OTTAWA - The contingent of some 220 Canadian Forces
(CF) personnel participating in this year’s International
Four Days Marches Nijmegen will begin the journey though the
countryside and crowded streets of towns and villages in the Nijmegen area
July 17.
Physically and mentally strong, the Canadian contingent is representative
of the whole of the CF. The Canadian contingent is broken down into teams,
with each team consisting of 11 personnel. Teams are made up of both
Regular and Reserve Force members from across the country. During the
months of training required to be selected for the Canadian contingent, candidates
test both their physical and mental stamina by marching an average of 700 km
with their rucksacks, which is why Canadian soldiers, sailors and air personnel
consider it an honour and privilege to be selected for the gruelling four-day
event.
The Nijmegen Marches is primarily a team event that develops such core
military values as leadership, teamwork and endurance, and each team is expected
to complete the marches successfully in good order and with the team intact.
The marches are neither competitive nor a speed test, but they do require proper
training and a good team spirit to ensure success.
The participation of a CF
contingent in the Nijmegen Marches demonstrates our dedication to remembering
the Canadians who died liberating the area around Nijmegen during the Second
World War. During the four days of marching, CF members will walk the same
terrain where so many Canadians fell. This year marks the 55th year of Canada’s
participation in the Nijmegen Marches, which falls on the 62nd anniversary
of the liberation of the Netherlands.
The Nijmegen Marches originated in 1909
with Dutch military efforts to increase the long-distance marching and weight-carrying
ability of infantry soldiers. It evolved into the world’s largest walking
event, attracting thousands of civilian participants as well as hundreds of
other military teams. More than 40,000 marchers from at least 50 nations are
expected to participate this year.
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NOTE TO NEWS/ASSIGNMENT EDITORS:
Teams in this year’s Nijmegen Marches come from:
Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT), Halifax/Dartmouth, Nova Scotia;
Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC), Esquimalt, British Columbia;
Land Forces Atlantic Area (LFAA), Gagetown and Moncton, New Brunswick;
Land Forces Central Area (LFCA), Sault-Ste.-Marie and Petawawa, Ontario (2
teams);
Land Forces Western Area (LFWA), Edmonton, Alberta;
22 Wing, North Bay, Ont.;
12 Wing, Shearwater, N.S.;
17 Wing, Winnipeg, Manitoba;
3 Wing, Bagotville, Quebec;
Royal Military College (RMC), Kingston, Ont.;
CFB Borden, Ont.;
Ottawa, Ont. (2 teams);
Naval Reservists from across Canada;
294 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Cadets, Chatham, Ont.
Interviews can be arranged between Canadian media outlets and Canadian Forces
personnel who are in Nijmegen by contacting the Public Affairs Officer on location,
Ms. Tina Crouse, at: 613-286-2398.
As still imagery of the Nijmegen Marches
is obtained it will be posted on the Combat Camera website at:
www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca
For further information, visit the official website of the International
Four Days Marches Nijmegen at:
http://www.4daagse.nl/index.asp?taal=en&pagina=homepagina&interactivepage
For information on Canadian Forces participation in the Nijmegen Marches,
visit:
http://www.forces.gc.ca
