For nearly a decade, Mr. Titeca has played a leading role in ensuring that the story of Canadian soldier, Olympian, police officer and Cree Veteran Alex Decoteau remains known and remembered.
In 2016, Mr. Titeca co-founded the non-profit organization VZW ZoLo with the objective of organizing PoppiesRun, a running event designed to connect sport with the rich history of the First World War in the Zonnebeke-Passchendaele region. Inspired by the symbolism of the poppy and the area’s historical significance, the event was conceived as a meaningful way to engage local communities and visitors with the legacy of those who served and sacrificed during the war.
In 2017, Mr. Titeca partnered with local authorities, the Passchendaele Museum and the Embassy of Canada to develop a commemorative race dedicated to Alex Decoteau, the Cree Canadian Olympian, police officer and soldier who was killed near Passchendaele in October 1917. Recognizing Decoteau’s athletic achievements as a 5-kilometre runner, Mr. Titeca and his colleagues created a unique “race within a race” concept, integrating a dedicated 5-kilometre event into the larger PoppiesRun programme. The route was carefully designed to connect participants with key sites of Canadian remembrance, including Canadalaan, the Passchendaele Canadian Memorial, Tyne Cot Cemetery and the Passchendaele New British Cemetery, where Alex Decoteau is buried.
Although logistical considerations required modifications to the race route in subsequent years, Mr. Titeca ensured that Alex Decoteau remained at the heart of the event. The dedicated 5-kilometre race continues to bear his name and serves as an annual tribute to his legacy. In doing so, Mr. Titeca has transformed the memory of a single Canadian soldier into a living commemorative tradition that reaches a broad public audience each year.
For nearly 10 years, Mr. Titeca has demonstrated exceptional commitment, leadership and creativity in promoting Canadian remembrance in Belgium.