THE RIDGEWAY DINNER
The Ridgeway Dinner is being held for the first time this year to commemorate the Battle of Ridgeway and to restore to memory the names of the first nine - the "Ridgeway Nine" - of the more than 115,000 soldiers killed in action while serving in Canada's military at home and overseas. Fought on June 2, 1866 near Fort Erie against Irish American Fenians by the Queen's Own Rifles (QOR) of Toronto and the 13th Battalion - Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (RHLI), the Battle of Ridgeway is Canada's first modern battle, the first fought entirely by Canadians and led exclusively by Canadian officers. A further 21 Canadian militia servicemen subsequently died as the result of wounds sustained in the fighting or while in service during the Fenian Raids. In the past they were commemorated by Canadians in June memorial services, but since the Remembrance Day Act of 1931, they have been excluded from Canada’s national military memorial heritage.
The Fenian insurgent invaders came not to conquer Canada but to hold it in the cause of national independence for Ireland. Twelve were killed in the battle. Today, as we approach the 150th anniversary in 2016 of the Battle of Ridgeway, the names of the Canadians and the Fenians who fell at Ridgeway and Fort Erie, are lost and forgotten to both Canada and Ireland. Ireland Park Foundation will seek to restore to memory the names of these young men, in both Canada and Ireland and are inviting senior representatives of the government of Canada and Ireland to attend this dinner. A portion of the proceeds of the dinner this year and in subsequent years leading up to the 150th anniversary in 2016 will be used to commission a new Battle of Ridgeway memorial.
This Battle and the Fenian Raids into Canada in 1866, had a significant influence on the events that lead to Canadian Confederation just over one year later, on July 1st 1867. In the intervening years, Canada fought in the Boer War, two World Wars, Korea, Afghanistan and served in many Peace Keeping Missions around the world.
Irish men and women have also served in the cause of freedom, in both World Wars, fighting under the colors of Canada, Australia, the United States and Britain. Since 1921, when Ireland finally won its independence from Britain, Ireland has also contributed to International Peace Keeping Missions around the world, very often alongside Canada’s armed forces in places such as Cyprus, Sinai and Lebanon. Today Ireland and Canada share one of the oldest and closest friendships amongst the nations bordering on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Our shared past is a cherished memory for all of us to celebrate. It is timely that the story of Ridgeway and Fort Erie be celebrated and commemorated in honor of those who gave their tomorrows for our today.
LOCATION
The Great Hall, Hart House,
7 Hart House Circle, University of Toronto
Toronto, ON M5S 3H3
DATE
TUESDAY, MAY 28TH, 2013
(Business Attire)
TIME
6:30 p.m. COCKTAILS
8:00 p.m. DINNER
TO ORDER TICKETS OR TO MAKE A DONATION
PLEASE CLICK HERE
$250
PER TICKET
$2,500
TABLE OF 12
PARK CLOSURE
Ireland Park is temporarily closed.
The City of Toronto is building a $5-million extension to the quay wall along the eastern edge of the park, so the area is off-limits for safety reasons.
When finished, the new seven-metre-wide structure will provide a tree-lined lakeside promenade adjacent to the park.
