LONDON, ONTARIO - The City of London, along with the governments of Canada and Ontario, honoured Canadian veterans today at the unveiling of a permanent display of flags on one section of the Veterans Memorial Parkway. Today’s ceremony included a flag party march, the raising of Canadian, provincial and territorial flags, as well as a flyover by three Mark II and one Mark IV Harvard aircraft in the Missing Man formation. Other parkway improvements include several rock features and planting elements along the roadway. The plantings feature a number of trees, which supplement London’s tree cover and improve aesthetics.

“Today’s celebration, which coincides with the start of Veterans Week, allows Canadians to honour members of our armed forces, both past and present, whose brave service keeps us safe and to whom we pay tribute along the Veterans Memorial Parkway,” said Joe Preston, Member of Parliament for Elgin—Middlesex—London, on behalf of the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “It is partnership between all levels of government that has enabled thousands of infrastructure improvements such as this one to strengthen communities across Canada.”

“Ontario is honoured to be here today, with our federal and municipal partners, to celebrate the courage, commitment, and sacrifice shown by our veterans,” said Khalil Ramal, Member of Provincial Parliament for London—Fanshawe. “Through important infrastructure investments like this,,we honour citizens and communities across the province.”

“This collaborative project to display flags on Veterans Memorial Parkway will serve as a constant reminder to all Londoners and visitors that Veterans are the reason we enjoy the privilege of living in a free country,” said Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best. “These flags also serve as one more important component in the City’s ongoing landscaping plans for the VMP.”

The governments of Canada and Ontario each contributed $233,000 toward this project through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. The City of London contributed the remaining funds, toward total eligible project costs of $700,000.

As part of the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund is funding close to 4,000 infrastructure projects across the country.

In Ontario alone, Infrastructure Canada has committed close to $1.5 billion toward over 1,900 projects across the province.

The contribution from the Province of Ontario comes from its 2009 provincial budget that is supporting more than 300,000 jobs and strengthening Ontario's economy.

Since 2007, the governments of Canada and Ontario have committed more than $13 billion in funding to over 6,400 infrastructure projects across the province.