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A second Peace Bridge in Canada

by James Fink

Canada could be seeing the opening of a new Peace Bridge.

In Calgary, Alberta, however, not Fort Erie, Ont.

The Calgary City Council earlier this week agreed to name a new pedestrian bridge that runs across the Bow River the “Peace Bridge.” The $22 million bridge will connect two parks — the Peace Park and Memorial Drive Park together — hence, the Peace Bridge name.

The bridge could open as soon as next year if funding and other issues are addressed.

What that means is that Canada will be home to two “Peace Bridges.”

There’s the busy U.S.-Canada border crossing that runs between Buffalo and Fort Erie and, now, Calgary’s pedestrian bridge.

“It would have been nice if we could have maintained the exclusive rights to the ‘Peace Bridge’ name, but it didn’t work out that way, or so it seems,” lamented Fort Erie Mayor Douglas Martin.

Seriously, Martin said he would be surprised and shocked if anyone confused the two bridges.

One has been around since 1927 and the other has yet to be built.

One carries cars, trucks, buses and other vehicles while Calgary’s is a pedestrian foot bridge.

“I doubt anyone will confuse the two,” Martin said.

There is one similarity.

Just as officials in Canada and the U.S. continue to grapple with issues related to expanding the “original” Peace Bridge, Calgary is dealing with its headaches concerning its Peace Bridge.

“Hopefully, they will get their built in a more timely fashion,” Martin said.