Epilogue

It had to happen… It’s inevitable. We cannot escape it. Unfortunately, we must put an end to this adventure.

We first dropped off Marianne in Gatineau as well as our nurse Naila and our psycho-educator Robert. Back in Montreal, it was Alexy, Ali, Andrée-Anne, Catherine, Cynthia, Justine and Marjo’s turn. Then, Guillaume and Sophie were the next one to leave towards Quebec City. And Kye, Jody and Morgan were preparing to fly to Alberta. Long and warm accolades, tears, and promises of seeing each other again, sincere smiles and memories of some delightful anecdotes will fill these unforgettable moments.

I like to think that ending this adventure also allow—and most importantly—for other adventures to begin; those of life with its portages, its stings, its stiffness, but especially, with its passages of rapids overflowing with laughter, its moments of warm and golden beaches which comfort us, its friendships that are tied in solidarity.

Thanks gang. I feel sincerely privileged to have been able to share a few short moments of the life course of such exceptional individuals, each of you in your own way. At the risk of repeating myself, you are inspiring. You make us want to be better. It is I—it is us—who are indebted to you.

J-Charles Fortin, Blogger and Photographer for On the Tip of the Toes Foundation

The Noire River Expedition is presented by the Fondation Bon départ de Canadian Tire du Québec