Ridgeway in Fort Erie in Niagara Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

A Catalyst to Confederation

Photographed by Tim Boyd, April 23, 2025

1. A Catalyst to Confederation Marker

Inscription. The Fenians led unsuccessful raids throughout Canada from 1866 to 1871 in New Brunswick; Canada West (Ontario); Canada East (Quebec) and Manitoba. The Fenian Brotherhood did not achieve its goal of an independent Ireland. The nationalism, which the Fenian movement bolstered, was Canada's. The fear that Britain could not protect Canadians lent a sense of urgency to the confederation movement. The Dominion of Canada was created the next year on July 1, 1867.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • Wars, Non-US. A significant historical date for this entry is July 1, 1867.

Location. 42° 54.263′ N, 79° 2.491′ W. Marker is in Fort Erie, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It is in Ridgeway. It is on Garrison Road 0.3 kilometers east of Ridge Road North, on the left when traveling east. The marker is on the grounds of the Ridgeway Battlefield National Historic Site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3388 Garrison Road, Fort Erie ON L0S 1N0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe

and in Niagara Canada.

It is

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also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A Day to Remember - June 2, 1866 (here, next to this marker); Invasion and Response (here, next to this marker); When the Word Fenian was Feared (a few steps from this marker); The Battle Of Ridgeway (a few steps from this marker); In the Line of Fire (within shouting distance of this marker); Buildings on the Battlefield (within shouting distance of this marker); Battle of Ridgeway Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Berties Farmers (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Erie.

Also see . . . Confederation (the Canadian Encyclopedia).

Negotiations for the union of British North America gained traction in the 1860s. By that time, Confederation had been
Photographed by Tim Boyd, April 23, 2025

2. A Catalyst to Confederation Marker
a long-simmering idea. Confederation was inspired in part by fears that British North America would be dominated and even annexed by the United States. These fears grew following the American Civil War (1861–65).

(Submitted on April 25, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

A Catalyst to Confederation marker illustration and caption detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, April 23, 2025

3. A Catalyst to Confederation marker illustration and caption detail

Proclamation of the Dominion of Canada, July 1, 1867

A Catalyst to Confederation marker illustrations and captions detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, April 23, 2025

4. A Catalyst to Confederation marker illustrations and captions detail

Ridgeway Battlefield National Historic Site image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, April 23, 2025

5. Ridgeway Battlefield National Historic Site

Credits. This page was last revised on April 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 25, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 109 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 25, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.