Paddlers near end of cross-Canada journey

Aziz said they are covering every kilometre by paddle or on foot, with no rides or shuttles. This means carrying their canoe and gear over land between waterways.

“Every kilometre that we do is by foot and by paddle,” Aziz said. “So every portage we do, we do by foot.”

Vyse said the group chose a longer, more northern route to visit smaller communities and try for the distance record. The route also matches their preference for remote travel and smaller waterways.

“We wanted to see a lot more of the smaller communities,” Vyse said.

The group has crossed Williston Lake in British Columbia and is getting ready for the Fraser Canyon. Vyse said they plan to carry their canoe around the more dangerous parts between Lytton and Yale. Their canoe is made for flat water, not for those river conditions.

“We’re not going to take any risks,” Vyse said.

The expedition supports True North Aid, a Canadian charity that helps meet needs identified by northern and remote Indigenous communities. So far, the campaign has raised over $100,000.

Aziz said the paddlers wanted to give back after working as canoe trip guides and spending time near northern communities.

“Our objective with the fundraising was to kind of give back to a lot of these communities that have given us so much in the past,” Aziz said.

True North Aid supports community needs like education, health and wellness, food security, youth programs, and reconciliation.

In his interview, Aziz mentioned a $1-million fundraising goal. The campaign has not yet reached that amount.

The paddlers have also been sharing stories about the landscapes, challenges, and people they’ve met along the way. A live tracker on the Canada by Canoe website shows their current location.

Vyse said they spent five years planning the expedition. He began planning the route in April 2021.

Their planning included researching the places they expected to visit. Vyse said actually reaching those spots made the journey feel even bigger.

This expedition comes after the group’s 2020 Canoe4Covid journey. The trip covered over 2,000 kilometres in Ontario and raised more than $87,000 for Food Banks Canada.

The team is set to land at Spanish Banks Beach on November 14. The team hopes to arrive around noon, but that could change depending on the weather and other conditions.

People can make donations on the Canada by Canoe website.

by Dave Branco

Paddlers near end of cross-Canada journey

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