78-year-old Saanich globetrotter inspired to give back at home
Don Munroe is in the midst of a journey that’s led him around the world. It began when he was a Tom Sawyer-type kid, looking for adventure that often led to trouble.
“I was always looking for excitement,” Don says. “Excitement that sometimes required stealing cars.”
Eventually Don was forced to refocus his relentless energy towards a productive pursuit, and found sports.
“Instead of just being by myself,” Don says. “I had to consider the team [and] working together.”
Don says he excelled at athletics, was fuelled by the competition and became a professional lacrosse player.
But then he met a young woman who’d travelled around the globe.
“Hearing [her] stories, I felt like I was missing out,” Don recalls. “I hate to miss out.”
So Don decided to take on the world and give up everything he had accomplished.
“That was the toughest part,” Don says. “Leave that type of security with friends and just go off on your own.”
Don says he began his world travels by hitchhiking across Canada, before spending years doing the same in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. All solo.
“It felt good that I had accomplished something that other people hadn’t done,” Don says.
During the following decades, Don regularly took extended leaves from work to canoe across Canada, and pursue his goal of travelling to as many countries as he can on every continent.
It inspired him to write his recently published memoir, Most Adventures Wins?
“I feel like I’m a citizen of the world now,” Don says.
After experiencing both good and bad around the world, Don felt compelled to make things better back home.
“And combine adventure with giving back to society,” Don smiles.
Don says he’s volunteered with various community groups, including 27 years being “instrumental” in organizing a rigorous annual canoe relay that’s raised almost $300,000 to send kids with disabilities to camp.
“It made me feel good,” Don says. “And inspired me to keep going.”
The now 78-year-old says his volunteer work also felt like a way to redeem the mistakes of his wayward youth.
Because Don’s learned that no matter where you are on your journey, you always have a choice with how it will unfold.
“Life has a lot to offer. We only go around once,” Don says. “You got to make the best of it.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6978649.1722015109!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga, Ont.: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Ont., Peel police say.
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before residents can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes 'for several weeks.'
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six-figure water bill.
FBI says Trump was indeed struck by bullet during assassination attempt
Nearly two weeks after Donald Trump's near assassination, the FBI confirmed Friday that it was indeed a bullet that struck the former president's ear, moving to clear up conflicting accounts about what caused the former president's injuries after a gunman opened fire at a Pennsylvania rally.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Major Canadian bank experiences direct deposit outage on payday
Scotiabank says it has fixed a technical issue that impacted direct deposits on Friday morning.