On the Commemoration of Laura Secord As a Person of National Historic Significance

May 25, 2006

Queenston, Ontario
Check Against Delivery

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am delighted to be with you today on behalf of the Minister of the Environment and minister responsible for Parks Canada, the Honourable Rona Ambrose.

Minister Ambrose regrets not being able to be here for today’s commemoration; she sends her greetings and best regards.

As Canadians, we enjoy a heritage to be proud of.

The remarkable Canadians who have contributed to the development of our great nation have become a part of our national heritage and are worthy of celebration and commemoration.

And today, we want to formally recognize the contribution of one of them – and one of the most famous Canadian women of all time: Laura Secord.

Laura Secord

Laura Secord is a genuine icon of Canadian history. Today, after almost 200 years after her act of bravery, schoolchildren across Canada know her story.

Her exploits are the stuff of legend, and her courage, initiative, quick wits, intelligence and physical fortitude continue to inspire us.

As we have heard, the victory won through her bravery and perseverance was instrumental in defending Upper Canada from American invasion.

Today’s commemoration of her heroism will offer all Canadians a new opportunity to learn more about her story, and to be inspired by her actions.

Through her deeds, Laura Secord helped to demonstrate the power of women to shape and influence the course of history. Yet her unique story was almost never told.

In the best of conventional Canadian traditions, she was modest and self-effacing, and her deeds were little known in her lifetime.

The Historic Sites and Monuments Board (HSMB)

Laura Secord was almost forgotten until a group of women authors and historians – predecessors of historians like Dr. Cecelia Morgan – revived her memory in the late 19th century, and celebrated her bravery and contribution to a noble victory.

And today, everyone who honours the memory of her deeds owes a bit of thanks to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, and to everyone who helped make today’s plaquing ceremony possible.

Since its establishment in 1919, the Board has designated more than 1,800 people, places and events as being worthy of commemoration.

This total includes a country-wide “family” of 917 National Historic Sites that stretches from sea to sea to sea.

The Board is made up of respected historians and specialists from every province and territory in Canada – who make recommendations to the government on the commemoration of people, places, and events of national historic significance.

Today’s Reflection and Historical Recognition - A Contemporary Celebration

In recent years, as our understanding of the term heritage has expanded, so too has the Board’s recognition of historical figures.

It has widened its scope to honour the achievements of Aboriginal peoples, women and ethno-cultural communities.

When recounting Laura Secord’s story, one cannot forget the role played by Native people at the Battle of Beaver Dams.

The “British” forces that repelled the American attack were made up overwhelmingly of Iroquois soldiers fighting for king and country.

So today, we are honouring not just Laura Secord, but also a major contribution by Aboriginal peoples to Canada’s independence.

We are also honouring the efforts of those pioneering women who kept the achievements of a female alive in what was primarily a male-dominated view of our history.

The Budget and Canadian Heritage

Canada’s New Government is building a strong and united Canada.

Commemorating the great people and places in our nation’s history serves to remind us of a common heritage – a proud heritage that acts to unite us and inspire us.

We also believe that the federal government has an important role to play in preserving Canada’s natural and historic heritage.

This is why in our first Budget, we eliminated the capital gains tax on donations of publicly listed securities to charities.

This will help create a donations pool that can be used to support worthy charitable causes and projects aiming at protecting our cultural heritage.

Our government will continue to support programs that allow us to honour our national parks, museums, historic sights and figures such as Laura Secord -- an enduring reminder to all Canadians of our common inheritance.

Conclusion

Today’s commemoration will heighten our awareness of Laura Secord, and highlight the many contributions women have made to our great nation.

Her designation as a person of national historic significance is an example of what this government is doing to keep our heritage alive.

We want to build a generation of heritage stewards and a culture of heritage conservation in Canada.

Events like this, and our family of national historic sites across the country contribute to a tangible way to this effort.

Each site has a story to tell, offering Canadians unique opportunities to connect with and experience our shared past.

They touch our heartstrings, and help us appreciate who we are.

Laura Secord’s contribution to the development of our nation will be kept alive, and appreciated for generations to come.

Thank you.