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Canso Causeway
1995
Canso Causeway

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THE CANSO CAUSEWAY, sometimes referred to as the Road to the Isle, is the only route to and from Cape Breton Island. This man made highway through the Strait of Canso was completed in 1955. As a part of the Trans Canada Highway, many individuals who are traveling across the province, across Canada or around the world to raise awareness for a special cause, arrive or leave Cape Breton Island on this unique symbol of place .

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Terry Fox with Mayor Billie Joe MacLean and Fire Chief George Fox.
11 May 1980
Port Hastings, Inverness County, Nova Scotia, Canada

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TERRY FOX'S MARATHON OF HOPE
On April 12th, 1980 in St. John's, Newfoundland, Terry Fox of Port Coquitlam, British Columbia was the first we're aware of to start his Marathon of Hope to cross Canada and the Canso Causeway FOR A CAUSE. Three years after his leg had been amputated because of a rare bone cancer, this twenty one year old wanted to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research.
Residents of Port Hastings greeted him early on Sunday morning, May 11th and presented him with a cheque for cancer research before he ran across the Canso Causeway. Since then, citizens of the Strait Area have supported and cheered across the Canso Causeway other Canadians who have resolved to make a difference. Others would follow.

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Rick Hansen and his Man In Motion Tour are Crossing the Causeway for a Cause
12 September 1986
Port Hastings, Inverness County, Nova Scotia, Canada

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RICK HANSON'S MAN IN MOTION TOUR
Six years after Terry's Marathon of Hope crossed the Canso Causeway, another young man from British Columbia reached the same spot. He was completing his journey around the world and travelling home to British Columbia across Canada by manual wheelchair. Rick Hanson, a paraplegic athlete, had traveled through 34 countries raising money for research, rehabilitation and wheelchair sport and recreation programs for people disabled through spinal cord injury. He did much more than wheel miles and raise money.

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Residents waiting at the Canso Canal to greet Rick Hansen upon his return.
1987
Canso Canal

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RICK HANSON also raised awareness of the abilities of people in wheelchairs and the problems they confront but solve each day.
Many residents of the Strait of Canso came to cheer him on his journey as he crossed the Canso Causeway with cyclists who had accompanied him from the town of Port Hawkesbury on September 12th, 1986.
Rick completed his round the world journey in Vancouver on May 22, 1987. The following day, Cape Breton singer, Rita MacNeil, was one of the performers at a gala concert at B.C. Place celebrating the homecoming of the wheelchair traveler.
STEVE FONYO
Steve Fonyo in 1984 was also a one legged runner for cancer research who crossed the Canso Causeway accompanied by area residents.

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Crossing the Causeway for a Cause
September, 1982
Canso Causeway

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A CROSS TO INSPIRE - People who crossed the Canso Causeway for a cause sometimes carried a significant object with them. In September 1982, Lloyd Lummis who was from British Columbia crossed the Canso Causeway on the last part of his trip across the country. He hoped that the walk "inspired people to understand the value of faith and how pure and simple it is to ask Christ into your life and your heart."
On March 30, 1988 Chris Mansvelt of Oakfield Nova Scotia carried a wooden cross (with a small wheel at the base) over the Canso Causeway on his journey across the province. His purpose was to spread the news of the gospel during the Easter season.

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Judique Creignish Consolidated School Moga Madness
1985
Canso Causeway

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MOGA MADNESS AT THE CAUSEWAY - A group of 150 students from the Judique Creignish High School in Inverness, Nova Scotia on route 19 mopped the Canso Causeway to place among the top in the country. They competed against other schools by doing the most outrageous activity during "National Fitness Week" which was sponsored by the federal Participaction Committee.

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Olympic Torch Crossing the Causeway for a Cause
1987
Canso Causeway

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OLYMPIC TORCH CROSSES CAUSEWAY - In November,1987, the Olympic Torch Relay across Canada to Calgary was carried through the Strait of Canso communities. In Port Hastings, teenager Lynn MacLean carried the torch as far as the Canso Causeway bridge where she handed it to Cyril Gillis of Port Hawkesbury. He had the difficult task of carrying a lighted torch successfully across the Canso Causeway which is a very windy open area.