Ontario runner Myles Dininio has traveled nearly 5,000 kilometres on foot across Canada, raising approximately $40,000 for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) as he journeys toward Vancouver, according to PortageOnline. Dininio, a 40-year-old carpenter from Zephyr, Ontario, began his cross-country trek in St. John’s on April 1, maintaining an average of 40 to 60 kilometres per day, as reported by SooToday.
The Origins of Myles Across Canada
The cross-country effort has been decades in the making for Dininio. When he was 18 years old, he rode a mountain bike from Mount Albert, Ontario, to Nelson, British Columbia, on a $100 bet with a friend, according to SooToday. That bike ride planted the seed for a much larger undertaking. “I thought about this when I was 18 years old. I rode my mountain bike across the country then, and I thought that running across the country would be my next move,” Dininio told PortageOnline. It took 22 years for that plan to materialize into his current run supporting mental health and drug addiction services.
Dininio aims to raise a total of $50,000 for CAMH, while encouraging open discussions about psychological well-being. “If you don’t believe it’s affected you at some point, I think you have to look a little deeper,” Dininio told SooToday. “Just opening the conversation, that’s the biggest thing – getting people to not shy away from how they feel.”
Drawing Inspiration Along the Trans-Canada Highway
Enduring remote stretches of the Trans-Canada Highway requires physical resilience and mental fortitude. When facing difficult stretches on the road, Dininio draws inspiration from Canadian icon Terry Fox, according to SooToday. “No one will ever do it like that gentleman’s done it, but to have an opportunity to run right behind him – it’s pretty incredible,” Dininio told SooToday. “When I’m in those real bad ruts where I’m not in the mood, I just picture him in front of me.”
While the solitary hours on the highway can feel isolating, encouragement from passing motorists provides a regular boost. Dininio told PortageOnline that honking horns, thumbs-up gestures, and quick roadside chats help carry him through the quieter sections of his route.
A Traditional Meeting in Manitoba
As Dininio’s journey reached Manitoba, it took an unexpected and culturally significant turn. Angela Roulette spotted Dininio running while driving home from Winnipeg and turned her car around to learn more about his cause, according to PortageOnline. That brief roadside introduction led to an invitation for Dininio and his family to attend a traditional Sundance ceremony, where community prayers were offered for their safe travels westward.
Roulette explained to PortageOnline that she felt compelled to meet the family after recalling teachings shared by an Elder 30 years prior about travelers walking the land. “I will be asking for prayers for them to have a really good trip west. Basically, that’s all,” Roulette said, noting that she values sharing Indigenous culture to build greater community understanding.
Support for the journey also comes from Dininio’s immediate family. Friends and relatives have taken turns driving his camper along different legs of the trip. Once the run reaches Thunder Bay, his wife Jessica and their two children—12-year-old Oliver and 10-year-old Florence—will join him to ride bicycles alongside him through the Prairies and the Rocky Mountains, as reported by SooToday.
The Final Stretch to Vancouver
Dininio’s ultimate physical destination is Stanley Park in Vancouver. Completing the run there will allow him to fulfill a personal geographic tradition, according to PortageOnline. “I’ve got a jar of water right now from Newfoundland, the Atlantic Ocean, so I need to get a jar from the Pacific Ocean as well. That’s my trophy.”
Once he reaches the West Coast and completes the cross-country endeavor, Dininio plans to return home to Zephyr, Ontario, for much-needed rest, as reported by PortageOnline. Until then, his focus remains fixed on raising funds for mental health resources and demonstrating determination for his children and communities across Canada.