Veterans Louie Gardypie and Steven Ross walk in Kinsmen Park during the sixth annual Walk for Veterans last year. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

By Logan Lehmann

Community events

Sunday’s annual Walk for Veterans in P.A. to be only one in Saskatchewan

Sep 21, 2024 | 2:00 PM

The seventh annual Walk for Veterans is set to take place this weekend across the country, and right here in Prince Albert.

The walk will happen Sunday at Kinsmen Park and will begin 1:00 p.m. at the Kinette Amphitheatre, where participants will walk around the entirety of the park. The walk is the only event happening in all of Saskatchewan.

A route map of this year’s Walk for Veterans. (True Patriot Love Foundation)

Host Michelle McKeaveney said this is the fourth Veterans Walk to take place in Prince Albert.

“We take pride in this day because it’s a significant way to be able to honour those that have served Canada or other countries, or who have served in war or peacekeeping missions and for those who currently serve,” she explained, adding it also supports first responders and members of the media.

Community events

Sunday's annual Walk for Veterans in P.A. to be only one in Saskatchewan

2h ago

BDO Debt Solutions

The Financial Impact of Assisting Adult Children

21h ago

Last minute add

Raiders sign overage defenceman Cedricson Okitundu from OHL's Bulldogs

Sep 20, 2024

“It gathers people at beautiful Kinsmen Park in our city. It gets veterans young and old out together to have camaraderie, that support.”

Emile Highway was among the Indigenous veterans who participated in last year’s event. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

McKeaveney is a co-founder of the River Valley Resilience Retreat, a volunteer-run organization that offers a year-round, safe and secluded space for Public Safety Personnel (PSP) and veterans to rest, relax, and heal from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Operational Stress Injury (OSI). The retreat is south of Prince Albert, located on the bank of the South Saskatchewan River.

She said the event hits close to home as she was diagnosed with PTSD, compounded by other serious medical conditions requiring surgery and a painful recovery. She also has family members who have served overseas.

“It’s important to me [because] it’s important that people get to live the rest of their lives after they serve Canada in the missions they served in and that they get the rest of their lives to be okay.”

With Veterans Walk in P.A. growing in support year after year, McKeaveney said she would hope to see that trend continue.

The Walk for Veterans is done nationally by the True Patriot Love Foundation, a charity dedicated to supporting Canadian military members, veterans and their families. Over the past decade, they have helped change the lives of more than 30,000 military families.

Those wanting to participate in the annual walk can register online by clicking here.

Donations are also accepted nationwide and can be made by clicking here.

The group of last year’s participants in the 2023 Walk for Veterans. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

—

loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com