raising $ 1,000,000
TO HELP END
ELDER HOMELESSNESS
in CANADA
ELDER SOLO EXPEDITION
MAY 2027
MARITIME FIRST
in Canadian history
SOLO SAILING
MONTREAL TO VANCOUVER
through the
NORTHWEST PASSAGE
(6,000 Nautical Miles)
one stubborn (crazy) elder - one sweet (trusting) dog - one tough (old) sailboat
one extreme elder solo sailing expedition May 2027
Montreal to Vancouver
through the unforgiving
NORTHWEST PASSAGE
one cause:
ending elder homelessness in Canada
May, 2027, I will embark on a journey born of deep love, lasting memory, and an unbreakable spirit, in honor of my awesome late parents, who ignited this fiery spirit in my soul.
Now as an "official" elder myself, having just turned 65, I will be undertaking this never before charted sailing route. An extreme elder solo expedition to raise awareness of the ugly plight of elder homelessness in Canada. I aim to raise $1,000,000 for the 3 registered charities listed below. In a country as immensely wealthy as Canada, the fact that we allow our seniors to be abandoned to the streets is a catastrophic moral failure. Over 20,000 elders are homeless on any given night in Canada. Let that sink in. And that appalling number just scratches the surface—because it completely excludes the "hidden elder homeless" who are reduced to couch surfing or freezing in their cars just to survive. Adults over 50 are the largest and fastest-growing homeless demographic in Canada, making up roughly 26% to 32% of the entire unhoused population. Our elders built this country, and leaving them behind like this is unforgivable. How are we not collectively screaming about this?
Day-sailing June 2026
This "virgin" expedition becomes my 6 months trial by water. It will be the first ever recorded Canadian solo sailing voyage setting sail single-handedly from around Montreal on the St. Lawrence River, navigating a gruelling 6 months - 6,000 -nautical-mile odyssey along the wild, unforgiving coastlines of Northern Labrador, traversing the Northwest Passage, around Alaska and then south to beautiful Vancouver, arriving in the spring of 2028. Whilst only three other sailors over the age of 65 (Erkan Gursoy, André Speet and David Scott Cowper) have ever successfully solo sailed the Northwest Passage, they did however not sail this Canadian route East to West, i.e. Montreal to Vancouver.
My route through the Amundsen Gulf was shaped by the incredibly gracious guidance of my elder mentor, David Scott Cowper, widely regarded as one of the greatest maritime explorers of our time. To benefit from his immense expertise is a profound privilege. His legendary grit, unparalleled seamanship, and pioneering spirit—having been the first to conquer this passage solo—are a constant inspiration. His invaluable wisdom has not only guided my course but deeply shaped my respect for the sea.
Thank you, David, for your kind and extraordinary mentorship.
David Scott Cowper
With only my loyal dog Lucy as my crew and companion, I will face the endless open waters alone, proving that grey hair (or in my case, baldness) is a badge of courage and honor, not a white flag of surrender. All or nothing baby!!!
This is raw. This is real. This is an elder life without a safety net. This is not a vacation, this is reckoning. This journey demands every ounce of my physical strength and spiritual endurance. It is a raw test of preparation and a masterclass in humility before our Elder Mother Earth. I am undertaking this to show the world that elders are not only passive observers of life—but that we are strong, we are sharp, and we have mountains left to climb and oceans left to navigate. We are capable of radical growth, and our greatest chapters can still be written. We are still here, and we have so much more to give. We are a force to be reckoned with!!!
Our Partner Charities
elder zeitgeist has officially partnered with three well-respected Canadian charities. Raising The Roof, Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness and Canadian Artists Network. These registered charities will be the beneficiaries of all our fundraising proceeds. The total amount raised will be shared among the three approved Canadian partner charities listed below, all of which work towards ending elder homelessness in Canada in one capacity or another. Together, we can help return dignity to those who deserve it most: OUR ELDERS! By spreading the word about this elder solo fundraising campaign, I aim to raise a minimum of $1,000,000 for the charities listed below by the end of this expedition, anticipated to be around the end of February 2028, weather and good sailing fortune permitting.
Would your Canadian charity like to be added to our list of 5 official charities (we still have 2 charity allocations available!) ? If you are a registered Canadian charity in good standing and your mission aligns with ours and you would like to be considered to receive a portion of our donations, please contact us via email here;
Without our elders, we wouldn’t be here living our lives,
so the absolute least we can do is ensure our elders live and age with dignity.
Follow our expedition
on our socials
elder solo expedition 2027
6000 nautical miles
6 months
solo sailing
Northwest Passage
Montreal to Vancouver
ABOUT me - elder MIKE
Thankfully, I know a thing or two about surviving—and even thriving—in extreme conditions and the remote bush of our vast, rugged Canadian landscape. Having spent my young’un days working as a professional back-country mountain guide and wilderness survival trainer, I learned early on how to read the land, manage risk, and respect the elements.
I also spent years working the mighty BC Fraser River as a tugboat captain, specializing in challenging, high-stakes / high-value log salvaging operations. That gruelling marine work was a masterclass in reading treacherous and shifting currents, navigating unpredictable waters, and maintaining absolute mental grit under intense pressure.
Now, as I plan my elder solo expedition for 2027, I realize just how much that unique combination of deep mountain wisdom and river intuition fits right into my elder wheelhouse. Youth often relies on raw horsepower and maybe some dumb luck, but this upcoming journey is all about pacing, earned intuition, and the seasoned expertise of someone who has already proven they can handle whatever the Canadian wilderness throws their way and yes,…maybe some dumb luck too….
Need help financing your own expedition?
Are you planning your own exciting remote expedition? Do you need financing? With decades of facilitating financing for remote adventures and projects, I might have the sources needed to help you get your project of the ground and finance your worthwhile dream expedition. Contact me to find out about my consulting services;
Fundraising
$1,000,000
to help end
elder homelessness
in Canada
CLICK HERE
TO DONATE