Nijmegen Marches

The Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada reviewed a departure parade of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members participating in the Nijmegen Marches, at the Canadian War Museum.

Group photo with His Excellency, dignitaries in attendance and members of the CAF contingent.

A contingent of over 200 CAF members will take part in the 98th International Four Days Marches Nijmegen, which will take place in the Netherlands from July 15 to 18, 2014.

On this occasion, the Governor General delivered a speech. "You will traverse the same lands your predecessors did, walking the same paths, only in safety and peace this time, alongside others, both civilian and military, from around the world. As you do so, I also hope that you will keep your own health and well-being in mind, as well as those of your fellow team members. This will not be an easy exercise, by any stretch of the imagination. It will be incredibly taxing, both physically and mentally, so you must watch out for each other and encourage one another."

His Excellency Cees Kole, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, also spoke during this event.

General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff, also addressed the contingent.

Canadian military contingents have participated in the Nijmegen Marches, a prestigious long-distance marching event held in the Netherlands, since 1952.

At the end of the ceremony, the Governor General received the Royal Salute.