Maddog Cannoneers ensure crowds have a blast at Canada Day event

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

Maddog Cannoneers:
Aryn Jones, Tyson Colleton, Bryan Jones, Sarah Thomas,
Chris 'Maddog' Thomas
C. Davis photo

One of the popular features of the Canada Day event held at Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village (KBPV) was the Maddog Cannoneers.

 Headquartered in Calgary, some members of this band of dedicated reenactors were Vikings last they visited KBPV, the "Sons of Fenrir", in 2007.  This time around, they were dressed as members of the British Royal Artillery, circa mid-1700's, with one member playing the role of a French-Canadian militiaman.  Their official period of re-enactment pre-dates the French and Indian War, which took place between the English and the French between 1754 and 1763 (the "Seven Year's War").  For the purpose of this Canada Day event  they modified their presentation slightly to include references to the war of 1812, which occurred 200 years ago between British Empire and American forces and was one of the defining conflicts in the development of Canada as a nation.

They brought with them flintlock muskets, two cannons, and a boundless enthusiasm for their roles.  They make their own uniforms and props, with the addition of purchased replica firearms and artillery.

Beginnings

Chris "Maddog" Thomas

Chris 'Maddog' Thomas and wife Sarah attended the 'Pirates in Paradise' re-enactment festival in Key West one year.  The organizers had more cannons than pirates, " So we decided to give it a shot."  After that he was hooked, and found some people with a similar interest. "We all crawled out of our basements and decided we wanted to do something," he explained.  "What's wrong with this hobby? Nothing!" Sarah said, with great enthusiasm.

The Maddog Cannoneers will be appearing at the Foothills Highland Games, to be held in Okotoks on August 25th.  They are tentatively scheduled to appear in early September at Mount Royal Park in Calgary for a ceremony celebrating General James Wolfe and the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, which occurred at Quebec City on September 13, 1759.

Related link:
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