Alberta

Frezenberg Avenue was dedicated to the members of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry who fought in the Battle of Frezenberg, May 8-13, 1915, by the Canada Lands Company on January 18, 2006, as part of their redevelopment of Edmonton’s former Canadian Forces Base (Griesbach Barracks).

Though dangerously exposed and badly outnumbered, the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry held the front and beat back repeated German assaults in the Battle of Frezenberg. As stated on the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry war monument in Frezenberg, ‘They held firm and counted not the cost’. By the end of the battle only four officers and 150 men of the 650 who had lined up before the battle were left standing. The Patricia’s commemorate the Battle of Frezenberg annually.

Decoteau Way was dedicated to Private Alexander Decoteau by the Canada Lands Company on May 12, 2005, as part of their redevelopment of Edmonton’s former Canadian Forces Base (Griesbach Barracks).

Alexander Decoteau, a Cree from Saskatchewan born in 1887, became Canada’s first Indigenous police officer and competed as a runner in the 5-km race in the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden. In 1916, Decoteau joined the Canadian army as a battalion messenger, running messages across battlefields in the face of enemy fire. Tragically, Private Decoteau was killed in October 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele, just before his 30th birthday.

In his memory, Alex Decoteau remembrance runs are held every year in Canada and Belgium.

Cyprus Way was dedicated to all personnel who served with the Canadian Contingent in Cyprus, including 28 who died in the service of peace by the Canada Lands Company on June 23, 2004, as part of their redevelopment of Edmonton’s former Canadian Forces Base (Griesbach Barracks).

The peacekeeping operation in Cyprus is one of Canada’s longest running peacekeeping missions (1964-93). The Mediterranean island of Cyprus gained independence in 1960, but tensions arose between its Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities and, consequently, between the nearby mainland countries of Greece and Turkey. As part of the United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) deployed in 1964, Canadian Peacekeepers helped maintain a fragile calm among the civilian populations. The Canadian Airborne Regiment, which at the time was based out of the Griesbach Barracks, was sent to Cyprus and played an important role in the United Nations operations. Between 1974 and 1993 Canadian Peacekeepers, including battalions of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, patrolled the United Nations established “Green Line”, a buffer area between the Greek and Turkish zones. This mission has come to symbolize Canada’s longstanding tradition and commitment to Peacekeeping.

Colonel Stone Avenue was dedicated to Colonel James Riley Stone by the Canada Lands Company on June 23, 2004, as part of their redevelopment of Edmonton’s former Canadian Forces Base (Griesbach Barracks).

In September 1939, 31 years old James Riley (“Big Jim”) Stone joined the Edmonton Regiment as a private. He rose steadily through the ranks, became an officer in 1942, and took command of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment in 1944. Stone was awarded the Military Cross for bravery during the Battle of Ortona. After Germany’s surrender in May 1945, Stone volunteered for the Pacific theatre and took command of the 3rd Battalion, Loyal Edmonton Regiment. Japan surrendered before Stone’s battalion could be sent overseas.

After the war he led a militia unit, but returned to active service during the Korean War as the commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. Stone’s battalion received the U.S. Presidential Unit Citation for its heroic role at the Battle of Kapyong. He later became Chief Instructor at the Royal Canadian School of Infantry, and in 1954, Colonel Stone was appointed Provost Marshal of the Army and Corps Director of the Provost Corps, the army’s military police. He finished his career as Deputy Commissioner of Penitentiaries. Stone received the Distinguished Service Order on three occasions, and in 1994 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada for his role in creating the Military Police Fund for Blind Children.

The Canadian Airborne Regiment (Storyboard) is dedicated to all members of the Regiment. In 1968, the Canadian Airborne Regiment was created to provide quick deployment force into danger zones around the world. Its mandate was broad, including the Defence of Canada Operations, UN peacekeeping services, and national disaster support. The Canadian Airborne Regiment was disbanded in 1995.

The Birth of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion (Storyboard) is dedicated to all members of the Battalion during the Second World War. In 1942, Canada established the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion. The Battalion participated in many key battles that led to victory in Europe. In The Battalion was officially disbanded on September 30, 1945.

Topham Street was dedicated to Victoria Cross recipient Corporal Frederick G. Topham by the Canada Lands Company on January 18, 2006, as part of their redevelopment of Edmonton’s former Canadian Forces Base (Griesbach Barracks).

Frederick George Topham was born in Toronto, Ontario, on 10 August 1917. In March 1945, Corporal Topham was serving as a medical orderly in the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion. At that time, the battalion was part of the 3rd Parachute Brigade of the British Army’s 6th Airborne Division. On the morning of 24 March 1945, parachute and glider-borne troops of the 6th Airborne Division landed on the east bank of the Rhine River, not far from the city of Wesel in Germany. These landings were carried out in support of assault operations begun the night before by the 1st Canadian and 2nd British Armies to cross to the East bank of the river. After the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion landed just north of Diersfordt Wood, Corporal Topham heard a cry for help from a wounded man who was in the open. Two medical orderlies who went out in succession to treat the wounded man were killed. Immediately afterward and on his own initiative, Topham went forward through intense German fire to assist the casualty. As he treated the wounded man, Topham was himself shot through the nose, but continued to give first aid despite the severe bleeding and pain of his own injury. He was then able to carry the wounded man to shelter through continuous fire. Refusing treatment for his wound, Corporal Topham continued to assist the wounded for two more hours, by which time all casualties had been evacuated to safety. Although he finally consented to have his nose dressed, he refused to be evacuated with the other wounded. Later, alone and again under enemy fire, Topham rescued three soldiers from a burning machine gun carrier that threatened to explode, brought them to safety, and arranged for the evacuation of the two men who survived.

For his courageous and selfless devotion to his comrades, Corporal Topham was awarded the Victoria Cross. He died in Toronto on 31 May 1974.

Stan Waters Avenue was dedicated to Lieutenant-General Stanley Charles Waters by the Canada Lands Company on January 18, 2006, as part of their redevelopment of Edmonton’s former Canadian Forces Base (Griesbach Barracks).

Lieutenant-General Waters began his military career as one of Canada’s first paratroopers and retired 34 years later as Commander of the Canadian Forces Mobile Command. Waters first enlisted in 1941 as a trooper with the 14^th Army Tank Battalion, and immediately departed for Europe. He returned the following year for officer training and volunteered for the 2^nd Canadian Parachute Battalion shortly after receiving his commission. From 1942 to 1944, Waters’ unit formed part of the 1^st Special Service Force, a joint Canada-United States commando unit that became known as the Devil’s Brigade. Waters fought in Italy, where he won the United States Silver Star for his efforts at the Battle of Anzio and in southern France.

When the 1^st Special Service Force was disbanded, Major Waters transferred to the 1^st Canadian Parachute Battalion as a company commander. He participated in the Battalion’s six-week, 500-kilometre dash across Germany that ended at the strategic Baltic Sea port of Wismar just hours ahead of the Russian army. In his postwar career, Waters served at many postings in Canada and abroad until his retirement in 1975. He then returned to Calgary, where he had commanded the 1^st Canadian Infantry Brigade from 1966 to 1968.

Waters joined a successful oil development firm, held a number of corporate executive positions, and served as president of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce before retiring from business in 1989. That year, Waters won a special election held to choose Alberta’s nominee for a vacant Senate seat. On his appointment in 1990, Waters became the first Canadian Senator to have been elected by his constituents. Waters died in office in 1991.

Rochester Avenue was dedicated to Colonel Don Rochester by the Canada Lands Company on January 18, 2006, as part of their redevelopment of Edmonton’s former Canadian Forces Base (Griesbach Barracks).

Colonel Rochester enlisted in the Royal Canadian Engineers in 1941. During the Second World War, he commanded the 24 Field Company in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska and was later transferred to the 8 Field Squadron in Germany as Second-in-Command. In 1949, Rochester became Chief Instructor at the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering. When the Korean War broke out in 1950, he was chosen to command 57 Independent Field Squadron, the first Royal Canadian Engineers unit to serve in Korea. For this service, Rochester was awarded the Order of the British Empire.

Rochester commanded the Canadian contingent of the United Nations Emergency Force in the Gaza Strip following the Sinai War of 1956. In 1964, he became Commandant of the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering at Chilliwack, British Columbia, and Commander of Camp Chilliwack. Rochester acted as Chief Engineer of the Canadian Army. In the late 1960s, he became involved in the planning and creation of a permanent airborne commando regiment. In 1968, Rochester became the first commander of the Canadian Airborne Regiment based at Griesbach Barracks, Edmonton. Before he retired in 1969, Rochester helped build the Regiment into one of the most respected fighting units in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Canadian Airborne Regiment Plaza was dedicated by the Canada Lands Company on January 18, 2006, as part of their redevelopment of Edmonton’s former Canadian Forces Base (Griesbach Barracks).

The Canadian Airborne Regiment had its roots in two fighting units, the 1st and 2nd Canadian Parachute Battalions. The 1st, established in 1942, took part in the D-Day invasion. The 2nd fought in Italy; its members were the first Allied troops to enter Rome in 1944. The Canadian Airborne Regiment was established in 1968 at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton (Griesbach Barracks).