BATTLEFORD - Battleford started something. No sooner had volunteers completed a special crosswalk honouring veterans than word got out and other communities were phoning the mayor about it.
The City of North Battleford acted almost immediately, choosing to follow Battleford's lead and paint their own veterans crosswalk.
Battleford's mayor, Ames Leslie heard almost simultaneously from two friends about a special crosswalk honouring veterans having been seen on Facebook posts. He reached out to the local legion's president, Paula Kulyk, who took it to Saskatchewan Command, and he reached out to the town's council, who instantly supported the idea.
Leslie says he knows of no other place in Saskatchewan who had undertaken such a crosswalk before Battleford. He added that council is committed to keeping the crosswalk and volunteers will be helping as spring and fall touchups will likely be needed.
"It is going to be a permanent honour to our veterans,” he said.
Paula Kulyk, president of Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 9 Battleford, said, “Something so small just took off and it was amazing to see how many people would help or they commented on Facebook … they were all for it. It was just amazing to see a small community come together like it did - not that I ever doubted it because I grew up here so I know that’s how Battleford is."
Leslie said the honour the community has shown to veterans through the banner program and now the crosswalk project makes him proud to be mayor.
"We look at this crosswalk, it just goes to show the support and honour of our people of the town of Battleford and the area, and I hope it becomes contagious. I’ve had a couple of communities reach out to me already saying 'how did you do it how did you get this done' and I know the [City of North Battleford] has reached across as well … This snowball effect has been great and it’s one I think everybody can get on board with and I hope it does go viral.
Leslie said a video of the painting of the crosswalk he posted online has bone viral.
"The original video I did of the painting has been viewed over 11,000 times in less than a week so it definitely is having its impact right across Canada and maybe further. It’s good to see an initiative like this getting attention. Speaking with legions, many places across Canada, their memberships are dwindling because the veterans are also dwindling that we try to honour and if this can bring awareness back to legions and our veterans and increase memberships and support then it’s a project well worth it.”
Volunteers and businesses pitched in. Home Hardware supplied the paint, Discovery Coop made sure brushes and rollers were available, Alpha Sprayfoam supplied coffee and doughnuts, and Russell Construction built a template to paint the red and white lines and Lorelei Dumont painted the silhouette and words “Lest we Forget.”
- with files from Averil Hall
Below is a video posted by Mayor Leslie.
