REVISED
By Pepper Parr.
BURLINGTON, ON. August 5th, 2013. It is always that first Monday in August – we always seem to be favoured with good weather. The lineups at the food tables isn’t all that bad and the grounds at LaSalle Park are spacious enough for lots of wandering. Joseph Brant Day in Burlington.
While the day is supposed to belong to Joseph Brant – there isn’t much of the man or what he did in evidence. Were it not for the presentation made by the Historical Society – you would hardly know that Brant was one of the greatest Canadians ever produced.
Museums of Burlington staff in their new t-shirts kept busy at the food tent.
The Brant Day event is still probably one of the best family events in the city and on this holiday Monday the weather was superb, the hot dog prices were good and the Museums of Burlington team of volunteers were scurrying about in the brand new T-shirts.
The Museum Board that oversees both Ireland House and the Brant Museum are working on a proposal to have an almost complete re-build of the Museum at Maple Avenue and LAkeshore but there was no mention of that project during the day. One would have thought there would be at least a video presentation of what the thinking was. Not this year.
An aboriginal youth lays out his hoops as he prepares to do a demonstration dance.
A young aboriginal boy gave a demonstration of a hoop dance. We saw this young man last year – he is coming along just fine – we should see a well-rounded hoop dancer in the years ahead. A parent beat out the dance pace on a small drum and explained to the audience that the aboriginal community have passed down their traditions for centuries. We say part of that tradition Monday afternoon at LaSalle Park – land that Joseph surely walked on during his time in Burlington – the city he died in on November 24th, 1807.
There was the obligatory War of 1812 re-enactor; the face painting people and seniors sitting outside in the sun.
One couple, both reading – he from a Kobo, the books on a screen and she from a paperback novel – the two of them sitting in the shade.
The Friends of Freeman Station has their new model of the structure they saved from the fire wood crews set up and there were a decent number of $5 bills in the collection bowl.
These races used to be done in potato sacks – urbanization has upgraded them to pillow cases. Still the same race which the kids loved.
Joseph Brant Day in Burlington in 2013 – slim on the educational side, close to bare in acknowledgement and celebration of Joseph Brant but a time for everyone to be outside playing Frisbee with a couple of friends and a dog that insists in being part of the game.
Burlington’s MPP and MP were on hand for part of the day. Jane McKenna, Mike Wallace and Friends of Freeman president James Smith posed with Bob Chambers and his model of the Freeman Station.
We were advised that Burlington’s political leaders were on hand to do the meet and greet stuff. Mayor Goldring was on holidays in Ireland and sent his Congratulations. Regional Chair Gary Carr we were advised was also on hand.
Response to Editor’s Note.
I was there, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., along with 7 staff and 3 summer students AND 35 Museums’ Volunteers, including current and former Board members, so, yes, they did happen.
Obviously you didn’t spend much time at our annual Joseph Brant Day. Newsflash – Joseph Brant died in 1807. He was well represented though through the participation of many Six Nation’s people who demonstrated their history through song, story telling and dance; they also brought their crafts. Joseph Brant and the story of the Iroquois was also brought to life by Museums’ Education Staff where children not only learned about Joseph Brant, they also really enjoyed making historic crafts that they proudly wore around their necks. Over 500 Joe Jr. Newspapers were given to the children. This newspaper is created by our Museums Education Department. The plans for Joseph Brant Museum were on display at the Museums’ welcoming table where staff greeted our visitors. As well, booklets of the plans for Joseph Brant Museum were given out. Mike Wallace, Jane McKenna and Gary Carr were on hand and participated in our opening ceremonies and Mayor Goldring sent a congratulatory note which was read out. Oh, and the volunteer tee-shirts are neither shiny nor new.
Editors note:
Ms Teatero has us on this one. We did not spend a full day at LaSalle Park and we did not see any of the politicians however we were advised that Mike Wallace our MP squired Jane McKenna, our MPP around the grounds.
As to the other activities Md Teatero speaks of – if she says they happened then they must have happened.