MPP calls for restoration of the Nancy Island Historic Site as its history gains new relevance.
By Trent Gow
Nestled on a silt-created island near the mouth of the Nottawasaga River in Wasaga Beach, the charred hull of the British schooner HMS Nancy—destroyed in a battle with the Americans in 1814—is an enduring testimony to the bitter consequences of conflict between North American neighbours. But sadly, at present the Nancy Island site is in significant disrepair. Roofs leak, bridges are inaccessible, the lighthouse is inoperative and presentation materials are outdated. Concerned with this deterioration, local MPP Brian Saunderson, as part of his renewed electoral mandate, is championing collaborative efforts to restore and upgrade the Nancy Island site.
“All orders of government have a stake in the solution,” Saunderson stated recently. “Ontario, Canada, Simcoe County and Wasaga Beach must work together to ensure that the site is renewed and maintained in perpetuity.”
Rob Potter, the longtime chair of the Friends of Nancy Island, shares Saunderson’s assessment. Under his leadership, this non-profit organization has been at the forefront of identifying the problems at the Nancy Island Historic Site and seeking restoration. Potter observes that the damage set in as the result of undetected flooding while the site was shut down for precautionary reasons during COVID.
“Currently it is not safe to host student and tourist visits, or to conduct ‘Wasaga Under Siege’ re-enactments. But I’m hopeful that concerted action will restore the site to full glory by 2028, the centennial of the creation of the Nancy Island museum,” said Potter.
Saunderson was asked about the relevancy of the Nancy’s 1814 encounter to current North American economic disputes. The MPP replied that “our shared history over the past two centuries clearly demonstrates that both Canada and the United States prosper best by enhancing our economic ties, not destroying them. That’s the message that Premier Ford consistently delivers to American decision-makers and audiences and it’s the right one.”
