VICTORIA - Paul Nichols, a resident of Kersley, B.C. and a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, is leading a band of fellow veterans on an 11,000 km eight-month horseback ride across Canada.

Starting from the front steps of the B.C. legislature on Monday, April 13, with a ceremony lead by Her Honour, Lieutenant-Governor Judith Guichon and Coralee Oakes, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, Paul and his riders headed east to begin their epic journey.

Having served on a peacekeeping mission in the former Yugoslavia, Paul knows the challenges that Canadian veterans can face when they re-enter civilian life. Paul and his wife Terry established the Communities for Veterans Foundation-The Ride Across Canada to raise awareness about the new generation of Canadian veterans.

“Canadians love their troops,” Paul said at the launch ceremony. “But often they don’t really know them.” Paul says that the Ride Across Canada will give Canadians an opportunity to become better acquainted with Canada’s younger veterans and share their stories.

Learn more:

Communities For Veterans website: http://www.communitiesforveterans.com/