Sarah Mills: Saskatchewan's throne speech a blueprint for... what?
The Government of Saskatchewan has laid out its legislative plans for the year ahead, but Sarah Mills says families meas...
The Royal Canadian Legion Estevan Branch 60 is finding a new way to recognize local veterans, with updated street signs that will give residents a chance to learn more about the people behind the names.
Craig Bird, who is involved with both the Legion and the Southeast Military Museum, says the project began with a desire to commemorate veterans throughout the city.
Read more:
- Saskatchewan poppy campaign officially launches today
- CFB Wainwright tragedy weighs on Legion before poppy drive
- Thousands gather for Remembrance Day ceremonies in Regina
After approaching Estevan City Council, the Legion identified two streets where they could confirm the namesakes were veterans: Dryden Road and Greg Trout Avenue.
Bird says the timing also made sense with the Royal Canadian Legion approaching its 100th anniversary. “We thought it was a good initiative,” he said.
The updated street signs will feature military cap badges representing the units the veterans served with. QR codes will also be installed on nearby posts, allowing residents to scan them and learn more about each individual’s life and military service.
“People can scan that QR code and get some information and a little bit of a biography on each of those veterans,” Bird said.
If photographs are available, those will also be included. “So people can actually put a face to the name, so to speak,” he added.
One of the first streets to receive the updated signage will be Dryden Road, named after Colonel Sam Dryden.
Bird says Dryden had an extensive military background before eventually settling in the Estevan area in 1905.
At just 17 years old, Dryden joined the British Army’s Gordon Highlanders and served in India between 1894 and 1898. He later deployed to South Africa, where he fought in the Boer War and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions during a major battle.
After immigrating to Canada with his family, Dryden became one of Estevan’s first police officers in 1906.
He later volunteered for the First World War, but a horse-related injury prevented him from serving as much as he had hoped. “He was medically discharged, but that didn’t stop him,” Bird said.
Dryden re-enrolled and eventually served with the 251st Battalion, later becoming the deputy commanding officer of the 53rd Battalion in Canada.
Although he did not make it to the front lines during the First World War, Bird says his previous military experience with the British Army was put to use.
Dryden eventually moved to British Columbia in 1937, where he died in 1941.
Honouring a former mayor and Legion president
The second street being recognized is Trout Avenue, named after Greg Trout who served during the Second World War with the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
“He was, again, very involved with the community here, very involved with the Legion,” Bird said.
Trout served as president of the local Legion and also held the position of mayor of Estevan. He operated a business in the community and was well known locally.
Bird says the Legion wants to make sure his military service is also remembered.
The new signs for both streets are expected to be installed before Remembrance Day.
Bird says the two streets are just the beginning, as the Legion continues working with the city to verify other street names connected to local veterans.
“As new veterans are verified with the city street signs, we’re going to start replacing those as well,” he said.
