Friday was huge

Friday July 3

We woke up early for a 7.30 live phone interview with a local Montreal FM station. I think I did ok but the short nights are beginning to take a toll

9.00 Tour of Ottawa Mission (OM). The Mission has an impressive kitchen that doubles as a training center for those who wish to learn culinary skills. Most unique at the Ottawa mission was their onsite hospice. They have a number of bed to care for terminally ill people who come from a street back ground and who do not have anyplace else to go. Many of them don't fit in at a standard Hospice. The staff at OM will attempt to contact family and if possible will try to reunite people in their final days. Some of the stories were really moving about parents coming to be with their children who they long thought dead.

9.30 on " A" channel Ottawa breakfast show. I managed to squeeze a recorded radio interview in the lobby with another local radio station. I also got a good plug in for one of our corporate sponsors who is local to Ottawa.

10.00 back to Ottawa mission for photo op with Member of Parliament Royal Galipeau. Ctv, CBC covered the event for local news while the Ottawa sun took some picture for their piece that I may live to regret.

Off to Montreal at 11.00 am with a tray of Chinese Food from the OM kitchen. Special thanks to Shirley Roy for the hospitality and providing the tour and media contact arrangements. Shirley comes from a medi background and her reputation in the industry is apparent.

12:00. While driving I talk to a Montreal newspaper and set up for an in studio radio bit with CBC

1.00 we hit the edge of Montreal. No problem making the 2.00 drop time right? Wrong!!! Some of the most challenging traffic I have ever experienced was in our way. What's with the no right on red lights thing an way. We managed to get lost in the myriad of one way streets in the core and arrive 15 minutes late for the event.

When we finally arrive at Mission Bon Accueil (Welcome Hall Mission)there are a number of cameras recording the Van pulling in. Now I know I'm tired as Anne Cattaruzza of Welcome Hall flashes me a signal to smile. Anne and the crew put together a very impressive and official ceremony for the drop. This was one the most organized drops to date. Latter Anne tells me that an event like this has given them an opportunity to raise their profile in the Montreal area. Good news as this was also one our goals.

I think that Welcome Hall has the biggest facility of the tour. Their factory style building fills an entire block and contains impressive facilities and amenities for those working through their addiction and reintegration programs. Gaetan Nolet performed the tour and also translated for me with French media. Gaetan has been with the mission for a number of years leaving a career as a stock broker for a career that satisfied his need to make a difference. We couldn't help talking a little bit about business.

5.00 off to CBC studios for an in studio live broadcast on the Home Run Show. Paul Rainone the Associate Executive Director of Programs at Welcome Hall will be interviewed with me. Paul is an Electrical Engineer who led a sales team at a major appliance manufacturer. Later he told me he also has a short stint as a distributor for arthroscopy equipment. It was great talking shop for a bit.

6.00 interview over

7.00 campground in site!

Later that evening we headed into Montreal to take in some of the Jazz festival. A guy has to have a little fun............Right?

Today we on the road for Halifax and the last drop Monday at noon. With luck we will return the motor home and catch an earlier flight that night. This would get us home 24 hrs earlier.

Gonna crash for a bit while Ramin drives

Brent