Crowsnest Pass resident Chad Kennedy is once again out to shatter the stigma around mental health and PTSD while supporting families affected by suicide. His Sea to Sea for PTSD cross-Canada walk, the Journey Home 2026, started June 1 in Sarnia, Ont.

Chad officially stepped off from Legion Branch No. 62, beginning a months-long trek that will take him to Vancouver Island by the end of September. The date coincides with both PTSD Awareness Month and Men’s Mental Health Month.

“It’s a double whammy and I’m proud to be an advocate for both,” Chad says.

The walk is part of Chad’s mission to raise awareness about post-traumatic stress disorder, operational stress injuries and mental health challenges among military personnel, veterans and public-safety professionals.

Many in southwestern Alberta already know Chad’s story.

The Canadian Armed Forces veteran and former Alberta Sheriff Highway Patrol member was diagnosed with PTSD in 2018. Chad struggled for years with trauma traced to hazing he endured during basic training in 1991, a weight he carried into his law enforcement career.

Chad reached a breaking point after being a first responder to the July 18, 2020, Columbia Icefield bus crash in Jasper National Park.

On Aug. 2, 2020, Chad was moments from a planned suicide but had a big revelation. At this pivotal point, he found inspiration and began an intensive healing journey that ultimately led to founding Sea to Sea for PTSD.

Through therapy and treatment, he recovered enough to launch a cross-country awareness campaign focused on PTSD and mental health, particularly among current and former military personnel and public-safety professionals.

Before the official June 1 launch, Chad and his team spent several weeks at community walks and mental health events across Ontario and the northeastern United States.

“The pre-walk festivity started May 16. We did a walk through Vermont State and New York State,” Chad says. “We had amazing support from law enforcement down there.”

The team also visited Peterborough, Pelee Island and Kingsville, where community members gathered to hear his story and learn more about the initiative.

Since stepping off in Sarnia, Chad has averaged more than 30 kilometres a day. In the first five days, he walked 157 kilometres — 188,906 steps for those who like to keep a step count.

Chad jokes that a trek like this at age 53 is no walk in the park but life on the road has become his “peaceful place,” furthering his healing journey.

“I sort of put the pain off to the side and, like I’ve mentioned before, I don’t wear a headset or anything, I’m not listening to music, I just listen to the sounds around me and listen to what my body’s saying,” he says.

Despite the physical strain, he says walking remains an important part of the healing process for his PTSD, his mental health and even the recent loss of his father, a retired RCMP officer who struggled with complex PTSD.

“I was really looking forward to hitting the road and having some downtime to process the loss of my dad and I’m looking forward to the walk home,” Chad says. “I keep reminding myself that it’s not a race, it’s a journey.”

The 2026 campaign is the latest chapter in a mission that began with Chad’s first Sea to Sea walk in 2022. While initially focused on his own recovery, he says its purpose has evolved and the experience has helped him better understand who he is beyond the uniform.

“I think now I realize my purpose and that is I’m a helper,” he says. “I’m not searching for myself anymore, I’ve sort of refound myself. It’s never about redefining yourself, it’s about refining who you are in life.”

Beyond awareness, this year’s campaign is also raising money to create scholarships for children of military members or public-safety professionals who die by suicide. The scholarships are intended to help children stay focused on their future, while easing some of the financial burden families may face after such a loss.

A $13,000 goal has been set for the Journey Home 2026, with proceeds going to Honour Our Children Scholarship Funds, which will fund two $500 scholarships per province and territory.

“Children don’t have a choice when it comes to losing a parent,” Chad says. “I truly believe that we have a lot of amazing young individuals, our future, who are gonna go on to do great things, so it’s our way of giving back.”

Chad also hopes to encourage people to speak openly about their struggles and seek help when they need it.

“Our slogan is #never alone,” he says. “People are almost afraid to speak up because they feel that they’re the only ones that have gone through what so many other people have gone through.”

He hopes those who hear his story come away knowing support is available.

“It’s OK to talk about this, and if you need a safe spot, I’ll be the ears, any of our team members would be the ears — and not just listen to what you have to say, but hear what you have to say,” Chad says.

Although he expects the walking chapter of Sea to Sea for PTSD to conclude this year, the organization will continue.

“Just because the walking journey is going to be done this year doesn’t mean Sea to Sea for PTSD will go away,” Chad says.

He hasn’t mapped out every stop, but this month’s Ontario stops include Thunder Bay on June 21 and Kenora on June 29. Updates on Chad’s journey are posted on Sea to Sea for PTSD’s social media.

Those wishing to support the Journey Home 2026 can make a donation by visiting seatoseaforptsd.ca or by sending an e-Transfer to chad.kennedy@seatoseaforptsd.com.

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available any time. In Alberta, call the Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2642. Across Canada, call or text the 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline. Veterans, former RCMP members and their families can also reach the VAC Assistance Service at 1-800-268-7708, available around the clock.