Admiral Walter Hose Street was dedicated by the Canada Lands Company on August 25, 2010, as part of their redevelopment of Edmonton’s former Canadian Forces Base (Griesbach Barracks).
No naval officer was more important to the early years of the Canadian Navy than Rear-Admiral Walter Hose. He joined the Royal Navy at the age of 14, and later transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy. He took command of HMCS Rainbow, Canada’s first ship ever to go to war at sea. Rear-Admiral Hose was commandant of the east coast patrol escorts during the Royal Canadian Navy’s first campaign against the German U-boats. His vision resulted in the formation of the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve in 1923, and in a naval policy that resulted in Canadian built warships and a focus on the defence of Canadian territorial waters. He later became Director of the Naval Service, and Chief of Naval Staff, 1921-1934. Rear-Admiral Hose fought many battles through the years of the Great Depression to ensure the survival of the fledgling Royal Canadian Navy. He retired in 1933 and passed away in 1965 after having seen the Royal Canadian Navy grow to fulfill his vision.