Guelph unit hosts 30km Norwegian Foot March out of Linwood June 7

LINWOOD – Earlier this month the 11th Field Regiment’s third Annual Norwegian Foot March (NFM) started at the Linwood Community Centre bright and early and saw participants marching dozens of kilometres. 

The event, held on June 7, saw three different Canadian Forces units, air cadets, one civilian and one retired service person walk to Millbank from Linwood, then back again, then to Wallenstein and back to Linwood, according to organizer Bombardier Alistair MacLellan of the 11th Field Regiment, which is based in Guelph. 

The NFM is a 30-kilometre trek in which participants must carry a rucksack that weighs 11 kilograms (24 pounds) at both the start and the end of the event, according to the Norwegian Armed Forces’ website (forsvaret.no).

The units involved included the host 11th Field Artillery Regiment RCA (11 FD), the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada (RHFC), the 23 Field Ambulance unit (23 Fd Amb) and the Royal Canadian Air Cadets (Air Cadets).

“The first NFM took place in 2024,” MacLellan stated in an email to the Community News. 

“The goal was to find a competitive challenge that would test 11 FD soldiers’ stamina and endurance. Although the event is based on individual time, the idea was to build teamwork during training. The Norwegians have been completing the FNM since the early 20th century, so bringing it to Canada made sense from the perspective [of] also strengthening our partnerships with another NATO nation.”

Those who complete the NFM are formally recognized by the Norwegian Embassy, MacLellan explained. 

This year’s event was marked with good weather in the morning, when participants started, he said, and the heat only settled in towards the end of the event. He added there were no injuries. 

“For this event, weather is a big factor because the hotter it gets the more endurance is required,” MacLellan said.

In 2024, MacLellan said, the NFM included only members of the 11 FD, and in 2025 other units were invited. This year, he noted, the first civilian participated. He said he hopes the event continues to grow year-over-year.

Participants included: Lieutenant Guo of the RHFC; Corporal Canchica, 23 Fd Amb; Corporal Tran, RHFC; Lieutenant Leri, 11 FD; Master Bombardier Stephenson, 11 FD; Bombardier Rintoul, 11 FD; Gunner Michaud, 11 FD; Gunner Mulders, 11 FD; Corporal Parkin, 11 FD; Private Michaud, 11 FD; Private Cosford, 11 FD; Private Trudeau, 11 FD; Corporal Yu, 23 Fd Amb; Captain Stuart, Air Cadets; Private Juo, 11 FD; Private Harse, 11 FD; Corporal Kenne, RHFC; Second Lieutenant Sharma, RHFC; Corporal Kirkham, RHFC; Second Lieutenant Facca, RHFC; Fusilier Radfield, RHFC; Retired Sergeant Olesen, 11 FD; and Civilian Macintosh. 

MacLellan said the event will continue to grow if possible, and added civilians who are interested should visit 11rca.ca for more information.