Welcome to the Western Canadian Re-enactment Association Web Page. The member groups in this Association portray the Canadian military of the late Victorian era from Confederation in 1867 to the aftermath of the North-West Rebellion of 1885. Our groups encompass the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan and represent everything from regular force Army and N.W.M.P. units to the Militia and the cowboy cavalry.
The job of this site is two fold. 1.) To act as a links page for those member groups who have web pages and 2.) Act as a temporary web site for those member groups who have not, as yet, a site for themselves. As such, this page is always in a state of flux and is constantly being updated. We encourage you to check out all of our members sites because they are proud of them and put a lot of work and money into them. For those who do not, as yet, have a site please send them an e-mail encouraging them to get one.
We also have a photo gallery so you can see what we do together as well as a calendar to see when we do it.
We encourage re-enactors from different eras and from around the world to view our sites. Tell us what you like and what improvements could be done to make our site more effective. If you, or someone you know, is a re-enactor portraying our era and are interested in joining us please e-mail us at the address at the bottom of this page formore information.
If you do find an error or a bad link or have a suggestion to improve our site please let me, your humble webmaster know.
Oh, and if you do decide to e-mail any group who is listed as a member of this page, please let them know that you sent your email from this site.
We are now up to 17 groups and Historic Sites in our Association! Most are listed here and the rest will be added. Some links are incomplete as I wait for Unit badges, pictures, email addresses and information but I will update as I get the information.
We are a Saskatoon based historical re-enactment group started in 1985 during the Centennial of the North-West Rebellion. Our aim is to promote and preserve the earliest military history of our Province and to present it to the public as a living history.
As a Historical Re-enactment group, we focus on portraying soldiers of the Victorian era in character, camp life, and military drills. Through extensive research, and using actual uniforms, rifles, accoutrements, a 1750 cohorn pattern 2 lb black powder trench mortar, an 1875 pattern 1" mountain howitzer, and period encampments, we are able to accurately portray the Canadian Militia of 1885.
Members abilities range considerably. Many are primitive firearms enthusiasts with a good knowledge of black powder pistols, rifles, mortars, and artillery pieces. Some are students of military history. Skills include knowledge of military drill from the Victorian era (British Army Drill Manual - 1884), horseback riding, vocal dialects, musical ability - guitar, bugle, bagpipes, harmonica, tin penny whistle, drumming, and singing.
Some members have different outfits of primitive style (ie. buckskins), different uniforms, and are very versatile in many roles. It is this versatility that has allowed us to perform in many films and documentaries.
The Midland Historical Volunteers 1885 give live performances and period encampments at Fort Battleford National Historical Park and Batoche National Historical Park in Saskatchewan and at Fort Normandeau (Red Deer), Fort WhoopUp (Lethbridge), and Fort Macleod in Alberta. The Midland Historical Volunteers were also involved with the Louis Riel day opening ceremonies in Saskatoon, and have stood ceremonial guard at historic Marr House which was the battalion field hospital during the North-West Rebellion of 1885. The Midland Historical Volunteers have also given performances at the opening of the Wanuskewin First Nations Park, Nutana Collegiate Institute Friends Day, the Hudson Bay Trade Show, the Camp Dundurn 75th Anniversary, the Canada Remembers Air Show, the Saskatoon WinterFest, Saskatoon Heritage Fest, Saskatoon FolkFest, Saskatoon Exhibition Parade, and the Saskatoon PrairieLand Exhibition.
The Midland Historical Volunteers 1885 were also honoured by being asked to be ceremonial guard for Princess Diana's book of Rememberance at the Saskatoon City Hall in 1987.
E-mail us at: Midland Historical Volunteers 1885
Dedicated to the memory of the two hundred and thirty-two officers and men who saw active service in this battalion in North-West Canada during 1885. The 9th Battalion Rifles (Voltigeurs) 1885 perpetuates the regimental affiliation with the present Voltigeurs de Quebec (Militia) in Quebec City, Quebec.
We are a Calgary Alberta based re-enactment group founded in February of 1985 to portray the Quebec based Militia unit Les Voltegeurs de Quebec who protected Calgary during the North-West Rebellion of 1885. As a Rifle Battalion the unit wears a "Rifle" uniform of dark green with black leather and black painted buttons whichdepicts the 1885 parade dress of the 9th Battalion Rifles Volunteer Militia of Canada.
The unit relies upon the personal commitment and interest of our volunteer members. The static displays and rifle drills which we perform for the general public are held at various locations and provide our members with a unique opportunity to depict a part of Canada's history. We are active in the community and share re-enactment events with most of the groups here in Calgary and we are always pleased to welcome new members to our group.
E-mail us at: 9th Battalion
Rifles(Voltegeurs)Commemorative Assn.
Our group portrays the Montreal regiment which came west in 1885 and fought in the Alberta Field Force under General Thomas Bland Strange. The original regiment travelled from Montreal to Calgary and joined General Strange's column for the relief of Edmonton. At Red Deer Crossing, elements of the 65th built and manned a Fort which they named after their Garrison Commander, Lt.Normandeau. Once Edmonton was secure the regiment sailed down the North Saskatchewan River on barges to Fort Pitt and fought in the persuit of Big Bear at Frenchman's Butte and Steele's Narrows finally stopping at the Beaver River Mission. In one incident members of the regiment helped pull a cannon that was in danger of sinking out of the muskeg and earned themselves the nickname, "The Alligators,"
We do a demonstration at Fort Normandeau just outside of Red Deer on the weekend after Victoria Day.
E-mail us at: The 65th Mount Royal Rifles
We are a group, formed in 1996, who portray the North-West Mounted Police and their life in the west. We are based in Fort MacLeod Alberta which was the first home for the N.W.M.P. on the Canadian prairies and are currently involved in the resoration of the barracks site at Fort MacLeod.
We do re-enactment demonstrations at Fort MacLeod as well as at Fort Whoop-Up in Lethbridge Alberta
E-mail us at: The
Riders of the Plains
We are a re-enactment group based out of Red Deer Ab and depict the Army during the 1870 Fenian Raids. We parade at Fort Normandeau.
This section is currently under construction.
E-mail us at: The 45th Victoria
Regiment
In 1881, Captain John Stewart, formerly of the Princess Louise Guards and from a prominent Ottawa family came west, leasing the horse farm from the N.W.M.P. With his old friend, the former mountie John Herron as manager, they set up the Stewart Ranche Company along Indian Farm Creek just east of the present town of Pincher Creek. In other parts of the North West Territories tensions between Metis, Indians, and settlers on the one side and the seemingly unresponsive government on the other, were increasing with each passing season. By the spring of 1885 there seemed to be nothing to prevent the Louis Riel led coalition from taking up arms against the government. Fear of what might happen if the general Indian population joined the rebellion and the realization that the rest of the inhabitants of the territories were so poorly defended led to a scramble to organize and arm troops to be used in the forthcoming struggle.
John Stewart happened to be in Ottawa at the time the first shots of the North West Rebellion were fired at Duck Lake. With a recommendation from his friend, Prime Minister John A. Macdonald, Stewart was able to convince the Minister of Militia and Defence, Adolphe Caron that a troop of cavalry made up of men from southern Alberta would be needed to supplement and replace the N.W.M.P. as they were called to the scene of the conflict. Authority was given on March 28, 1885 to raise four troops of Rocky Mountain Rangers to be commanded by John Stewart who was then promoted to Major. Three troops were mustered from the Pincher Creek and Macleod area's cowboys and ranchers augmented later by more from Medicine Hat. The fourth troop was never formed as it's Calgary members were used in the creation of the Alberta Mounted Rifles. The R.M.R. eventually numbered between 100 and 150 men.
Leaving Captain Herron with his number 3 troop to patrol Pincher Creek and Macleod, Major Stewart, Kootenai Brown and the men of 1 and 2 troops rode east from Macleod with great expectations of the hard battles and great victories that awaited them in Saskatchewan. To their disappointment, they were halted at Medicine Hat and assigned to patrol the south country. Though they did have some run ins with rustlers and a long range fire fight with some unidentified Indians, most of their experience consisted of long days in the saddle. By the end of the conflict they were patrolling an area from the Rockies to the Cypress Hills in the east and from the Montana border all the way north to the High River area. When the rebellion ended they rode back to Macleod reaching there on July 8th. Major Stewart raced to Ottawa in an attempt to have the R.M.R. put on permanent Militia rolls but was turned down on account of the Rangers had no combat record. The "Cowboy Cavalry" was paid off and disbanded July 17, 1885.
The 1885 Rocky Mountain Rangers Commemorative Troop Association was formed in Pincher Creek, Alberta, on April 27th, 1998 under the auspices of the Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village with the mandate to promote the museum, tourism in the area, and help people in general be more aware of Southern Alberta's colourful history. The Association is dedicated to educating through re-enacting while at the same time, having fun on horseback. The Troop attempts to re-create the look and character of the original "Cowboy Cavalry" which was made up of ex Mounted Police, Canadian, English, and American cowboys, ranchers, and frontiersmen. The uniform of "The Canvasbacks" will consist of Montana Broadcloth chore jackets and trousers, leather chaps, and other western and military accoutrements depicting the 1880's. The 3 on the Guidon reflects the fact that in 1885, the Pincher Creek Home Guard became number 3 Troop of the R.M.R. Also that after the modern day Militia unit in Kamloops, this is thethird Rocky Mountain Ranger troop to be formed. We are open to all who are interested in history and horses. Our motto is: SEMPER EQUESTER PRIMUM which means "ALWAYS A HORSEMAN FIRST", while we unofficially cling to the motto of the R.M.R. successor , The 23rd Alberta Rangers: ACER ET CELER, "SHARP AND SWIFT"!
E-mail us at: The Rocky Mountain Rangers (3 Troop)
"We are a Cowboy Action Shooting group, named after and commemorating the Rocky Mountain Rangers, a mounted provisional militia unit of Canadian and American cowboys, raised at Fort MacLeod in the spring of 1885 to guard Southern Alberta from Fort MacLeod to Medicine Hat. Troops 1 and 2 were posted to Medicine Hat, while Troop 3 remained at MacLeod. Although the Minister of Defence and Militia had authorized a total of four Troops for the RMR, the fourth Troop was never recruited in 1885. We like to think of ourselves as that "missing" Troop - hence our name.
Our group is in Medicine Hat Alberta
E-mail us at: The Rocky Mountain
Rangers (4 Troop)
The NWMP Commemorative Association, based in Calgary AB., was incorporated as a non-profit organization with the aim of promoting the history of the North-West and Royal North-West Mounted Police. Our troop makes appearances in period costume at parades and re-enactments and also has a mobile museum available upon request to communities in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia.
E-mail us at: The North West Mounted Police Commemorative Association
Our group was formed after the successful re-enactment of the RCMP March West and is based out of the Edmonton AB area with several charter members having been part of, or on the committee for, the March West. Our mission is to recreate Mounted Police living history and our target era is 1885 to 1900 of the NWMP.
Our club began in 1967 as the Lethbridge Muzzle Loading Rifle and Pistol Club. Our mandate is to preserve the early history of European exploration, development, and settlement of Western Canada. Through education, displays, re-enactments, and demonstrations the club preserves the history of this heritage. We meet monthly in Lethbridge
At first glance the members of this group appear to have nothing in common. There is an ancient renegade HB Co. man dedicated to populating the west with mixed blood children; a Cree chief that has shockingly taken up with a woman from a respectable English Family; a "B-Western" cowboy of Russian descent who, together with his wife, have a herd of kids; a lost Red Coat; and a pompous, long-winded historian who has the annoying habit of counting thread wherever he goes.
What holds this group together, however, is our interest in bringing the past to life. Alberta's early settlement era was filled with such strange characters and we hope to bring a glimpse of the past to those who are interested. Since we live in the Red Deer country you can find us usually at Fort Normandeau.
E-mail us at: The Firesticks Living History Society
In the spring of 1885 the Canadian Government was afraid that Natives friendly to the Metis cause would cut the communication and supply lines between Edmonton and Calgary and isolate Edmonton from the rest of the country. As a result, elements of the 65th Mount Royal Regiment under Lt. J.E. Bedard Normandeau maintained a fortified garrison at the inn at Red Deer Crossing which was on the main road between Calgary and Edmonton. Named after it's Garrison commander, Fort Normandeau guarded this crucial crossing and helped maintain peace in the region.
Every year on the last weekend in May is Fort Normandeau Days where we host the 65th Mount Royal Rifles and the 45th Victoria Regiment. In 1998 the 9th Battalion from Calgary came for the first time and in 1999 the Midland Historical Volunteers 1885 came for the first time. Next year we are planning for bigger and better things. Stay tuned.
Come to the site of the Premier whiskey fort that was the reason the N.W.M.P. were formed in 1873 and is now the home of the Riders of the Plains, the infamous Fort Whoop-Up. You won't be disappointed!
E-mail us at: Fort Whoop-Up
This is the spiritual homeland of the Metis people and the place where the North-West Rebellion began.
Dedicated to the history of the regiments from Calgary and Western Canada who fought in North-West Canada, South Africa, two world wars, and Korea and who have been assigned to Peace-Keeping roles around the world
In 1990 a small group of four citizens decided to recreate the colour and pageantry of the 1860s and the Brockville Infantry Company (1862) was formed. Today over twentyre-enactors make up the group. They are composed of local lawyers, teachers, managers and businessmen. They dress in identical British bright red tunics carry and fire fully functional replicas of the original Enfield muskets with bayonets and perform the same precision drill manoeuvres that their counterparts did over 130 years ago.
The Company has performed to crowds in many high profile special events from London to Toronto to Ottawa to Montreal and to Alexandria Bay New York. We will consider all requests for appearances. Please contact us at the enclosed address. Thank you for your support. You can reach us at The Brockville Infantry Company P.O. Box 2041 Brockville, ON. K6V 6N5
![[Calendar]](bullet_d.gif){kind=small}
Calendar
of Events
http://www.oocities.org/Yosemite/Forest/8889/index.htm
Last modified on November 29, 2007
Send email to the Western Canadian Re-enactment Association