Johnson Place

Johnson Place was dedicated in 2004.

The streets in Garrison Green were initially named after the places where Canadian troops had served on peacekeeping missions and were to be renamed to reflect Lincoln Park’s history as an airfield during the Second World War. The Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping's (CAVUNP) national president at the time, Colonel Don Ethell, objected. The Calgary chapter of CAVUNP proposed 16 Canadian peacekeepers names, of which 13 were chosen. Each street is named after a Canadian Peacekeeper, of varying ranks and service time frames. A summary of the Peacekeepers’ experiences is provided with a plaque placed on each street. Together they provide a comprehensive overview of Canadian peacekeeping missions and experiences from the 1950’s to 2000.

[street sign/panneau de rue]
JOHNSON PL

SERGEANT WILLIAM EDWARD JOHNSON

In October 1959, at the end of his six-month peacekeeping tour in Egypt, Sergeant Bill Johnson of the Royal
Canadian Engineers prepared to relinquish his duties and looked forward to returning home. Johnson had
been assigned to the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF 1), the UN's first armed peacekeeping mission.
Created in response to the 1956 Sinai Wan, UNEF1 supervised the removal of British, French and Israeli
forces from Egypt, and served as a buffer between Egyptian and Israeli forces until 1967.

On October 20, 1959, Sgt Johnson’s jeep hit a landmine, causing grievous injuries that included the loss of
both legs. Following an honourable discharge and two years of convalescence at the Colonel Belcher
Hospital in Calgary, Johnson began a successful career with Chevron Canada. He maintained his military
ties as a stalwart member of the Royal Canadian Legion and the Canadian Association of Veterans in
United Nations Peacekeeping, in both organizations, Johnson worked hard to improve the benefits due to
former peacekeepers with disabilities.

SERGENT WILLIAM EDWARD JOHNSON

En octobre 1959, au terme de six mois d'affectation au mission de la paix en Égypte, le sergent Bill
Johnson du Corps royal du genie canadien se préparait à quitter son poste et à retourner chez lui. Le
Sergent Johnson servait alors auprès de la Force d'urgence des Nations Unies (FUNU1), première mission
de paix armée des Nations Unies. Formée à la suite de la guerre du Sinaï en 1956, FUNU1 devait diriger le
retrait d'Egypte des forces françaises, britanniques et israéliennes, puis créer un secteur tampon entre les
forces égyptiennes et israéliennes jusqu'en 1967.

Le 20 octobre 1959, le Sergent Johnson fut grièvement blessé et perdit les deux jambes lorsque sa jeep
toucha une mine. Après sa libération honorable et deux anées de convalescence à l'hôpital Colonel
Belcher de Calgary, Bill Johnson entreprit une carrière réussie chez Chevron Canada. Il a toutefois
entretenu ses relations militaires et devint un véritable pilier de la Légion royale canadienne et de
l'Association canadienne des Vétérans Gardiens de la Paix pour les Nations Unies. Bill Johnson a collaboré
sans relàche avec ces deux organismes pour améliorer les avantages offerts aux anciens Casques bleus
arreints d'invalidité.

Canada's Peacekeeping Heroes
Les héros candiens du maintien de la paix

Canada Lands Company Limited
Société immobilière du Canada limitée