An effort set to take place this weekend across Canada – including in both Surrey and White Rock – aims to pay tribute to “Heroes of the Homefront”: military families.
The Sixth Annual Canadian Walk for Veterans will pace off from the Legion Veterans Village in Whalley (10626 City Parkway) at 10 a.m. Saturday (Sept. 23), while in White Rock, participants will begin at 10 a.m. Sunday (Sept. 24) from Memorial Park (14970 Marine Dr.).
“When a member serves in the military, the entire family serves as well,” information at canadianwalkforveterans.com explains of the event’s 2023 focus.
“Constant awareness of the potential dangers faced by their serving parent, spouse, or child, caring for members or Veterans with service-related conditions, geographic moves and transitioning out of military life all present challenges and require sacrifices by members of military families.”
The walk was co-founded by White Rock resident Marc Burchell and the Equitas Society in 2018. This year, Burchell teamed up with Juno Award nominee Terry Kelly to compose and record a song inspired by the theme. To listen to it, visit canadianwalkforveterans.com
Though the walk is in its sixth year, this will be the event’s second time in White Rock.
READ MORE: Walk for Veterans set to make its White Rock debut
Other B.C. communities where walks are planned include Kamloops, Courtenay and Abbotsford.
Last year, the walk aimed to highlight and support veterans who may not be top of mind to local residents – including translators, peacekeepers and veterans of more modern conflicts.
This year, net proceeds will benefit the work of Military Family Resource Centers, in regions where in-person events are held. The centres connect military families to a range of programs and services.
A portion of the proceeds will also go to veteran and first-responder organizations that rely on fundraising to continue providing rehabilitation services and developing coping tools, the national website continues. Many such organizations were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, so a share of the funds will go to each group that holds a walk in their respective communities and enters a team.
Anyone who wishes to participate but cannot attend in person may register and participate virtually.
Everyone who registers will receive a 2023 CWFV challenge coin, which features the Second World War ‘Wait for me, Daddy’ image on one side and this year’s theme on the other.
For more information on Saturday’s event in Whalley, contact Allen Plett at 236-880-3624 or sensei_al@aol.com. For Sunday’s event in White Rock, contact Matthew Kane at 778-886-5705 or matthew.p.kane1@gmail.com
In-person registration for both events begins at 9 a.m.