A local member of Ontario's legislature is looking for support for an initiative to remember Canada's fallen heroes.
Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Percy Hatfield stood in Queen's Park Monday to discuss a fundraising effort to plant two million trees along the 170 kilometre stretch of Highway 401 between CFB Trenton and Toronto known as the Highway of Heroes. Hatfield, in his request to the provincial government to contribute to the fundraising effort, said the living memorial would pay tribute to all Canadian men and women who paid the ultimate price.
"This living tribute would help clean the air, cool the environment and provide an inspired drive along an otherwise boring stretch of highway," said Hatfield.
CFB Trenton is the Canadian Forces base designated for the return of fallen Canadian soldiers. Once they are repatriated, they are taken from the base to the coroner's office in Toronto. Since that particular stretch of highway was named the Highway of Heroes in 2007, it has become a gathering place for people who want to pay respects to the soldiers during their homecoming, with crowds standing on bridges with Canadian flags and signs of support.
Hatfield, who grew up in a military family and has been a member of the Royal Canadian Legion for over 30 years, said the fundraising effort for the trees is off to a good start.
"There's a $10 million fundraising campaign underway to help pay for this special project. They're about halfway there," said Hatfield. "I hope the senior levels of government will help kick in a good chunk of the money that is left to be raised."
Hatfield gave the name of Corporal Andrew Grenon of Windsor, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2008, as an example of a local fallen hero. Grenon was one of 159 Canadians who fell in Afghanistan.
Complete information on the tribute is available on its official website.