Bruce Road 19 to be designated the “Highway for Peace”

On May 16th (2024), local Southampton historian G. William (Bill) Streeter presented a proposal to Bruce County County to name Bruce County Road 19 as the “Highway for Peace.

The designation is in memory and tribute to recognize the 160th Bruce Battalion.  Recruitment began in December 1915 and, by April 1916, close to 1,200 young men from across Bruce County had enlisted in the 160th Bruce Battalion, part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in WWI.

During his presentation, Streeter detailed the history and significance of the 160th Bruce Battalion and the relevance to the County Road 19 and surrounding communities almost 100 years ago.

On June 3, 1916, the Battalion marched 16 miles from Walkerton to Chesley to receive the Battalion Colours and Banner in a ceremonial presentation by then-Ontario Premier William Hearst and, on June 5th, the young soldiers again marched along Bruce Road 19 to return to Walkerton.

“The Battalion left Walkerton on June 12th,” said Streeter during his presentation, “and their training and travels saw them arrive in England in late October, 1916. Their training in England continued until their eventual arrival at the war front in Belgium and France.”

The 160th departed from Halifax on October 17, 1916 aboard the S. S. Metagama.

Today, October 3rd (2024), Bruce County approved the designation for the Highway of Peace and approved the funds funds required to complete the signage project on County Road 19, at the cost of $3,500 plus HST, along with any minor adjustments that have not yet been identified.  The project has been approved with financing to come from the Tax Stabilization Reserve (TSR) … and that the project be completed prior to Remembrance Day, November 11, 2024.

At council’s direction and after further discussion with Streeter and the Director of Transportation & Environmental Services (T&ES), a plan for signage recognition will include the installation of a total of eight custom designed signs that commemorate the 160th Bruce Battalion. The Bruce County Museum has agreed to provide in-kind support for the signage design and T&ES is providing in-kind labour for the installation.

The signs will be installed at both entrances to County Road 19 and approximately every eight kilometres along the road. They will be installed in pairs to ensure visibility from both directions. The plan would be to install the signs prior to Remembrance Day 2024.

According to Bruce County Financial/Staffing/Legal/IT, the reserve is well positioned to cover the project costs along with staffing resources to complete the project in-kind.  The signs are to be unveiled on November 8th.

“I am thrilled that County Council has approved this very worthwhile project in memory of all those young Bruce County men who went to war,” said Streeter. “The War ended. Some died. Some were wounded. All were changed.”

More than 100 of them, who died are named on cenotaphs throughout Bruce County and hundreds more returned with life changing wounds.