Garrison Woodford steps onto the drill square at Halifax Citadel. His boots crunch against the gravel as the rhythmic marching of his fellow reenactors echoes through the historic fort.

It’s his third year working at Canada’s most popular national historic site, but it feels like he’s always been a part of this place. His parents worked here in the 1990s, and from the time he was a child, he’d dreamed of wearing the uniform.

“There’s a lot of work from all sides,” Woodford says. “Whether it be learning the drill, sitting in the class, learning the history of the place, doing your uniform and all that. It’s a lot of effort on all sides to really understand the history.”

Woodford takes pride in sharing history with visitors and breathing life into Canada’s past. “It’s important to keep showing younger and newer Canadians what it means to be Canadian,” he says.

Tasks include marching around the drill square, conducting tours, standing sentry, and even firing the noon cannon, a tradition dating back to the 1800s. The tours can be the most daunting part.

“Large groups of people can be a little bit scary,” Woodford says. “But once you give a tour or two, it definitely becomes enjoyable. I don’t just tell people history. I show them the stuff I find cool.”

As part of the 78th Highlanders, Woodford dons the regiment’s Scottish uniform, including sporran, gaiters, and hose. The uniform honours the unit that was stationed in Halifax from 1868 to 1871.

“The goal of reenactment is to bring history to life,” he says, “to show people what life was like back then and how Canada became what it is today … I’d like to hope I make some people a bit more interested in history than they were before. More than anything,

I hope I help them understand what Canadian history really means.”

Sparking curiosity
Standing at the top of Halifax Citadel, Matt Kamermans feels the weight of history. He isn’t dressed in military garb. He portrays a merchant, an important yet often overlooked part of the historical landscape.

“Even though this is a military fort, there would have been civilians inside,” he says. “Maybe I’m here visiting friends who are soldiers, or I have wares to sell.”

While Kamermans has a history degree, his journey into reenactment was unconventional. “I was one of the band members here,” he recalls. “The Halifax Citadel Society sponsored a pipe band, a civilian pipe band. So, I was already involved, and then I was looking for work. It was kind of a perfect fit.”

He’s worked at the historic site for a decade.  “This is as close as I can get to working in my field,” he says. “I enjoy sharing what I know with others.”

Reenactment isn’t just about putting on a costume. “There is a lot more reading than people anticipate,” Kamermans says. “We have to be ready for any number of wild questions, anything from early colonial history to World War I, World War II, or Korea … I lead a lot of tours, both French and English. I’m constantly interacting and talking. I haven’t lost my voice yet, knock on wood.”

He enjoys explaining the communication masts. “People always think they were meant to trick enemies into believing we had more navy ships inside the fort, but that’s not the case,” he says. “These were for sending signals. Commercial ships coming into the harbour would have their company’s flag flying, and smaller flags helped indicate the type of ship, where it was coming from, and how many there were.”

Kamermans hopes his work sparks curiosity. “If even 15 per cent of the people I give tours to were interested enough to open a Wikipedia page about anything we do here, that would be enough for me.”

A personal legacy
The towering stone walls of the Halifax Citadel hold centuries of history. For Cailin Lake, they’re also the foundation of a personal legacy that began eight years ago. “I started out like everyone else, just giving the tours,” she says.

Leadership came naturally, and her supervisors noticed. “They wanted to promote me after that first year.”

In her eighth season, Lake, now section head of infantry interpretation, ensures reenactors are historically accurate. “I’m making sure that they’re doing their uniforms right, conducting the drill correctly, maintaining the right folds, and making sure they’re taken care of properly as well.”

Her connection to the Citadel runs deep. “Back in the ’80s, my dad worked here, doing the exact same thing, dressing up in kilts, marching around, firing the rifles and the cannon,” she says.

Though her background is in science, she loves the immersive experience of historical interpretation. The job also goes beyond the Citadel. Interpreters also study Georges Island, uncovering the broader Victorian era. “You’re constantly learning and growing,” she says. “It’s kind of a whole can of worms.”

Authenticity is key to interpretation, but inclusivity matters too. “If we were as historically accurate as possible, this role would only be white men,” Lake says. “Since we can be good interpreters, it doesn’t matter who you are or what you look like. It’s really about your work ethic, enthusiasm, and professionalism.”

Training is rigorous, from uniform standards to military etiquette. Even facial hair must meet historical guidelines. “You might see a couple of our interpreters with mutton chops — chin and neck clean-shaven, just like back then,” Lake says.

She emphasizes the human connection interpreters create. “If you came to the Citadel and walked around, you could read a description, but it truly resonates when you’re talking to a person one on one. It allows for a deeper connection, better communication, and genuine engagement,” she says. “Pamphlets can’t always answer your questions, but a real person can.”

The Kings Landing experience
For more than two decades, Jeff Chamberlain has been a familiar face at Kings Landing, a living-history museum in Prince William, N.B., that transports visitors back to the 1800s. “I was a teacher, so I didn’t have much to do in the summer,” he says.  “I thought it would be a good thing to work.”

Chamberlain, who is the supervisor of the site, males a distinction between reenactors and interpreters. “I don’t consider myself to be a reenactor,” he says. “Reenactments are choreographed. What we do is live the life. We don’t have any script.”

He’s played many roles at the site, including miller and oxen handler. His current role remains his favourite: Sheriff Walter Bates, a real historical figure who arrived in New Brunswick in 1776. His costume, consisting of a black top hat, overcoat, and white shirt, completes the part.

“He built Kingston’s Trinity Anglican Church,” Chamberlain says. “He was a very influential character. Everybody that we portray here actually existed. You can find a gravestone with their name.”

Visitors are immersed in the 19th century. “We do all our farming with horses,” he adds. “You’ll see various trades, different houses. We live the life.”

One moment that stands out involved a family who believed potatoes grew on trees. “We actually dug up potatoes for them,” he says. “That was amazing … You are on stage at all times. You don’t know what any visitor is going to ask, so you have to be well-rounded and engaging … I like to see people smiling. That’s our main goal — to give people a really good, hands-on experience.” 

A regimental uniform
Among the regalia warn by the reenactors at historic sites are regimental uniforms. The 78th Highlanders wore a tartan kilt with a sporran and a leather or fur pouch that acts as a pocket on the front of the kilt. They would also wear hose (knee-high woollen stockings), covered by gaiters to keep the wearer dry. 

Learn more

• Halifax Citadel National Historic Site: Buildings and the on-site museum are open from May to early November, with peak interest when cruise ships visit. Off season, buildings are closed and the site is quieter, but interpreters are still there to fire the Noon Gun and chat with visitors.
• Kings Landing: This living history museum on the Saint John River re-creates the daily lives of the settlers who lived in the are in the 19th century. It has 90,000 artifacts and is open daily from May 31 to Oct. 13.