COREY LAROCQUE, "QUEENSTON HEIGHTS DEFENDED AS SITE FOR PRO-AMERICAN RALLY," ST. CATHARINES STANDARD  (APRIL 11, 2003).

Copyright St. Catharines Standard 2003

NIAGARA FALLS - Tristan Emmanuel has tried to remain cool under fire as he faces the barrage of cellphone calls since he picked a War of 1812 battlefield as the site of a pro-America rally Saturday.

Ever since he organized Canadians for Bush, some people have complained to him that it's inappropriate to use the Queenston Heights park for the demonstration.

At Queenston Heights, American soldiers invaded Canada in October 1812. Maj.-Gen. Sir Isaac Brock died in the famous battle, leading an uphill charge trying to take back the high ground from the American invaders.

Now Emmanuel is finding himself defending his use of the historic battlefield as the site for a rally aimed at showing support for the United States and its president, George W. Bush, during their time of war.

"How could it be a desecration?" Emmanuel replied into his cellphone to one caller Thursday. "Is it a religious site?"

Emmanuel insists it's entirely fitting to use the battlefield for a pro-America rally because it's a reminder of nearly two centuries of peace.

"It's indicative of how far we've come," Emmanuel said.

Organizers also need a large outdoor venue with lots of parking, he added. Originally he estimated 10,000 people might attend the Niagara rally.

He recruited a list of politicians to speak at the rally, including Stockwell Day, the Canadian Alliance's foreign affairs critic, and Ontario cabinet ministers Jim Flaherty and Tim Hudak, Erie-Lincoln's MPP.

"We're going to have to do an extensive public relations campaign to repair relations between Canada and the United States," Emmanuel said.

The rally is a chance for Canadians in Niagara, who support the United States, to express their viewpoint if they missed an earlier gathering in Toronto. The rally begins at 11 a.m. Saturday. Information is available on the group's Web site (www.CanadiansforBush.org).