A new sign proclaiming the public gathering space in front of Martensville’s City Hall as Veterans Square will be installed this fall.
The new sign will replace the existing ‘City Square’ sign. The internally-lighted sign will feature a large maple leaf in the centre with the words ‘Veterans Square’.
The decision to rename the space was made at a council meeting earlier this year in response to a request from a group of citizens looking to honour members of the armed forces who have served their country in peacetime and during periods of conflict.
A modest unveiling of the sign may be held in mid-November, but it is not intended to be a formal Remembrance Day ceremony. According to organizers of the committee behind the initiative, the goal is to provide a public space that acknowledges the service and sacrifice of veterans.
Future plans for the space include the installation of a memorial plaque to veterans in the fall of 2021.
The cost of the Veterans Square sign is expected to be about $5800, which includes tapping into a nearby underground electrical line. In approving the signage, council voted to reallocate funds originally slated for marketing in the city’s 2020 budget.