Bill 193 2009

An Act to designate the red geranium as the floral emblem of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812

Preamble

The War of 1812 affected nearly every part of Ontario and is an important event in Ontario's history.  The Niagara frontier experienced some of the heaviest fighting during the war, and battlefields from the war still remain intact as a reminder of these historic battles.  One of these battles, the Battle of Lundy's Lane, took place on July 25, 1814 in Niagara Falls.  This was one of the bloodiest battles ever fought in Canada.

Ruth Redmond, UE, who passed away in 1999 at the age of 96, fought throughout her lifetime to preserve the site of the Battle of Lundy's Lane, donating her home and five other properties on the site to the City of Niagara Falls.  Ruth was committed to establishing a floral tribute to those who lost their lives in the War of 1812.  Ruth and her friends planted more than 700 red "loyalist" geraniums on her property every year in memory of the fallen.

Designating the red geranium as the floral emblem of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 would be a tribute to those who died in the War of 1812, to Ruth Redmond and to all civic-minded Ontarians like her who dedicate time and resources to preserving and honouring our history.

Therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Floral emblem

   1.  The flower known botanically as the red variety of the pelargonium x hortorum and commonly known as the red geranium is the floral emblem of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812.

Commencement

   2.  This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

   3.  The short title of this Act is the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 Act, 2009.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill designates the red geranium as the floral emblem of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812.