This September, True Patriot Love took the baton from the founders of the Canadian Walk for Veterans and brought the walk to 15 locations across Canada, raising over $75,000 to support programs locally and nationally. (The Walk was a pet-friendly event and if you’re a fan of adorable dogs, be sure check out the Walk photo album here!)

Would you like to bring a Walk to your community? Read on for advice and inspiration from longtime Walk organizer Breanne Lambert of Kingston Military Family Resource Centre in Ontario, and Dan Hansen, a Veteran who started Pets4Vets.ca which matches Veterans with shelter animals (read his story here) and organized his first-ever Walk in Cold Lake, Alberta, this year.

What is your connection to the military?

Breanne: I’m proud to be both a spouse of a CAF member and someone who grew up in a military family. My connection to the military runs deep, and I’ve been fortunate to work with the Canadian Forces Morale & Welfare Services and the Military Family Resource Centre for over 15 years. Throughout this time, I’ve also had the unique experience of serving on three civilian deployments overseas. My journey in the military community has shaped who I am, and it’s an honour to continue supporting military families through my work.

Dan: I spent two years in the medical reserves and then I jumped ship and went Reg. Force and was an MP [military police] for close to 15 years. I released in January of 2016. My wife is an air weapons tech in the Air Force right now, and I have two brothers in regiments in Nova Scotia. My grandparents and all my great uncles were in the war: some of them were there for England, some were there for Denmark, some were there for Canada. When you’re 10 years old and you’re listening to your great uncle talk about jumping out of an airplane, you think you’re looking at Superman.

What do you wish more Canadians knew about Veterans and the military?

Dan: Veterans went into the military because they had a sense of purpose for their country, and that doesn’t leave when you leave. When I left the military, it was like leaving home for the second time. I needed to fill that hole with something with purpose. I wanted to leave a legacy for my family and this is a way to do that. I’ve been thinking about how I can incorporate some kind of way to give back, and the Walk is definitely going to be a big part of that. There should be a Walk everywhere there’s a military base.

Breanne: One thing we wish more Canadians understood is the unique and ongoing challenges that Veterans and their families face, both during and after military service. Military families navigate frequent relocations, long periods of separation, and the emotional impact of deployments. These experiences touch not only the service member but their loved ones as well. It’s also important to recognize that Veterans are more than their military experiences. They are resilient, proud, and deeply connected to their communities.

What tips would you give some who’s thinking about starting their own Walk?

Breanne: My biggest tip is to keep it simple at first! You don’t need to start big; your walk can grow over time. One of the most important steps is to determine and secure your route early (5km and a ~2.5km option). Locking that in will make it easier to plan everything else.

Dan: My first big tip: get phone numbers. My second tip is to assign someone to take pictures. On the day of the walk, I really don’t have any photos because everybody was busy and nobody took pictures.

What is one memory you’re taking away from this year’s Walk?

Breanne: One memory that stands out is the powerful sense of unity – when you’re with us, nobody walks alone. The support and connection shared among everyone in attendance, along with the smiles on each face, were truly unforgettable. It was a special day for all who participated, filled with camaraderie and a shared sense of purpose that will stay with me for a long time.

Dan: Quilts of Valour gave some quilts during the Walk, and those families will have that memory of their service person – their brother, sister, dad, mom – getting a quilt. That is just amazing to think about. The other was getting to know Legion #211 again. My wife and I used to play darts there when she was pregnant, and after we had our daughter we just didn’t have the time to go back, so it’s been a few years since I talked to some of these people. They’re very friendly and welcomed us back in. It’s just nice to be part of that Legion community. They’re storing all the Walk signs and it’s like, “We’ll see you April 1^st and get cracking on this once again!”