Quebecois, but failed to address the meaning this cancellation has for Canada.

I was surfing the web a few evenings ago and came across a website dedicated to the commemoration of the Battle of Gettysburg, the pivotal battle of the American Civil War. It was the high number of casualties, more than any other during that war, which finally broke General Lee and the Confederates. To this day it is still celebrated, re-enacted, and more importantly – remembered for its significance and place in American history. Now, I am not completely naive and do realize that Quebec is its own independent province with its own provincial government – but they are also part of a whole nation. Our history needs to remain collective and the Seven Year’s War is part of that history. Should Canadians be limited to learning about the trials and tribulations of their own history from books alone? Think of the value such a re-enactment would have provided if it was to go on as planned, in the place it actually happened.

The protestors are upset not only because the Battle represents the loss of French dominance in North America, but also because it is often seen as the beginning of English oppression in North America. Furthermore, some claimed we should only be celebrating “positive” events in Canadian history, ones that avoid controversial issues and look at our entire nation as a whole.

In all fairness there was undeniable British oppression towards the French after the Seven Years War, such as the seizure of Quebec. Yet violence was slowly replaced by cooperation and compromises were made between the two factions. 25 years after the battle an act approved by the British parliament, the Quebec act, gave the French the right to practice their religion, Catholicism, and restored French Civil Law for private judicial matters. Two referendums in 1980 and 1995 ruled that Quebec would still be part of Canada and the Anglo-French relationship would remain cemented in the concern of Canada’s national interest. We must remember that compromise has been the ruling interest of Canada in both international and domestic relations since the founding of our great nation.

The re-enactment of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham is noted to possibly continue, but as Horst Dresler, president of the Quebec Historical Corp, stated – it will not be held in Quebec for fear of violence. Should protestors have a right to protest? Absolutely. Should their voices and concerns be heard within the media? Most definitely. But threatening the use of violence is not acceptable.

by Tyler Hooper

A compromise can be made – something Canada and its leaders tend to be very good at. Succumbing to the opinions of one group while leaving the rest of the public without a say should not happen in any democratic country. The Canadian federal government needs to recognize the fragility of an event such as this and work with those who oppose it to find a common ground in which we can all celebrate our history. The government needs to clear its eyes of the French- English political smoke-screen. We have to remember where history’s voice is in all of this.

As Canadians we need to celebrate our history collectively. History needs advocates and, more importantly – a voice. Because without those who stand up and choose to learn and teach it, it may become lost in the intangible web of the past.

Tyler Hooper is a third-year history student at Carleton.