Joe Roberts knows what it is like to be a teenager fighting addiction, with nowhere to call home but a space under a bridge.
Inspired by the likes of Terry Fox, the Vancouver native is pushing a shopping cart across Canada to raise awareness of youth homelessness. His “Push for Change” tour, a 517-day trek across Canada will come to Chestermere on June 27 with stops in Strathmore and Calgary.
“I’m inspired by Canadians like Rick Hansen and Terry Fox and the proud Canadian legacy of bringing an important message directly to local communities with a cross-country adventure,” he says Joe. “I am blown away by the support I’ve received so far. It’s incredible to see people come together to help.”
A former homeless youth and heroin addict from Vancouver, Roberts turned his life around, got clean and rebuilt himself. After pursuing a career in sales and marketing, Joe worked his way to become the CEO of successful multimedia company – Mindware Design Communications – where he was able to increase business by 800 per cent.
According to Push for Change, more than 35,000 Canadian youth are living on the streets. Many are addicted on drugs such as fentanyl. Chestermere is not immune to the problem. Several arrest have been made since 2014 in involving Chestermere residents.
On June 7 2016, Cristian Guzman, 23, and Alexandra Prefontaine, 22, of Chestermere, were both charged with possession of more than 1,000 fentanyl pills and 100 grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and drug possession. In 2014 the Calgary Guns and Gang Unit broke up a Chestermere-based trafficking ring.
Roberts’ 9,000-kilometre journey started in St. John’s Nfld. on May 1 and will make more than 400 stops in all 10 provinces and three territories. It’ll wrap up in Vancouver on Sept. 30. For a full schedule and planned route, please visit www.thepushforchange.com.
