Calgary community group pitches crosswalk that honours veterans in east Calgary

A Calgary community organization is pitching a proposal to honour veterans with a painted crosswalk like this one in Stoney Creek, Ontario. (Photo: Facebook)

A local organization wants to establish a permanent reminder of the sacrifice of Canadians in war.

Homes for Heroes and the Forest Lawn Community Association are looking into painting a crosswalk to honour veterans.

It would be at 36 St. S.E. near the Veterans Village.

Gar Gar, the president of the community association, cites other cities that have created year-round reminders of the importance of veterans.

“It means so much,” said Gar, “because the voice of veterans, in many cases, are not heard. And this one is basically the opportunity to say your voice has been heard and your voices matter and we are hoping to look forward to have this.”

Gar Gar, Nov. 1, 2024

Gar says they’ve approached the city with the idea and received a positive response within a day or two.

There are veteran's crosswalks in Stoney Creek, Ontario (Hamilton) and Windsor, Ont., in the community of Chatham-Kent, where the crosswalk received thumbs-up from a number of veterans.

"This is shaping up to be quite a memorable Remembrance Day," said veteran Len Maynard, who also serves as president of the Chatham Branch 642 of the Royal Canadian Legion.

"This, in the Week of Remembrance, it's very touching," Maynard said, in an interview with CTV News. "This should really bring down what it's about when we come marching up the street."

According to Maynard, the crosswalks were more than two years in the making, with tributes also being planned in other Chatham-Kent communities including Wallaceburg.

Len Maynard standing near new commemorative crosswalk in front of downtown Chatham Cenotaph in Chatham, Ont., on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor)

"It means a lot to the veterans," Maynard explained. "Like I said, I've see a couple of my people here looking at it today. I walked in that branch and it's all I heard. 'They got it up, man. They got it up'... So I congratulate the city on this and thank them for their support towards our cause, and this just helps year round remembrance of what we're about."

"It touches your heart to see this," said fellow veteran and peacekeeper John Presley.

With files from CTV's Chris Campbell