New exercise challenge aims to raise cash for Calgary’s Field of Crosses memorial
Calgarian Jordan Witzel’s three-kilometre bike ride on Saturday was one of the first to kickstart the inaugural Field of Crosses Memorial Project fundraising campaign.
The “Exercise Freedom Together” campaign is the first of its kind to support the memorial, which honours more than 3,500 southern Alberta soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for Canadian freedoms.
Exercising freedom together to honour fallen soldiers
Major (ret.) Kent Griffiths joins Global News Morning Calgary to talk about the Field of Crosses Exercise Freedom Campaign, encouraging people to get active and honour those who have fallen in combat.
Calgary Remembers: Remembrance Day ceremony at the Field of Crosses
Hundreds of Calgarians laid poppies on small wooden crosses in the Field of Crosses on Monday, to honour those who lost their lives fighting for Canadian freedom. Poems and prayers were recited for the crowd, wreaths were laid and the Cantare Children’s Choir led the...
Murray McCann turns Field of Crosses into a charity so it will outlive him
On New Year’s Eve, when Murray McCann turned 80, he did what many of us do on a milestone birthday — he contemplated his mortality. Unlike many of us, however, that reflection spurred the successful entrepreneur and sole founder and funder of Calgary’s Field of...
Calgary’s Field of Crosses illuminated by thousands of candles ahead of Remembrance Day
Thousands of candles were lit in front of nearly 3,500 white crosses during a sunset ceremony at the Field of Crosses in Calgary on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019. Blake Lough reports. Watch the video.
Please join us in welcoming Shael Gelfand as the newest member of the Field of Crosses Board of Directors.
Shael brings with him an exceptional career spanning more than 35 years in communications, journalism, public relations, and strategic counsel. From his award-winning years at CTV Calgary to founding Peak Communicators (Alberta) Ltd., his experience, leadership, and dedication to community service will be an incredible asset to our organization.
Shael also has a deeply personal connection to the mission of the Field of Crosses. As the son of two Second World War veterans, he grew up with a profound appreciation for the courage, sacrifice, and service of Canada's military. His father, Sgt. Robert Gelfand, served as a bomb aimer with 432 Squadron and survived after his aircraft was shot down over the Netherlands in 1944, evading capture for 11 months with the help of the Dutch resistance. His mother, Sgt. Tanya Gelfand, was a member of the first class of the RCAF Women's Division and proudly served throughout the war.
A lifelong Calgarian, Shael has also devoted countless hours to supporting youth and community organizations through volunteer service, reflecting the same spirit of giving that is at the heart of the Field of Crosses.
We are honoured to welcome Shael to our Board of Directors and are grateful for his willingness to share his knowledge, experience, and passion as we continue our mission to honour the service and sacrifice of the brave men and women who have served Canada, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of the freedoms we enjoy today.
Welcome to the team, Shael!
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Congratulations to Major (Ret’d) Kent Griffiths, MMM, CD, on being named the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services Volunteer of the Year.
This is a wonderful and well-deserved honour recognizing years of service, commitment, and care for Canada’s military and veteran communities. Your continued efforts to help preserve and share our military history have left a meaningful mark and continue to inspire those around you.
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🇨🇦 Operation Gratitude 🇨🇦
As we reflect on another successful day on the golf course at the 2nd Annual Valour on the Green Veteran Golf Tournament, we would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to the sponsors whose generosity and support helped make this event possible.
This event exists because of organizations and individuals who believe in bringing Veterans together through connection, camaraderie, and community. Your support helped create a meaningful experience for those who have served our country, and we are truly grateful for your commitment to this mission.
Because of your support, Veterans across Southern Alberta and beyond were able to come together, share stories, build new friendships, reconnect with one another, and enjoy a day dedicated to recognizing their service and sacrifice.
We would like to extend a special thank you to our two title sponsors whose support and presence at the tournament played a significant role in making this day possible.
We are proud to recognize and thank our sponsors:
❤️ Platinum Sponsors:
CannaConnect Edmonton
❤️ Silver Sponsors:
Medicine Hat Toyota
Southern Gas & Safety
MOLLY MAID Canada
❤️ Team Sponsors:
3 CAV Ypres
USW District 3 - Veterans of Steel Committee
Veterans and Everyday Heroes
TRAD Worm Industries Ltd
B&L Lawn and Home Maintenance Ltd.
Colleen and Marty Vredegoor
We would also like to acknowledge the individuals and anonymous donors who quietly supported this event. Your generosity, kindness, and belief in our mission helped make a meaningful difference, and we are deeply grateful for your support.
Your generosity and commitment helped bring Veterans together for a day of connection, camaraderie, and community, helping make this event possible while also giving back to initiatives that support Veterans and their families. Proceeds from Valour on the Green directly support Field of Crosses and Paws 4 Resiliency, organizations dedicated to remembrance, healing, and meaningful support for Veterans.
From all of us at Valour on the Green, we thank you for helping us make this day possible. ❤️❤️
#OperationGenerosity #OperationSwag #RedShirtFriday #CommunityStrong #ValourOnTheGreen #FieldofCrosses #WoundedWarriorsCanada #Veterans #VeteranSupport #CanadianVeterans #FirstResponders #MentalHealthSupport #Golf #MedicineHat #Support #GolfForACause #Canada #RememberTheFallen #HonourOurVeterans #VeteransRemembrance #LestWeForget #CommunityTribute #LegacyOfService #NeverForget #PTSIRecovery #OperationalStressInjury #VeteranWellness
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𝐆𝐎𝐃𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐃, 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚 𝐌𝐒𝐌 𝐒𝐌
Age: 26– Capt RCHA
Date of Death: 17/05/2006
Captain Nichola Goddard was the first female Canadian combat soldier killed in action while on Canadian operations in Afghanistan.
Born to British and Canadian school teachers in Madang, Papua New Guinea, Goddard spent most of her childhood in various locations before the family returned to Canada. She attended junior high in Edmonton, Alberta, and high school in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. She completed four years at the Royal Military Collage in Kinston, Ontario, graduating as a trained artillery officer and posted to the 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery.
Captain Goddard was deployed to Afghanistan in January 2006 as a Forward Observation Officer. She was the first woman to lead Canadian soldiers into combat, and the first Canadian to order artillery fire on an enemy since the Korean war.
During a two-day joint operation between Candain and Afghan National Army troops in the Panjwai District of Afghanistan, to secure Kandahar’s outskirts, intelligence reports indicted a Taliban assault on the city. Captain Goddard, 26, was killed on May 17, 2006. As a crew commander, she was partially exposed in her LAV III, which was hit by 2 rocket-propelled grenades early in the battle.
Captain Nichola Goddard was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) and the Sacrifice Medal (SM).
A school was named after her, ‘Captain Nichola Goddard School’ in Calgary, Alberta and a patrol vessel ‘Canadian Coast Guard Ship Captain Goddard M.S.M.’
Each November during the Eleven Days of Remembrance in Calgary, Alberta, the Field of Crosses commemorates Captain Nichola Goddard.
www.fieldofcrosses.com/
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Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Field of Crosses.
Today we honour the mothers, grandmothers, and mother figures whose love, strength, and sacrifices have helped shape families, communities, and generations.
Wishing you a peaceful day filled with love, remembrance, and gratitude.
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