Media Advisory - He's walking across Canada on the Trans Canada Trail

MONTREAL, April 29 /CNW Telbec/ - On Friday April 30, Prince George forester Dana Meise will reach Montreal, an important milestone on his epic walk across Canada. The 36-year-old adventurer is hiking from the Atlantic to the Pacific on the Trans Canada Trail. To date, he has walked over 4200 km. He has endless stories to tell about the remarkable places he has discovered as well as the inspiring people he has met (from the Anne of Green Gables' cast to the Rt. Hon. Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada).

    
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO MEET DANA MEISE AND HEAR MORE ABOUT
    HIS AMBITIOUS WALK ACROSS CANADA ON THE TRANS CANADA TRAIL.

    He will be available for interviews (in person and by phone) in the
    Montreal area on Friday April 30.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    

Since Meise was a small boy, he has always wanted to explore. "I read stories about the great Canadian explorers like David Thompson and Alexander Mackenzie. I dreamed of undertaking a unique and inspiring journey," says Meise. "The Trans Canada Trail to me is the modern equivalent of the great push west for furs and exploration, like the Trans Canada railway and the Trans Canada highway. Each of these served to unify this great country in their time, just as the Trans Canada Trail is doing today."

Meise began his expedition in May 2008 at Cape Spear, Newfoundland, the Atlantic terminus of the Trans Canada Trail. Over two summers, he walked across four Atlantic provinces and part of Quebec. He started this year's walk in Granby, Quebec at the spot he left off last fall. He hopes to reach the Prairies by late fall.

Meise is a natural story-teller and has entertained many audiences with hilarious tales about his journey. He likes to visit elementary schools to tell children about his hike and teach them about goal-setting, believing in themselves, following dreams and never giving up.

THE TRANS CANADA TRAIL is the world's longest network of trails. When completed the Trail will stretch over 22,000 km from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic Oceans, linking 1000 communities and 33 million Canadians. Today more than 15,500 kilometres of trail have been developed. Millions of Canadians and international visitors are using the trail to get active and to explore Canada's diverse landscapes and rich history. The Trail is supported by the federal government (Canadian Heritage), provincial and municipal governments, corporations, local businesses and individual Canadians.

See www.tctrail.ca.

For further information: and to set up an interview, please contact: Jane Craig, Director of Communications, 1-800-465-3636 ext 4352, cell [phone], [email protected]; Carolyn Ring-Ade, Information Coordinator, 1-800-465-3636 ext 4346, [email protected]