Anyone know of regency society in Canada?

[amandamoose]

Hey guys my mom lives in Oshawa Ontario. It's closer to the east coast. I was wondering if anyone knew of a Canadian equivalent to our lovely RSA. I've suggested she join this group and told her how happy you all are to share your experiences starting up your own groups as well as Stephanie starting up the RSA.

But if you all knew of any groups of our neighbors to the North and had links (she hasn't been able to find any) it'd be cool to share those with her.

Thanks everyone!

[dawnluckham]

There is the Jane Austen Society and there are countless groups connected to The War of 1812. She could make inquiries at Fort York.

[amandamoose]

Oh good idea!!! Thanks

[missmardi]

I do not know if this is something that would interest your mother or not, but is another possibility. Some of us in the reenactment community (in Eastern Ontario) are forming a civilian group to represent life during the war of 1812. It is not necessarily the same as a regular regency society, but it is a possibility to consider.

[amandamoose]

Wonderful! Yes, Miss Mardi, my mother is interested in your group My father is a big history buff and might get involved too. Would you mind if I sent my mother your email address?

[missmardi]

By all means, give her my email. It is mardicus_1(splat)hotmail.com

We are just getting organized for the coming year, and there are many who are more than willing to help them get their clothing and such together. Most of us camp at the various events, but there are some who hotel it, so the flexibility is there. Some of us have links to specific military regiments, but some are just interested in the era and experience.

I look forward to hearing from them.

[dawnluckham]

I’d love to hear more about your civilian group!

South-western Ontario is a long, long way from Eastern Ontario and the Ottawa area but I’d love it if there was a blog or website for this group so I could watch activities from afar. Who knows, there may even be something I absolutely MUST attend at some point.

Does anyone from the group post on line?

[missmardi]

Dawn,

We are literally just getting started. We had our first meeting on 27 Dec. to work out what our goals are, and set some standards (clothing). Some have husband in regiments (like me) and some are getting to where they are no longer able to join their regiments. Others are interested in the time era, but not the military aspect. We are mainly based in the east, because that is where we live. We are not limiting our membership to this part of Ontario. The idea is to give an impression of life in the town or city near the battle sites of the reenactment we are attending. It is open to Canadian and American alike, as we are trying to give an impression of the nearest town.

[amandamoose]

I like the idea of giving an impression of the time. My town is quite a bit younger (founded in 1905 I think) so I'll be out of place but still it'll be fun to walk around in my dress when I finally have it made It'd be fun to meet you all the next time I visit my folks too...if possible

[dawnluckham]

(chuckle) Well, wandering around a military re-enactment alone as a civilian is not exactly what I had in mind.

Just getting started for your group is good. Working out goals and standards and target objectives is excellent. It would be wonderful if you accept membership from all over, but a method of communication on-line will be necessary if you want to do that because those of us who live any distance away will not feel connected to the group if there is not a forum or a method of conversation. A website stating the primary objectives and an invitation to join would be brilliant.

My own experience with re-enactment has been to participate on an organizing committee for a local event. As long as this event ran, there was always work to be done and tasks to occupy the days. This evolved into wanting to attend other events. But my family does not regularly attend re-enactments with me and I’m not interested in portraying a male soldier. So, how to be a civilian? My solution was to be a merchant/sutler. My roll has evolved over the years, but the women I know who are not interested in open fire cooking and portraying the poorest of the poor “camp followers” do have a dilemma. It depends on individual events and how “authentically military” the event wants to be, but the reality is, women (and civilian men) are kind of left out of these military scenarios.

If your group has a solution for civilian portrayals, I think there are a lot of people who will be interested! I hope you’ll keep us updated with progress reports.

[missmardi]

Dawn,

You are exactly right, and that is just what we are trying to address. We want to provide something for the non-military types, who do not want to be sutlers either.