Canada's Liaison Officer: Captain Jake Douthwaite

2Lt Arend Visser, News4Today

Nijmegen, the Netherlands; 10 July 2008 — The Canadian contingent of 176 participants is due to arrive at Heumensoord this Saturday morning. With his 32-strong supporting staff, Captain Jake Douthwaite is responsible for making sure it all happens according to plan. “The biggest challenge for us is to get all our participants, who come from all over Canada, to arrive at the site at the same time,” he tells us, brimming with enthusiasm. A tall order indeed, since Douthwaite has been working at it for a year already, in addition to his daily job. All the Canadian liaison personnel left last week directly from Canada, via Schiphol Airport to a base located in Geilenkirchen (Germany) to pick up their materiel.

On Thursday afternoon they are busy setting up their shop. The captain knows what he is doing this for, since he has walked the 4-Day Marches himself twice.  “It is a challenge, physically as well as mentally, but ultimately they are both very rewarding. The atmosphere is unique and without the enthusiastic public along the routes it would not be such a wonderful happening. It is a great way for us Canadians to get to know Europe.”