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A Winnipeg kayaker will attempt to circumnavigate the Lake Winnipeg shoreline over the next two months.

Alex Martin, 18, is taking on the 1,750 km trip solo beginning June 27.

“My goal with this trip is to help promote water stewardship on Lake Winnipeg. I am incredibly thankful to have the opportunity to attempt this trip, and very grateful for the support and encouragement that I have received from my parents, the paddling and adventure community, and the organizations that I have been able to work with on this project,” Martin said.

Martin, an experienced wilderness paddler, is graduating high school this month and has previously travelled internationally to kayak.

The Lake Winnipeg Foundation is supporting his trip as an educational opportunity. Beginning this spring, LWF and Alex have been jointly presenting to Winnipeg schools, talking to students of all ages about topics including the ecological challenges currently threatening Lake Winnipeg’s health and the preparation involved in planning an outdoor adventure. These presentations will continue in fall 2018.

The plan is to depart from the beach at Grand Marais Point in Grand Beach Provincial Park. From there, Martin will paddle to the southernmost point of the lake, continue up the west side of the south basin and make his way into the north basin, where some sections will take Alex more than 200 km from the nearest community. His adventure will continue down the east side of Lake Winnipeg. If successful, he will finish where he started sometime in late August.

A website will track Alex’s journey and offer a GPS map for followers to see his progress. He will also be posting updates on Facebook and Instagram.

Paddlers wishing to join him for a day on the lake are asked to connect with him online.

Appearance: Alex Martin will be taking part in MEC Paddlefest 2018 at FortWhyte Alive on Sunday, June 10, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.