Ortona Way was dedicated to the members of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment and The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada who fought in the Battle of Ortona, Italy during the Second World War by the Canada Lands Company on March 5, 2006, as part of their redevelopment of Edmonton’s former Canadian Forces Base (Griesbach Barracks).
In December 1943, in an attempt to hold up the Allied advance on the east side of Italy, the Germans reinforced Ortona with crack paratroops, and demolished many buildings to fill streets with tanks. The Loyal Edmonton Regiment and The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada formed the bulk of the Canadian force assigned to liberate the town. Ortona fell on December 28th after eight days of costly fighting. It is a cherished Battle Honour of The Loyal Edmonton Regiment.