Running for health, community spirit, and to keep the memory of four brave men alive

By Serena Lapointe

On Saturday, June 6, bright and early in the morning, runners will take off from the Allan & Jean
Millar Center parking lot for the annual Run 4 Fun event. The event brings together area
athletes of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to intermediates and everyone in between,
for a race against their own abilities, pushing themselves to new heights.
The Town of Whitecourt has held the yearly event since 2017, following the unfortunate ending
of the Fallen 4 Marathon, a 42km marathon that saw runners take on the unforgiving hills, wide
open stretches and long turns of Highway 43 between Mayerthorpe and Whitecourt, which held
its last race in 2015. For a decade, the Fallen 4 Marathon Society successfully hosted the event,
bringing together runners from across the region and beyond.
The original race, a four-person relay event, began three months following the devastating
tragedy in Mayerthorpe, where four young police officers, with full lives ahead of them, were
murderously gunned down while executing a search warrant on a farm. Constable Peter
Schiemann, 25, Constable Anthony Gordon, 28, Constable Leo Johnston, 32, and Constable
Brock Myrol, 29, lost their lives in the line of duty, which tore through the fabric of not only the
local area, but the province and country. Their deaths are widely regarded as the worst multiple-
officer killing in contemporary Canadian history.
To honour their bravery, sacrifice and memory, the Fallen 4 Marathon was created, bringing out
runners from all over to take part. From June 2005 to June 2015, the event helped bring healing
and remembrance to participants and the two communities. In 2016, sponsorship that supported
the event, and was crucial for its continuation, ended. Without new sponsorship to replace what
was lost, the marathon ended.
The following year, the Town of Whitecourt decided to do a spinoff of the event, creating Run 4
Fun, with the number four in the name, seeming to give honour to the four officers for whom the
original race was created. On the Town’s website, it states that “The Run 4 Fun will carry on the
enthusiasm and admiration our community had for the Fallen 4 Marathon, while at the same
time encouraging healthy and active living.”

Unlike the Fallen 4 Marathon, which had participants running down Highway 43, Run 4 Fun
utilizes the uptown community and parts of the trail system, taking runners along a scenic route
behind the Forest Interpretive Center. It provides four options: a half-marathon, a 10K, a 5K and
a kids run, which uses the track at Hilltop High School.
Cameron Bourdages took part in Run 4 Fun for the first time when he was just seven years old.
His mom, Stacie, said he was encouraged to run by a teacher at his school. “The first time he
wanted to do it was because his gym teacher at school said that he should, because he was a
good runner.”
She said after he was done, he was really tired, but that he loved it, especially the Dilly Bar he
had following the race. The next year, Bourdages signed up again, this time with his younger
brother, who would’ve been about 4.5 years old. “He was the proud big brother showing his little

brother Joe what it was all about. Joe didn’t care for it at the time as much as Cameron did. But
I think Joe would run circles around the kids now,” chuckled Stacie, adding, “he should run this
year.”
Bourdages said that taking part in the event and testing their abilities amongst their peers gave
them both a boost of confidence. “Now they feel like they are undefeatable. Being active without
even realizing it, because you’re having fun, is important. Events like this get kids pumped for
physical activities.”
The connection to the Fallen 4 Marathon is even more of a reason to take part in it, said
Bourdages. She said she feels proud knowing her sons are running for a good cause, not only
for their health, but with the memory of four police officers who deserve to be remembered.
Those interested in joining this year’s race on Saturday, June 6, are encouraged to check out
the town’s website to sign up. The half-marathon starts at 8:00 am, the 10K at 8:30 am, the 5K
at 8:45 am, and the kids’ run starts at 10:30 am. Early bird pricing remains in effect until May 4.
Kids cost just $15.
During the March 23 Town Council meeting, officials approved the road closure necessary for
the Run 4 Fun, the portion of Sunset Boulevard from the traffic circle to the west entrance of the
JDA parking lot. Chelsea Grande, Director of Community Services, said they hope to see the

attendance they saw in 2025. “We had a record-breaking event, and we hope that it continues
this year. It was the most registrations we’ve had.”
Grande also explained that the run is a break-even event. Funds dispersed after the disbanding
of the Fallen 4 Society continue to support it. “We have those funds set aside in a reserve, and
anything that we don’t break even on, that funding is taken out of the reserve to balance it.”