North Cowichan is considering placing at least one crosswalk honouring war veterans in the municipality.
Many council members were receptive to an email from Charles Borg at its meeting on Nov. 6 proposing North Cowichan create crosswalks in the municipality “to honour the veterans who have served and continue to serve our country”.
Borg, a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces and a candidate for North Cowichan’s council in the municipal elections in 2022, has sent similar emails to local governments across the Cowichan-Malahat-Langford riding.
He said that the vision is to paint these special crosswalks near all Royal Canadian Legion branches throughout the riding.
“This would reinforce each branch as a space of remembrance, ensuring that our veterans’ sacrifices are visibly honoured in the communities they call home,” he said. “The project would not only offer a meaningful tribute, but also foster awareness and respect among residents and visitors alike.”
A number of Canadian communities have already introduced veterans’ crosswalks, including Ladysmith and Langford, recently.
North Cowichan Coun. Bruce Findlay said he thinks it’s a “fabulous idea”.
“I think it’s an absolutely brilliant thing that we can do in one or more areas of our community and I support it fully,” he said.
Coun. Mike Caljouw agreed, saying “it’s an amazing thing that we can do to serve our veterans for all the sacrifices they made for the service of their country.
“We did have an email come through from the Chemainus legion (Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 191) stating that they would rather have us do it for next year’s [Remembrance Day] so that will give us time to look at how this can be implemented,” he said. “I look forward to moving forward with this. I think this is an absolutely excellent thing.”
Coun. Chris Istace said he has talked to some people in Chemainus and they said they would like to see the request for the initiative come from the board of the local legion, and that they should be the ones who bring an application forward on behalf of the legion.
CAO Ted Swabey said the municipality already has two themed sidewalks in its plans; with one being the pride sidewalk across James Street in front of the current Cowichan Secondary School.
“We have talked to the school board and they would like us to reconsider relocating that to the new high school [on University Way],” he said. “Then we have the Indigenous sidewalk that council has asked us to consider as part of reconciliation in the Chemainus area, so I would encourage you to make a motion that staff consider moving forward with [the veterans’ crosswalk] at the time you would like it to be considered as part of the budget process as well.”
Mayor Rob Douglas said that motion would be made after North Cowichan hears directly from the legion on the issue.
“That would be my suggestion,” he said.
