One of those most revered names from the War of 1812 is that of Maj.-Gen. Sir Isaac Brock. Referred to as the “Saviour of Upper Canada,” Brock has roads, churches, universities and towns named after him — but why? Through this chronicle, we are going to delve into who Brock was and why he was so beloved in both life and death.

Andrew Laliberte
Special to Niagara Now/The Lake Report

After the inauguration in 1859, Brock’s Monument continued to stand the tests of time relatively unscathed.

In the years following the completion of the project, the Province of Canada was divided into two Ontario and Quebec during the process of Confederation in 1867.

As a result, the monument itself and the battlefield site became assets of the new federal government.

During this time, the newly opened memorial began to fall into some disrepair, as did the grounds around the column itself.

Surprisingly, the very first call to restore the monument came only ten years after it opened. 

The Ontario Sessional Papers, 1869, included the provincial legislature’s assessment of Queenston Heights and the column erected upon it.

In the report from the Department of Public Works, it was found that already a restoration fund of $1,000 was required to make the necessary repairs.

The reported issues with the site included the stonework needing repointing, new glass placed in the circular openings for interior light, and the addition of a galvanized rope railing inside the stairwell.

Beyond that, the grounds needed attention to help beautify the park itself to encourage visitation.

Painting of the entrance lodge and gates was also called for, along with the planting of over 200 trees and the construction of “a summer house 60 feet by 20 feet, and carriage shed 40 feet by 12 feet would be a great convenience for persons visiting the grounds with carriages.”

Kivas Tully, the Canadian architect hired by the Department of Public Works and the first provincial architect and engineer of Ontario, describes his reasons for the restoration of the relatively new monument as follows:

“Should these improvements and repairs be carried out, the monument and grounds would be made more attractive to visitors than they are at present, and a reasonable fee could be collected to keep the grounds in order for the future.”

She continued: “The state of repair of the monument, and the condition of the fence and grounds are anything but creditable, and if not attended to will in a few years cost a considerable sum to place them in proper order.”

The care and attention provided by cyclical restoration efforts continued to make Queenston Heights an attractive spot for travellers, locals, veterans and soldiers throughout the years.

Photographs and postcards act as valuable glimpses into the many events that took place in the shadow of Brock and the people who took in the vastness of the column with views down the escarpment.

However, 1912 would be the first mass gathering to take place since the inauguration, commemorating the events at the Battle of Queenston Heights.

Thousands gathered to share speeches, lay wreaths and other contributions to those who had fallen and fought on the grounds a hundred years prior.

Indigenous nations and their leadership, soldiers of the Canadian Militia Regiments, political representatives and community members gathered to recognize the importance of the battle at Queenston and the memory of those involved in their own unique way.

In 1929, a lightning strike damaged the upper section of the 16-foot statue of Brock. The outstretched arm was snapped off, and a repair project was initiated to replace the torso section.

The damaged original sections of the statue have been preserved, with the arm residing inside the monument itself and the mid-section inside Brock University’s Rankin Pavilion. 

Brock’s Monument atop the heights at Queenston acts as a reminder, not only of the endurance of the structure itself but also of the memory of the people and actions which shaped the outcome of Canadian history.

The site has been a place for many to celebrate and pay tribute to those involved in successfully defending against the invading American army — a story which has been part of the formation of identity and patriotism in Canada following the War of 1812 and beyond.

The story of Sir Isaac Brock also sheds light on the many groups of people upon which the successful defence of Upper Canada depended, with the allied Indigenous nations and Canadian Militia recognized within the park on plaques and accompanying memorials.

Today, the site continues to be a regularly visited attraction in Niagara, continuing a tradition which inspired generations of people who witnessed the stirring beauty of the column and the park.

Andrew Laliberte is a Heritage Interpreter at Brock’s Monument. He has worked at Brock’s Monument for the past three seasons and completed his undergraduate degree in history at Brock University.