Planet Walker Returns Home

Eleven years, 56 pairs of shoes and 75,000 kilometres later – Montreal-born planet walker Jean Beliveau is home. Beliveau hit Montreal soil early Sunday morning after crossing 64 countries by foot.

The 56-year-old Beliveau set off on his journey after closing his business in 2000. Taking inspiration from Terry Fox, he wanted to bring awareness to children who face violence.

Beliveau said he has returned with a “certain peace” but he has a lot of catching up to do. One of his grandchildren was born while he was away. He met five-year-old Amira for the first time yesterday and 10-year-old granddaughter Laury for the second time. Luce Archambault, Beliveau’s wife of 24 years, met him once a year during his travels and says Skype and email helped keep them in touch through the years. Archambault says the time went “surprisingly fast.”

Beliveau says he plans on writing a book about his journey and it seems he has many stories to tell. The planet walker stayed with 1,600 families, ate insects in Africa, had a close encounter with a puma in a South American and was taken in my escaped murderers.

Beliveau says what he missed most was sharing a morning coffee with his wife. “Maybe that’s what we’ll do tomorrow,” he said.

-Tianna Robinson