A sea of walkers are swarming Langley this week, as part of a four-day national convention getting underway today at the Cascades Casino and the Coast Hotel & Convention centre.
Canadian Volkssport Federation members are holding their annual convention in Langley – and it’s nothing to do with science fiction or German made cars.
It’s all to do with non-competitive sports such as walking, swimming, cross-country skiing, and cycling.
CVF is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting healthy, non-competitive volkssport activities for people of all ages throughout the country, and one of its member agencies – Surrey Trekkers – is hosting this year’s convention here in Langley. There is no member group in Langley.
Last year’s event was held in Banff, while the Surrey Trekkers and joined forces a few years back to host the CVF convention in Vancouver, and specifically at the University of B.C.
According to chair Rick Bortolussi, this event is bringing together 300 people to Langley from throughout North America, and from as far away as Australia and England.
While it is a CVF event, Bortolussi said there are a number of five- and 10-km walks being hosted throughout the weekend that are open to the public, for a $2 registration fee.
The convention and the walks both kicks off Thursday night. There’s a 10-km Parks of Langley walk taking participants through the Nicomekl flood plains, Portage Park, and a number of urban parks. That starts at 5 p.m. from Coast Hotel.
As well, there’s a five-km historic walk leaving at 5:30 p.m., taking participants through the flood plains and Brydon Lagoon, as well as through Portage Park and by Michaud House.
There’s also a five- and 10-km president’s walk on Saturday, leaving from Innes Corners plaza at 9 a.m. (registration at 8 a.m.) and another on Sunday, starting at the same time and location.
There are also five other walks organized away from the hotel, offering tours through Brae Island, Derby Reach, Walnut Grove, Barnston Island, and the new Surrey Bend Regional Park.
Bortolussi reiterated that the public is invited to participate in any of the walks, with registration information and details available from the CVF information desk at Coast Hotel during the weekend.