Guelph woman set to embark on a journey to trace her father’s footsteps

A Guelph woman is organizing a pilgrimage to trace her father's footsteps. 

Karen Hunter is the daughter of Gilbert Leslie Hunter who served as a Canadian Soldier in World War II.

The journey, dubbed 'In our father's footsteps,' was born out of his wartime memoir.  

“On my father's 80th birthday he gave me a war memoir he had secretly written, which planted the seed for this pilgrimage,” said Hunter.

In the memoir, he talked about his experiences at war and the liberation of the Netherlands', which is something Hunter had not heard about from him or her mother. 

“Growing up they never talked about their wartime experiences, but in many ways those experiences shaped my life and really made me who I am today.”

The pilgrimage is set for May of 2020 which marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands. She said she is hoping to have 200 people join her on this spiritual, cultural and educational journey. 

“I've met so many people in my life that had backgrounds similar to my own where their fathers had served in the war and never talked about it, and in many cases served in the Netherlands,” said Hunter. “I thought there might be many other people across Canada who would be interested in a spiritual journey of following in their father's footsteps.”

Hunter explained what participants can expect on the journey.

“Walking in platoons, 60 km over three days in the footsteps of the first, second and third Canada divisions, we will be walking with professional guides, eating from mess kits, watching military demonstrations and reenactments. We are going to hosting flower ceremonies and candlelight vigils at the Canadian War cemeteries and visiting Canada war monuments. The highlight will be the walk as a large Canadian contingent with flag and in a military band into Het Loo Palace in Apeldoorn.” 

The pilgrimage is nine to 13 jam-packed days. All the details can be found on the In our father's footsteps website.