Amid Trump threats, Canadian War of 1812 re-enactors are skipping American battles

The boom of a stout iron cannon reverberates across farmers' fields in Prince Edward County, Ont. 

Lined up in formation behind its smoking barrel are a dozen members of the Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry, dressed in painstakingly accurate uniforms. Some have muskets, others a fife and drum. 

For decades, the group has re-enacted crucial battles and moments from the War of 1812. The United States declared war on Great Britain back then in part because of trade skirmishes and interference, as well as the forced conscription of Americans into British naval service. 

During the war, the Americans attempted to take British-held land in Canada, but were met with stiff resistance from a united front of British, Canadian, Métis and Indigenous fighters.

The Fencibles have represented their regiment in Europe and deep into "enemy territory" in the United States to commemorate numerous battles of note. The group typically heads to New York in February to help re-enact the Battle of Ogdensburg, a British victory.

But this year, they stayed put.

"All of our members pretty well are Canadians, and a lot of them are very angry, as many Canadians are, about the situation and they're very hesitant to go across the border," said David Moore, who acts as the major to the Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry, also known as the Fencibles.

True, the Canadian dollar hasn't helped, but U.S. President Donald Trump's talk of making Canada the 51st state is keeping the Fencibles firmly on this side of the St Lawrence River.

"There have been events down in the States, in New York and Michigan and so on, and everyone has said, 'No, I think we're gonna pass and wait and see how this all plays out, to see if the rhetoric fades away,'" Moore said.

Many of the Fencibles have deep roots in this part of southeastern Ontario, with ancestors who fought for the British in the War of 1812 and beyond.

"My family's had properties taken from the Americans before. So that's my apprehension [about crossing the border]," said Shawn Finnegan, who traces his family's roots in the area back to before the American Revolution.

Donald Trump repeatedly referred to former prime minister Justin Trudeau as a "governor" and has insisted Canada "only works as a state." Trump has also called the Canada-U.S. border an "artificial line."

Finnegan said the annexation talk is "pretty upsetting" considering "we helped them out during and after 9/11," referring to the fact that more than 200 flights were diverted to Canada after U.S. airspace closed in response to al-Qaeda's attack on Sept. 11, 2001. Canada took in thousands of stranded passengers until it was safe to resume normal operations.

"We stepped up to help them out in their time of need, and this is pretty much their thanks to us: they want to take us over. So, like a lot of Canadians, it's an over-my-dead-body kind of feeling."