Victoria promoter of Camino de Santiago recognized by Spain
One of the founders of the Victoria chapter of the Canadian Company of Pilgrims will be honoured by the Spanish government for spreading the word over the past 20 years about the Camino de Santiago, a network of ancient pilgrim routes that lead to the tomb of Saint James.
On March 5, Wendy Loly will travel to Ottawa to receive the Officer’s Cross of the Order of the Civil Merit from the Spanish ambassador to Canada at a ceremony at the ambassador’s official residence.
Loly co-founded the Victoria chapter of the association, which supports people interested in walking the Camino de Santiago (the Way of Saint James), the name given to any of the dozens of routes to Santiago de Compostela, the capital of northwest Spain’s Galicia region.
The Council of Europe designated the Camino de Santiago a European Cultural Route, its first, in 1987. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“Walking the Camino is a spiritual journey. Many people see it as a thing to do when they are undergoing a transition in their lives,” said Loly, who has walked six trails since 2001. “Your mind changes along the way. Many who start as walkers end up as pilgrims.
“There is a certain simplicity to it, with everything on your back.”
The journey typically takes 30 to 35 days, she said, although some choose to cycle it in two weeks.
She said that some — usually those who live in Europe — do the walks over two years, doing a chunk, leaving, then returning in a subsequent year to pick up where they left off.
Walkers can stay at low-cost albergues (hostels), with dormitories and shared facilities — “with up to 56 of your closest friends, some of whom snore” — or guesthouses or hotels along the way.
Eating establishments frequently offer “pilgrim menus.”
Along with her contributions to the local chapter, Loly also served as president of the national organization. Although retired from that role, she still contributes as a consultant to the current president.
The Victoria chapter holds numerous talks and walks throughout the month. The next event on the calendar is Camino 101: Preparing to Walk the Camino de Santiago.
The $30 registration fee includes lunch and coffee. The event runs 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 2 at the Mary Winspear Centre, 2243 Beacon Ave.
• For more information, or to register, go to santiago.ca/ events-2/#!event/2024/3/2/victoria-chapter-camino-101