Sherbrooke resident Steven Guérard continued his cross‑Canada run to raise awareness about climate change after a harrowing northern Ontario stretch in which his headlamp failed and his cellphone lost service, leaving his partner without contact for roughly 11 hours and prompting a welfare check by provincial police.
Equipment failure in remote terrain
Guérard, who has been documenting his journey online, spent an isolated overnight section covering nearly 60 kilometres when his headlamp stopped working near the end of the effort. With daylight gone and cellphone coverage unreliable in that part of northern Ontario, he chose to stop and camp rather than proceed unaided across remote terrain where wildlife — including bears — is a concern.
His partner, Lucie Battaglia, said the lack of routine contact worried her after she could not reach him for about 11 hours. She called the lodge where he was expected and, when told he had not arrived, contacted the Ontario Provincial Police non‑emergency line. According to the couple, an OPP officer was then dispatched to check on Guérard; he woke to find the vehicle nearby and was informed about the call.
Wildfire smoke interrupts a 30‑kilometre day
After the overnight incident, Guérard faced another major obstacle: dense wildfire smoke that repeatedly forced him to stop during a single day when he covered about 30 kilometres. The smoke presented both health and safety challenges and required the runner to alter his pace and rest more frequently.
“In the wildest, wildest part of Ontario, you don’t see anything in front of you without any flashlight,” Guérard said, explaining why he elected to camp when his lamp failed.
Public interest and small gestures
Along the route through northern Ontario, people stopped to encourage the runner. He received items and small donations from travellers, including a US$50 bill from vacationers in Wisconsin after they learned of his project. Photographs from his trip show him stopping at local landmarks such as Wawa’s goose monument and White River’s Winnie‑the‑Pooh statue.
- Runner: Steven Guérard, Sherbrooke resident
- Support contact: Partner Lucie Battaglia
- Safety incidents: headlamp failure, lost cellphone signal, wildfire smoke interruptions, OPP welfare check
| Location | Issue | Response |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Ontario (overnight section) | Headlamp failure; no cellphone coverage | Runner camped; partner called OPP; officer performed welfare check |
| Near Wawa / White River | Thick wildfire smoke during a 30‑km day | Guérard stopped repeatedly; adjusted pace for safety |
The run remains explicitly framed as an effort to raise awareness about climate change, and the incidents underscore the practical hazards of long‑distance travel through remote regions affected by summer fires and patchy communications infrastructure.
For Sherbrooke residents following the project, the episode highlights several local service and safety themes: the limits of cellular coverage in isolated areas, the role of provincial police in welfare checks requested from afar, and the direct effects of wildfire smoke on travel and outdoor activity. Guérard has continued his route east after reaching White River and sharing updates with followers and supporters.
