Toyota recently kicked off a coast-to-coast trip to drive 9,000 kilometres with stops in every province as part of its 60th anniversary celebration in Canada. In a news release, the automobile manufacturer said the stops are to highlight some of the key people, locations, and stories from the company’s six decades in the country.
In Japanese culture a person’s 60th birthday is known as Kanreki, according to Stephen Beatty, Corporate Secretary at Toyota Canada. He said the word represents rebirth — “an opportunity to reflect on one’s life, take stock of the present, and prepare for the future.”
The cross-Canada road trip is expected to do just that, while also taking time to recognize the Canadians who contributed to the company’s success. Based on Beatty, this includes the country’s best dealer network, “thousands of team members, tens of thousands of people who’ve worked for our suppliers and partners, and millions of loyal, enthusiastic Toyota drivers from coast-to-coast-to-coast.”
The Kanreki Tour launched Aug. 12 at Canada’s Eastern “Mile 0” in St. John’s, Nfld., and will end on Aug. 30 at Canada’s Western “Mile 0” in Victoria, B.C. Twenty different models are available, which Toyota currently sells in Canada. Most of them are electrified.
Participants will be driving from St. John’s to Halifax, then Halifax to Montréal, Montréal to North Bay, North Bay to Winnipeg, Winnipeg to Calgary, and Calgary to Victoria.
