A special run to honour Métis war veterans will take place this summer as part of Back to Batoche Days.
The 100-kilomere Run for Peace and Unity will take place on Friday July 18 and go from Saskatoon to the Batoche historic site.
About 80 youth will take part in the run.
Event organizer Shannon Loutitt says the run is one way of thanking the veterans who have done so much for our country.
“It’s about coming out and having that opportunity to say thank you to somebody in a way that, for many of us, we don’t know how,” she says. “We don’t know how to give back, we don’t know how to say thank you to individuals that have given so much, who literally signed up to give their life for ours, whether we know them or not and this is an opportunity to say thank you.”
Loutitt adds the run will also feature a number of soldiers, dignitaries and celebrities as participants.
“We also have some celebrities and dignitaries that are coming out including Andrea Menard and Nathaniel Arcand is another celebrity that is coming out and is going to be running. We also have Cam Broten (Saskatchewan NDP leader) and some members of Parliament that are looking to come out and be a part of this.”
The Run for Peace and Unity will coincide with the unveiling of the Métis war veterans’ monument at Batoche on Saturday July 19th.
It will have two start points – the first at Friendship Park in Saskatoon at 8:30 a.m. and the second at the Rosthern Visitors’ Centre at 7 p.m.
The official kick off for the event was held at Wanuskewin Heritage Park on Wednesday morning.