Dominion President Peter W. Johnson UE was the guest of honour and guest speaker at Heritage Branch's Charter Night Dinner in Montreal on 7 November 2007. His talk on "What Did Your Loyalist Do in the War?" proved popular with all assembled. Branch members, H. Gary Aitken UE and Paul Bonnell UE

(long-time Branch auditor) received certificates for their UEL ancestors from the Dominion President, one for Mr. Aitken and two for Mr. Bonnell. They are most welcome new Certificate Members. Among those present at the Dinner were many members of Sir John Johnson Centennial Branch Executive, Various other Montreal organizations with which Heritage Branch maintains cordial networking relationships were also represented at Charter Night, including the Royal Commonwealth Society, St. Andrew's Society of Montreal and the 78th Fraser Highlanders Regiment. For the first time in some years, a number of those attending wore period costumes, which heightened the colour and fun of the Dinner.

On 15 November, Adrian Willison UE of Heritage Branch made a fascinating presentation to the Beaconsfield Historical Society on Montreal's West Island concerning that area during the American Revolution. In particular, he discussed events on the "lakeshore" during the American occupation of Montreal and on the subsequent presence and action there of the King's Royal Regiment of New York. To illustrate his talk, Adrian used several of the large posters he has prepared in recent years for display on his pick-up truck when that vehicle, transformed into the Heritage Branch "float," is used in the annual St. Patrick's Day and Canada Day Parades in Montreal. The posters describe significant personalities from the Revolutionary War period, particularly on the British/Loyalist side, and major events of that conflict that affected Montreal. At the end of his talk, Adrian fielded knowledgeably many questions posed by the listeners, who all went home better informed about this little known aspect of Loyalist history on Montreal's West Island.

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Two weeks later, on 29 November, Heritage Branch Secretary, Ann Jarvis Boa UE, presented the made-for-television documentary film, "Famous Last Words," produced by YAP Films Inc. of Toronto, first shown on television last 13 October, to an appreciative audience at Mountainside United Church in Westmount, Quebec. The film deals with the last words allegedly spoken by General Sir Isaac Brock after being hit by the musket ball that took his life during the Battle of Queenston Heights in October 1812, and whether in fact he could have uttered those words given contemporary scientific evidence about his wound. Ann is one of the "stars" of the production, being the great-granddaughter of then15-year-old George Jarvis (son of the Loyalist Stephen Jarvis UE), who ran to Brock's side after he was hit and later left a memoir denying that the General said anything before expiring. The historical and forensic evidence marshalled for and against the famous last words attributed to Sir Isaac is fascinating to see on screen. The documentary also relates the story of Samuel Thomas, a young black soldier who fought with the Canadian militia at the Battle and how one of his direct descendants discovered information about him and his background.

Ann warmed up her audience with a clear and concise review of the causes and major events of the War of 1812, and an explanation of how she got involved in the filming of the documentary and her reaction to the experience.

Heritage Branch is planning its winter and spring activities, which may include renewed participation in Montreal's 184th St. Patrick's Parade and its annual meeting in the spring, preceding the UELAC's 2008 Conference in Saint John, N.B. next July.

By Robert Wilkins UE, Branch President