Musician walks in Frank Fata's shoes

Rod Standish will be walking across Canada in shoes bought for him by Sault Ste. Marie Ward 5 City Councillor Frank Fata and his wife Pina.

When the Fatas learned that was one of the items Standish was in need of on his way across the country, they were quick to deliver a pair to the young musician.

They're seen earlier this week outside the Sleep Inn just before Standish and his team left the Sault.

Sault Mayor John Rowswell also donated $100.

And the City's Green Committee donated two Naturally Green/ Green-Approved t-shirts, reusable bags and water bottles for Standish's journeys

Standish is on a hike across Canada to raise funds and awareness for Canada's struggling independent musicians, through his support for the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

He wanted to shine some light on musicians who, like him, refuse to commercialize their art for the sake of a music contract with a big recording company.

And he wanted to do it with as small a carbon footprint as possible.

So Standish is donating a portion of the proceeds raised from his walk, or improvisational drift, as he calls it, to Earth Day Canada.

And another portion to the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the folks in charge of the Junos and Band Aid, a program that donates musical instruments to Canadian schools.

Standish laced up his size 15 sneakers in Point Pleasant Park in Halifax on Earth Day - April 22 - with his eyes on Victoria, B.C.

He hopes to make it to Victoria this fall and to meet as many people as he can along the way.

On his website Standish says: "Come walk with us, sing with us, talk with us, dance with us and most importantly, celebrate life with us! All are welcome to come join in the festivities and we look forward to meeting and getting to know you!"

Also travelling across the country with Standish is Paul Lacroix.

He's part of the support team in the van and he's also the team videographer.

It's Lacroix's intent to produce a documentary about Standish's trip and the people he meets along the way.

Standish usually travels about 40 to 50 kilometres most days.

"It's good to be able to start fresh when the day is warmest and walk into the coolness of sunset as I am most tired," he said before setting out on the North Highway.

But there's no set schedule for Standish and his size 15 carbon-neutral footprintx to travel across the country.

"It's all pretty much an improvisation," he said.