Remembrance Day photo walk aims to commemorate, honour veterans in Vancouver

A Vancouver photographer is hosting an annual photo walk on Saturday to capture images of veterans on Remembrance Day and honour their contributions. 

A photo walk is generally described as a gathering of photo enthusiasts who go out and photograph the world around them as they explore a certain physical area or theme. 

Vincent L. Chan says he organizes the annual event because he feels that people often gloss over Remembrance Day as though it's just any other holiday. 

"I want people to remember what's been going on in this world, even today," Chan told The Early Edition host Stephen Quinn. 

"I want people to remember the heroes who have fallen and the heroes who have survived."

Chan, who used to work for Veterans Affairs Canada in Ottawa, says every year at this time he tries to capture as much as he can to tell a story and thank the veterans for their service. 

The event begins at 10 a.m. at the Chinatown War Memorial and will make its way to the Cenotaph at Victory Square in Downtown Vancouver. 

The City of Vancouver says the Remembrance Day ceremony at Victory Square attracts more than 15,000 people each year and will be held "rain or shine.''

Chan says participants can expect to get some direction on ideas and concepts to photograph. But he also wants participants to really take their subjects' stories into consideration. 

"I would ask that people, when they go out to photograph these veterans, that they don't just take photographs of them, but inquire of their experiences," he said. 

Over the years, Chan says, he has heard stories that veterans were reluctant to share with their families because of their weight. He has also heard from veterans about the feelings they have about returning home without some of their comrades. 

Chan usually limits the photo walk to  20 people, but he says if anyone wants to drop by and get a little photography lesson in, he's usually happy to oblige.