Toronto — On behalf of the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, Erin O'Toole, Member of Parliament for Durham, tonight attended the World Premiere of the CBC documentary entitled March to the Top, a film based on the True Patriot Love Expedition. Prior to his election to Parliament, Mr. O’Toole served in the Canadian Armed Forces and was one of the founders of the True Patriot Love Foundation. The documentary highlights the challenges faced by expedition leader Ben Webster and his team, comprised of 12 wounded Canadian soldiers and Veterans and 10 Canadian business leaders, as they struggle to climb the 20,305-foot high summit of Island Peak, a mountain south of Mt. Everest in the Himalayas.
“The sheer determination and perseverance demonstrated by these brave Veterans and soldiers on their expedition are awe inspiring,” said Minister Blaney. “Our Government is proud to recognize the True Patriot Love Foundation for their support and dedication to Canada’s Veterans and their families.”
In addition to documenting the climb, March to the Top also visits the soldiers and Veterans in their homes and with their families to discover why they joined the armed forces and how they sustained their injuries. Additionally, the film looks at the present lives of the soldiers and what their hopes are for the future.
“I am honoured to attend the world premiere of this documentary. It is truly inspirational to watch these 12 wounded soldiers overcome their injuries and join the True Patriot Love Expedition team to take on an incredible challenge,” said MP O’Toole.
The documentary will be aired on the Documentary Channel on February 18 at 8:00 p.m. EST. In addition to the documentary, Canadians have an opportunity to be engaged further into the story through an interactive Web site, social media and additional content on CBC-TV and CBC Radio One.
For more information on Veterans Affairs Canada's programs and services, visit veterans.gc.ca.
