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The War of 1812 is often cited as a foundational moment in Canada’s history, and the Archives of Ontario holds a substantial body of materials related to the conflict.

Perceptions of 1812: Identity, Diversity, Memory, the current exhibit in the Helen McClung gallery, expands our view of the war beyond the battlefields and the military heroes. Using reproductions of records and images unique to the Archives of Ontario’s collections (archival, library and art), and drawn from a broad range of sources - from Ely Playter’s diaries and Thomas Ridout family correspondence, to the Women’s Canadian Historical Society Papers, to the records of the Niagara Parks Commission – the exhibit highlights the fascinating stories of how the War of 1812 and its aftermath shaped the character of Ontario and the nation.