Karen Hunter is the visionary founder behind two unique and modern commemorative initiatives—In Our Fathers’ Footsteps (IOFF) and the Canadian Remembrance Torch—both of which have brought communities together and honoured Canadian Veterans in deeply meaningful ways.
In 2020, inspired by her father’s service during the Liberation of the Netherlands in the Second World War, Karen established In Our Fathers’ Footsteps, a commemorative journey honouring Canadians who served in the Netherlands. What began as a personal journey to retrace her father’s wartime path quickly evolved into a collective pilgrimage. As she connected with others whose loved ones had served, Karen brought together a community of Canadians to walk in the footsteps of the liberators—creating what she describes as a “spiritual, cultural, and educational experience” along the historic routes of Canadian soldiers.
Motivated by the enduring message of John McCrae’s poem, In Flanders Fields—especially the line “The torch; be yours to hold it high”—Karen launched the Canadian Remembrance Torch Project. She collaborated with engineering students at McMaster University to design and build a physical torch, which was carried throughout the IOFF pilgrimage in the Netherlands. A duplicate was gifted to the Dutch National Remembrance Committee as a symbol of enduring friendship and shared history.
Since its creation, the Canadian Remembrance Torch has become a powerful symbol of remembrance. In 2024, it was lit from the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill, featured in ceremonies across Ottawa, and brought to the Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre. The Torch was then flown to France, with its ceremonial flame carried in safety lamps onboard the aircraft. In Normandy, the Torch was presented during D-Day’s 80th anniversary commemorations, further cementing its role in connecting generations through remembrance.
Karen’s dedication has helped bring remembrance into the hearts of a new generation of Canadians. Her efforts have not only honoured the legacy of Veterans but have also created a lasting platform for education, reflection and national unity. What began as a personal tribute has grown into a community movement, then a not-for-profit and now a charitable organization—a testament to Karen’s vision, compassion and unwavering commitment to Canada’s military heritage.