A journey to see Canada, and northern Ontario, step by step

A journey to see Canada, and northern Ontario, step by step

Memory of Terry Fox inspires Canadians to run across the country for charity every summer

For many Canadians travelling coast to coast, the journey through northern Ontario is a gruelling and tiresome stretch, even in a moving vehicle.

But on foot, the journey can feel nearly impossible.

“Northern Ontario was the hardest part to run across Canada,” said Dave Proctor, who attempted a run across Canada twice, once in 2018, and again in 2022.

He says the region was harder than running through the Canadian Rockies and across Newfoundland.

“There are steep, really frequent hills, there are very few towns, very limited resources. The weather comes upon you like nothing else,” said Proctor.

Yet, with Canada Day fast approaching, Proctor says travelling cross country by foot was the best way to meet Canadians from all backgrounds and cultures.

“Everybody is in different industries and doing different types of jobs, but ultimately Canadians are pretty awesome people. Doesn’t matter really where you are and who you vote for,” he said.

Meeting Canadians from the ground up

That view is shared by another Canadian who made the run across Canada, only in a slightly less traditional manner.

Last summer, Sachin Latti, a former border services officer living in Vancouver, set out on his own run across Canada to raise awareness for mental health.

But rather than simply greeting passersby while in full stride, Latti says he made the effort to engage with people in each town he ran through, averaging about 50km a day.