Bruce County Road 19 is being designated as the Highway for Peace to honour those who fought in World War One.
The County says on Nov. 8, community members, local historians and officials in Walkerton marked the unveiling of the road’s new name at a tribute for the 160th Bruce Battalion.
This battalion was part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and had about 1,200 young men enlisted from across Bruce County.
One June 3, 1916, the battalion marched over 25 kilometres from Walkerton to Chesley on Bruce Road 19 to receive their Battalion Colours and Banner in a presentation from the then Ontario Premier William Hearst.
The soldiers marched again a couple days later on June 5 along Bruce Road 19 back to Walkerton before leaving on June 12 for training in England ahead of the battalion heading to the war front in Belgium and France.
“More than 100 of these young soldiers are named on cenotaphs throughout Bruce County and hundreds more returned with lives changed by the burden of war,” says the county.
The county has installed signage about every eight kilometres in both directions along the road to mark the battalion’s journey.
Warden Chris Peabody says, “with this memorial designation, we honour the sacrifices and contributions of the 1,200 young solders of the 160th Bruce Battalion, who helped shape Bruce County into what it is today.”