William Chandler was a farmer from Fort Erie who crossed the border to serve in the American Civil War. His great-granddaughter, Lezlie Harper, talks about the pride she has for Chandler and other Black Canadians who fought for Canada and North America.
Earlier in 2022, we asked family members connected to the exhibition A Community at War - The Military Service of Black Canadians of the Niagara Region to share their perspectives. The exhibition highlights the service and sacrifice of 22 Black men and women from the Niagara region and Southwestern Ontario from the American Revolution to the present day. Their experiences offer insight into the broader experience of Black Canadians and the country’s military history. www.warmuseum.ca/militaryservice