Cornwall hosting national Loyalist conference
August 13, 2018
United Empire Loyalists
Cornwall will be hosting an event of historic proportions.
The City will play host to the United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada (UELAC) 2021 conference, ‘Join the rEvolution,’ with upwards of 400 people from across Canada and the U.S. expected to attend the event from May 27-30.
“We’re thrilled to be hosting this national conference in Cornwall given the City’s own Loyalist history,” said Jennifer DeBruin, President of the United Empire Loyalists Bridge Annex, the host branch for the UELAC 2021 conference in Cornwall. “In the spirit of the conference theme of ‘Join the rEvolution,’ we will be building bridges beyond our membership to develop a conference that features exciting opportunities to engage individuals and partners locally, regionally and internationally.”
The announcement was made during Sunday’s re-dedication ceremony for United Empire Loyalist plaque at the Cornwall Community Museum. It was a fitting venue as the museum is in the same general area where Loyalists first drew their lots to settle the Cornwall area in 1784.
“It’s important to us that we create a conference that makes UE Loyalist descendants and other interested residents feel excited about exploring the past by using a mixture of traditional and new features, and inviting others beyond our membership to join us,” added Mrs. DeBruin.
The conference will be held at the NAV CENTRE and the sprawling facility will play host to conference lectures, a Loyalist encampment and more. Conference organizers are also planning additional community activities for delegates such as boat cruises and bus tours.
“This is a terrific opportunity to showcase our community and an important part of our past,” said Kevin Lajoie, Tourism Coordinator with Cornwall Tourism. “We’re hoping the community-at-large will embrace this conference and help give our visitors an experience they will never forget.”
Organizers are hoping the benefits of the conference will continue on long after the official agenda closes.
“We are committed to being active before, during and after this conference,” said Mrs. DeBruin. “We want to showcase the area and our history and help others understand that exploring the past can be fun and exciting, even as we help preserve the legacy of the UE Loyalists. We’re looking forward to building on our past, while safeguarding our future!”
Stay up to date!
For more information on the conference, make sure to follow the UE Loyalists Bridge Annex website and check them out on Facebook. The UE Loyalists Bridge Annex is the first virtual branch of UELAC and offers unique opportunities for members to determine how and when they would like to experience the UELAC.
About the United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada
The United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada is an organization dedicated to enriching the lives of Canadians through knowledge of the past, in particular the history of the United Empire Loyalists and their contribution to the development of Canada.
The United Empire Loyalists were generally those who had been settled in the thirteen colonies at the outbreak of the American Revolution, who remained loyal to and took up the Royal Standard, and who settled in what is now Canada at the end of the war.
In addition to perhaps one Canadian in ten having a Loyalist ancestor, many others of Loyalist descent live elsewhere – in the United States, in commonwealth countries such as Australia and New Zealand, and scattered around the world.
For more information on the UELAC, please click here.
Additional Events
Looking for other fun things to do in Cornwall? Make sure to check out our Events page for info on upcoming events in the area!
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Planning to explore Cornwall? Extend your stay at one of our many great accommodations! For a listing of local accommodations, click here.
Additional Information
Planning a visit to Cornwall? Cornwall Tourism can help. Email us at info@staging.banfield.agency to request a copy of our Visitor Guide or contact us at (613) 936-0842. You can also stop by our Visitor Information Centre inside the Cornwall Community Museum (160 Water Street West) in Lamoureux Park.
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Article by Sophie Poirier
www.CornwallTourism.com