MGLA X Will Veillette: On the Road to Freedom
From the misty forests of Quebec to the golden sunsets of California, Will has been chasing a dream that began long before he ever hit the road. A French Canadian adventurer with a deep soul and a camper van rebuilt as a symbol of his own resilience, Will isn’t just traveling — he’s transforming.
We caught up with Will, free-spirited and fearless soul, for a conversation about life, healing, and how one road trip with his dog that Sammy changed everything.
MGLA: Will, let’s start with this — why did you decide to travel from Quebec to California?
Will: California had been calling me since I was 12. I used to dream about it and skateboarding is the essence of that dream. As I grew older, the dream only grew bigger, but I wasn’t able to travel before I turned 28. My job as a power lineman, the routine, life, responsibilities, fear... something always got in the way and it became harder and harder to find the right time. Then one day, I realized that if I didn’t do it now, I might never do it. So I packed up everything, finished rebuilding my camper and left.
MGLA: Why the camper? And why bring Sammy?
“After a breakup, I knew it was time. And Sammy? He’s my son. People come and go, but Sammy doesn't.”
Will: The camper gave me freedom — it became my moving home, my workshop, my healing space. I rebuilt the roof and everything during my free time. I started working on it two years ago, and I even brought tools on the road to finish the details. After a breakup, I knew it was time. And Sammy? He’s my son. People come and go, but Sammy doesn't. He’s the one constant in my life. I had no one else to share my dreams with — no partner, no wife — but I had him. Sammy is everything to me.
MGLA: What was your favorite place on the road?
Will: That’s hard to say. Every place had it’s own energy and the national parks were breathtaking..., but Yosemite and Joshua Tree were powerful. Venice Beach will always have a special place in my heart. I had dreamt of that place for so long, and being there with Sammy… It felt surreal.
MGLA: Was there a moment you’ll never forget?
Will: So many. Every detail feels engraved in me. The people I met, the stories we shared... Meeting Jay Alvarrez, who has always been a role model and inspiration to me, it was definitely special. I had the chance to meet him twice, talk to him, take pictures and even skateboard at the Venice Skatepark with him. That moment meant a lot to me. There’s also this hacienda in San Diego I stayed at — something about that place just stayed in my heart.
MGLA: But then came the injury...
Will: Yeah... I was training hard for my first Ironman 70.3 back in Quebec, but one day, I went skateboarding even though my body was already exhausted. I broke my ankle. I had a last minute surgery and three fractures and torn ligaments. Everything was going so well, and then... boom. It was a huge shock. I couldn’t even walk and I had to go back home. Leaving the road, the journey… It was brutal. But... it had a purpose.
MGLA: How did that injury shift your path?
Will: Being stuck forced me to go inward. I started meditating, reading, slowing down. All the answers I was looking for? They were already inside me. And that’s when the idea started forming — this puzzle in my mind fell into place. A business. A way to travel, connect, and share this magic with others. I want people to feel what I feel when I see the world — freedom, healing, purpose and transformation.
MGLA: What does wellness mean to you now?
Will: Everything. I used to be an alcoholic, struggled with drugs, felt blocked, disconnected. I couldn’t chase my dreams because I wasn’t well. Now I’m sober. And I’m still intense in everything I do, but now it’s more focused on healing and growth.
MGLA: Has storytelling helped you healing?
Will: Absolutely. I’m learning to express myself. To trust what I feel. I used to keep everything to myself and now I’m learning to speak it — and that’s healing too. Sammy helps. He feels my emotions. He knows when I’m low. He never leaves.
MGLA: What does MGLA represent for you?
Will: Honestly? Exactly what I need. I feel seen in what MGLA is building — it’s global, authentic and warm. I want to connect with people around the world, understand cultures, and feel that warmth. And MGLA sees life in a way I admire. I want to walk alongside that energy.
MGLA: And what is freedom to you now?
Will: Not giving up. Chasing my dreams. Prioritizing my purpose. Being brave enough to jump — even when it’s scary and if it seems over the top to others. That’s freedom. Not letting fear hold me back anymore, and running toward what I’ve found inside of me.
Lightning Round with Will
Sunset or Ocean? Both. Together.
Place You’d Go Next? Bali.
Therapy? Skateboarding.
Where do you find peace? Everywhere the road takes me.
Three words that define you? Free. Connected. Traveler.
Final thoughts?
"I trust life now and I think everything happens for a reason, even the injury. It brought me back to my path. And now I just want to share what I’ve learned and felt, connecting with the world."
Find Will online:
https://linktr.ee/Willveillette
Instagram: @willveillette
All images are a courtesy of Will Veillette.
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