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Adrian Oliver Memorial Run goes virtual for 2020

The eighth Adrian Oliver Memorial Run, honouring the memory of RCMP Const. Adrian Oliver who was killed in the line of duty in 2012, is going virtual this year.

The annual five-kilometre race is also held in support of Honour House, a home away from home and place of recovery for emergency services personnel, Canadian Armed Forces, veterans, and their families.

Historically, the run has been held in Deer Lake Park in Burnaby, B.C. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, organizers have opted to move the event online.

In November 2012, after Const. Adrian Oliver, a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, was killed in the line of duty in Surrey, B.C., Honour House opened its doors to the Oliver family who travelled to the Vancouver area from across Canada.

For the first time in its eight-year history, the race normally held in Burnaby will be open to first responders and civilian participants of all ages and fitness levels across the country. Participants can run or walk at a time and location of their choosing between Oct. 17-18.

The cost of registration is $30 per person with proceeds going to Honour House, which provides its facility and services to first responders and their families free of charge.

Const. Oliver was the son of Katherine Oliver and retired Assistant Commr. Joe Oliver. His death has had a lasting impact on the lives of many first responders — RCMP colleagues and municipal police, firefighters, paramedics and in particular his twin brother Ben, who currently serving in E Division, and his younger brother Thomas, who is a firefighter in Hamilton, Ont.

To date the race has raised over $230,000 and raised awareness for the growing need to support the personal sacrifices emergency personnel make in their service.

“Our goal is to support Honour House in expanding its service to additional locations across the country to connect those who share similar experiences, traumas and sacrifices in their service. We need to do more to support our families and to share their stories,” says Katherine.

Honour House.

While the Oliver family is disappointed this year’s race will not be held in person, they are excited to share the Honour House fundraiser on a national platform. Through a partnership with Axon Public Safety Canada, select runners will be chosen to wear the latest police body worn cameras and livestream their runs. This livestream will be shared via Facebook.

“We may be socially isolating but now more than ever our first responder community needs to connect and support one another,” Katherine adds.

For further information and to register for the race visit: adrianoliverrun.com or follow the events on Twitter @adrianoliverrun and use the #adrianoliverrun.