Mike Ranta, M.S.M.
Killarney, Ontario
Following the Voyageur spirit, Mike Ranta has twice canoed across Canada, accompanied only by his dog, Spitzii. His quintessential Canadian expeditions, each totalling more than 7 600 kilometres and taking more than six months to complete, were dedicated to the youth of his hometown and to war veterans. The journeys also paid homage to Canada’s heritage of canoe travel, and highlighted the country’s interconnectedness of its waterways and shared values.