“You will maintain your dignity, because that’s what Canadians do. Calm, quiet dignity and inner strength. That’s what we have. That’s what we share. And it’s not easy, but I believe in you.”
James Topp
I never want to be so jaded by our current state of corruption and lack of compassion that I can no longer cry.
So when I found this video of one man’s courageous stand, I was happy to weep and sob…
Every Canadian knows Terry Fox.
With a leg amputated due to cancer, the 18-year-old inspired a nation to rise together, raise money for research, and find solutions for the disease that would claim his life at the age of 22.
Beginning in April 1980, Terry Fox ran a marathon every day, starting at the Atlantic Ocean in Newfoundland and making it to Thunder Bay, Ontario, ending his quest to reach the Pacific Ocean only when cancer forced him to stop his run — after 5373 km.
The media hailed him as a hero and his legacy lives on in annual runs and a total of almost a billion dollars raised for cancer research.
Most Canadians don't know James Topp.
After serving in the Canadian Armed Forces for 28 years, the decorated veteran is being dismissed for refusing to disclose his Covid “vaccine" status.
Seeing the harm that COVID-19 mandates are causing ordinary Canadians, Topp faced his own fears and publicly announced his plan to cross the country on foot.
Beginning in February 2022, James Topp walked a marathon almost daily, starting at the Terry Fox Memorial in Vancouver and making it to the Canadian War Memorial in Ottawa last Thursday, June 30th — for a total of 4297 km.
The mainstream media has been all but absent.
Along the way, James wrote to every Member of Parliament and Senator, asking to sit down and discuss “how to heal the country from the damage of COVID-19 policies.”
Here is an excerpt from his letter...
On June 24th, a handful of MPs met with James, fellow veteran Tom Marazzo, and the esteemed Dr. Paul Alexander.
His powerful message, summed up by his “3 Rs” — Repeal, Reinstate, Restitution — is to "Repair" the division created in Canada by unconstitutional and unscientific mandates.
“There is a divide in this country I have never seen or experienced before. And I’ve only ever seen it in a war zone.”
Watch even the first few minutes to hear James' clear and concise message to the MPs who showed up...
Since following the Freedom Convoy in February, I have been all too aware of the outright lies being told by the government and perpetuated by the MSM.
And so I decided, once again, to see for myself.
I wanted to experience even just a day in the journey of a Canadian hero who has walked over 40 km nearly every day for 130 days.
Along with many others, I had the privilege of walking the much shorter distance of 21.5 km to reach his destination.
Most protests have a pretty leisurely pace as participants move in organic waves.
They can also contain mixed messages, with a (usually) small number of people spouting angry slogans or waving signs with profane words or symbols.
But soldiers, particularly veterans committed to peaceful and dignified protest, do things differently...
About two hundred of us lined up in twos along the sidewalk surrounding Bells Corners in Ottawa before being inspected and approved to move out at the start of the final day of James’ epic march.
Along the way, veterans walked up and down the line to make sure we were in proper formation, kept up a good speed, and weren’t interfering with traffic or other pedestrians.
When space opened up to let cars through or obey a light, we were prompted to catch up.
“Close the gap! Double time!”
Several times that morning, I grabbed the straps of my small backpack and jogged ahead as directed, re-establishing the cohesion of the group and keeping in line with my walking partner.
No one was inconvenienced and everyone — drivers, pedestrians, police, spectators, protestors — was respected.
Not knowing what kind of reception we’d receive from onlookers or authorities, the vets provided both a sense of security and an uplifting atmosphere.
The day passed with almost all positive feedback.
Many cars and trucks honked, people cheered and waved, and some even lined up to show support…
By afternoon, we were three deep and a couple thousand strong.
(Formations were harder to keep in check.)
I met and walked with a wide variety of fellow Canadians that day.
A scientist and inventor, a stay-at-home mom, a teenaged boy with enough energy to throw around a football on our marching breaks, a PPC candidate, and even former RCMP sniper and Justin Trudeau bodyguard, Danny Bulford.
Each person spoke with intelligence and integrity.
The atmosphere was one of celebration and full of hope.
When we arrived at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, more people were there to greet James.
Thousands cheered and waved Canadian flags, and the national anthem was sung twice, in English and in French.
This should have been one of the biggest stories in Canada last week, as this monumental journey completed on the day before Canada Day.
Instead, James Topp was all but ignored.
But the story is far from over.
On what James called “the greatest day” of his life, he passed the torch to all of us.
“Listening is a challenge. Working together is a challenge. But we should take up the challenge.”
James Topp
You can peruse the recording of the whole last day, or just watch James’ moving final speech at around the 8:57:45 mark…
The day after the march, a friend asked me how it was.
I thought about what the experience was and how it differed from other events and answered, “Honourable.”
I felt a sense of peaceful pride and a call to duty — to continue James Topp’s quest to “Repair” the damages done by 2+ years of unconstitutional, unscientific, and immoral mandates.
If you haven’t yet involved yourself with people who are standing for your rights, I highly recommend it.
You will discover that, despite government and media attempts to divide and conquer, we as human beings are capable of relentless courage, camaraderie, and community.
And it’s okay to be afraid.
Courage is the ability to face one’s fear and act anyway.
“Am I afraid? Yes. Absolutely I am. But I’m going to work through it.”
James Topp
Some of the T-shirts on display at the march said, Who is James Topp?
Some T-shirts displayed the answer: I am James Topp.
While mandates continue to exist or are only "suspended," we must all be James Topp.
We must face our fear and act anyway.
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