Pilgrimage Week 12

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Pilgrimage Goal: 7292 km

Total Participants: 58

Total To Date: 17,584 km

 

WOW!  That is move than 10,000 km OVER our initial goal.

 

Are We There Yet?

YES WE ARE!

Can you believe that only 83 days ago we virtually gathered at Cape Spear, NL to walk to the Pacific coastline. With no idea of the necessary time and energy - we set out. In the first week we walked 946.3 KM and found ourselves on a ferry to NS , surrounded by icebergs!

Every week we were invited to ponder a word - Justice, anger, rest, wonder, isolation, beauty, endurance , disappointment, hospitality, ending, and my word was grateful.

Every day, we were grateful for all of you ‘walking together apart’.

The beautiful pictures, the interesting quiz that helped us learn interesting Canadian facts and all the opportunities to join others in worship - it was perfect. We will miss you but now we continue to walk together!

So on behalf of the organizers we thank you for walking with us, for sharing pictures and stories and walking all the way home. Please tell your friends that you walked across Canada and back with a wonderful group of like minded people who walked with respect in creation. It’s good to be home!

Pam Harrison
Vision Aiders

 

Route_Home

Tell us about your Journey!

 

“Its the not the Destination, It's the journey.”  - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Now that the journey is over you spend this week reflecting on your experiences.  Then we want you to give us your feedback.  Send us a story about your journey.

  • What was your experience like?
  • What was your favourite part?
  • Did you enjoy the weekly updates, quiz and pictures?
  • Send a final picture of you or something that shows how you were effected by this pilgrimage

Send your comments and pictures to pilgrimage@visionsunited.ca and we will compile them into a final summary page of reflections.

 

POST A COMMENT below if you are on the journey!

Comments will appear once they have been reviewed

Pilgrimage Week 11

Week Ending

Current Week:  1331 km

Pilgrimage Goal: 7292 km

Total Participants: 58

 

August 11, 2020

Total To Date: 16,252 km

Amount Over Goal:  8960 km

Total Pods: 8

Question of the Week?

What musical talent comes from Timmins, Ontario?

Aiguebelle National Park

Some pictures that were sent in this week

Word for the Coming Week: ENDING

We will use this word to reflect on as we walk, run or roll through our week.

Some words may inspire you with exciting new insights while others may disturb your thinking or challenge your beliefs. Sometimes you will love or take comfort in what you are hearing, while other times you may feel discomfort or resistance. Pay attention to all as this is part of your journey.

Are We There Yet?

This week's journey has us continuing through northern Ontario and into Quebec.  We travel south on route 11 past the communities of Iroquois Falls and Timmins then onto route 101 before crossing into Quebec.  From there we zig-zag north east until we hit route 113 passing the towns of Sainte-Germaine-Boulé (population 900), La Morandière and Aiguebelle National Park.  From there we travel south on route 167 past Chibougamau and Saint-Félicien where we meet up with route 172 which we take until we get to the St. Lawrence River.  From there it's a short journey to our stopping point for this week, Forestville and Baie-Laval.  - I was surprised with the lack of English on some of these community Websites.

(Click on the links above and read about our pilgrimage destinations).

To drive into the route on Google Maps click this link: Pilgrimage Week 11.

Home NEXT WEEK!

Given our past progress we expect to be back in MONCTON next week.  We will be celebrating our entire journey with Stories from the participants.  Everyone who has been on this journey is welcome to submit a story, a reflection, a single image that defines your journey across this awesome country and back again.  Are you a different person than you were twelve weeks ago? Are you feeling better physically and spiritually?  Don't be shy.  If you want to remain anonymous mention that in the email and we will respect your wishes.

Send your reflection to pilgrimage@visionsunited.ca

EXPECTED ROUTE HOME

Local Virtual Services for this week

The United Church of Canada Website has the following local area United Church listings for the Area


Time Zone Converter

Since we are displaying services in their Local Time Zone you may want to convert that time to your local area. Here is helpful website to perform this task.

https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

POST A COMMENT below if you are on the journey!

Comments will appear once they have been reviewed

Pilgrimage Week 10

Week Ending

Current Week:  1405 km

Pilgrimage Goal: 7292 km

Total Participants: 58

 

August 8, 2020

Total To Date: 14,921 km

Amount Over Goal:  7629 km

Total Pods: 8

Question of the Week?

What is the largest lake in Canada?

Moonbeam Ontario

Time Zone Converter

Since we are displaying services in their Local Time Zone you may want to convert that time to your local area. Here is helpful website to perform this task.

https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

Word for the Coming Week: BEAUTY

We will use this word to reflect on as we walk, run or roll through our week.

Some words may inspire you with exciting new insights while others may disturb your thinking or challenge your beliefs. Sometimes you will love or take comfort in what you are hearing, while other times you may feel discomfort or resistance. Pay attention to all as this is part of your journey.

Are We There Yet?

This week's journey picks up where we left off at Port Nelson/York Factory at the mouth of the Hudson Bay.  Since there are no roads around we are HIKING as the crow flies from here to Armstrong, On.  This is a total of 775 km, according to this site.  We pass near a number of northern first nations communities such as Shamattawa (population 1019),  Muskrat Dam (population 375) and Pickle Lake, the most northerly community in the province of ON that has year-round access by road (imagine that for a minute).

Now that we are back on the road we can travel in style (after a shower and good nights rest).

 

From Armstrong we wind around past Windogo Bay and Whitesand Provincial Parks on route 11 (TCH) to arrive at our destination for the week, Moonbeam ON.

(Click on the links above and read about our pilgrimage destinations).

To dive into the route on Google Maps click this link: Pilgrimage Week 10.

Local Virtual Services for this week

The United Church of Canada Website has the following local area United Church listings for the Area


POST A COMMENT below if you are on the journey!

Comments will appear once they have been reviewed

Pilgrimage Week 9

Week Ending

Current Week:  1200 km

Pilgrimage Goal: 7292 km

Total Participants: 58

 

August 1, 2020

Total To Date: 13,516 km

Amount Over Goal:  6224 km

Total Pods: 8

Question of the Week?

What unfortunate events brought the spotlight to our destination for this week?

Some pictures that were sent in this week

Time Zone Converter

Since we are displaying services in their Local Time Zone you may want to convert that time to your local area. Here is helpful website to perform this task.

https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

Word for the Coming Week: HOSPITALITY

We will use this word to reflect on as we walk, run or roll through our week.

Some words may inspire you with exciting new insights while others may disturb your thinking or challenge your beliefs. Sometimes you will love or take comfort in what you are hearing, while other times you may feel discomfort or resistance. Pay attention to all as this is part of your journey.

The Pas - Learn some History

Are We There Yet?

This week's journey picks up where we left off outside of Canora, SK.  Backtracking a bit we head NORTH this week up route 9 through the towns of Endeavor, Bertwell, Hudson Bay and Mountain Cabin.    From there we pick up route 289 to The Pas (located at the confluence of the Pasquia River and the Saskatchewan River) and now we are in MANITOBA.

Next is further north to Flin Flon (I always liked that name) on route 10.  Turning around there we follow route 39 to its end where it turns into route 6.  We follow route 6 until it ends in Gillam.  That's literally the end of the road, so we hop on a boat to the coast along the Nelson River where we stop again at Port Nelson at the mouth of HUDSON BAY.

It really amazes me how few ROADS there are in Northern Manitoba.

(Click on the links above and read about our pilgrimage destinations).

To dive into the route on Google Maps click this link: Pilgrimage Week 9

Local Virtual Services for this week

The United Church of Canada Website has the following local area United Church listings for the Area


POST A COMMENT below if you are on the journey!

Comments will appear once they have been reviewed

Pilgrimage Week 8

Week Ending

Current Week:  1548 km

Pilgrimage Goal: 7292 km

Total Participants: 58

 

July 26, 2020

Total To Date: 12,316 km

Amount Over Goal:  5024 km

Total Pods: 8

Question of the Week?

What former Canadian Prime Minister moved to Saskatchewan as a child, and had a house (now a museum) in Fort Saskatchewan?

More Comments!

Pam sent in the following image

Walking across Canada we may want to reflect on the picture. The elephant is carrying the baby in the heat of the day! The lioness walks nearby, is this a lesson for us to ponder as we walk. This was posted as PICTURE OF THE YEAR. Pam

She also sent in this picture with a question:

This is an interesting sign, near where I live but knew nothing of this structure. Pam

I did a little digging and found this article

Word for the Coming Week: DISAPPOINTMENT

We will use this word to reflect on as we walk, run or roll through our week.

Some words may inspire you with exciting new insights while others may disturb your thinking or challenge your beliefs. Sometimes you will love or take comfort in what you are hearing, while other times you may feel discomfort or resistance. Pay attention to all as this is part of your journey.

Fort Saskatchewan - Check out the heritage

Are We There Yet?

This week we continue on from Bay Tree General Store in Alberta and follow route 43 south to Fort Saskatchewan (a city of 25,000).   From there we pick up Route 3 to Prince Albert.    Next we turn south down to Preeceville.  Continuing south, we stop just outside of the town of Canora.  This just happens to be the home of the Ukrainian Heritage Museum.

(Click on the links above and read about our pilgrimage destinations).

To dive into the route on Google Maps click this link: Pilgrimage Week 8

Some pictures that were sent in this week

Time Zone Converter

Since we are displaying services in their Local Time Zone you may want to convert that time to your local area. Here is helpful website to perform this task.

https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

Local Virtual Services for July 19

The United Church of Canada Website has the following local area United Church listings for the Area


POST A COMMENT below if you are on the journey!

Comments will appear once they have been reviewed

Pilgrimage Week 7

Week Ending

Current Week:  1423 km

Pilgrimage Goal: 7292 km

Total Participants: 58

 

July 18, 2020

Total To Date: 10,808 km

Amount Over Goal:  3536 km

Total Pods: 8

Question of the Week?

Who founded the town of Fort McMurray and when?  What is their current claim to fame?

More Comments!

This week we would like to get more comments on the Pilgrimage.  Where are those Vision's Folks!

This past week Jean Smith of the Trinity Trotters did some of her walking at the Joggins Fossil cliff.  The Fossil Cliffs are a designated UNESCO World Heritage site.   A link to the Fossil Cliffs website is here:   https://jogginsfossilcliffs.net/unesco/ns.php

Preserved in nature, uncovered by force. Explore one of nature’s most inspiring creations, where the highest tides in the world reveal the most complete fossil record of the “Coal Age,” 100 million years before the dinosaurs. Every rock holds the possibility of discovery, and our guided tours may lead you to finding a missing piece of time’s puzzle. At Joggins, our backyard may be 300 million years old but every day is different!

Word for the Coming Week: ENDURANCE

We will use this word to reflect on as we walk, run or roll through our week.

Some words may inspire you with exciting new insights while others may disturb your thinking or challenge your beliefs. Sometimes you will love or take comfort in what you are hearing, while other times you may feel discomfort or resistance. Pay attention to all as this is part of your journey.

Muncho Lake

Some pictures that were sent in this week

Are We There Yet?

It's on to Whitehorse this week along the Alaska Highway.  We are not going to count the mileage to backtrack along the route so we continue south from Watson's Lake to Liard River and Muncho Lake.   Staying on Route 97 (Still the Alaska Highway) to Toad River we pass the Stone Mountain Provincial Park heading south east to Fort Nelson.  We continue south passing the communities of Sikanni Chief,  Pink Mountain, Fort St John and Dawson Creek.  From there it's east on Route 49 to just over the Alberta border at the Bay Tree General Store.

(Click on the links above and read about our pilgrimage destinations).

To dive into the route on Google Maps click this link: Pilgrimage Week 7

Stone Mountain

Time Zone Converter

Since we are displaying services in their Local Time Zone you may want to convert that time to your local area. Here is helpful website to perform this task.

https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

Local Virtual Services for July 19

The United Church of Canada Website has the following local area United Church listings for the Area


 

 

POST A COMMENT below if you are on the journey!

Comments will appear once they have been reviewed

Pilgrimage Week 6

Week Ending

Current Week:  1393 km

Pilgrimage Goal: 7292 km

Total Participants: 58

 

July 11, 2020

Total To Date: 9385 km

Amount Over Goal:  2113 km

Total Pods: 8

Question of the Week?

What is the name of Canada's Northernmost community?

Pictures!

Our Call this week for Pilgrimage pictures was a huge success. Lots from the Trinity Trotters from Amherst:

I am a member of the Trinity Trotters from Amherst NS. I have pictures that I took when I went to Northport Park and beach on the Northumberland Strait on July 9th.

Some pictures with the large sandbars were taken about 4 hours into low tide. There are two pictures of jellyfish which were very plentiful.

Teresa

The “My friend the old tree” was submitted by Jean Smith.  The photo was taken during her walk near Amherst this week.  The other 3 photos are some of the places Kathy and I pass by during our bike rides throughout the Amherst Shore/Linden area. (Beach/Farming/Fishing country)  In all 3 photos you can see the Northumberland Strait. Lots of beautiful scenery to enjoy.  (But it doesn’t make the hills any easier!!) Have a great week.

Ian

Word for the Coming Week: BEAUTY

We will use this word to reflect on as we walk, run or roll through our week.

Some words may inspire you with exciting new insights while others may disturb your thinking or challenge your beliefs. Sometimes you will love or take comfort in what you are hearing, while other times you may feel discomfort or resistance. Pay attention to all as this is part of your journey.

Are We There Yet?

Since arriving at our destination last week, we have turned NORTH to travel up the BC interior on our way to the Yukon.  We did not quite make it to Whitehorse, but we are enjoying the trip so far.

Our route takes us from Victoria up route 97 north. We pass through communities like Hells Gate, Chasm, 100 Mile House, 150 Mile House (interesting names right?). We follow the Fraser River further north to Quesnel, swinging east as 97 moves away from the river up to Prince George.  Then it's West along route 16 past the Seven Sisters Provincial Park and Protected area, passing beautiful mountain ranges, moving north again up route 37.  This takes us all the way to the Yukon boarder, where we pause for the week in the community of  Watson Lake.

This town in Yukon is located at mile 635 on the Alaska Highway close to the British Columbia border. The Canada 2016 Census put the population at 790.

(Click on the links above and read about our pilgrimage destinations).

Some pictures that were sent in this week

Watsons Lake

Time Zone Converter

Since we are displaying services in their Local Time Zone you may want to convert that time to your local area. Here is helpful website to perform this task.

https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

Local Virtual Services for July 4

The United Church of Canada Website has the following local area United Church listings for the Area


 

 

POST A COMMENT below if you are on the journey!

Comments will appear once they have been reviewed

Pilgrimage Week 5

Week Ending July 4, 2020

Current Week:  1164 km

Total To Date: 7931 km

Pilgrimage Goal: 7292 km

Amount Over Goal: 639 km

Total Participants: 58

Total Pods: 8

Word for the Coming Week: ISOLATION

We will use this word to reflect on as we walk, run or roll through our week.

Some words may inspire you with exciting new insights while others may disturb your thinking or challenge your beliefs. Sometimes you will love or take comfort in what you are hearing, while other times you may feel discomfort or resistance. Pay attention to all as this is part of your journey.

Question of the Week?

How many points were on the maple leaf of Canada's First Flag?

George Stanley

Pictures!

We need more pictures of our groups.  We did get some more pictures from Shawn's actual trip across Canada which we will continue to share as we travel back through those areas.

Some pictures that were sent in this week

Are We There Yet?

YES! FINALLY!

We arrived this week in Victoria BC mid week (let's say CANADA DAY!).  This has been a fast trip as everyone is putting in lots of KMs for the pilgrimage.  We are on our way NORTH this week toward the Yukon as we work our way East.

Since this week we celebrated Canada Day, Pam Harrison had this note to us:

During the time of Prime Minister Lester Pearson it was very clear that Canada would have a new flag, it would be established to fly during the celebrate year of Canada’s 100th birthday. On Feb 15, 1965 for the first time the beautiful “Canada Flag” flew on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The flag has two red boarders marking the two oceans on either side of our nation. The centre is a white square with four equal side based on equality for all and the red maple leaf had 13 points to note the 10 Provence’s and 3 territories. This has changed to 11 points for design benefits. ( easier to print ).

The flag was designed by Dr George Stanley, Sackville, NB. The town commissioned an sculpture to design a statue of Dr Stanley sitting on a park bench, you can join him for a historic picture (see above)!

The Stanley’s shared the story of the strong emotions around the new flag. You see Canadian soldiers had fought two world wars under the Union Jack and they loved that flag. On the week before the flag raising the Stanley’s received death threats and hate mail. The flag raising occurred without violence however several Legion refused to fly the new Canada Flag for many years.

In 1967, Canada celebrated its 100th birthday and Canada flags were everywhere, people wore flag pins and clothing, the maple leaf was on our money and the Maple Leaf became our international icon. So now check the flag and enjoy knowing ,as we walked past Sackville ,we could have set with Dr George Stanley. The statue is located next to the Post Office, (Atlantic bubble) but be sure to wear your mask.

Time Zone Converter

Since we are displaying services in their Local Time Zone you may want to convert that time to your local area. Here is helpful website to perform this task.

https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

Local Virtual Services for July 4

The United Church of Canada Website has the following local area United Church listings for the Area


 

 

POST A COMMENT below if you are on the journey!

Comments will appear once they have been reviewed

Pilgrimage Week 4

Week Ending June 27, 2020

Current Week: 2476 km

Total To Date: 6767 km

Pilgrimage Goal: 7292 km

Total Participants: 58

Total Pods: 8

Need Something to Read?

Looking for something to read on our Pilgrimage.  Rev Shawn Redden has suggested you pick up a copy of "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry". Get more details about the book on Amazon or WikiPedia.

 

Word for the Coming Week: WONDER

We will use this word to reflect on as we walk, run or roll through our week.

Some words may inspire you with exciting new insights while others may disturb your thinking or challenge your beliefs. Sometimes you will love or take comfort in what you are hearing, while other times you may feel discomfort or resistance. Pay attention to all as this is part of your journey.

Question of the Week?

We have been travelling the modern day Trans-Canada across this vast country.  What was the first "highway" across Canada and when was it completed?

Shawn's Pilgrimage 2019

There was a time where we were allowed to physically travel across our country (just last year).  Our Minister Shawn Redden provided some pictures and a note about this trip last year.

Attached are some pictures of places we were on our Virtual Pilgrimage last week, and some will be for places we will have virtually passed through this week.

  • There is a picture of Pebble Beach from Marathon Ontario.
  • St John's United was one of the churches we highlighted last Sunday, and is where Past Moderator Very Reverend David Giuliano served as minister his entire pastoral ministry. It's also the home church of our current Moderator, The Right Reverend Dr. Richard Bott.
  • Nippising Bridge is just east of Thunder Bay, as well as the Terry Fox Memorial marking the spot where he was forced to end his cross-Canada Marathon of Hope after cancer returned.
  • The Lake Superior watershed is also east of Thunder Bay Kakabecka Falls is just west of Thunder Bay.
  • East of Winnipeg is the Longitudinal halfway point in Canada The Royal Canadian Mint in Winnipeg, as well as the Canadian Museum of Human Rights.
  • The Memorial to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls is at The Forks.
  • The Bridge to St Bonifiace across the Red River.
  • St Boniface Cathedral - Louis Riel's grave is also on the property.

Shawn

Are we there yet?

We had amazing progress this week on our Journey to Victoria, BC arriving in the beautiful Fraser Valley. Don't worry that our journey will be over soon, as we plan to zig-zag across the North and up and down all of the provinces on the way home.

 

 

Some pictures that were sent in this week

Terry Fox

Most of us know who Terry Fox is and his amazing journey across our country.  This week we began our trip outside of Thunder Bay ON, where Terry's trip was tragically cut short.  His story continues to inspire us. You can read more about it here!

Canadian Human Rights Museum

One of our Vision's folks provided us with some interesting pictures from the Museum when they went there a few years ago.

Louis Riel

Louis Riel, Métis leader, founder of Manitoba, central figure in the Red River and North-West resistances.  Riel led two popular Métis governments, was central in bringing Manitoba into Confederation.  Read more about this Western Canadian political leader.

Local Virtual Services for June 14

The United Church of Canada Website has the following local area United Church listings for the Area


 

Time Zone Converter

Since we are displaying services in their Local Time Zone you may want to convert that time to your local area. Here is helpful website to perform this task.

https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

POST A COMMENT below if you are on the journey!

Comments will appear once they have been reviewed

Pilgrimage Week 3

Week Ending June 20, 2020

Current Week: 1721 km

Total To Date: 4291 km

Pilgrimage Goal: 7292 km

Total Participants: 58

Total Pods: 8

Pilgrimage Week3

Need Something to Read?

Looking for something to read on our Pilgrimage.  Rev Shawn Redden has suggested you pick up a copy of "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry". Get more details about the book on Amazon or WikiPedia.

 

Word for the Coming Week: REST

We will use this word to reflect on as we walk, run or roll through our week.

Some words may inspire you with exciting new insights while others may disturb your thinking or challenge your beliefs. Sometimes you will love or take comfort in what you are hearing, while other times you may feel discomfort or resistance. Pay attention to all as this is part of your journey.

If you wish, keep a journal about your insights, whether challenging, comforting or enlightening. And remember, there is no right or wrong way to travel. This is your journey - you get to decide how you will travel - you need only to begin. Most of all, enjoy the journey knowing that you have many pilgrims who are "virtually" traveling with you!

See you in Victoria!

Question of the Week?

Looking at the Map of Canada you might think we have the most National Parks in the world.  A question for this week is which country does hold that honour?

 

 

Some pictures that were sent in this week

Are we there yet?

This week our Pilgrimage lands us just outside of Thunder Bay Ontario.  I spent some time there working for the Bowater-Abitibi (now Resolute) Mill and enjoyed my time in the remote Northern Ontario town.

Although we are travelling much faster than we first thought, we are already planning a return Trip from BC. We will be using a different route exploring even more of our great country.  In the meantime we are highlighting a few interesting places from this weeks journey.

 

 

Union United Church

In July 1907, a group of Black railway porters and their wives (founding members of the Coloured Women’s Club) convened a meeting. These men and women wished to worship in their own church in their own style with dignity, respect of person and equality of participation, regardless of gender, one’s ethnic origin or faith.  This let to the formation of the Union United Church in Montreal.  Read about their story.

Montmorency Falls , Quebec

This is a picture of Montmorency Falls , Quebec. These historic falls are 30 meters higher than Nigeria Falls. Click on the picture to read about this unique site.

Algonquin Provincial Park, ON

Algonquin, the first provincial park in Ontario, protects a variety of natural, cultural, and recreational features and values. As one of the largest provincial parks, Algonquin is biologically diverse with more than 1,000 vascular plant species and more than 200 vertebrates that breed within its boundaries.

It's over 7700 square kms, so our entire pirgrimage could cover just this park alone.  Canada is so vast.

Local Virtual Services for June 14

The United Church of Canada Website has the following local area United Church listings for the Area


 

Time Zone Converter

Since we are displaying services in their Local Time Zone you may want to convert that time to your local area. Here is helpful website to perform this task.

https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

POST A COMMENT below if you are on the journey!

Comments will appear once they have been reviewed