The Man Who Walked Around The World: Jean Béliveau at TEDxWaterloo

His story is remarkable. He is the man who walked around the world. In August 2000, Quebecois Jean Béliveau, 45, experiencing a mid-life crisis, chose to shut down his successful factory and leave a loving family to embark on an adventure of learning. It became an odyssey of over 11 years that would see him walk 75,000 km through five continents and 64 countries. Dedicating his walk to peace, Béliveau says, "This is not my walk but the walk of Humanity. I am only a tool for a collective aspiration."
Béliveau, born in Asbestos, Quebec, is the eldest of five children. He grew up on his parents' farm, eventually going into the neon sign industry. But the Quebec ice storm of January 1998, along with a self-admitted mid-life crisis, caused him to rethink his life and he decided to do something different: to walk around the world. Rallying to the suggestion of his wife, Luce Archambault, he dedicated his walk to peace; the projected ten years to accomplish his goal coincided perfectly with UNESCO's International Decade for the Children.
It took 134 months to accomplish his goal, and he arrived back home on October 16, 2011, having walked 75,543 km. These days the father of two knows that promoting the cause of peace for children through public speaking and writing will keep him busy for at least another decade.
Jean's website: wwwalk.org/en.html
----
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@user-fk3ly4zo8e]

We welcome Jean into our home in New York, we have a photo of all of us together and makes me so happy that I got to meet him.

Amazing Jean!!! I am also walking around the world 👣🌍 I have completed walking 20 00 kilometers or 12 427 miles in 22 countries in 4 years and 3 months! Planning to walk another 20 000 km in complete walking the total distance of Planet Earth's Equator! 👣🌍🎥☀️

[@SCORP1ONF1RE]

Amazing!!! How are you? And where are you?

[@business5292]

Still going?

[@veganchaatparty]

super all the super best buddy!!! You will do it!!! Wish you all the super hulk strength and energy for the awesome journey!! )

[@shahrzadkhayatian3268]

I judt have to say when you're sitting back at home feeling depressed, someone else is living your dream ...

[@machikoworld2405]

I follow his journey. I did sent email to him asking about his journey. But his girl friend answered and told me that Jean didn't know how to use computer at all. Her girl friend was so polite and a very nice person. I know Jean from my friend also a traveler round the globe. Now my friend still traveling but. We are still in good in touch.

[@syedmusa3296]

he is very very good person we see him on the road

[@veganchaatparty]

Super super super super awesome!!! Super super super thanks!!!

[@RichVoyages]

This story really hit home.One of my passions is walking round (as apposed to taking taxi's or other forms of transport) the different countries I visit. I find that I interact with more people and have a much richer experience.

[@TinyArts]

Incredible ! 11 years wow !

[@alk.d.1973]

on top of that, he was also an incredible ice hockey player! Wow!

[@cannotthinkofoneatth]

You are mixing 2 different individuals!

[@candace6873]

Wow, remarkable!

[@VLSavin]

Great walker!

[@miller8037]

Tu est Super, Jean.

[@alithenu]

A great personality!congratz jean!

[@benforwho]

Remember Steven Newman is the first to walk the world and meet more than 400 families along the way. Find and read his out of print book Worldwalk, awesome.

[@tewfiktahraoui13]

j'ai croisé jean Beliveau lors de son étape en Algérie , entre Mostaganem et Oran (Algerie), il avait douze ans de marche derrière lui. comme si j'y étais il a partagé avec moi son récit de voyage ,aujourd'hui encore l'idée me tente.

[@sopnorajlimitless208]

Salute 🖐️❤️🇧🇩

[@emmanuelphua]

he wrote a book but it is in french. is there an english version? i wanna read it

[@user-ey2wd7vq3z]

Wouldnt u need alot of visas for the countries, and how long did this journey take him?

[@powerplant76]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@blackpink-agentdaniel236]

I also want to walk around the world! But I would like to have a shorter walk to begin with that still is a long distance! I live in Sweden and was borned in South korea, got adopted to Sweden when I was only 3 months old! I have planned to go from Sweden to Korea one day (maybe this summer) It has nothing to do with sadness or depression, vice versa, I have always felt that I am understimulated! I need stimulance, the people who loves me just goes way too easy with me! And I love them back! I have also planned to take a route to dutch/belgium cause I have watched on youtube about Baarle-Nassau/Baarle-Hertog! I'm also writing all this cause I want to know info about my planned walk! What is the best route? Fastest route? Safest route? How to pass borders? > Is it easy or does it gonna be complicated? How much food/money do I expect to need? Anything else that I have to know? (No room for my ending here, so had to put it below!)

[@blackpink-agentdaniel236]

Love from a linguistic and happy person that practises: English, Spanish, French, German, Russian, Arabic, Chinese, Korean and more languages at the same time! Hope that interest will come in handy with my planned journey ^^

Did you do it?

[@syedmusa3296]

he is a live or not he pass to my home and stay 1 week

[@syedmusa3296]

i want to know where is he now is i live or not

[@cesarulis1]

Ahora vive en Paraguay. En la ciudad de Pilar - Ñeembucú. Ésta mañana lo conocí. Es un hombre muy formidable.

[@zelenplav1701]

Needs to be louder.

[@romaion4024]

Who thought this was the great Canadien #4?

[@usman25usman94]

Today he bought car from me Montreal est

[@joelmiller7295]

“I met people so poor that all they have is plenty of money”

[@noo2islam]

Ayoy j`en rviens pas.

[@user-js4bs8ho1w]

mel blanc

[@thepussygrabbingfamilyvalu557]

the heavy "hice" of the "hice" storm? fucking hell... it's embarrassing to come from quebec...

[@yellowstone2ndtrumpet304]

You have Jesus and then comes Jean.... 😮

[@nav2009]

Ted a guy from Africa did it . Lack of knowledge

[@BradPitbull]

my walks are inspired by my anti feminism mission to find further proof that feminism is equal or worse than cancer