Honour Ride brings attention to support for veterans and first responders

“My greatest sense of pride was bringing my entire unit of 30 guys home and none of them severely injured,” Weir said. “They all made it back to their wives and their children.”

In the years that followed, however, Weir says every one of those 30 soldiers died by suicide — a stark and devastating reminder of the long-term effects of service.

For Weir and others like him, mental health supports were not always accessible or well known. Facilities such as Honour House and Honour Ranch — both designed to provide safe, supportive spaces for military members, veterans, and first responders — simply weren’t on the radar during their time of need.

Today, that is something advocates are working hard to change.

The first-ever Honour Ride was launched to raise both funds and awareness for Honour House, which opened in 2011 to provide free accommodation and support for uniformed personnel and their families while they travel for medical care. Honour Ranch, an extension focused on recovery and rehabilitation, was created eight years later.

Amarjit Singh Sull, a teacher and volunteer firefighter, helped spearhead the initiative after seeing firsthand the difference Honour House can make.

“Honour House became very near and dear to my family,” Sull said. “We used it numerous times through the Cornell Fire Department for medical appointments, for family members, for ourselves.”

Sull recalls being introduced to Honour House more than a decade ago when his family needed to travel for care and had nowhere to stay.

“When an ex-fire chief in Quesnel found out we had to go to the children’s hospital, he asked where we were staying,” Sull said. “I told him we were still looking. He made a call and told me Honour House would have a room for us.”

Experiences like that motivated Sull to get involved and ensure others know about the service.

He joined forces with Corey Timms and other organizers who identified a major challenge facing the organization: visibility.

“One of their challenges when we first started working with them was exposure,” Timms said. “Just general knowledge in the public about Honour House.”

The solution was simple but ambitious — take the message on the road.

Sull and two other riders set out on a 1,000-kilometre journey from Prince George to Honour House in New Westminster, aiming to build on more than $32,000 already raised. The ride is not only a fundraiser, but also an opportunity to connect with communities along the route and share stories like Weir’s.

For participants, the ride carries deep meaning.

It represents resilience, remembrance, and recognition — particularly for those whose struggles may not be visible.

Mental health advocates say initiatives like Honour Ride are key to breaking down stigma and ensuring support systems are accessible for those who need them most. For veterans, first responders, and their families, having a place like Honour House can be a lifeline during times of crisis.

Weir hopes increased awareness will help prevent others from facing the same fate as his unit.

“For a long time, people didn’t talk about it,” he said. “Now we have to.”

As the Honour Ride makes its way to New Westminster, organizers say the goal is clear: to ensure that no one who has served feels alone when they return home.

by Cheryl Jahn

Honour Ride brings attention to support for veterans and first responders

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