A new crosswalk honouring veterans is now in place at Second Street West and Bedford Street in Cornwall, Ontario, thanks to a group of Grade 6 students who convinced city council to make it happen. The Veterans Commemorative Crosswalk was officially unveiled on June 18, 2026, next to the Cenotaph in Legion Memorial Park.
The project started earlier this year when Jennifer Tyo’s class at Eamer’s Corners Public School presented their idea to Cornwall City Council on May 11. The students had researched local veterans and wanted a permanent reminder of their service that people would see every day, not just on Remembrance Day. Council backed the proposal unanimously, and city staff worked with the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 297 on the design and location.
The crosswalk sits beside the Cornwall Cenotaph, a monument that has stood since 1923 to remember those lost in war. The spot was chosen because it is highly visible and already a place of remembrance.
The installation was estimated to cost about $7,000, with the city prepared to fund it from existing reserves. The students contributed approximately $3,900 through efforts like a car wash that brought in over $2,550 in a single day, and the Rotary Club of Cornwall Sunrise added another $1,115. These contributions helped reduce the draw on city reserves and left funds for future commemorative projects.
During the unveiling, veterans, local military units, city officials, and community members joined the students for a remembrance march and a moment of silence. Student Alexia Masson had told council that a crosswalk is “not just connecting streets, it’s also joining how we move forward and connecting us with the steps of history and those who became before us.” Now that vision is part of Cornwall’s streetscape.
