The Rolling Barrage rolls through Okotoks this week

The Rolling Barrage returns to Okotoks this week.

The annual event sees a procession of motorcycles riding across Canada, starting at the east coast and ending on the west coast, to spread awareness for PTSD among veterans and first responders, and raising funds for related causes.

A stop in Okotoks has become an annual tradition, with locals gathering along Veterans Way, particularly near the hill, to see the Barrage roll through.

Carola Singer, Chief Marketing Officer and Alberta representative with the Rolling Barrage says this year’s event will be the biggest yet.

“We have about 115 bikes registered for our Okotoks arrival. That doesn’t include last-minute registries, probably day of. We’re having record numbers this year.”

They’ll be riding through Okotoks on Wednesday, August 16 at around 5 p.m.

Afterward, they’ll be hosting a meet and greet at the George, with presentations and other festivities planned.

The Okotoks stop includes help from local groups and volunteers, with the Rotary Club of Okotoks setting up flags along Veterans Way and the Legion as well as Highwood MLA RJ Sigurdson helping out with the meet and greet.

For Singer, who’s an Okotokian herself, it’s a point of pride to have such a great reception in her hometown each year.

“It makes me incredibly proud to be part of the Okotoks community because the support has been so incredible, and the Rolling Barrage community because of the success we’ve had over the years with people coming forward saying ‘because of the ride last year, I went to get help.’”

They’re rolling through Strathmore the day before with a lunch stop in Vulcan, and they’ll be stopping in Diamond Valley on August 17 for breakfast at the Legion.

This year’s ride started in Newfoundland on August 1 and is set to conclude in Vancouver on August 19.

For more information on the Rolling Barrage, or to donate, check out their website.

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