Notice to Editors
For media outlets located outside of Nova Scotia and who may be interested in obtaining text, tape or video of the commemorative ceremony on Memorial Day (Monday, May 30, 2005) for the close to 200 American War of 1812 prisoners who died while imprisoned at Halifax, Nova Scotia, the following is a list of local/national media outlets that you may want to contact for coverage. (see news release below)
ATV /ASN (Canadian Television Network)
Halifax
Phone: (902) 454-3200
Fax: (902)454-3280
Web: atv.ca
Global Television
Dartmouth
Phone: (902) 481-7400
Fax: (902) 481-7427
Email: news@globaltv.ca
CBC TV (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)
Halifax
Phone: (902) 420-4116
Fax: (902) 420-4137
Email: edition@halifax.cbc.ca
Eastlink Television (cable TV)
Lower Sackville, NS B4C 2R7
Phone: (902) 446-6397
Fax: (902) 446-3292
Email:eastlinknews@eastlink.ca
CTV National News
Halifax, NS B3J 5Z4
Phone: (902) 493-3453
Fax: (902) 493-3458
Radio Stations
Broadcast News
(Canadian Press)
Halifax, NS B3J 2L4
Phone: (902) 422-8496
Fax: (902)425-2675
Email: halifax@broadcastnews.ca
CBC Radio (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)
Halifax, NS B3J 3E9
Phone: (902) 420-4350
Fax: (902) 420-4357
Email: radionews@halifax.cbc.ca
KIXX/Q104/Sun Radio
/CJCH/ C100 (Metroradio Group)
Halifax, NS B3K 6B2
Phone: (902) 453-1000
Fax: (902)453-3120
Alternate: 453-1239
Email:news@mrg.ca
CHNS/Country 101
Halifax, NS B3J 2R2
Phone: (902) 422-1651
Fax: (902)425-2754
Alternate: (902) 422-5330
Email:chnsnews@chnsradio.com
chfxnews@chfxradio.com
Wire Services
Canadian Press
Halifax, NS B3J 2L4
Phone: (902)422-8496
Fax: (902) 425-2675
Email: halifax@cp.org
Daily Newspapers
Daily News
Halifax, NS B3K 5M1
Phone: (902) 444-4444
Fax: (902) 422-5667
Email:citydesk@hfxnews.ca
Halifax Herald
Halifax, NS B3J 2T2
Phone: (902) 426-3088
Fax: (902) 426-1158
Email:newsroom@herald.ns.ca
National Newspapers, Magazines
The Globe & Mail
Phone: (902) 450-1173
Fax: (902) 450-1148
Email:sricher@globeandmail.ca
National Post
c/o Richard Foot
Phone: (902) 445-5074
Fax: (902) 445-5913
Email:rfoot@ns.sympatico.ca
MacLean's Magazine
c/o John Demont
Hfx. NS B3K 3B2
Phone: (902) 422-4042
Fax: (902) 422-4048
Email:jdemont@macleans.ca
Commemorative Ceremony for Unmarked Graves
(Halifax, N.S. Thursday, May 26, 2005)- A special commemorative ceremony will be held next Monday on Deadman’s Island, located on the Northwest Arm, to formally recognize the unmarked graves of close to 200 American War of 1812 prisoners who died while imprisoned on nearby Melville Island. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is supplying a bronze plaque, listing the names and hometowns of the POWs, which will be dedicated during the ceremony.
Colour parties from the USS Constitution, the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat, and Maritime Forces Atlantic, as well as re-enactors from the Kings Orange Rangers and the 78th Highlanders, will be participating in the ceremony.
Historians have concluded that at least 195 American prisoners from the War of 1812 died while confined to Melville Island Prison, on the site of the present-day Armdale Yacht Club, and 188 were buried on an adjoining property, Deadman's Island.
In addition, at least 104 Chesapeake black refugees, who had fled to Canada from 1812 to 1815, died from small pox while being quarantined on Melville Island and most were probably buried on Deadman’s Island as well.
In 2000, with the then-privately held land in danger of being sold to condominium developers, Halifax Regional Municipality purchased the Deadman's Island property in order to protect the burial ground. Much of the credit for protecting this site rests with the Northwest Arm Heritage Association and the Society of the War of 1812 in the State of Ohio.
The ceremony starts at 11 a.m. Monday, May 30, 2005. The road to Deadman’s island will be blocked off, so members of the media are asked to meet at the Greek Church, 38 Purcell's Cove Road, no later than 10:30 a.m. A shuttle will take them to the site (about 1 km away). It is mandatory that you have a photo ID to get to the island. The ceremony is outdoors and will be tented, but due to the tides in this area, please be aware that ground could be wet & suitable footwear is recommended.
Due to the limited size of Deadman’s Island, the ceremony will be limited to invited guests only. The site will be open to the public following the ceremony.
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John O’Brien
HRM Corporate Communications
Halifax Regional Municipality
(902) 490-6531
