Atikokan Canoer Reaches Northwestern Ontario

An Atikokan man on a cross country canoe trip is close to reaching his hometown.

Mike Ranta is paddling the Voyageurs route.

He began his journey in late April from Rocky Mountain House, British Columbia.

Ranta is doing it to raise awareness about the Atikokan youth centre.

"I'm just trying to instill in the kids there that through hard work and some dedication and being true and honest, there's nothing we can't do in their lives," says Ranta. "If we don't set out mind to it, we can't do it."

He hopes to reach Atikokan on Canada Day and conclude the trip in Montreal in August.