Two Hundred Days Paddling Across Canada: In Gratitude of Veterans

Two hundred days, 7600 kilometers and four million strokes later Mike Ranta and his beloved pup Spitzii pulled up on to the shores of Dominion Beach Provincial Park, Cape Breton. Inspired by the sacrifice of Canada’s Veterans and compelled by his natural love for the water and adventure, Ranta pushed off the ocean edge and into the Pacific at Richmond, Vancouver on April 1^st, paddling his message across the nation – ‘get our Veterans off the street’.

“I hit my mark, I feel good, there were no injuries and it was a good safe trip,” remarked Ranta a couple of hours after recovering his land legs.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better reception at Cape Breton,” he added from the Legion where he was celebrating with Vets and a cold beer. “I’ve met so many of these older guys. I call them ‘the handshake generation’. And you can still see the fire in their eyes and their love for their country. It’s very inspiring.”

Though Ranta’s joy in completing the journey and drawing attention to the needs of Canadian Veterans was not diminished by the fact that national media outlets paid little attention to his impressive paddle and especially his message, and that not one political leader met with Ranta to begin a national discussion about improving support for Veterans, it was disappointing.

Ranta had hoped to capture the attention of fellow paddler, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. His stop at the Parliament buildings in Ottawa was in vain, Trudeau was away. But Ranta remains dedicated and expressed that he will not tire from repeating his message.

“If I have to paddle across this country again, I’ll do it. This is in my blood. This trip was really emotional for me. I realized why we have the country that we do and it’s because the men and women in our military protect it. This isn’t a flash in the pan trip. It wouldn’t be right. We have to keep on this. There are some positive things happening for our Veterans but I think we can do better.”

Data from a 2015 national report revealed that 2,250 Veterans use homeless shelters each year; there is a higher rate of episodic homelessness for Veterans compared to non-Veterans; and Veterans are older on average than homeless non-Veterans. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health states that individuals who experience mental health issues are at greater risk to experience homelessness. The likelihood that Veterans will be confronted with disturbing events naturally puts them at greater to risk to acquire a mental health injury and consequently increases their risk to homelessness. In Canada, it is estimated that 10% of war zone Veterans –including war-service Veterans and peacekeeping forces, will go on to experience PTSD, while others may experience at least some of the symptoms associated with this condition.

During his national adventure, that at times offered nerve-wracking challenges, Ranta gathered natural elements from the landscape from every province.

“I built a wreath. I took a piece of each province and built a wreath. I really want to place that wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on November 11^th. I’d like to be a part of those celebrations of those courageous lives.”

This nearly seven month trip is also significant because it marks Ranta’s second solo paddle from coast to coast. Ranta is the first, the second and the only person to have accomplished this remarkable feat. He is already planning his next water adventure.

“I’m thinking of a more northernly route and one that is more isolated.” Ranta has received a few offers for filming agreements. “I’d love to make a film paddling across this country- from a Voyageur point of view. We don’t get to see the back country and it has a unique energy to it. I want to show people our county and I want them to be inspired by it, like I am.”

Over the next several weeks Ranta will make his way slowly back home to Atikokan, Ontario. He’ll spend some time in Cape Breton visiting family and friends and he hopes to share his message with students as he progresses north.

“I love speaking with young people. It’s a relating thing you know,” he laughs. “I have the mind of a child and the energy of a teenager so I relate well! And Spitzii makes for a good ice breaker!”

As a final remark to his over 8,000 Facebook followers and the hundreds of people he’s met along the way Ranta commented, “I want to say thank you to everyone I met. It was unique and everyone brought a different energy to me and that just made it move along. I’ve got a lot of great memories and I can’t say thank you enough. You made this old kids dream come true and I’m glad that there were so many people that could be a part of it.”

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