09/08/2025
Peace Arch News: Canadian Walk for Veterans returns to White Rock
Sept. 21 event continues to raise awareness of long-term challenges
A national event with strong White Rock roots returns to the waterfront on Sunday, Sept. 21.
The Canadian Walk for Veterans provides an opportunity for the public to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with former members of the Armed Forces – as a way of thanking them for their service, and also raising awareness of the challenges they continue to face years after their deployments ended.
Team leads Dr. Matthew Kane, Marc Burchell and Anthony Manning invite the public to walk either a 2.5-km route (including West Beach and the length of the pier) or a 5-km route (adding in a journey to East Beach and back) between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Registration is at 9 a.m. at Memorial Park (14970 Marine Dr.) and, as always, net proceeds from entering, sponsoring walkers, or giving straight donations, will go to benefit veterans.
"There is always a theme to each of the events," Burchell said, "and this year's theme is 'Transitioning Back To Civilian Life.'
"People don't always realize what a big challenge this can be for veterans – leaving a big 'family' in the military and being spewed out into society.
"Everybody who registers for the walk will receive this year's 'challenge coin,' and this one depicts the challenge with an image of a veteran half in service garb and half in civilian garb."
Among highlights of the walk, which starts at the entrance of the pier, will be music provided by Larrie Forbes and the Vancouver Naval Vets Band, the Surrey Firefighters Pipes & Drum Band and the Amazing Grace Choir.
lt's the eighth year for the Canadian Walk for Veterans in White Rock, where it was co-founded in 2018 by Kane and Burchell, through the White Rock/South Surrey-based Equitas Disabled Soldiers Funding Society.
It will also be the second walk since it was formalized as a national event by the new co-ordinating body, True Patriot Love Foundation.
But it's actually the ninth walk for veterans in this area, Burchell pointed out.
"The first year it was only local, for Equitas, but it had such a tremendous response that it inspired us to create the Canadian Walk for Veterans the following year.
"In that one we had walks taking place in eight cities across the country from Victoria to Charlottetown. This year we're up to 22 cities across the country, plus our first international Canadian Walk for Veterans – at the Tower of London, right next to Buckingham Palace."
Burchell said he and Kane – who himself sustained numerous injuries in the line of duty as a Canadian intelligence officer battling the makers and financiers of improvised bombs used by the Taliban in the War in Afghanistan – can take some pride in the work they did to help the exponential growth of the event.
"But as someone who used to build businesses, I know that some ventures just take off right from the beginning, because there is a pent-up demand for a product," Burchell added.
"The public was waiting for something like this, not only because it resonated with them, but because they were looking for a way to recognize and thank veterans.
"Remembrance Day is very important, but it is really to honour the fallen, particularly in past conflicts such as the First and Second World Wars and Korea. The Canadian Walk for Veterans gives people the opportunity to say thank you to veterans for their service while they are still among us."
Burchell said it is also significant in an era when there is a lot of pressure from NATO partners to increase military investment, "after a period when, frankly, there was a lot of neglect."
"The increase in investment in the military is important not only because it helps the people who are serving now, but also because it has a spill-over effect for veterans."
For more information on the Canadian Walk for Veterans, and how to register and donate – even if you are unable to participate directly – visit https://canadianwalkforveterans.com/white-rock/
