A veterans fishing derby scheduled for this weekend is being postponed to the spring.
Organizer and veteran Tim Riley said a lack of registrants forced the postponement but he's optimistic the extra time will allow for further outreach and recruitment for the event.
Riley, in partnership with the Freedom Centre in Preston, planned the derby to assist veterans in forming connections and building a support system.
"Through our efforts we only had two veterans that reached out to register," Riley said.
"We thought it was prudent to postpone the event to the start of the fishing season in the spring of 2025. That should allow us to advertise through various formats to reach a large audience of veterans that would want to attend."
Riley understands firsthand the importance of finding other people who share common ground, as it was when he discovered similar events to the fishing derby that he found a sense of belonging once his military service ended.
After serving with the Canadian Airborne Regiment in Somalia during Operation Deliverance in the early 1990s, he finished his service time in 1995.
When he got out, he experienced what a lot of veterans are subjected to; isolation and uncertainty.
"Unless you’ve lived it, you don’t know," he said about his time during and after military service.
"I was left to my own devices. I didn’t feel good about that, didn’t feel good about myself. I struggled with mental health. It affected my relationships. It takes a toll on you, the things you see, what you experience."
Riley doesn't believe the lack of registration is due to veterans being apprehensive about signing up but rather organizers' limited reach through their various channels of communication.
He hopes to form more connections locally over the coming months to boost numbers for the spring.
"I will be reaching out over the next few months, connecting with other groups that put similar events on, seeking wisdom, as well as with other groups that have a large connecting presence and audience with veterans to help spread the word," he said.
"Most people use social media these days and word of mouth. Sharing with other veterans is key."
More information on the new date will be made available in the coming months.
