On May 29, 2025, I retired after 45 years of service with the City of Calgary. Thirty-six of those years were with Calgary Police Service (CPS). At CPS, I was part of the IT team where I worked as a Database Administrator and then as a Systems Analyst. My work as a PIMS Database Administrator supported Calgary Police officers to do their work effectively and efficiently by ensuring constant system stability and availability. I also enjoyed developing many customized IT solutions for CPS operations including an application for the Victim Assistance Support Team to support victims of crime in Calgary.

During my retirement party, my colleagues asked me what my goals were for the next stage of my life. I told them that for some time I had been thinking about doing a cross-Canada cycling trip and then writing a book about this experience. Those who know me would say that I love a challenge. I also enjoy meeting people from a variety of backgrounds so a trip across Canada would provide me the opportunity to enjoy both the diversity of the people and each area of Canada.

After I retired, I started to do research on the best cycling route across Canada. I read many stories of people who have finished a cross-Canada bike trip. It was during this research that I read about Garry McCracken’s project called The Road To Valour. I was impressed to read that for his 75th birthday he wanted to continue to achieve physical goals and to promote healthy aging, proving that age is no barrier to challenge, growth, or adventure. I also share that belief and value.

I also admire his commitment to support the mental health of veterans, first responders (including police officers), and their families. Like Garry, I come from a military family. My father was a radar technician, from the mid 1950s until he retired in the early 1980s. In Canada, radar technicians operated the radar warning systems that protected North American shores against enemy air and naval attack. Radar lines, including the Pinetree Line, provided an early warning system, monitoring the skies for signs of Soviet intrusion. I’ve learned that radar technicians were sworn to secrecy and it has only been recently that their stories are being shared. Our family was stationed in France and Germany (when I was young) and at several Pinetree Line radar bases across Canada. My mother served in the military until my parents started their family. My sister joined the military in the early 1980s and trained as a medic. She then studied to become a military doctor and retired in 2016.

From my parents’ and sister’s military service, and from my own CPS service, I am very aware of the occupational challenges and risks, and associated stress, that military members and first responders face in their daily work. That is why I am pleased to be part of The Road To Valour cycling tour to raise funds for Wounded Warriors Canada.

As a member of this team, I know we can count on each other’s experience and expertise throughout this 2,500 km. unsupported cycling adventure. We will start our cycle tour in Vancouver on Garry McCrackins’s 75th birthday on May 21, 2026. We’ll begin at the Seaforth Highlanders Armoury at 1650 Burrard Street and then have stops at the Armoury at 650 Beatty Street and the New Westminster Armoury at 530 Queens Avenue. The tentative route plan has us finishing the cycling tour on June 29 (in Winnipeg) which happens to be my birthday. I’m looking forward to meeting people along the route and hope that others will cycle with us along the way, even if it’s only for a short part of the route. Whatever support you provide to us will be appreciated, including financial support for Wounded Warriors Canada. Sincere thanks.