NEWS RELEASE
ROBERT D. BANKS
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Barrie author Robert D. Banks appeared at the Indigo bookstore Georgian Mall on Saturday afternoon.
His book, Warriors and Warships, was recently awarded the Best Book of 2023 by the Canadian Nautical Research Society.
As well as personalizing copies of his book for customers, Banks spoke of the close connection of the City of Barrie with many of the events described in the book. Banks explained that while most of the events occurred at Point Frederick near Kingston, the British loss of Lake Erie during the War of 1812 forced them to find other ways to ship supplies west. The location of Barrie became part of the solution.
It is well known locally that the City of Barrie was named for Commodore Robert Barrie, who lived for 15 years with his family on Point Frederick. During that time, Commodore Barrie commanded the Royal Navy on the Great Lakes, which included Lake Simcoe and Kempenfelt Bay.
The early village of Barrie was built on the site of a Royal Navy supply depot at the beginning of the Nine Mile Portage to Willow Creek.
Less well known is that Commodore Barrie and his secretary, John Marks, were on a western tour near Barrie when the village was founded in 1833.
It was probably at that time that Marks selected the names for the first streets, naming them after men he knew personally.
As well as Barrie and Marks, others described in Warriors and Warships include captains Mulcastor, Collier, Sampson, Bayfield and Owen, whose activities and heroics are described, and whose names adorn the downtown streets. Marks also named a street after himself, although it was later changed to Simcoe Street.
Sir Robert Barrie himself appeared at the Saturday Indigo event, as portrayed by Randy Rice of the Sir Robert Barrie Society.
The book is available for purchase at the Indigo Georgian Mall location.
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