From going solo to “Let’s go!”: Volunteers take the lead at the Canadian Walk for Veterans 

The 2026 Canadian Walk for Veterans is coming to 30 communities across Canada on September 26 and 27. But it’s more than a walk – it’s a national movement!  

When you join a Walk, you’re showing your gratitude while strengthening community supports for the men and women who serve Canada at home and on the world stage. 

Each Walk for Veterans is led by volunteers – many of whom are Veterans – who generously share their time, energy and enthusiasm to rally their hometowns in support of Canada’s Veterans and their families.  

 True Patriot Love spoke to Veteran Greg Wilkinson who, with co-lead Wayne Wellington, went from taking solo walks in his neighbourhood to taking on leadership of the Canadian Walk for Veterans in Hamilton, Ontario.  

How did you come to serve in the Canadian Armed Forces? 

My parents got me into the Cadet program when I was 10 years old. I went all the way through that program and loved it. In my final year in high school, they had a co-op program with the local Army unit Service Battalion, and I did my basic training with them. I went to college and ended up going to CFB Borden for training to become a medic. I transferred during my college time to the Queen’s York Rangers, our recon unit out of Aurora. Funny enough, that was also my grandfather’s unit, so it was good to be able to keep that kind of history alive. When I finished college, retention wasn’t a big concern for the CAF so I ended up releasing after college was done. I took my college education in the security field and pursued that.  

But later on, I felt that I just wanted to get back in again. I joined the Navy and the Regular Force as a steward and did my basic training at St-Jean, Quebec. Then I did my trade training at Borden and moved out east and started serving on the HMCS Halifax and HMCS Preserver. Unfortunately, I ended up having kidney stones which was considered a non-deployable ailment at that time. I could stay in, but I would possibly be landed, or I could start my life as a civilian. I released in 2007. 

How did you first hear about the Canadian Walk for Veterans? 

It just showed up in my Facebook feed a few years ago. As a Veteran looking for Veteran-related activities to do, I thought it sounded pretty cool. I started researching it and realized there wasn’t a Walk in Hamilton, but there was a virtual option where you could register and do a walk on your own, so I could still do it and get a cool challenge coin out of it. That’s what I had done for four or five years. 

What made you decide to take the leap and become the lead of a Walk for Veterans in your community? 

When I was doing the Walk virtually, I saw all the other cities with in-person Walks and thought, I want to be a part of that. I had always wanted to do it myself and I had asked the city how you get permits, and it seemed like it was going to be too much work for me at the time. Then one day in 2025 I was scrolling through Facebook and noticed that someone was doing a Walk here in Hamilton and I signed up to help her out as much as I could.  

Luckily enough this year, Tara, the National Lead at True Patriot Love, asked me if I wanted to lead the Hamilton Walk, and of course I said yes. She gave us the information package and True Patriot Love did a lot of the legwork for us and covered the payments for permits and other expenses. 

I was also in the right state where I felt like I could move forward with this and support my brothers and sisters. I’ve been volunteering as a service officer for the Stoney Creek Legion, so I was already out there in the public, working with Veterans, working with organizations that help Veterans, talking to politicians, and getting information. Instead of, “I don’t know, this seems like a lot of work” now I’m like, you know what? Let’s do this. Let’s make it happen. It’s a lot of work? Well, we’ll take our time to figure it out and get it done. 

What local organizations will the Hamilton Walk for Veterans support this year? 

We’re going to be donating our portion to Homes for Heroes, which build tiny home communities, and we’re also doing a food drive for the Military Family Resource Centre. They put food cabinets inside the military establishments here in Hamilton, which is sad because our military members shouldn’t have to use food banks. I went to many grocery stores throughout Hamilton and canvassed for gift cards so that the food banks can replenish with the kind of food they need. The support from all the different grocery stores has been amazing. They started coming to us because they saw all the work that this Walk does through True Patriot Love and what it’s all about. 

As a first-time Walk organizer, what advice would you give to someone who wants to start a Walk in their own community? 

When you meet potential donors, come with all the necessary paperwork. You can’t just show up with a flyer and a “Support our Veterans” T-shirt. People want to know that this is legitimate and that you will take the time to organize it well. When we were asking for food donations, for example, we had a supporting document from the Military Family Resource Centre. Make it easy for them to say, “Yes, we would like to support you.” 

It is a lot of legwork but don’t get bogged down by the initial startup, because once you get past that, that’s when you get to start experiencing what this Walk will mean to you and what it will mean to others. You will, at the end of it, feel very gratified by the work that you put in. 

What about doing the Canadian Walk for Veterans resonates with you? 

I know how important it is to raise money for organizations that support Veterans. Over the last year and a half, I’ve helped many Veterans with their Veterans Affairs claims so they can get their life back in order. With the Walk, I get to go out, be part of the community, and feel good about helping my brothers and sisters. 

Want to show your support for those who serve? Click here to find a Walk near you! 

Can’t join in person? Click here to make a donation or register to do a Virtual Walk. 

Do you want to bring the Canadian Walk for Veterans to your hometown next year?  

Get started by getting in touch with Tara, the National Lead. Drop her a line at TDiaczyk@truepatriotlove.com