Armed forces veteran James Topp took a day from his Vancouver-to-Ottawa march to rally a crowd to courage in Regina..The former active-duty veteran had become a reservist and an RCMP employee before being sidelined for his refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine..“I wasn’t always a model soldier, but I spent about 20 years doing the business, keeping my nose clean, going overseas, and to be told that I would be released on this item was a slap in the face,” he told an appreciative crowd of 150 at the Regina Eagle’s Club..“We had a group of Canadians, hardworking Canadians that went to Ottawa to make their voices heard that they were ignoring and insulting. And I had a problem with that. So I wanted to go to Ottawa. I can’t fly there so I chose another way. So I’m marching there.”.“I’m protesting against the mandate that caused the divide in our society. But I’m also speaking on behalf of those who have lost employment, who have lost their businesses who have divided families because of these mandates, I’m also going to speak on behalf of those individuals who got their arms twisted behind their backs, and were forced to take a medical procedure that they would not otherwise have done… And the discrimination that my brothers and sisters in the armed forces right now are experiencing because they chose to stand up for themselves.”.Topp said public support encouraged him more than he thought possible. He got a little choked up expressing appreciation for his team of volunteers who have been alongside him since he started his trek February 20. Now he hopes to inspire those who would otherwise remain too skeptical or fearful to act..“We’re all afraid. You’ve just got to make friends with your fear… Find out what you’re afraid of and whether it’s worth being afraid of it, whether it’s holding you back, because fear is just a feeling. It can’t hurt you unless you let it,” Topp said..“Figure out what you can do and try not to focus on what you can’t do… Emails that I have sent to the Members of Parliament have been responded to… So they will respond. But it takes tenacity.”.Topp encouraged everyone to write and sign a letter and send it to MPs in the mail. The letter should talk about the mandates, personal experiences from them, and tell the MP to meet with Topp when he arrives..“You add your voice to mine. And I’m going to go to Ottawa and I’m going to tell them what’s what,” Topp said..“We’re going to make it happen. I feel strongly about it. I feel a sense of optimism that I haven’t felt in a long, long time. So you keep chins up, keep your heads up, keep your eye on the horizon.”.Topp’s optimism has helped him enjoy the journey despite recent days of late snowfall across the flatlands..“I’m happy to be here. I’m happy to be out with folks. I would really like it if we could have some spring, but I like the prairies. You can see where you’re going,” Topp said..Many miles remain, but when the journey ends in June, Topp knows just what he wants to do..“I go to Ottawa, I pay my respects to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, then I turn my attention toward the parliament… We are demanding a conversation with our Members of Parliament because they have forgotten who they work for.”.Brad Brown was one of about 150 in attendance glad to hear the message. The 20-year military veteran who spent another eight contracting as an aircraft technician to the military before vaccine mandates forced him out..“In November I was fired just like he was and yeah, for months, looking for work. No employment, denied EI. It’s the first time in my life I’ve ever been fired. So yeah, this guy supports me, stands up for me, and is doing what I can’t do right now. I support him 100 percent,” said Brown..Civilian Dean Friese also drew inspiration from the speech..“I’ve been laid off for two years now. I’m unvaxxed, I can’t get a job. I’ve lost family members, everything else. James is marching for all of us, but there’s going to be a lot more there when he arrives; it’s going to be a really good show. But these are the true heroes of Canada, people who are standing up.”.Lee Harding is a Western Standard contributor from Saskatchewan.
