"The Executive Committee met on October 7th and received satisfactory reports of the progress made in carrying out the proposals of the General Committee. A programme for the celebration at Queenston Heights was drafted, and the President was requested to arrange with the Department of Militia that the permanent forces be sent from Toronto to Queenston Heights to take part in the proceedings. It was also resolved to publish an account of the proceedings in connection with the celebration as an interesting record of a notable event."
The Executive also reported that all arrangements had been completed for the journey to Queenston Heights; that the Militia Department had ordered that salutes be fired from all saluting points in Canada on the 12th inst.; that commemorative church services would be extensively held on the 13th inst.; that special exercises would be observed in the public schools in accordance with letters received from the Honourable R. A. Pyne, M.P.P., Minister of Education for Ontario, Mr. Augustus W. Ball, Deputy Minister of Education, Saskatchewan, Mr. Alexander Robinson, Superintendent of Education, British Columbia, and from Mr. R. Fletcher, Deputy Minister of Education, Manitoba; that a detachment from the permanent infantry force at Toronto would proceed to Queenston Heights on the 12th inst.; that the Toronto, Hamilton and other corps of militia would be represented, and that large delegations from patriotic, national and historical societies would take part; that many wreaths would be sent to the monument; that the Dominion Government had ordered its representative in London, England, to place a wreath on Brock's Memorial in St. Paul's Cathedral; and that letters from prominent public men had been received, either regretting their inability to take part or accepting the invitations to be present.
This being the last meeting of the General Committee, it was agreed to refer the suggestion that a bronze centennial tablet be placed on Brock's Monument, the striking of a Centennial medal, and all business connected with the celebration ceremonies, or arising therefrom, to the Executive Committee, with full power to dispose of the same.
The meeting then adjourned sine die.
CELEBRATING THE DAY
It had been decided to travel by the Grand Trunk Railway train leaving Toronto at nine o'clock a.m. (a few only going by steamer from Yonge Street wharf). The unsettled, rainy weather of the two previous days had caused some misgiving as to the number of people who might venture on an open air demonstration on a cold October day, and the grey looming skies at dawn on Saturday, the 12th, held no hidden hope of a silver lining. The enthusiasm awakened by the name of Brock, however, was resistless, and betimes the seats in the waiting train were crowded. The Union Station witnessed a lively scene—the soldiers in bright colours, the ladies and gentlemen in gay humour, and the stirring music of the bagpipes, combining to enliven and mark the unusual character of the occasion.
At Hamilton a number of friends joined the party, and others who could not do so came to the railway station to express their good wishes. St. Catharines also gave its contingent. Niagara Falls was safely reached at 11.45 o'clock.