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The Highway of Heroes “HonouRun” film wins Best Film Award and Best Technical Award at the Digi60 Film Festival in Ottawa
Born and raised in Cornwall, Ontario, Ian Callan teaches Physical Education at Longue Sault Public School and was inspired to create a 158 km Highway of Heroes “HonouRun” by his students’ exceptional dedication to honouring the best of our society for their sacrifices.
While dedicating the run to Fallen Heroes, surviving Veterans, Military Members and First Responders, Callan was focused on bringing attention to Mental Health issues that go along with the job of protecting our freedom and keeping Canadians safe.
Callan is a 4-time Boston Marathon Marathoner and has completed several ultra-marathons, recently finishing a 100 mile race in the Gatineau Hills of Quebec.
Supporting To The Stan and Back which supports Military, Veterans and First Responders to receive Mental Health treatment at Project Trauma Support, on Saturday October 26 2019 Callan and Sebastian Warner ran 58 km with the Cornwall Multisport Club visiting Fire Halls, Legions, Police Stations and Cenotaphs to pay their respect to the men and women who answered the call to protect Canadians.
Callan and Warner ran the remaining 100 km of the 158 km Highway of Heroes HonouRun from the first bridge on the Highway of Heroes in Trenton to the Leon’s Center in Kingston overnight from Friday November 1 to Saturday November 2 completing the run in 14 hours.
The last 22 km of the run Callan and Warner were joined by Private Dave Kervin from the Hastings Prince Edward Regiment who carried a 40 pound ruck sack.
The trio arrived in Kingston on time for the opening Ceremony of the inaugural Highway of Heroes Hockey Game where Military, Veterans and First Responders were playing against the Toronto Maple Leaf Alumni to raise awareness about Mental Health.
Film makers, Jorick Callan, Marvin Ren, Jonathan Wegner and Richard Chamoun followed Callan, Warner and Kervin photojournaling the HonouRun and won Best Film Award and Best Technical Award at the Digi60 Film Festival in Ottawa on December 20 2019. Digi60 is the leading filmmakers’ festival in Ottawa that values artistic achievement and excellence, and provides the foundation for creating and sustaining a vibrant and supportive filmmaking community. It is a professional development festival that aims to support filmmakers in the Ottawa-Gatineau region.
“When I first caught wind of what Kerri Tadeu was putting together and hearing of Ian Callan organizing and participating in a 158 km run to honour every member lost during the Afghanistan War (the HonouRun), I was eager to get in touch with them and help or participate in any way that I could. While I have not personally deployed overseas, nor have I ever been in battle, I have friends and Regimental members that have, many of whom lost friends while on tour in Afghanistan, so this seemed like the perfect way for me to honour them and the brothers and sisters they lost in battle. I had the privilege of joining these two warriors, running from Odessa, along Highway 2, into Kingston, ending at the Leon’s Centre prior to the Highway of Heroes hockey game. Twenty-two kilometers is nothing compared to the 136 km of running these men had completed, but it was enough time to hear their stories, share some laughs, and have some heartfelt conversation about mental health concerns with service men and women, creating a lifelong bond that I will cherish each day forward. I’ve always been proud to wear the uniform, but on Saturday, standing next to those two men after accomplishing what they did to raise awareness and funds for mental health, I had an extra sense of pride that will last with me a lifetime. I can’t begin to imagine what many of our brothers and sisters in the CAF have been through in battle, but I’ll always do my part to support a strong foundation for mental health resources, and be there for them, as a family member, to reach out to anytime, anywhere. Saturday was very special to me personally and I was proud to be in an arena full of service men and women, volunteers and supporters, all coming together for a great cause. The 22 km I ran with Ian and Sebastian, the memories made that day, and the impact the event left for service men and women, all made for a very proud day as a Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment member in the CAF. Personally I’d like to thank all that came together and supported the event!” stated Private Kervin
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
