Latest news with #Trek4Vets
Hamilton Spectator
27-05-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Belle River Stop Part of Veteran's 800-KM Walk to Raise Awareness for Homeless Heroes
Ken MacKay, a retired military man from Port Dover, is walking more than 800 kilometres from Windsor to Ottawa to raise awareness and funds for homeless veterans across Canada—and his trek included a meaningful stop in Belle River. MacKay's journey, called 'Trek4Vets,' is in support of Homes for Heroes, a nonprofit that builds tiny home villages and provides support services for veterans in need. 'This is a partnership with an organization named Homes for Heroes,' explained MacKay. 'They build villages with tiny homes and offer wraparound support for military veterans. I'm raising funds and awareness for our homeless veterans.' Estimates suggest that between 2,500 and 10,000 Canadian veterans are currently homeless—a number MacKay believes could be higher. 'Veterans are proud. Many won't ask for help. A lot of them are couch-surfing, living in vehicles or worse,' he said. 'If I don't speak up, who will?' At 65 years old, MacKay is no stranger to long-distance treks—he's completed two pilgrimages in Europe—but this journey will be his longest yet. The walk is expected to take 42 days, with MacKay traveling six days a week and taking one day for rest and laundry. While passing through Belle River, MacKay was hosted by local Legion president Richard Brooks. Support from Legions along the route has been crucial. 'There's a Legion every 25 kilometres or so. That's made it all possible,' said MacKay. MacKay's military career began at 18 with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. He later served nine years as a reservist with the 48th Highlanders and now acts as Sergeant-at-Arms for his local Legion in Port Dover, where a community BBQ helped raise $10,000 before his departure. So far, MacKay has raised nearly $40,000 and has received donations—and hospitality—from people all across the province. 'Last week I stopped at a cheese factory outside of Kitchener,' he laughed. 'The people were so kind. They gave me some of their products, though I could only carry a small amount in my pack.' Despite unpredictable weather and physical toll, MacKay remains optimistic and committed. 'I like walking solo,' he said. 'It's meditative. It gives me time to reflect and focus on what this journey is really about.' Homes for Heroes currently operates in Calgary, Edmonton, and Kingston, with plans to expand to Winnipeg and London, Ont. Anyone wishing to support MacKay's cause can donate at:
CBC
26-04-2025
- CBC
Former soldier embarks on walk across Ontario to help homeless vets
Ken MacKay is spending the weeks ahead walking from Windsor to Ottawa A former soldier has armed himself with a good pair of sneakers and a backpack as he undertakes a new task: An 800 kilometre solo trek across the province to help veterans in need. Ken MacKay, 65, will spend the weeks ahead walking from Windsor to Ottawa, with the goal of raising $250,000 to support homeless veterans. "I didn't go overseas, I didn't see anything — they did and they're homeless, and they have to fight another battle," he said. "They shouldn't have to do that." MacKay, who's from Port Dover, Ont., joined Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry when he was 18 and served for three years, he said. Later, he spent nine years as a reservist with the 48th Highlanders. A former CBC camera operator in Toronto, MacKay now serves as sergeant at arms at his local legion. There are anywhere from 2,500 to 10,000 homeless veterans across Canada, according to a 2023 report from McGill University. "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 has already raised more than $26,000 of his goal, all of which will go to Homes for Heroes, a nonprofit that builds villages with tiny homes and support services for military veterans. A tiny home village for veterans is coming to London. Here's how it will work The group has villages in Calgary, Edmonton, and Kingston, Ont., as well as ones planned for Winnipeg and London, Ont. MacKay arrived in Windsor by train on Friday, where he was met by the first of many supporters who will put him up in the weeks ahead. His "Trek 4 Vets" to the nation's capital starts Saturday, and will see him stop at a constellation of Royal Canadian Legion branches across southern Ontario. MacKay is no stranger to long walks. He's done two "Caminos" – mountain pilgrimages in Spain and Portugal that are hundreds of kilometres long. "I was planning on doing 800 kilometres in the mountains of Spain, but I said why not do something in Ontario and raise some funds, some money for our veterans?" he said. To train, he's been walking 13 kilometres every other day, he said. His eight kilogram (18 pound) backpack is "quite light" compared to the 18 kilogram (40 pound) one he carried as an infantryman. "So this is nothing," he said. "It's seven pairs of socks, seven pairs of underwear, t-shirts, couple of zipper pants and toiletries and that's about it." He also has a reflective vest he'll wear for safety. MacKay said he doesn't listen to music while walking: "I like to hear the sounds of nature," he said. "My meditation is walking." His journey required careful route planning in addition to nightly accommodations. He said he had plenty of help from his fellow legion members. "We started looking for legions along the route and it just happened to be [that] there's one every 25 kilometres or so. So they would phone, you know, somebody in Belle River, Tilbury, or Chatham and ask, 'Can you put Ken up?'" he said. "We got yes, all the way along." One of those people is Claude Beaulieu, who was hosting MacKay in Windsor on Friday night. Beaulieu said he was approached by his Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 255 in Riverside, and said yes because "it's a good cause." A former Windsor Regiment reservist, Beaulieu said he's encountered a handful of homeless veterans locally while volunteering at a soup kitchen. "But it's not something that they bring up," he said. "Veterans are proud […] but unfortunately sometimes you do need help." MacKay will take the first steps of his trek on Saturday morning at Branch 255, then make his way to Belle River. "I want to get going. I've been planning this since December and I've just been waiting," he said. "I would go right now if I could." Those who want to keep track of his progress can follow the Port Dover Legion Facebook group, which will be posting regular updates, he said.
