WOUNDED WARRIORS CANADA BRINGS
VETERANS BACK TO THE BALKANS
SARJEAVO – The fifth annual Wounded Warriors Canada (WWC) Battlefield Bike Ride – Canada’s Return
to the Balkans – kicked off today in Sarajevo. The breakdown of the former Yugoslavia in the early 1990s,
and the war that ensued, required the service and sacrifice of over 40,000 Canadian soldiers who would
deploy to the Balkans as part of multiple United Nations and NATO missions.
This will be an exceptionally unique Battlefield Bike Ride. Twenty-five Veterans of the Balkans are
returning to the region for the first time in a generation. They will cycle over 600kms alongside seventyfive
of their fellow Canadian civilians to honour the service and sacrifice of the brave men and women
who fought in the region. 23 Canadians paid the ultimate sacrifice during their service in Balkans and
thousands more were forever changed physically, mentally and spiritually. The journey will take the
participants to the famed Stari Mostar Bridge, Sarajevo’s Sniper Alley, the Medak village region, and will
culminate at the site of the Battle of the Medak Pocket in Croatia to commemorate the 25th anniversary
of the battle.
Scott Maxwell, Executive Director of Wounded Warriors Canada, commented, “We are honoured to have
so many Veterans of the Balkans joining us on this year’s Battlefield Bike Ride. Not only will this be an extremely
powerful personal experience for the Veterans, their participation will provide our group with first-hand insight
into the service and sacrifice that was made by so many Canadians over so many years. What’s more, like all
conflicts, we know the sacrifices remain with many of our Veterans from the Balkans. That’s why we are so
proud of the fundraising and awareness efforts our participants have made that will be put to life-changing use
– supporting of our ill and injured Veterans, First Responders and their families at home.”
“Many members of the Canadian Armed Forces were deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina under UN and NATO
missions. This has created strong links between our two countries, which the BBR18 exemplifies. I would like to
wish the riders, including many veterans, a memorable journey – one that will likely bring back painful, difficult
memories for some, but one that is also about hope, reconciliation and Canada’s proud contribution to peace
and security in the world”. — Canadian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina Isabelle Poupart
“Many members of the Canadian Armed Forces were deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina under UN and NATO
missions. This has created strong links between our two countries, which the BBR18 exemplifies. I would like to
wish the riders, including many veterans, a memorable journey – one that will likely bring back painful, difficult
memories for some, but one that is also about hope, reconciliation and Canada’s proud contribution to peace
and security in the world”. – Canadian Ambassador to Croatia Daniel Maksymiuk
