Trek for Vets: MacKay Walks Through Tilbury on 800-KM Journey to Support Homeless Veterans
A retired military man has taken up the cause to assist fellow homeless veterans.
Ken MacKay, of Port Dover is walking over 800 kms from Windsor to Ottawa as part of his 'Trek 4 Vets' project. He is hoping to raise funds to assist those in need.
'This is a partnership with an organization named Homes for Heroes, a nonprofit that builds villages with tiny homes and support services for military veterans,' he explained. 'So, I'm raising funds and awareness for our homeless veterans.
MacKay estimates that there are anywhere from 2,500 to 10,000 homeless veterans across Canada.
'There could be more because veterans are very proud and they don't want to ask for help,' MacKay said. 'So, a lot of them couch surf and go from place to place. It takes them a lot to ask for help.'
MacKay, 65, joined Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry when he was 18 and served for three years. Later, he spent nine years as a reservist with the 48th Highlanders.
Homes for Heroes has established villages in Calgary, Edmonton, and Kingston, Ont., with expansion planned for Winnipeg and London.
'Through relationships I've established with other vets I've seen first- hand many suffering from PTSD and struggling with addiction and trauma because of the sacrifices they made,' he added.
'Those who did go overseas and were in combat or have seen horrible things. They're affected. Many are living on the streets, and I don't think our government is doing enough to help them. They sacrificed a lot and some of them are being forgotten.'
The journey required plenty of strategic planning and says with the help of legions and members across the province have been paramount to the success of the trip.
According to his plan the trek will take 42 days.
'With the help of his support team, we were able to figure out that there are legions approximately every 25 kms along the route,' he said. 'I've been very fortunate to find plenty of people willing to assist and put me up for the night.'
While in Belle River, he stayed with Legion president Richard Brooks.
MacKay now serves as sergeant at arms at his local legion in Port Dover, where the organization held a BBQ to send him on his way and raising $10,000. With a solid pair of walking shoes and a backpack containing only the essentials, he took the train to Windsor on April 26
Upon Leaving Windsor, he made stops in Belle River, Tilbury and Chatham Kent.
MacKay is no stranger to long treks, but he admits this will be the longest walk he's ever attempted. MacKay says that he has done two 'Caminos' – mountain pilgrimages in Spain and Portugal that are hundreds of kilometres long.
The walk will be no easy feat, given the unpredictable weather. He will walk six days out of the week, allowing one day to do laundry and rest his body.
'I like walking solo…it's a form of meditation for me, I like having not to think about anything in particular,' he laughed.
He is halfway to his goal when the Lakeshore News caught up with him just outside of Toronto last week.
'Things have been going really well,' MacKay said. 'The weather has been co operating and I've met some great people along the way.'
To date, he has raised just under $40,000.
'Last week, I stopped at a cheese factory outside of Kitchener, the people were so nice…they gave me a bunch of their product, however I was only to keep a small bit as it would go bad…along the way people have been so generous.'
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Hamilton Spectator
26-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Trek for Vets: MacKay Walks Through Tilbury on 800-KM Journey to Support Homeless Veterans
A retired military man has taken up the cause to assist fellow homeless veterans. Ken MacKay, of Port Dover is walking over 800 kms from Windsor to Ottawa as part of his 'Trek 4 Vets' project. He is hoping to raise funds to assist those in need. 'This is a partnership with an organization named Homes for Heroes, a nonprofit that builds villages with tiny homes and support services for military veterans,' he explained. 'So, I'm raising funds and awareness for our homeless veterans. MacKay estimates that there are anywhere from 2,500 to 10,000 homeless veterans across Canada. 'There could be more because veterans are very proud and they don't want to ask for help,' MacKay said. 'So, a lot of them couch surf and go from place to place. It takes them a lot to ask for help.' MacKay, 65, joined Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry when he was 18 and served for three years. Later, he spent nine years as a reservist with the 48th Highlanders. Homes for Heroes has established villages in Calgary, Edmonton, and Kingston, Ont., with expansion planned for Winnipeg and London. 'Through relationships I've established with other vets I've seen first- hand many suffering from PTSD and struggling with addiction and trauma because of the sacrifices they made,' he added. 'Those who did go overseas and were in combat or have seen horrible things. They're affected. Many are living on the streets, and I don't think our government is doing enough to help them. They sacrificed a lot and some of them are being forgotten.' The journey required plenty of strategic planning and says with the help of legions and members across the province have been paramount to the success of the trip. According to his plan the trek will take 42 days. 'With the help of his support team, we were able to figure out that there are legions approximately every 25 kms along the route,' he said. 'I've been very fortunate to find plenty of people willing to assist and put me up for the night.' While in Belle River, he stayed with Legion president Richard Brooks. MacKay now serves as sergeant at arms at his local legion in Port Dover, where the organization held a BBQ to send him on his way and raising $10,000. With a solid pair of walking shoes and a backpack containing only the essentials, he took the train to Windsor on April 26 Upon Leaving Windsor, he made stops in Belle River, Tilbury and Chatham Kent. MacKay is no stranger to long treks, but he admits this will be the longest walk he's ever attempted. MacKay says that he has done two 'Caminos' – mountain pilgrimages in Spain and Portugal that are hundreds of kilometres long. The walk will be no easy feat, given the unpredictable weather. He will walk six days out of the week, allowing one day to do laundry and rest his body. 'I like walking solo…it's a form of meditation for me, I like having not to think about anything in particular,' he laughed. He is halfway to his goal when the Lakeshore News caught up with him just outside of Toronto last week. 'Things have been going really well,' MacKay said. 'The weather has been co operating and I've met some great people along the way.' To date, he has raised just under $40,000. 'Last week, I stopped at a cheese factory outside of Kitchener, the people were so nice…they gave me a bunch of their product, however I was only to keep a small bit as it would go bad…along the way people have been so generous.'
National Geographic
29-03-2025
- National Geographic
How to spend 4 days in St John's, Canada
Find humongous humpbacks and pint-sized puffins at home among icebergs adrift in the Atlantic in Newfoundland and Labrador. Canada's easternmost province beckons travellers to explore its wealth of seaboard towns, towering lighthouses and historic landmarks, as well as to experience its rich culture and heritage. The province's main gateway and largest city, St. John's, is surprisingly close to London (with a flight time of roughly five hours), yet the city and the surrounding Avalon Peninsula are a world apart. For those who like to travel by road, a four-day itinerary encapsulates the best of this independently minded province. Come for the fish and chips and Celtic-tinged folk sessions, stay for the quirky delicacies, like iceberg-brewed lagers, and the time-honoured traditions such as codfish-kissing. Day 1 Morning Listen out for the low rumble, plunge and soar of the undulating North Atlantic. The city of St. John's is defined by its relationship with the sea, which is most memorably seen and heard atop fortified Signal Hill — a former military battery overlooking rising cliffs and seabird cities populated by puffin and kittiwake. Learn more about the historic site inside Cabot Tower, a gothic revival-style turret where the first trans-Atlantic wireless message was received in 1901. Afternoon Deep at the core of St. John's is its relationship with cod fishing. The Rooms, a gigantic gable-roofed shed above downtown, is the city's museum, where visitors can learn how the development of fisheries and migration to the province went hand in hand. In the early 16th century, the first recorded cargo of fish from Newfoundland and Labrador arrived in Bristol, England. Within 60 years, the province was exporting to more than 100 European ports. St. John's has a long-standing tradition with cod fishing, reflected in the city's seafood fare and cod-kissing ceremonies. Photograph by Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism Overlooking downtown St. John's, The Rooms museum is filled with impressive art, artefacts and archival collections. Photograph by Barrett and MacKay Photo Evening By 1798, Irish immigrants accounted for two-thirds of the city's population and boisterous pubs soon became the hallmark. Along George Street, two blocks of rowdy saloons and two dozen bars remain, with O'Reilly's Irish Newfoundland Pub and Shamrock City offering the most authentic hint of the old country. Alternatively, head to Christian's Pub to partake in a traditional 'screech-in' ceremony, a ritual in which a newcomer can become an honorary Newfoundlander by downing a shot of sharp bootleg-style rum and puckering up to a silver-scaled codfish. Day 2 Morning Just outside St. John's, the road unspools to the easternmost point of Canada, Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site. This is North America's coastline in its rawest form — wave and wind-ravaged, wild and free from development — with the historic beacon and its clifftop plateau providing an unrivalled place to grasp the true scale of Newfoundland's seascape. In summer, icebergs carried by the Labrador Current drip-feed south from the Arctic. For the biggest slabs and floes, drive five hours north to Twillingate, the self-styled iceberg capital of the world. Constructed in 1836 at one of Canada's most easterly points, Cape Spear is Newfoundland and Labrador's oldest surviving lighthouse. Afternoon Marvel at imposing icebergs from the comfort of a high-speed Zodiac boat, with the opportunity to catch a glimpse of magnificent, breaching humpback, minke, pilot and fin whales. The cetaceans are drawn to the waters around St. John's by vast stocks of capelin, a small fish similar to a sardine. Book a tour with Ocean Quest Adventures, which leaves from Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove, a barnacle-jewelled fishing town just 10 minutes' drive south of Cape Spear. Evening Following an adrenaline-pumping ocean expedition, enjoy a hearty lobster roll dinner at Chafe's Landing in Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove. The brewpub serves seafood in abundance, alongside delicious local specialties including scallop-like cod tongues pan fried in pork scrunchions, or moose sausages served with sweet mustard and pickled vegetables. Day 3 Morning Take a 30-minute drive south along the Avalon Peninsula's eastern seaboard to Witless Bay, where the eponymous ecological reserve is home to the largest Atlantic puffin colony in North America. The population of these adorable sea parrots swells to approximately half a million during spring and summer, as the birds make their way to the reserve's four islands to nest. Join a sea safari with O'Brien's Boat Tours for the best viewing opportunity. Afternoon Grab your walking shoes for a hike on Beaches Path to enjoy stunning views of offshore islands. Starting in Witless Bay and taking between two to three hours, it follows along the sea edge all the way to Mobile. The path is part of the impressive East Coast Trail, a 209-mile route that zigzags along the Atlantic Ocean. Evening Newfoundland and Labrador's restaurant menus are almost akin to species identification charts, with large varieties of delicious fish and crustaceans to tempt diners. A standout in St. John's for freshly caught seafood fare is Portage, where small plates of Arctic char and scallops on toast encapsulate all the flavours of the sea. Later, head to artisanal taproom Bannerman Brewing Co. for neo-Newfoundland pale ales and fruit sours. Day 4 Morning A short walk from downtown St. John's, the candy-coloured houses of Jellybean Row are a testament to the city's modern history, having been painted in an act of civic pride in the 1970s. 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Evening During the summer months, rustic and cosy cottage-turned-restaurant Mallard Cottage in Quidi Vidi serves up a renowned menu of super-fresh fish dishes. For a table at the local hotspot, you'll need to book ahead. What awaits is the story of Newfoundland and Labrador on a plate, conjured up through ingredients like mussels and shrimp, brussels in maple oyster sauce and — always — the catch of the day. Direct flights to St. John's International Airport are available from Gatwick with a flight time of roughly five hours. The city is easily navigable on foot and has a reliable bus network. Rental cars are also available from the airport for those looking to explore the province of Newfoundland and Labrador further. For more information, visit This paid content article was created for Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism. It does not necessarily reflect the views of National Geographic, National Geographic Traveller (UK) or their editorial staffs. To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
CNN
29-01-2025
- CNN
Winning images of Travel Photographer of the Year 2024 capture beauty of world's landscapes and cultures
A girl staring into the distance, two Chinese coal miners joking during a break from work, and a Pallas cat lying in the snow in Mongolia are among the winners of the Travel Photographer of the Year 2024 competition. Taken together, the remarkable portfolio of winning photos reveals 'an incredible visual journey around the world, capturing its breathtaking moods and colours,' said a statement released by the competition's organizers Sunday. American photographer Piper Mackay won the overall prize for her photos that all share a distinctive hue, having been shot with an infrared light. This technique lends an ethereal quality to her portraits of African women as well as her photos of giraffes crossing grassy plains in Kenya. Mackay said in the statement that 'this award completes my life's passion and work across Africa for more than two decades.' She added that her philosophy is to 'never let the photo dictate your experience, always let the experience dictate the photo.' Judges sifted through more than 20,000 images submitted by photographers from more than 150 countries to crown Mackay the overall winner. They rewarded other entries in individual categories too. Mexican photographer Maricruz Sainz de Aja won the 'Faces, People, Cultures' category for her images depicting the life of the Wauga tribe in Papua New Guinea. Meanwhile, the UK's Jenny Stock picked up first place in the 'Wildlife, Nature and Underwater' category for her photos portraying the cold, ruthless majesty of crocodiles in Cuba. China's Raymond Zhang won the Young Travel Photographer of the Year award for his evocative photos of workers and trains at a Chinese coal mine, while 12-year-old Leonardo Murray won the under 14 category for capturing the abstract shapes of dunes in the Namib Desert. All the winning photos can be viewed on the competition's website and at an exhibition at The Banbury Museum and Galleries near Oxford, United Kingdom, between March 29 and July 7. The exhibition will then travel to the United Arab Emirates and Changsha, China.
