Veterans crosswalks coming to Fort Erie and Ridgeway on Monday
July 9, 2026 at 3:14 AM
The Town of Fort Erie will paint two commemorative Royal Canadian Legion crosswalks Monday as a permanent public tribute to veterans, days before the Legion’s 100th anniversary on July 18.
Crews are expected to paint Ridgeway’s crossing over Ridge Road in the morning and Fort Erie’s over Legion Way in the afternoon, weather permitting. The town will cover the roughly $4,000 job. Each design carries a soldier beside the words “Lest we forget.”
The project crawled through town hall far longer than the paint will take to dry. Murray Morlog, president of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 71 in Fort Erie, told Fort Erie Radio the two local branches pitched the idea about three years ago, following commemorative crossings other Ontario municipalities had already installed.
“They were just about to do it last year, and then something happened and they didn’t,” said Morlog.
UrbanMark Asphalt Maintenance, based in Niagara Falls, will do the painting and return part of its fee to the town.
The town scheduled the work to take place after Ridgeway’s annual Ridgefest so festival traffic would not chew up fresh paint.
The work is now scheduled for Monday, July 13, five days before the Legion’s national centennial.
“The Legion’s mission is to support our veterans, and so the crosswalk is a commemorative one,” said Morlog.
Ridgeway’s Branch 230 will dedicate its crosswalk on July 17 at 11:30 a.m., with a barbecue and live music to follow at the branch. The next day, the Legion’s 100th anniversary, Branch 230 will host a makers market at 228 South Mill Street from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Branch 71, which reaches its own 100th birthday this year, will wait until October for its ceremony.
“There would really be no sense us both doing something on the 18th, because we’re just taking away from the other one,” said Morlog.
The Legion is also offering free memberships this year to celebrate its 100th anniversary. Morlog wants the free sign-ups to refill the branch’s thinning volunteer ranks.
Latest test results find algae present at Waverly Beach
Fort Erie reminds residents of open air burning rules
Seven electric vehicle charging stations to be installed in Fort Erie
About The Author
Andrew Hawlitzky
Andrew is a Niagara community journalist who has covered everything from local politics to annual festivals and breaking news. He works to make local news a platform where community voices lead the conversation. "If you don't like the news, go out and make some!"
Stay Informed