The Stettler Legion is taking a moment on August 19 to mark the 75th anniversary of Dieppe “Operation Jubilee” and honour the B Squadron- 14th Canadian Army Tank Regiment.

On August 19, 1942, Allied Forces staged the raid on the German occupied port. Of the nearly 5,000 Canadians that fought, 3,367 were killed wounded or taken hostage.

Rosalind LaRose, who is organizing the event, knows the story well.
“I’m a daughter of a POW, so this is a hugely important date for me,” she said.

She explains that her mother was war bride from Scotland, and when they came to Stettler, the veterans and the Legion became their family. She says they have always marked August 19, the day the many men were taken prisoner.

“The United States had tried this once, so the Germans were well prepared,” she said.

She explains that her father, Albert Chick, and a number of his contemporaries from Stettler were part of the raid.

“Many of his good friends are from here because the Squadron B sign up was in Stettler. It was Squadron B that was captured.”

I spoke to many of the POWs prior to their passing and when they were put on those boats, they weren’t told where they were going. It wasn’t released where they were heading until they got out on the water the night of the 18th,” she explained.

“They said their goodbyes to each other. They said they were never going to live through it.”

The men were not freed until VE Day, and they were flown back to England.

LaRose has partnered Malcolm Bissett to hold the event and they have invited the Big Valley Legionaries to the event, as many veterans from Big Valley would have signed up at for B Squadron.

Larose has personally invited a number of the families of the POWs to the event.

The day begins at 10:30 a.m. with a parade to Sharpe’s Park, followed by an Opening Ceremony and wreath laying service.

At 2 p.m. the will be the dedication of a Dieppe “Operation Jubilee” Exhibit dedicated to Members of B Squadron.

For more information on the day’s activities go to the Stettler Royal Canadian Legion Branch 59 Facebook page or contact LaRose at 403-323-0343.

It appears that improvements to Highway 9 over the last few years may have made difference in making the roadway safer.

On June 28 the opposition issued a press release stating that the Highway 9 corridor from Highway 1 to Highway 21 was tied for the 7th most fatality between 2005 and 2014, it stated there have been 15 fatal crashes.

Over the last few years, the have a number of major projects to improve Highway 9 including the addition of a four-way stop at the intersection of Highway 9 and 21.

“Traffic safety is our top priority,” said Anna Neale of Alberta Transportation. “Specifically to the Highway 9- Highway 21 corridor, the collision statistics actually show this is a significantly lower rate of collisions than the provincial average.”

She said, “the provincial collision average rate was 82.62 per 100 million vehicle kilometers traveled, between 2010 and 2014, this particular stretch of highway has a collision rate significantly less than that, 59.19 for that same period.”
‘What is also interesting to note is that almost half of those collisions, 46 per cent, involved animals.”

She says it is difficult to compare highway solely on the basis of numbers.

“It is challenging because there are lots of different factors. Highway site, the number of lanes, surface, the capacity, and traffic volume. They have to be compared within the context.”

She also points out the improvements made to the highway.

“It has been widened and straightened for a lot of the corridor. There are dedicated right turn lanes at the intersections of Highway 9 and 21,” said Neale.

She adds that more work is needed to demonstrate the impact these changes have on safety.

“Anecdotal information has shown us that these improvements are making a positive impact, but this likely going to require further study,” she said.