Devon larratt going to Canada next week for…..News
The Illuminate Hope Gala was a beautiful reminder of the resiliency of the human spirit Thursday evening, appropriately taking place at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg.
“The goal is really to elevate the issue of human trafficking and gather the community around this cause,” says Janet Campbell, the President and CEO of the Joy Smith Foundation. “To make sure they have information and hopefully inspire them by what they learn and hear today.”
There were many special guests throughout the event, including Joshua Perry of Baden K-9 who came from Ontario with two of their specially trained pack.
“We’re a family-operated business,” says Perry. “I’m second generation and my son’s third generation. It was founded by my father and mother. We breed, raise, and train Dutch Shepherds, German Shepherds, and Belgian Malinois. We’re a Christian coThe two dogs did a special performance before the night came to a close.
“It’s important to me and my family, to our company, especially when you see the United States ahead of the game with their charities, supporting veterans, supporting sex trafficking,” says Perry. “When you have a family and charity, the resources, the mindset, and the mission statement to be able to help support and end this unfortunate situation we’re in in Canada, it’s motivatingThe Winnipeg Youth Chorus performed twice during the event. To start the evening the women sang “O Canada” as the crowd stood. Later, they sang an original song written about the issue of human trafficking, called “Fallen Angel.” As dinner started there was a hoop dancer who performed in the middle stage.The keynote speaker for the gala was a retired Canadian Special Forces operator and current world champion arm wrestler, Devon Larratt.
“Arm wrestling is a sport that’s grown,” says Larratt. “I’ve done it my whole life. It started with my grandmother when I was five and I went competitive at 19. Now I compete all over the world.”
Larratt was in the country of Georgia earlier in the week doing a match, which he won. He flew into Winnipeg just for the gala.
“I’m just so honoured to be here,” says Larratt. “When you think about Canada, what a great country we have, it’s things like this that just make us that much better. Any way we can draw attention to the activities of the Joy Smith Foundation, I think, makes our country greLarratt is now retired from the military but he has a powerful testimony of resilience after having spent many tours in the Middle East serving Canada.
“While I was serving in Afghanistan, we were shot down on a mission. It’s a long story. I did seven tours and a good five of them were combat tours. I feel like a lucky guy.”ater.”.”mpany.
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