to mark the journey of Polish exiles

SYBIRAK Cycle

8,000 km - 7 countries - 6 months on bicycle

Team members
Team Coordinator: Ewa Dembek

I live in Whitehorse, Yukon and grew up knowing my mother was born in Eastern Poland and was deported to Russia -then lived in Africa- and then England, but I never truly understood the full story and political circumstances. It wasn't until the last years of her life that I really started to ask questions and read everything I could get my hands on about the experience of the Sybiracy. I am inspired by the courage and humility the Sybiracy have shown, and my goal is to honour all those families that survived, and especially those that didn't.

Experience:

  • Expeditions: 'Spirit of the Barrens' (3.5 months snowshoeing/hiking across 700 km in arctic); Banks Island (3 month skiing/hiking across 500 km High arctic); Built raft and rafted 700 km down Albany River into James Bay; 
  • Hiking/Climbing: Mt. Kilimanjaro, 2011;  Donjek-Kluane 2013; Ogilvie Mnts 2009; Tombstones Mnts 2006, Yukon
  • Biking: Quebec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, France, Yukon
  • Canoe/Kayak trips: Wind River, Teslin River, Yukon River- Yukon; Glacier Bay & Chichagoff Island, Alaska; Albany River, Ontario;   
  • Races:  Yukon River Trail Marathon, Victoria & Vancouver Marathon, Whitehorse Triathlon, Klondike International Road Relay, Kluane Chilkat         International Bike Relay 10+ years (Alaska-Yukon).

Sample of Ewa's journeys:

Wind River Canoe Expedition, Yukon

Africa- Tanzania & Mozambique. Visit to Tengeru at 4:18

Donjek Hike, Kluane, Yukon

Photojournalist/ Filmaker: Lee Carruthers


Lee has been based in the Yukon for most of his adult life. His careers have included: bush pilot, log builder, surveyor, plumber, radio technician, social worker, journalist, photographer and film maker.


Lee has cycled, hiked, sailed, kayaked, canoed and skied in Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Paraguay, all of the Central American countries, Cuba, Mexico, Thailand, the U.K. and Iran. He flew bush planes on B.C.'s north coast, Yukon and the Northwest Territories. His last cycling trip was in Colombia in 2014.


In 2012-13, Lee made the film Edziza, documenting his hike to Mount Edziza, a dormant volcano located near Telegraph Creek in northern B.C.