Man's 2,000 km paddleboard journey highlights benefits of 'blue space'
Dan Rubinstein's journey is a testament to how 'blue space' can help build connections and create a sense of community.
Back in 2023, Dan Rubinstein was on the last leg of a 2,000-kilometre paddleboard journey that took him along the waterways from Ottawa to New York City and back again.
Since trading his paddleboard for a keyboard, Rubinstein has written a book titled Waterborne.
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Rubinstein says the two-month journey changed him after seeing the impacts of 'blue space' and aquatic environments on physical, mental, and ecological health. He also notes that the water acts as a conduit for connection between people and sparks a sense of community.
"I like to say that the book is rooted in the journey. So you know, it's a 2,000-kilometre paddle, but it's not a macho, kind of man-conquering-nature kind of thing. It's really about the people I meet and the communities I pass through," Rubinstein said in an interview with The Weather Network. "All of our communities are where they are because of water."
In a time when humanity seems so polarized and divided, places like 'blue space' offer opportunities for anyone and everyone to connect.
Check out the video above for the full interview.
Copyedited by Anika Beaudry, a digital journalist at The Weather Network.