Longboarders arrested during cancer fundraising event in Cape Breton

Several longboarders were arrested in Cape Breton Highlands National Park on earlier this month while participating in the Cape Breton Push for the Cure cancer fundraiser. The longboarders had completed around 130 kilometres of a 165-kilometre journey across Cape Breton.

The boarders were arrested about three kilometres before reaching the park’s boundary. They were released, but park rangers seized their boards.

The following morning, the group returned to the spot they were arrested and walked the rest of the way out of the park, before mounting new boards and completing the trek.

“After careful review earlier this year, Parks Canada informed organizers in August that the longboarding event could not be permitted in 2025,” said Parks Canada spokesperson Adam Young in a statement to The Signal on Monday.

“Despite this, individuals chose to proceed with longboarding in Cape Breton Highlands National Park on Nov. 8, 2025. Parks Canada law enforcement officers responded, and several individuals were arrested and released. At this time formal charges have not been laid.”

Cameron Brow, one of the ride’s participants, expects to be called to court. Brow said that parks law enforcement told them they could be facing charges and a fine of up to $25,000.

The Push for the Cure is a three-day, 165-kilometre ride across Cape Breton, between Cape North and Port Hood. It is one part of a 19-year-old fundraising effort that also takes place in British Columbia and Ontario, commemorating a 2006 ride across the whole country.

The Cape Breton leg has been part of the ride for eight years. In previous years, it has raised around $10,000, with this year bringing in just over $1,000. Bricin Striker Lyons, a ride organizer, says they were warned not to ride in the park in prior years, but were never arrested.

“They want to make it impossible for us to do this every year,” said Lyons, who says that they have done their best to work with the park.

“They give it to bicyclists, they give it to joggers, they give it to the relays, but they won’t give it to us.”

“We’re not going out there to use this as an excuse to bomb these hills. We’ve agreed to walk down the hills,” he said. “We have support vehicles and walkie talkies.”

This year, park officials informed organizers three months prior to the ride that the event was prohibited.

“These roads are steep, winding and shared with other vehicles, creating significant safety risks for participants and other road users,” said the Parks Canada’s statement.

Lyons hopes that this arrest will at least aid the fundraiser by raising more awareness but is frustrated that despite efforts to be as safe as possible and work with Parks Canada, a compromise was not reached.