After the tragic death Saturday of Louise Leyland, who was killed when she was hit by a cyclist in Queenston, The Lake Report asked Amanda Gamble, the executive director of the Friends of Fort George, to share her memories of this remarkable woman from the Niagara-on-the-Lake community.

Amanda Gamble
Special to The Lake Report

If you ever visited Brock’s Monument on a warm autumn day, you most likely met Louise Leyland, one of the amazing heritage interpreters employed by the Friends of Fort George. 

Louise started working with the Friends of Fort George more than 25 years ago, when she retired as a school teacher. 

She became a mentor to countless students who worked at Brock’s Monument over the years, sharing her passion for the site and for Canada’s early history with everyone she met – along with her muffins and baked goods.

She influenced so many young people with her charm, wit and sincere caring.  

Louise was extremely involved with the planning of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812, and worked with committees on planning the re-enactments of the Battle of Queenston Heights and the funeral of Maj.-Gen. Sir Isaac Brock. 

She also sat as a representative for the Friends of Fort George on the Landscape of Nations educational committee and this is where she truly excelled. 

Louise was extremely passionate about Indigenous history and ensuring that anyone who visited the site understood the connection between Brock and the Indigenous community. 

In 2016, Louise become more involved with the Friends of Fort George as a board member. 

She dedicated countless volunteer hours to ensuring events ran smoothly, such as the Canada Day celebrations, the Fife and Drum Muster, and special tours at Brock’s Monument   

Her love for history and her love for teaching shone through whenever she was talking about the War of 1812 and Sir Isaac Brock’s role in making Canada a nation of its own.  She could speak at any level, from small children to adolescents and adults.  

Louise will always be remembered for the indelible mark she left on Brock’s Monument.  It truly was her second home. 

She would often reminisce about Queenston Heights being her favourite place on Earth –  it was the site of her engagement to her beloved husband Don and the village of Queenston was her home, where she raised her two sons. 

Louise was more than just an employee or just a board member of the Friends of Fort George. 

She was a lively, happy, caring woman who was more than willing to share her time and expertise with anyone who was interested. 

I will truly miss her as a confidante and friend. There was no one like Louise.

*****

I also have spoken with Erika Alexander, the former executive director of the Friends of Fort George, and she asked me to pass along the following:

Louise was truly a giving person. She was always there when I asked her to help and “no” was not a part of her vocabulary.

I first knew her as Peter’s primary school teacher and our paths crossed again after she retired. She took on a part-time position at Brock’s Monument with Jim Hill and from then on became a permanent-temporary volunteer/staff assistant.

We supported each other through personal and work lives and our friendship grew through the years. She was an integral part of helping at special events from setup to cleanup.

Louise was always invaluable in her support and training of the Friends’ summer students at the monument and the fort’s gift shop – sharing her experiences, knowledge and enthusiasm about the sites and their history.

She touched and influenced so many young people with her charm, wit and sincere caring. I will miss her so much on so many levels.

Amanda Gamble is executive director of the Friends of Fort George.