It’s called the Canadian Canoe Pilgrimage and the 850 km canoe trip from Midland to Montreal will pass through the North Bay area this summer.

It’s all about supporting the Calls to Action that have come out of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Co-organizer Kevin Kelly says a group of Indigenous, Jesuit, English and French Canadian paddlers will be working together, understanding their differences and similarities while on the trip.

“(It’s) designed mainly to support Indigenous and non-Indigenous young adults coming together and experiencing, over the course of a month, each others cultures and being with each other,” he says.

Kelly also says with this being the 150th birthday of Canada and Ontario, there’s added historical significance, pointing out the route has been used for centuries.

“This is really a significant route in our history together and certainly one that is incredibly beautiful and one that should be so celebrated beyond the history we have here, just simply a beautiful part of Canada,” he says.

The trek begins in the Midland area on July 21st, with the group paddling across Lake Nipissing and arriving in North Bay on July 31st.

Their next stop is August 2nd in Mattawa.

The adventure wraps up mid-August near Montreal.

For more information check out canoepilgrimage.com

Filed under: Canadian Canoe Pilgrimage, Mattawa, north bay