Every summer, cyclists can be seen braving the long stretches of prairie roads—some riding purely for the joy of it, while others are driven by a mission.
Among them is Glenboro resident and Canadian Forces member, Major Steve Sloat, who has teamed up with retired Lieutenant Colonel Robert Poirier to raise funds for the Gunner Peer Support Network, a charity affiliated with the Royal Canadian Artillery.
Their initiative, OPERATION GRIND FOR GUNNERS, began in late June in Victoria, British Columbia, and is scheduled to conclude in Kenora, Ontario, this coming Friday if all goes according to plan.
With both men having dedicated their careers to military service, they view this journey as a true mission—one aimed at raising awareness and funds to support their fellow Canadian Forces artillery members.
The goal of OPERATION GRIND FOR GUNNERS was to cycle to every unit and sub-unit of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery in Western Canada between Victoria and Kenora. This includes both Regular Force and Reserve Units. The 4,100-kilometre trek spans the area covered by the 3rd Canadian Division, headquartered in Edmonton.
Along the way, the pair planned to stop at 14 locations, including Victoria, Nanaimo, Vancouver, Lethbridge, Red Deer, Edmonton (20th Field Regiment and The RCA Band), Regina, Yorkton, Brandon, Camp Shilo, Portage la Prairie, and finally Kenora.
Mark Wilson is a high school teacher in Winkler, and together with his wife Deana, they joined the two cyclists first in BC earlier this summer, and then this past weekend in Saskatchewan as the team made their way east. However, the Wilsons are no strangers to the Canadian Forces, as Mark was a CF member with the Reservists for 28 years. He has balanced his military career with a teaching career at Garden Valley Collegiate in Winkler.
Wilson was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and the Commanding Officer of the 38 CBG Artillery Tactical Group in September of 2020. So, yes, LCol (retired) Mark Wilson is very familiar with the Gunner Peer Support Network and the valuable service this program offers members of the artillery unit.
The 38 Canadian Brigade Group (CBG) Artillery Tactical Group is composed of artillery units from 10th Field Regiment RCA, 26th Field Regiment RCA and 116th Independent Field Battery RCA.
"Once a gunner, always a gunner," says Wilson.
Please listen to portions of the conversation with Mark Wilson and Golden West Reporter, Ty Hildebrand below.
For more photos of this trek, please visit the OPERATION GRIND FOR GUNNERS Facebook Page HERE.