How to participate and become a volunteer

Volunteers

The work of volunteers is so important it cannot be ignored. Several activities would have been impossible without the participation and the invaluable help of my volunteers. Even with my best efforts, I cannot do without them and I'm always looking for new people to engage in what I consider my life work.

The talents of each emerge rapidly. Thanks to all of them, I advance toward the completion of the project. I am so very grateful.

I want to emphasize your commitment and your strengths. WITHOUT YOU, I could not make it happen. You are my wealth and my strength.

Why Volunteer 

For pleasure
To get involved in issues of society
To discover a new environment
To share skills
To acquire new knowledge
To create a network

To honor my volunteers


The work of volunteers is very important. WITHOUT YOU, I could not make it happen. You are my wealth and my strength.

To solve problems affecting indigenous children uprooted from their immediate families, it is quite clear that it is longer appropriate to wait for the involvement of the various levels of government. It is such a slow process that governments have time to be changed before a new one emerges with their own priorities.

The project No Child Should Take the Long Way Home grew out of my frustrations in the work related to the protection of children. Inuit children are so far away, they are voiceless.

No Child Should Take the Long Way Home is a grassroots initiative to help children in need of loving care, of a protective and stable environment to meet their basic needs in a safe house in their own community. 

Children, mothers, and communities are the object of this project No Child Should Take the Long Way Home.  After all, every child is born with the right to have a better chance at a life free from abuse and violence. 

I am looking for volunteers in various areas related to walking (ex: a person by a province to ensure my transport and/or travel between the main road, the Trans-Canada Trail, even at times the railroad) or volunteering to the overall project to ensure the success of this endeavor.

Most volunteers commit themselves when they feel challenged by my CAUSE. This is about the INUIT children.

Many more people need to be thanked for their involvement in my project. All welcomed me into their homes and treated me as a well-known friend. I find that extraordinary and I thank them all.

In Quebec

Patricia Alexander, thank you for doing the research I always ask you to do for me. It is invaluable.

In Ontario

Melanie and Curtis and two boys, thank you for the help with Internet issues and thank you for a well-rounded experience of family life amongst you. You were a breath of fresh air.

In British Columbia

My wonderful daughter and family welcomed me in the town she made her own, Prince Rupert, BC. It was a wonderful visit and an excellent launching town for my long walk.

Dianna and Gerald L. and family welcomed me with open arms in spite of my short-tempered character when I got to their home in Vanderhoof.

Monica Lamb-Yorski wrote an interesting piece in the Williams Lake Tribune. I had a couple of meals and a nice bed for a sleep-over.

Roxane Strasbourg whom I met once in Chemainus who invited me into her home so I could use her Internet. I had dinner and slept over. Thank you!

Cindy and Harry whom I knew from Chemainus before invited me over for a couple of days at their new home. I was so glad to see them again. I love you dearly.

Debbie Pynn of Chemainus, you were so gracious offering me a "bed and breakfast" venue at Janet Yuill's wonderful place. Thank you so much! And thank you, Janet, for sharing a bit of your life with me.

Henry and Penny at the Nichiren Meditation Center, thank you for letting me use a small cabin and the kitchen installations of the center. It was a welcomed change from my snail-like car installation.

Denis R. Ranger of Duncan, a true friend embarking on a project of a documentary for my 8000-kilometer trek, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Mary Beth Small of Duncan, with a huge heart...you made such a contribution to me personally and for my walk project. I cannot ever thank you enough!

Pnina and Richard with the wonderful Seaside Yoga Studio in Chemainus, I thank you for letting me do a conference about my Inuit friends. It was a special moment.

Jano Thibodeau of Nanaïmo with her special tackle on life and her wonderful zest for life, thank you for the intellectual stimulation.

Dalana and Alistair of Vancouver, you were wonderful and very generous hosts providing shelter and paper to draw on. I love you dearly.

Christianne Chiasson of Vancouver who networked me into two new contacts. Thank you so much for picking on what is important.

Alberta

Monique Garo of Medicine Hat, Alberta, refined several of my tools used for marketing the project in partnership with Saturviit. She was so competent and light-hearted about giving all the help that I gave my heartfelt consent to almost all the changes she suggested. She was tireless in her efforts.

Brad Stone of Red Deer has been actively contributing pertinent articles for the project. It makes my work easier and more palatable as I don't need to do as much research.

In Quebec

Catherine Lussier: was instrumental in making videos, both in English and French. A witness of all my efforts, Catherine revealed herself to be as an accessible, talented and well-organized volunteer for the implementation of the practical side of my project. I will miss her services for the rest of the project but, Catherine, you are often on my mind and always in my heart.

Sylvie Plamondon: gave me a lot of her time from the start of the project. With me, she worked on a paper copy of my journey on Canadian roads and the Trans-Canadian Trail. She also organized two meetings for fundraising. I trust your judgment and I solicit your unwavering support for the project.

Louise Couture: is a long-time friend who wishes me well. Louise corrects my texts, suggesting this or that, contributing to the greater understanding of my texts on the blog. Dedicated, competent, I'm sure that when Louise revises my texts, I have no errors, nor striking Anglicism.

Roger Pellerin: is my talented and perfectionist support for this blog http://quinuituq-en.blogspot.ca/. Without him, I would have almost no visibility. Available, with an unfailing sense of humor, Roger was able to showcase all the important aspects of my project.

Jean Bouthillette: encourages me quietly, facilitating the implementation of important elements of my project. Jean lent me a hand to free myself of the less positive aspects of daily life. He lent me the tools (wood stove, poker) to make a good sorting of what cluttered my everyday life.

Patricia Gobeil: organized the relevant key elements of a letter for such influential people as Julie Snyder and Simple Plan. Her mastery of the French language in addition to an unparalleled sense of organization makes her an important member of the volunteer team.

Chantal Lemay: is a thorough person, also a great humanist, Chantal helps me to organize an Inuit photo exhibition. The conference on the Inuit reality will be heightened up by her participation. This exhibition will travel across Canada to demystify the Inuit context.

Lise Cadieux comes from the community sector. My advisor of choice, she understands social codes and available resources in our Quebec institutions. A great motivator, Lise is a quiet force, able to inspire me with warmth and much discretion.

Lise Cadieux and I undertake to look at different aspects of my project to advance them. My personal road safety matters to me, so I agree to various safety measures; I develop a plan with types of communication that I will implement when walking to keep in touch with my contacts and sponsors about the progress of my walk; I also have to make me an effective promotion plan for additional sponsors, which will ensure my physical, mental and material comfort.

Marie-Anne Darche is a devoted friend, enthusiastic and a constant support. As a translator from French to English, she sets the tone for my texts and helps fight against too much uniformity. The texts remain more dynamic with her contribution.

Wayne Couvrette speaks it like it is. He is my outspoken coach when I'm in a tough spot. The "images" he generates help me to launch new efforts to go where I need to go.

Nathalie Lemay: I met her twice before she offered as a volunteer worker to do a comprehensive list of foundations that I can approach in the future for funding. She is also rigorously honest. I truly appreciate.

Rana Alrabi: Rana is my publicity agent. Charming, talented, with a will to make me shine as a conference leader, she organizes a conference at the Café Rico on Mont-Royal Avenue the night before I set off for the West Coast. She is also in charge of my press release for media and the Saturviit organization.

Accommodation for this traveling Trekker

The summer of 2015 was used to meet with mayors in all major cities in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. It must be understood that, without a network of caring friends and family, this project would have taken greater financial proportions than my means would allow for accommodation.








Thank you to everyone for your wonderful welcome and your great sense of hospitality.

Ontario

Barbara Lavoie, Richard and wife Paulette Abraham, Fernande L., Bruno and Teresa L. and their son Dominik

Quebec

Jasmin LS and his family, Lise Morneau and spouse Bertrand,  Marie-Anne D., Diane Ouellette and spouse Wayne and my marvelous friend Pierrette Larente, Nicole M. et Lise C. who let me use their homes for retreats when I needed it. Johanne L. lends me her cottage for three weeks so that I can organize the next part of my project in her area.

British Columbia

Dalana and Alistair welcome me as a long-time friend while I am close to Vancouver and I get a week long restorative stay at the condo.

Alberta

Deborah Kennedy, Brad Stone and sons, Barry B. and Monika G.,

Saskatchewan

Jane and Blaine F., and Stephanie A.,

Manitoba

To come

Major Sponsors and Contributors

- Madame Simone of Elliot Lake sponsored two pairs of good walking shoes and warm socks for my training workouts. 

- Michel Loranger sponsors me by offering a light and spacious tent and a sleeping bag for temperatures of - 40.

- Richard Laurendeau, owner of NZP Nutrition in Granby, offers me food supplements for good hydration with vitamins and amino acids for my walking 8000 kilometers.

- Olivier B. fixes my computer. Thanks to him, I can continue my work.

-Denise L. and Michèle J. offer me their volunteer services so that I can organize myself more easily in my official interactions.

-Sylvie P. made my paper layout with the towns and villages on either side of the Trans Canada trail so that I contact organizations dedicated to fighting violence against women by providing Inuit conferences.

 -Lorraine C.  offered to make lists of people likely to walk with me.

-Lise F. found the addresses so I can reach cultural celebrities who want to participate.

 -Katrina Ouellette. plugs me effectively on social networks to facilitate the decision to donate.

-Roger P. made this blog so I can be visible and professional.

-Sylvie S.  offered my first pair of walking shoes as a symbol of my project.

-Linda V. prepared a healing kit to take care of my feet; she will send it to me from my first step on.

-Lina V.  offered to send me my running shoes in general delivery.

-Lise M. will make a bib with the name of my cause in English: No Child Should Take the Long Way Home.

-Lise C. is my "managers of record" for all the things that need to be done to achieve my project.

-Muriel G. et Patricia G.: those two are my communication officers when it comes to writing letters to organizations, foundations, grants.

-Catherine L. helped me to produce a film for an independent firm for the Organization of the Trans-Canada Trail.

-Grant H. and wife Candace offer to follow me with his RV throughout Alberta.

-Jean B. participates to clear my private spaces to make myself totally available to the project.

-Bertrand B. does the upkeep on my car and facilitates my driving. Changing to winter tires ensures that I keep safe in winter conditions.

Robyn M. introduces me to two advocacy organizations so that I can learn about a way to incorporate it into my project for children, mothers, and communities.

Chester who calls his boss so I can have a suite at the Landmark Hotel in Thunder Bay.

Champions drivers are my special heroes: 

Without you, this walk would not have happened. You are always there when I need you. I have had so much fun with each and every one of you. 

You brought your good humor and all that you needed to drive peacefully behind me while I walked, so far 4095 plus kilometers. 

Thank you, gang, for making sure I was safe, for going to get whatever was needed so we ate healthily, and especially, for making light of my grumpy self! You are in my heart!

BC: Rob D., Dave A., Denis R., Tiffany W., Stanley D., Stephanie O., Giselle A., Jeremy S.,  Andrew T., you handled the driving so well and were always full of good advice.

ON: Charles T., you are on for Ontario!

QC: Jean-Marie É.,

AB: Roman S., Candace, and Grant, Debbie S., Barth C.,

SK: Eddie B., Lindell P., Jay T.,

MB: Evan M., Helena B., Nolan, and Seuss,

ON: Charles T.,