People of Georgian: Alumnus bikes across Canada as fundraiser

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People of Georgian: Meet Aaron James

Two childhood friends and I biked across Canada this summer with the goal of raising $50,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society.

We wanted to do it for the many Canadians and people around the world dealing with cancer, either personally or with their families. We also wanted to have an adventure at the same time.

Three people with bikes stand in front of a large sculpture along a waterfront. — *Childhood friends from Barrie, Tyler Olston, from left, Aaron James and James Deer, cycled across Canada for four months this summer.*

So, on June 1, we went to Cape Spear in St. John’s, Nfld., which is the eastern-most point of Canada, and dipped our bikes in the Atlantic Ocean before we set off.

We have so many amazing memories from the adventure.

Three people stand with bikes in front of a lighthouse in the fog. — *James, from left, Tyler and Aaron in front of the lighthouse at Cape Spear, Nfld. before they started their adventure.*

My favorite part was just getting to see more of the country. Canada’s so beautiful.

It was great going to local markets and meeting people. You get to see what they love about Canada and why they live where they do. It was a little different in each province.

Two people ride bikes along a highway with treed hills in the background. — *Aaron, left, and James bike into Corner Brook, Nfld.*

We ‘nearly got charged by a moose!’

There were also some wild moments during the ride.

One time, my friend, James, nearly got charged by a moose! We tried to safely pass it on our bikes, with it in the distance, but it got nervous and charged, coming within one metre of James – very close for such a big creature. We laughed about it afterward, but it was scary in the moment.

As well, when storms rolled in, there were a few days we spent hunkered down in ditches with a tarp over our heads waiting for them to pass.

But I think these moments make the best stories because we survived them and will look back one day, like, “Wow, we did that!”

Three people sit on rocks along a lakeshore and look out toward a sunset. — *James, from left, Tyler and Aaron enjoy a sunset near a campground in Newfoundland.*

An aerial view of three people biking down a road next to green fields with a large body of water in the distance. — *A drone image of Aaron, Tyler and James biking through Prince Edward Island.*

Trek across Canada showcases unique provinces

It was interesting to see how each province has its own atmosphere.

The culture of Newfoundland was very cool. Locals were extremely welcoming and gave us breakfast. You can also see how big the fishing culture is there – crab, lobster.

Then you’d go into Quebec and, all of a sudden, the culture’s totally different. Everyone speaks French, and Quebec has a bit of a European vibe with very impressive bike infrastructure. It was beautiful to experience how it’s integrated into public transportation.

An aerial view of two cyclists riding on a bridge over green wetlands. — *A drone image of Aaron and Tyler biking across a bridge outside of Sault Ste. Marie, ON.*

Five people with their arms outstretched next to three bikes stand in front of the government buildings and Canada flags. — *Aaron, Tyler and James with members of the Canadian Cancer Society team in front of the Parliament Building in Ottawa.*

It took us a full month to get through Ontario, but the landscapes are gorgeous. There were lots of side roads and farm country, and then you hit the Canadian Shield with rocky passes. Cities like Ottawa and Toronto had busier atmospheres, and then there’d be quieter towns through Muskoka and Northern Ontario.

And then it all opens up from there. Getting into Manitoba, landscapes are flattening and trees are disappearing. For two weeks, all we saw were fields.

Through the western provinces, we also gained perspective about how much food is grown in Canada, like crops and cattle. It was so grand and impressive to see in person.

A person rides a bike down a road through a landscape of hills and woods. — *Aaron bikes near Saint-Pacôme, Que.*

8,200 km later…

We hit all 10 provinces and cycled about 100 kilometres per day. We took our time, and after four months and about 8,200 km of cycling, we made it to Victoria, B.C., on Sept. 28.

It was a lot of hard work, but it was very fun and rewarding.

There were a lot of issues that came up that we didn’t foresee, but the adventure was incredible. It was wonderful to see our own country and meet many amazing people.

We’re all very proud of what we’ve accomplished.

Aaron James (he/him), alumnus of Georgian’s Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant program (class of 2020) at the Barrie Campus.

Donate to Aaron’s fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society