Interesting but not surprising to hear US citizens claim the US won and the Canadians claim they won.
Because both have reason to think so (as well as reason not to think so).
From the Canadian perspective, and particularly that of Upper and Lower Canada, repeated U.S. invasions were driven off. It should be remembered that a principal war aim of the U.S. (led by the Western "War Hawks") had been the addition of British North America to the American Union. It also led to the development of a true sense of self awareness.
On the myth side of things it also led to the myth of the brave militia having driven off the U.S. when in fact although militia did fight well in particular battles, it was largely British Line Infantry Regiments (Regulars) particularly in the Niagara Campaigns who drove back the U.S. Army.
From the U.S. perspective, it was seen afterwards as a "Second Revolution" that the U.S. had successfully withstood the world's mightiest military and had truly secured its independence. The single ship actions of the first part of the war U.S.S.
Constitution and H.M.S.
Guerriere, U.S.S.
United States and H.M.S.
Macedonian,U.S.S.
Constitution and H.M.S.
Java as well as the Battle of Lake Eire gave a sense of pride that the United States Navy was capable of holding its own against the Royal Navy the world's most powerful.
Of course this was reinforced by two actions after the Treaty of Ghent had been signed: The Battle of New Orleans and the action of U.S.S.
Constitution against H.M.S.
Cyane and H.M.S.
Levant.
Of course largely forgotten were such inconvenient things as New England having been largely opposed to the War, the failure of the Invasions of Canada, that the U.S. Navy had been largely bottled up in port for the latter part of the War, Eastern Maine being occupied for the later half of the War, and of course the burning of Washington. Likewise perhaps most importantly that for the U.K. 1812 was a side show to the vastly more important War against Napoleonic France (the U.S. wanted to negotiate for Peace because they could foresee all those Regiments of battle hardened British Regulars being sent to North America following the Treaty of Fontainebleau 1814.
One piece of trivia the dress uniforms of the U.S.M.A. (West Point) are to this day grey in honour of the performance of the U.S. Sixth Infantry Regiment (which was in grey uniforms due to a shortage of blue cloth) in the Battle of Chippawa.
