Walks are set to take place across Canada this coming weekend to support veterans.
One of the Canadian Walk for Veterans events is set to go Saturday afternoon in Prince Albert at Kinsmen Park. Michelle McKeaveney, who is the team lead for the walk in Prince Albert explained walkers who come out Saturday will be doing a lap in honour of a veteran lost in the recent violence at James Smith Cree Nation.
“We will be honouring as well as paying tribute to the veteran Earl Burns and his family for his service, not only for Canada, but also for his community, family and others,” she said.
Walks are taking place in 11 locations across Canada, McKeaveney said with P.A. being the closet walk to James Smith, it makes sense for them to be honouring Burns and his service.
“We’re excited and honoured to be part of that tribute to Mr. Burns,” she said.
The walk in P.A. is set to get underway at 1 p.m. at Kinsmen Park. There is a registration fee of $25 to take part in the walk. Part of the proceeds raised from the walk will go to support River Valley Resilience Retreat, which is helping to put on the walk. The retreat offers a supportive environment for a wide range of people, ranging from veterans and active duty military to funeral operators, who have experienced traumatic events in their professions.
McKeaveney, said the recent violence on James Smith Cree Nation has impacted many people working in a range of areas, some of whom have been making use of the retreat’s facilities.
“We are definitely being utilized a lot more in the last two weeks, I can tell you that for sure,” she said.
The walks are also looking to raise awareness about the plight local translators and interpreters who have served along side Canadian soldiers in conflict zones across the globe.
(Top Photo: Earl Burns, photo courtesy of Saskatchewan First Nation Veterans Association Facebook.)