Royal Canadian Legion Branch 164 now has a remembrance crosswalk on Alexander Street resulting from a cooperative project with City of Powell River.
Painted with white and poppy-coloured stripes, with the emblem of a soldier and the words Lest We Forget, the crosswalk serves as a reminder of the service and sacrifice of Canadian Armed Forces members.
Legion poppy campaign chairman Bruce MacLeod said the crosswalk is significant because of its proximity to the Royal Canadian Legion building in Westview.
“We had a few other areas we were looking at, but this location works well,” said MacLeod. “The airplanes fly over, which could represent the air force, and it’s close to the ocean, for the naval people.”
MacLeod said the suggestion for the crosswalk came about after a conversation with Powell River mayor Ron Woznow around Remembrance Day. MacLeod said the Legion got on board and worked with city manager of operations Rod Fraser and his crew to get the sidewalk painted.
“They just completed the crosswalk on a perfect, sunny day,” said MacLeod. “I stood there and watched the paint dry. We’re very pleased with it.”
MacLeod said he did not know if there were any veterans from the Second World War remaining in Powell River, but he added that there are veterans here who served in Afghanistan and have done their duty in other parts of the world, so it was great to have the sidewalk painted out of respect for them.
“My dad was in the air force during the Second World War and I’m sure he’d appreciate it,” said MacLeod. “The message is quite clear: Lest We Forget.”
MacLeod said the sidewalk has generated positive comments. He said when the city crews were doing the stencil work and the painting, there were very positive statements from people who were walking by.
“We’re also getting good feedback from our Legion members,” said MacLeod. “I’ve been informed that the city crews will maintain the crosswalk every year and touch it up, just so it keeps looking good.”
Woznow said he has been a member of the Legion for years, and in discussions, he has continually heard the importance of living in a democracy.
“We live in a democracy because of all the people who have gone to different wars,” said Woznow.
He said he had two aunts who went overseas in the Second World War and served in the United Kingdom.
“Can you imagine a 21-year-old woman seeing a need, jumping on a plane and going to war?” asked Woznow. “It’s really important that we continually remind ourselves that we have the luxury of living in a democracy, and about everything it took to allow us to remain in our democracy. So, that was the thinking behind this crosswalk.”
Woznow said he also has a nephew who has served in the Canadian Armed Forces, and the nephew’s son is now looking at enlisting, so the armed forces are not far from Woznow’s thought process.
Woznow said Fraser and his staff did an excellent job with the crosswalk.
“If we can bring forward ideas that enhance different aspects of the city, we have a great staff that can make it happen,” added the mayor.
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