3 days ago
B.C man running across Canada for mental health awareness makes stop in Ottawa
Sachin Latti poses with members of the Ottawa Police Service on Aug. 17, 2025. (Kimberley Johnson/CTV News Ottawa)
A British Columbia man is running across Canada in the hopes of raising $1 million for mental health initiatives, and his stop in Ottawa is making an impression.
Sachin Latti is running an ultramarathon a day – 50 kilometres – from Victoria B.C. to St John's N.L. in an effort to raise awareness about mental health. On Sunday, he was joined by local youth and members of the Ottawa Police Service on a portion of his run.
Latti says running saved his life.
'I was struggling a great deal about five years ago with my mental health,' he said in an interview with CTV News Ottawa.
'I ended up having a major depressive episode. So, it all kind of came to a head.'
The former border service agent and father says he was able to find purpose and quiet his mind through running.
'Running for me is community, connection and movement,' he said. 'I'm moving. I get to connect with people and I get to create a community around me that gets to support me, and I get to support them when I'm struggling.'
According to Statistics Canada, nearly one in five people over the age of fifteen experience mental health issues.
'I think the mental health crisis that Canadians are feeling right now is an existential crisis,' said Latti. 'I think it's extremely important that we talk about it, that we do something about it and that we engage community with it.'
On Sunday, ran five kilometres in the nation's capital.
Randy Gill is with Their Opportunity, one of the charities Latti is raising money for. It creates programs for under serviced youth to join athletic programs.
He says it's important for youth to see what's possible.
'It's important to get the word out about how important physical health and wellbeing is as much as mental health well being is. It's connected,' Gill said. 'Getting them to be active helps them with school, helps them with relationships, helps them really light up their world.'
Ottawa Deputy Police Chief Paul Burnett says Latti's advocacy work is vital for first responders.
'It's absolutely important,' he said.
'We're dealing with those situations that most people don't want to deal with on a daily basis. We're running towards danger when others are running away. Managing that on a daily basis can be a struggle for our members.'
Sixty-three days in, the journey is leaving an impression with those lacing up.
'To be honest, I could never do that. But, to have somebody who cares so much about other's mental health, it's great to see,' said runner Yvan Mugisha.
'To really get your blood flowing and running alongside him, who's running 50 kilometres a day, it's truly inspiring,' says Liam Kelk.
The entire journey is expected to take a little more than 80 days.
On Monday, Latti and his team say they will visit Clarence Rockland's Alain Potvin Park for a community run and to livestream his run. He says donations will be matched up to $20,000 for a total potential fundraising of $40,000.
Latti says the work continues.
'People are struggling every single day,' he says. 'So, this is super important and we're not stopping.'
