Parks Canada has recently been doing a lot of work restoring Fort Mississauga National Historic Site. At this point, the work on the preservation of the fort’s brick tower is complete. This restoration work included the installation of a new roof. The roof design is similar to an earlier style and will allow the walls, which had been flooded, to dry out over the coming years. Repairs were also made to the inside and outside brick walls. Solar panels were installed on the roof to charge a battery system that feeds the new lighting systems.
As well, near the fort there was extensive shoreline protection to address recent erosion which included adding 600 metres of new break wall at the edge of the lake. To restore this area, Parks Canada also planted more than 400 native Carolinian tree species and shrubs along the shoreline. They will maintain these plantings and ensure they successfully take root in the next few years. Dead trees and bushes will be replaced with new ones.
The slope and earthworks of Fort Mississauga have also seen the removal of non-native and invasive plants to protect the earthworks and archeology. This will help restore historic views to highlight the fort’s prominent position at the mouth of the Niagara River. Parks Canada is finishing up the work by removing stumps and planting grass on the slopes.
The last phase of the project includes constructing a new walking trail, providing a safe route for pedestrians along the shoreline while accessing the Fort Mississauga tower and earthworks. This work is essentially complete and will be open to visitors in early 2021.
These major projects at Fort Mississauga will help preserve this precious national historic site well into the future.
The Friends of Fort George is a non-profit organization that works in partnership with Parks Canada to preserve and promote the heritage of Niagara National Historic Sites. Through special events and the operation of two gift shops, the Friends of Fort George generate awareness and funds to support summer student employment at Fort George and Brock’s Monument at Queenston Heights. Please consider becoming a member of the Friends of Fort George. See: www.friendsoffortgeorge.ca
Tony Chisholm is the president of the Friends of Fort George.