October 9: Pilgrimage

First on the agenda is a climb up to the belvedere (lookout) in Parc Mont Royal.

This is a pilgrimage that I make at each visit to Montreal (except for last year’s when I visited with my 15 year old nephew who didn’t have the same stamina for city walking as his aunt).

I wander through the Golden Mile area. Many well-to-do Scottish businessmen based here, including the fur traders, left an indelible influence on the cityscape of Montreal. I pass Pierre Elliott Trudeau’s Ernest Cormier designed home on Avenue des Pins. I had spent 3 years living 6 feet from his home. Trudeau was a prime minister who was loved by many and disliked by some. As an immigrant, I thank him for my Canadian citizenship. He had a vision to bring the best of the world to Canada, regardless of race or religion. These past few weeks saw the 40th anniversary of the October Crisis, a very dark part of recent Canadian political history, and the 10th anniversary of Trudeau’s death.

Montreal obliges my love of novelty with plenty of interesting additions: the improved stairs up Mont Royal, the Bixi bike sharing program, the parking meter, which isn't a parking meter. It is a donation box to raise funds for the homeless!

Harold, one of my McGill classmates, called me up. Bonus: great chance to catch up and get a St. Viateur bagel!

Enough play--now back to work: enter the Red Cross briefing session. Once again, training started with a joyful reunion of many familiar faces. Those who did not start off familiar quickly became so. I am in a great team: Claudia, Ruth, and Jon, and our facilitators, Bob and Rachel. It is shaping up to be a promising week.