St. Catharines Standard, January 25, 2010
by Monique Beech
Niagara-on-the-Lake's most recognizable War of 1812 site is getting a major $2.75-million facelift.
Extensive restoration work of the 80-year-old replica of Fort George started about three weeks ago.
The project, the biggest in the national historic site's history, will stabilize the crumbling structure.
Six large bastions, or cannon platforms, and sections of decaying palisade, or wooden fence, are being replaced to strengthen the outer walls of the fort.
That work alone will cost taxpayers $2.5 million.
More reconstruction work -- roof and siding replacement -- will be done on buildings inside the fort walls.
Geoff Hancock said the restoration of the tourist attraction could have waited a few years, but the upcoming bicentennial events moved up the deadline.
Parks Canada was also able to benefit from the federal government's major infrastructure economic stimulus cash pool.
Until now, repairs to the fort have been done on a much smaller scale, said Hancock, Parks Canada's project leader for the War of 1812 bicentennial.
"This is a much bigger scale," Hancock said.
"This is sort of getting your 'if we can do it all in a year, year and a half, what can we do?' scenario. This is what happened."
Source: St. Catharines Standard