A cross-country cyclist who made his way through Chatham-Kent 25 years ago on a mission to unite Canada, continues to believe the best Canada is yet to come.
On March 1, 1997, Chris Robertson pushed off the pavement at Point Pelee National Park to embark on his "To the Top Canada Expedition." He went on to cycle 6,520 kilometres from Canada's southernmost point to the northernmost in Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories.
The purpose of the trip was to unite Canadians during a time of division and uncertainty.
"In 1995, we came close to losing Canada as we knew it," he said. "Canada won the Quebec Referendum by a margin of less than one per cent that year."
Robertson said he came away from that experience wanting to do everything in his power to keep Canada united. He came up with the concept of pedaling from the bottom of Canada to the top - a challenge that had never been attempted before.
On March 5, 1997, Robertson rolled into Chatham-Kent, which marked his first official overnight stop.
"My favourite memory was at a school in Chatham-Kent," he said. "I had the students shouting 'I am Canadian!', which was the first time that was ever called out in Canada. In that respect, Chatham was very special."
Robertson held a rally in each community and to commemorate it, he would present each with a special certificate.
He recalled Chatham being the first community to have a local resident welcome him into their home. After 25 years, he said he still remembers it quite fondly.
"I would like to thank them because they were angels in the community," said "I appreciate their hospitality 25 years later."
Robertson continued his 6,520 kilometre trek and reached Tuktoyaktuk on January 7, 1998. At the time, roads in the Canadian Arctic only went as far as Inuvik, Northwest Territories. In order to reach Tuktoyaktuk, Robertson said he had to cycle up the frozen Mackenzie River and out over the Arctic Ocean to reach his destination.
Some could argue that division in Canada is as evident today as it was in 1995, but Robertson would tell you to look at the bigger picture. He said there is still a lot of work to be done, though, he said it's up to Canadians to make it a better place.
"There are 38 million of us and if we each picked a personal project - the synergy creates a better Canada for all of us," he said. "The best is yet to come."
