Ten miles on Canada Day
June 28th, 2017

The 16th annual Canada Day 10 Miler will take place in Grand Bay-Westfield on Saturday, July 1, the only 10-mile race featured in Run New Brunswick’s 2017 Super Series.

The origins of the event go back to 2002, explained Alex Coffin.

“The Marathon by the Sea was the major catalyst for a wave of road races in the Saint John area that quickly took advantage of the local running boom,” he said. “Many of these events continue to this day, including the Hampton 5 Miler, and the Grand Bay-Westfield Canada Day Run.”

The 16th annual Canada Day 10 Miler will take place in Grand Bay-Westfield, N.B. on Saturday, July 1. Shown here are participants lining up for the 2014 race.

Photo courtesy of Alex Coffin

The Canada Day Run committee has always felt a bond with the Hampton event, as it was started just a year prior and usually has similar attendance, according to Coffin.

Although it is now a 10-mile race and a 5K, the Canada Day Run was originally a half marathon, created by a dynamic group of people that included Earle Burrows, Keith Doiron, Ethel Harrison, Dennis Hickey, Jack Keir, Paul Looker, Martina MacDougall, Gary Mittelholtz, and Coffin himself.

“RCMP officer Paul Looker had organized running events in Grand Bay-Westfield prior to 2002, but everyone hoped to create something on a larger scale for the community, going forward,” he said.

Supported by the Grand-Bay-Westfield community and nearby West Saint John with both participants and volunteers, the event has also given back to the community, donating to such causes as the new community track.

This year’s event will donate $500 to both the Westfield Scouts and the new Saint John Indoor Fieldhouse.

Everyone is invited to come join in the celebrations.

“It is a great way to start your Canada Day activities and the festivities continue after our race at the beautiful new Brundage Point Centre,” said Coffin.

For more on the Canada Day 10 Miler, visit here.