There’s a back-story to the poster advertising last Thursday’s MTO-sponsored discussions at the Murray Yantha Community Centre, and it parallels MPP Billy Denault’s optimism that a unity of local voices will win the day when it comes to the four-laning of Highway 17, from Scheel Drive to Bruce Street.
The loss that struck Renee Stewart’s family, when her daughter Caitlyn perished at the Pinehurst Road crossing of the then two-lane highway on November 2nd, 1998 was the initial catalyst that got the road twinned from Ottawa to Arnprior.
The loss scarred the Stewart family, but sparked a big public push for highway safety.
Arnprior Mayor Len Sheen’s Santa Claus visit to the Stewart home that December helped get the ball rolling.
The following February, a big public meeting was arranged at the Arnprior Fire Hall.
From there, Renee says the project became an exercise in patience, very similar to today.
She says the awareness campaign was one that centred on collective responsibility.
Renee says during the campaign to four-lane the highway to Arnprior, a then-Provincial politician was a big help. Tony Clement, the Minister of Transportation, indulged in the hands-on experience of getting behind the wheel.
Renee Stewart is encouraged by the recent flurry of discussion, and knows from experience- awareness and exposure-combined with more patience that may seem possible, can win the day.
Today, the Pinehurst crossing of Highway 17 is informally know locally as “Caitlin’s Bridge.”
By Robert Kubbinga with assistance from Rick Stow
