Light Horse Park opens officially with ceremony
The Light Horse Park in Old Strathcona officially opened Saturday, six years after breaking ground.
The park is named after the South Alberta Light Horse Regiment (SALHR), which dates back to 1905 and has squadrons in Edmonton and Medicine Hat.
Retired Lt.-Col. Troy Steele said the area where the park is has strong ties to the regiment with the Connaught Armoury, the oldest armoury in Alberta, right next door.
Because the SALHR is a community regiment, Steele said they also wanted the park to be in an area where the community could easily access it.
"We wanted this park to be a place where people, regardless of their faiths or regardless of their particular affiliations in conflicts, could come and reflect on the impacts that they've had on them from whatever country or area that they came from," he added.
The cenotaph rests on a base of soil gathered from every war cemetery in Europe where Canadian soldiers are buried. And over the last two years, two new installations were added in collaboration with the Dutch Canadian Club of Edmonton.
Canadian troops helped to liberate the Netherlands in 1945, and Steele said the regiment shares a strong bond with the Dutch community.
Last year a statue of Anne Frank was unveiled at the park, and in April 2022, a series of five plaques explaining the regiment's history in global conflicts were opened in the park.
The next phase of the park includes building columns at the entry of the park, adding benches, and installing memorial plaques and walls from material rescued from buildings demolished in Old Strathcona.
"This is just basically an area where people can come and relax and be safe," Steele said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Tornadoes tear through southeastern U.S. as storms leave 3 dead
Forecasters warned a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could wash over parts of the South early Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes and large hail killed at least three people in the region.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.