Wilmot council to approve commemorative/decorative crosswalk policy

Galen Simmons, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Though the intent was to develop a policy that would allow for the painting of a commemorative crosswalk in New Hamburg to honour local veterans ahead of Remembrance Day this year, the establishment of such a crosswalk has been pushed to next year, but a township commemorative/decorative crosswalk policy is still moving toward approval.

At Wilmot’s Oct. 6 committee of the whole meeting, councillors approved in principle a policy that would, once it’s officially approved by council, create a framework for the establishment of commemorative/decorative crosswalks in the township. The impetus for the development of this policy came after council asked township staff to work with the New Hamburg Legion Branch 532 on the installation of a Veterans Crosswalk on Huron Street near the New Hamburg Cenotaph this year.

The more-than $18,000 cost of the original, Thermoplastic crosswalk design provided by Gentem Inc. was deemed too expensive by the Legion and the development of a simpler, less costly, stenciled design provided by the Legion was selected for a crosswalk installation in 2026 instead of this year. At the Oct. 6 meeting, councillors gave staff and the CAO approval to enter into a funding agreement with the Legion, as well as an agreement with the Region of Waterloo for the installation of the crosswalk on Huron Street, a regional road, next year.

Meanwhile, staff presented what was originally called a decorative crosswalk policy to councillors for consideration at their Oct. 6 meeting.

“I was disappointed that they weren’t able to do (the crosswalk) for this year, but I do understand,” Coun. Lillianne Dunstall said. “Here’s my issue; this is not a decorative crosswalk or sidewalk, and I just have a real issue with a veterans’ crosswalk being included in that description. There are wars all over the world and I guarantee you that the people from Ukraine who left their countries and left their soldiers behind to fight and die would not consider a veterans’ crosswalk to be a decorative crosswalk.”

After a brief back and forth with Mayor Natasha Salonen, it was determined Dunstall was in support of the policy framework, but not its name or exact wording, so councillors amended the policy to include both commemorative and decorative crosswalks in the policy.

In accordance with the new policy, all decorative or commemorative designs for crosswalks will be subject to council approval, and council reserves the right to approve or deny any application and may modify or remove any existing crosswalk treatments at any time without reimbursement to the applicant for fees associated with the application.

All costs associated with decorative or commemorative crosswalks will be the responsibility of the interested Individuals, community groups, or organizations, including a 50 per-cent security for repair or removal.