Pick a Personality

Vote for the Canadian personality who inspires you the most.

By their courage and determination, many Canadians distinguished themselves during the War of 1812. Read their stories, select the person who inspires you the most, and then click the submit button at the bottom of the page.

Pick a personality

Pick a Personality*
- 1. Laura Secord - My Story
  When I discovered that the Americans were planning to attack a British outpost, I decided to act. Despite the heat and the humidity, I walked 32 kilometers across fields and through forests to warn the British. Along the way, I met some First Peoples warriors who ambushed and defeated the Americans.
  Laura Secord
  Niagara Falls Public Library, Niagara Falls, Ontario, D417337
- 2. Charles de Salaberry - My Story
  Born in Canada, I first served with the British Army in Europe. On my return to Canada, I led the troops who won the battle of the Châteauguay - a crucial victory which saved Montreal from American attack.
  Colonel Charles de Salaberry
  Painting by Patrick Haldorsen
  Beaverbrook Collection of War Art
  CWM 19840034-002
- 3. Isaac Brock - My Story
  I commanded the British forces in Upper Canada. Although short of soldiers and supplies, we successfully defended the colony in the opening months of the war. In August 1812, we even captured Detroit. I was killed by a musket shot during the battle of Queenston Heights, in October 1812.
  Major-General Sir Isaac Brock
  Painting by Gerrit Schipper, 1812
  © 2012 The States of Guernsey (Guernsey Museums & Galleries)
- 4. Mookomaanish - My Story
  I was an Odawa war chief during the War of 1812. My name Mookomaanish means “Little Knife”. I fought as an ally of the British in the war to help defend against American invasion, and gained a reputation as a strong and humane leader. In 1815, I received a presentation sword from the British in recognition of my care of a wounded American prisoner.
  Mookomaanish
  Beaverbrook Collection of War Art
  CWM 19810296-121

"And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave, O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave." — Francis Scott Key, American lawyer and poet, 1814

« Une chance s’offrait à nous; oui, une chance comme il n’en viendrait jamais d’autre, pour nous, les Premiers Peuples d’Amérique du Nord; une chance de nous rassembler dans une formidable combinaison et de nous joindre aux Britanniques dans cette guerre. » — Tecumseh, chef autochtone américain, 1812

« Le gouvernement du Roi... [m’a], de manière non équivoque, exprimé son désir de préserver la paix avec les États-Unis afin qu’il puisse, de manière constante, poursuivre, avec toutes les forces dont il dispose au pays, les plus grands intérêts en Europe. » — George Prevost, Britannique, gouverneur général du Canada, 1812

“The King’s government … [has] most unequivocally expressed to me their desire to preserve peace with the United States, that they might, uninterrupted, pursue with the whole disposable force of the country, the great[er] interest in Europe.” — George Prevost, British, Governor General of Canada, 1812

«Et la bannière étoilée flottera triomphalement sur la terre de la liberté et la patrie des braves.» — Francis Scott Key, avocat et poète , 1814

« Le moral des Américains était très haut et, lorsque j’ai dit que j’étais Canadien, l’un des officiers s’est mis à rire et m’a dit : ‘’ Vous serez bientôt régis par le gouvernement américain, mon garçon. ‘‘ J’étais assez frondeur, comme la plupart des garçons de mon âge, et je lui ai répondu : ‘‘ Je ne suis pas très certain de cela ‘‘. » — Jacob Cline, 13 ans, Canadien, 1813

“The Americans were in high spirits, and when I said I was Canadian, one of the officers laughed and said, “You'll soon be under the Yankey government, my boy.” I was sassy, like most boys of my age, and I said, “I'm not so sure about that.” — Jacob Cline, Canadian, 13 years old, 1813

“Here is a chance presented to us; yes, such as will never occur again, for us Indians of North America to form ourselves into one great combination, and cast our lot with the British in this war.” — Tecumseh, Native American leader, 1812

« Nous avons certainement gagné [la guerre de 1812]. Parce que, si ça n’avait pas été le cas, nous utiliserions des huards et des pièces de deux dollars au lieu de billets américains, n’est-ce pas ? » — Le gestionnaire du Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site, États-Unis, dans « The War of 1812 Revisited », National Post, le 27 septembre 2007

“Certainly we won [the War of 1812]. Because if we hadn’t, we’d be using loonies and toonies instead of dollar bills, wouldn’t we?” — Site manager, Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site, United States, as quoted in “The War of 1812 Revisited,” National Post, 27 September 2007

Pick a Personality

Vote for the Canadian personality who inspires you the most.

Pick a personality

1. Laura Secord - My Story

2. Charles de Salaberry - My Story

3. Isaac Brock - My Story

4. Mookomaanish - My Story