A stretch of Ontario highway that's become a sombre repatriation route for soldiers killed in Afghanistan, drawing impromptu gatherings of mourners saluting that sacrifice, is set to be renamed in their honour, the province said yesterday.
The 170-kilometre section of Highway 401 between CFB Trenton where the flag-draped coffins of fallen soldiers arrive and the forensics centre in Toronto that receives them has been dubbed the Highway of Heroes.
More than 14,000 people have signed an online petition to officially rename the stretch of highway where people gather on overpasses to wave flags, display placards of support and salute the processions of hearses and limousines.
Ontario Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield said there were "no barriers to making this happen."
"I think when you consider the sacrifice that the soldiers and others have made, it's just a wonderful opportunity for us to reflect on that sacrifice and to be able to acknowledge it," Ms. Cansfield said in a phone interview, adding that she became aware of the online petition on Wednesday.
"There's no reason not to do it. All we need to do now is get into the process of how quickly we can do it."
The government says it's considering several options in terms of dedicating a portion of the country's busiest highway, currently named the MacDonald-Cartier Freeway.
"We don't know whether we rename one little part of it or if we leave the name and have that part of it dedicated," said Jamie Rilett, Ms. Cansfield's spokesman. "We're kind of early in the process to know which direction it's going to go, but there'll definitely be something dedicating that part of the highway to the fallen soldiers."
The cost to dedicate the highway with signs will be minimal, he added.
The man behind the petition, 22-year-old James Forbes of London, Ont., said he's pleased he's attracted so much attention.
Mr. Forbes, who says he one day plans to enlist in the military, said he's received a lot of feedback from military families who've travelled along Highway 401 after repatriation ceremonies at CFB Trenton.
"It seriously means absolutely everything to them," he said of the public displays of support. "It just shows the families that the country feels for their loss."
Ms. Cansfield and Premier Dalton McGuinty are expected to discuss the highway dedication today. Mr. McGuinty was previously involved in changing the name of an Ottawa highway to Veterans Memorial Highway.
The flag-draped coffin of the latest soldier to be killed in Afghanistan, Private Simon Longtin, was returned to CFB Trenton on Wednesday.
The highway procession that followed inspired the same impromptu outpouring of support from the public that's become associated with repatriations as people gathered on overpasses along the route.
It's a scene likely to be repeated in the coming days following Wednesday's loss of two more soldiers.
Master Warrant Officer Mario Mercier of the Royal 22nd Regiment and Master Corporal Christian Duchesne of the 5th Field Ambulance were killed when their transport vehicle hit a roadside bomb. Their caskets will be returned to CFB Trenton in the next few days.