Dominique Liboiron's uncle Mitch was his "hero."
So after Mitch died of a heart attack in 2010, Liboiron decided to honour his life in a special way and promote awareness about his cause of death: He canoed more than 5,000 kilometres, carrying his uncle's ashes from Eastend, Saskatchewan to New Orleans.
"I want to turn his death into something that can promote life,β he said in a YouTube video.
Liboiron, a writer based in Medicine Hat, Alberta, paddled through 13 U.S. states, according to his website. He began his trip in June 2012 and arrived in late January.
Why New Orleans?
Mitch fell in love with the town during a trip in 1992, according to CBS.
"Once my uncle discovered Cajun culture, he fell in love with the music, the food and the people. He enjoyed sharing his keen interest of Louisiana's heritage and this is one of the reasons I chose New Orleans as my destination," Liboiron wrote on his website documenting the trip. "As he often said, he loved 'good tunes and good people.' Above all else, his friends and family held a special place in his heart."
Check out his photos and videos of the trip below.
