NANAIMO — Illuminating the impact military service members with ties to Nanaimo is now a central feature in the city’s downtown.
Dozens of street banners were installed recently in the Front St. and Church St. areas, representing a highly visible collaboration between Royal Canadian Legion branches 256 and 10 in Nanaimo.
Lew Forth, Legion 256 second vice president, said the idea stems from an initiative in Vancouver, which puts a face to the name behind the sacrifices made to establish the freedoms and safety Canadians enjoy.
“To have a visual context, to actually be able to see there was a person behind this name or this story, I think it hits home a little bit better,” Forth told NanaimoNewsNOW.
Pictures and brief biographies are included on the banners. (Image Credit: Royal Canadian Legion branch 256)
Most of the people featured in the 29 banners up for the past several weeks represent family members of current Nanaimo-area residents, Forth noted.
Installed in conjunction with the City of Nanaimo’s street banner program, Forth said it’s his understanding the powerful banners will remain in place until the end of November.
“Initially, we just wanted to make sure they were on the parade route and around the Cenotaph for our poppy campaign this year. Because it became so popular right off the bat, I hope we can expand on it in the years to come.”
The legion street banners represent an important visual reminder of Nanaimo-area connected service members contributed to various worldwide conflicts. (Image Credit: Royal Canadian Legion branch 256)
Forth said he’s heard nothing but positive responses.
In fact, he said, since the banners have been in place, several more requests from local families have been made to highlight contributions of other service members with ties to the mid-Island region.
Forth hopes the banners are the start of a seasonal tradition in Nanaimo.
“My vision would be to see the whole city covered in these things.”
Forth said individuals featured in the existing banners date back to the First World War, to Canada’s presence in modern-era conflicts.
These seasonal street banners could be commonplace and expanded in Nanaimo in the years ahead, according to Legion 256 second vice president Lew Forth. (Image Credit: Royal Canadian Legion branch 256)
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