Toronto marks Battle of York bicentennial

TORONTO – The City of Toronto and the Canadian Armed Forces will commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of York Saturday.

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, will present a new regimental colour to the Third Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment on the grounds of Queen’s Park as part of the commemoration.

On April 27, 1813, the Town of York was invaded by American forces, pushing back the outnumbered British troops.

The battle ended when British troops used explosives to escape the Americans and retreated to Kingston, Ontario.

In March, the federal government announced $2 million in funding for War of 1812 commemorations in Ontario.

“Canada would not exist had the American invasion of 1812-1814 not been repelled,” said James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage, in a statement. “For that reason, the War of 1812 was a defining chapter in our history.”

The presentation of colours will take place at a public ceremony beginning at 10 a.m. with a military gun salute, followed by a parade of more than 1,500 sailors and soldiers from the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Army from Queen’s Park to Fort York National Historic Site.

–with a file from The Canadian Press