“In the Footsteps of Heroes” will be presented by Belinda Wilson on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 1 p.m. held at the Irondale Church, located at 1019 Elm Road in Irondale, Ontario. Wilson is a longtime supporter of the Royal Canadian Legion having been a member of the Fenelon Falls Legion, is an avid military history enthusiast and comes from Coboconk. The talk is part of the Service, Courage, and Sacrifices series presented by Bark Lake Cultural Developments.

As a child, Belinda Wilson always respected those that defended our country in the Canadian Armed Forces. The first time she heard”In Flanders’ FIelds,” the Canadian Armed Forces became an important aspect of her life and her interests.

“I have been a member of the Royal Canadian legion for about 25 years,” says Wilson. “It seemed important. I was so happy when the Legion changed their member rules. Acknowledging the sacrifices that have been made is important to me.”

In 2013, Belinda Wuilson was chosen to be the Ontario Delegate to go on the Royal Canadian Legion’s Pilgrimage of Remembrance. Throughout this pilgrimage, Wilson took part in a two week journey through France and Belgium. She visited the Somme, Passchendaele, Vimy, Dieppe, and Juno and experienced monuments, cemeteries, and battlefields.

“When we were there, people would come up to you and start to talk. Even though you aren’t understanding what they are saying, you knew what they were saying. They were thanking us,” says Wilson.

 When Wilson was visiting Juno beach, French citizens expressed their appreciation for the sacrifices that Canadians made during WW2.

Wilson’s talk covers WW1 and WW2 from the perspective of what she experienced visiting the battle sites in Europe.

However, her presentation isn’t your typical history lesson. Wilson is a singer and songwriter who will perform five original songs throughout her presentation on Sunday, Nov 3. Three of the songs are her originals with two being written by her ex-performing partner Rick Hughes. Wilson and Hughes released an album in 2004 called Thank God for Poppies. November of 2024 will be the 20th anniversary of their album. The CD of the album was sold in Royal Canadian Legions across Ontario as a fundraiser.

“When you apply for the Pilgrimage of Remembrance, you have to explain you wanting to go, what you will do when you come back, and how you will spread the word after you are over there.”

After standing on Juno beach, Wilson says that she could feel the fear, heartache, and nerves of the Canadians that landed there. She was entirely moved from the experience. The waters of the English Channel allowed her to better understand the feeling that the boys did landing during WW2.

From 2013 to 2024, Wilson has presented “In the Footsteps of Heroes” 95 times.

“I have been doing it because I keep getting requests to do it,” says Wilson. “I have done presentations as far west as Sarnia and as far east as Ganonoque.”

Wilson says that she wants the stories she shares to make the audience think and remember the importance of the sacrifices that these boys made for our freedom.

“It is the interaction with people while I present,” says Wilson. “That is the most important part.”

“I am not a historian. Neither am I a scholar,” says Wilson. “I am presenting  to promote remembrance and sharing stories about people to make them think.”

“It is not a history lesson,” says Wilson. “It is a journey.”

Tickets for Wilson’s “In the Footsteps of Heroes” can be purchased over the phone by calling 7054578438. Admission for this event is by donation.

All funds raised from the event will be going to Bark Lake Cultural Developments, a registered charity formed in 2012 to preserve Irondale’s history and heritage. Their aim is to preserve the Irondale Church, educate the public on Indigenous people’s history and colonization of the Irondale area, create and maintain a community museum and memorial garden, and to advance religion by allowing their facility to be used for non-denominational religious services.