2012: Bicentennial of the War of 1812

The War of 1812 was a fundamental turning point in Canada's history: it profoundly influenced British North America's (Canada's) sense of identity and united Frenchand English-speaking inhabitants, Aboriginal communities, farmers, soldiers, artisans, and others, in an effort to preserve their ways of life from American invasion.

From the struggle emerged exceptional accounts of some of Canada's proudest moments. These stories and the heroes that arosefrom them exemplified the extraordinary characteristics required to defend British North America, and have become important symbols and enduring narratives in the history and evolution of today's Canada.

Honour Among Allies: The Tradition of Peace Medals

From the earliest days of North American colonisation, European nations presented silver medallions to First Nations leaders as tokens of respect and friendship, gratitude for service, and at the signing of treaties. Historical evidence suggests that these physical signs of loyalty not only helped to ease tensions caused by cultural and linguistic differences between First Nations peoples and European settlers, but were revered by First Nations recipients and, in some cases, passed down through generations.

In Canada, the practice of giving peace medals to First Nations chiefs dates back to the early 1670s, when such medals were handed out by the government of King Louis XIV of France. Around the same time, the Britishgovernment of King Charles II was presenting similar medals to First Nations peoples in British colonies in what is now the eastern United States. When Britain gained control of France's North American holdings following the Seven Years' War (1756 to 1763), the French peace medals were replaced by British peace medals featuring King GeorgeII and, later, his grandson George III.

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