Invictus Games flag journeying across Canada gets passed by Suffield students. Jayk Sterkenburg/CHAT News

By Jayk Sterkenburg

IN THE COMMUNITY

Invictus Games flag travelling across Canada passes through Suffield

Mar 14, 2025 | 3:42 PM

The Invictus Games flag passed through Suffield on Friday, making its journey across Canada and overseas to the UK, where the next international Games will be hosted.

Students at Ralston School in British Army Training Unit Suffield participated in the transferring of the flag in its several month long journey to Birmingham in England.

The Invictus Games, which came to a close in Vancouver in February, is an international sporting competition for wounded, injured and sick service members and veterans.

Following the event coming to an end, the Canadian Armed Forces handed off the flag to begin its land journey across the country, then overseas to the British delegation.

BATUS commander lieutenant Colonel Paul Eaton said the passing gives the children an opportunity to understand the significance of the flag’s meaning, as well as the Invictus Games’.

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“They grow up in a service environment and for the other children who haven’t got a service connection, they’re linked to the service children here,” he said.

“To enable them to be exposed to what that looks like later on in life, certainly with their parents who are maybe serving, who do have to go away and may continue to have to go away, they’ll understand the significance of Invictus and what it signifies to the military family.”

Colonel Paul Eaton. Bob Schneider/CHAT News

In 2025 the seventh Invictus games brought together competitors from 23 nations in 11 different adaptive sports.

Birmingham will host the next Invictus Games in 2027, winning the bid with its strong commitment to the welfare and recovery of those serving as well as veterans.

The Games inspire recovery, support rehabilitation, and generate a wider understanding and respect for those who have served their country.

During the closing ceremony of the Games, members of BATUS, who had been providing logistic support for the event, formed part of the ceremonial guard of honour.

Warrant Officer Warren Wilkinson, who is from Nottingham U.K., represented the British delegation at the passing of the flag in Suffield.

Wilkonson stood at the end of the line to represent the British delegation accepting the flag. Jayk Sterkenburg/CHAT News

Wilkinson said the Games provide a chance for service members to represent their countries, and that it’s great to see what the event means to them.

“When you see it in Vancouver, and if you were lucky enough to see the opening and closing ceremony, that the flag gets passed across, and with the closing ceremony it went through the nations, and was handed over to the UK,” he said.

“For it now to transition, and for it to come through BATUS is fantastic. And again, when they receive it on the other end.”

BATUS sergeant Darren Green, who supported the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games, said Invictus is not about the medals.

Darren Green. Bob Schneider/CHAT News

“Although that brings them together as a team, it builds that rapport,” he said.

“It’s all about the journey from the demons that they’re obviously fighting, or the disabilities, to then being able to focus their energies into a sport,” he added.

“It can’t be anything less than a proud moment, that- representing your country.”

Eaton said Suffield is massively privileged to see the physical passing of the flag, as it brings to light the large military community in the area that he said will “endure”.