Manifesto

In every neighborhood, every family, every community, there are dreams of escape, freedom, and nature. Yet, for one in six people living with significant disabilities, these dreams too often remain on the sidelines of the trails.

Parents who would like to share their passions with their children. Outdoor enthusiasts who wish to feel the wind on their faces again. Communities that would benefit so much from being able to include all their members, without exception.

We still don’t understand this gap between these two worlds. The challenges are very real — for the mother with Alzheimer’s, the uncle living with multiple sclerosis, the brother living with cerebral palsy, or the friend living with ataxia. The challenges are already great, both for users and their loved ones. And yet, despite these challenges, simple, human, powerful solutions exist.

The path to a more inclusive society sometimes begins with a simple gesture: an invitation. An outstretched hand. A look that says “come with us.” A conviction that no one is left behind. Offering the world to those who dream of it.

Kartus is more than an all-terrain wheelchair. It’s a springboard to shared adventure. With a Kartus, trails open up. Laughter multiplies. Memories are created. A walk becomes an encounter. A run becomes a celebration. A crossing becomes an epic journey.

We deeply believe that every human being deserves access to the great outdoors and the connections that form around a shared activity. It’s not a privilege. It’s a form of dignity. And we know that real change always begins with a “we” — a community that unites to make room, a willingness to include without waiting for permission.

They’re everywhere, these people who understand that behind every wheelchair, there’s a whole, vibrant, curious person. Running clubs that welcome naturally. Hiking groups that plan with their hearts. Senior residences that transform the outdoors into weekly happiness appointments. These people see others as they are and know that everyone has the right to rediscover that smile that the wind on the face brings, that intoxication of shared elements, that universe that expands once again. That taste for adventure that never really disappeared.

Sometimes, a first outing in a Kartus with a local club gives birth to an unexpected passion for adaptive climbing or manual wheelchair racing — we know this, it’s happened! Sometimes it’s simply the calm, quiet pleasure of a group walk in the forest, in contemplation, that changes everything. These moments matter. These sparks become life’s momentum.

This is also why our mascot is the meerkat: an animal that is both supportive, playful, and always turned toward others, with that mischievous side that reminds us to keep joy in everything we do. In the image of what we want to build for our society.

With the Kartus Community, we believe we can move forward without waiting. That engaging for others is a form of gentle audacity, a small revolt full of hope.

Inspired by Camus: “The only way to face a world without freedom is to become so absolutely free that one makes their very existence an act of revolt.” What if, precisely, caring for others was also an act of revolt? This is the question posed by Philip, founder of Kartus. An invitation to rethink solidarity as a form of shared freedom.

And it’s already working! Parks lend Kartus chairs, running clubs that have integrated participants in all-terrain wheelchairs, outdoor groups that now plan their outings to include Kartus chairs, and senior residences that organize weekly adventures. Several runners have participated in multiple races, where we were once refused: we are now welcomed with open arms! Multiple seasons, from the Montreal marathon to the snow pentathlon, with unique events like the shared Saguenay marathon! Because we dared to say yes.

Our dream? A society where inclusion becomes a natural reflex. Where kindness is a way of life. A society where mutual aid is natural and where prejudices fade in the face of the reality of shared experiences. A society where no one has to stay on the sidelines.

We already have several passionate ambassadors who carry this vision, but there’s room for everyone! As an initiative launched by Kartus and intended to be taken over by the community once it reaches maturity, we commit to connecting Kartus owners worldwide, facilitating access to trials and first experiences, and breaking down barriers.

The movement awaits you. Launch an inclusive running club in your region, propose to your hiking group to integrate a Kartus in your adventures, or simply open the conversation about inclusion in your outdoor activities. Every gesture counts.

A revolution, but a gentle one. It advances in small steps, at the rhythm of nature and open hearts. It goes through the community. It’s on the move. It needs each of us.