A walk to remember

By Lethbridge Herald on November 5, 2025.

HERALD PHOTO BY JOE MANIO A Crosswalk to Remember Members of the Royal Canadian Legion General Stewart Branch #4, Veterans and other dignitaries take a ceremonial walk to "open" a recently painted Veteran Commemorative Crosswalk located next to the Cenotaph, after raising the poppy flag at City Hall Tuesday. The crosswalk design was selected by the Lethbridge Legion and features a soldier silhouette inspired by the Cenotaph statue, along with the phrase "LEST WE FORGET" in English; "IHTAISSKSINI'PA" (SO THAT WE KNOW) in Blackfoot; "NOUS NOUS SOUVIENDRONS" (WE WILL REMEMBER) in French.

Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Right on the heels of the weekend kickoff of the Royal Canadian Legion’s annual poppy campaign, the poppy flag was raised at City Hall early Tuesday afternoon to mark the beginning of Veterans’ Week, symbolizing remembrance for the service and sacrifice of fallen veterans leading up to Remembrance Day on November 11. .

In addition to raising of the poppy flag, which has been performed at City Hall for more than 20 years, members of the Lethbridge Legion, city officials and other dignitaries took a “ceremonial walk” to officially dedicate a recently painted Veteran Commemorative Crosswalk located near the Cenotaph at 4 Avenue and 10 Street South.

Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen and a member of the Lethbridge Legion raised the poppy flag as a large gathering of Legion members, Veterans, city officials and other dignitaries watched.

In Canada, the seven-day period from Nov. 5-11 is officially proclaimed as Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week (or simply Veterans’ Week). In the British context, the two-week period leading up to Remembrance Day is known as Remembrancetide, a term primarily used by organizations like the Royal British Legion and the Church of England.

City councillor Ryan Parker and Mayor Hyggen were the main force behind the commemorative crosswalk from proposal last year to completion last week. 

“Nearly a year ago, Mayor Hyggen and I brought this proposal forward on behalf of the citizens of Lethbridge. Lethbridge city council fully supported it, and today it was truly amazing to have our Veterans present to celebrate this special day with us,” said Parker.  

The crosswalk design was selected by the Lethbridge Legion. It features a soldier silhouette inspired by the Cenotaph statue, along with the phrase “LEST WE FORGET” in English and “IHTAISSKSINI’PA” in Blackfoot. This term was interpreted by Blood Tribe Elder Martin Heavy Head as “So that we know.” The French phrase “NOUS NOUS SOUVIENDRONS” (“we will remember”) is also included.

Indigenous veteran Jeremy Plaineagle was at the ceremony. On his lapel he wore a commemorative pin of Legion Poppy on the center of an Indigenous dreamcatcher; the coupling of which acknowledges the efforts and sacrifices of Veterans from all of Canada’s Indigenous communities.

“I feel very proud about seeing that (“So that we know”) translated in our language. We’re starting to come to more togetherness and remembering everybody,” says Plaineagle, about seeing the Blackfoot language on the commemorative crosswalk. 

“I’m starting to see more and more of that being brought out to the public and to the younger people…explaining to them what the poppy is all about and why it’s so important to remember the ones that have lost their lives to protect our freedoms, and give us the things we have today. This crosswalk is another step in adding more knowledge to the kids,” he says. 

On Remembrance Day next Tuesday, there will be two concurrent events in Lethbridge.

The 2025 Remembrance Day Parade and Service will be hosted by the Lethbridge Legion General Stewart Branch #4 at the Lethbridge Trade & Convention Centre. This is an indoor event with Legion members, veterans, first responders, dignitaries and youth. Doors open at 10 a.m. with seating completed by 10:30 a.m. The ceremony will start at 10:45 a.m.

The 20th Independent Field Battery will host an outdoor event at 10:45 a.m. at the Cenotaph on Veterans Avenue (4 Avenue South) in front of the Yates Memorial Centre. During which, there are scheduled fly-bys by both a Harvard IV and a C-17 Globemaster (depending on weather and operational requirements) by the 429 Transport Squadron (Royal Canadian Air Force).