Focus Montreal introduces Montrealers to people who are shaping our community and brings their stories into focus.
It airs on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 7:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and midnight.
Take a look at who we’re meeting this week on Focus Montreal:
Quebec releases autism plan
The Quebec government tabled its long-awaited action plan to improve autism services earlier this week, announcing $29 million every year over the next five years.
The plan is to shorten the wait lists for children under the age of five as well as to extend therapies and services to adults living with autism.
WATCH BELOW: Quebec government invests $29M in autism services
Anna Bisakowski, whose five-year-old son Simon has autism and Warren Greenstone of the Miriam Foundation, an organization that provides services to and helps people with autism spectrum disorder lead fulfilling lives, joined senior anchor Jamie Orchard to take a closer look at the action plan.
Muslim women in sports
Homa Hoodfar, the Concordia University professor who spent 112 days in jail in Iran, has launched a new book.
The work is called Women’s Sport as Politics in Muslim Contexts.
It was supposed to have its Montreal debut in time for the 2016 Olympics, but then the Iranian-born Canadian was jailed.
The release was pushed back and was held earlier this week at Concordia’s Sir George Williams Campus.
The book looks at Muslim women in sports and the creative methods they’ve come up with to make sure they’re included in society and athletics.
Senior anchor Jamie Orchard caught up with Hoodfar to talk about the release of her new book.
Helping others
At the beginning of March, the Governor General of Canada, David Johnston, presented the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers to 12 deserving individuals.
Among those honoured, was former Queen of Angels teacher Sister Virginia Lafleur whose career in education spanned 50 years.
But it’s what she’s done outside the classroom that earned her the coveted distinction.
Since retiring, Lafleur has given of her time and attention to those in need in the Montreal community. She has helped shelter the homeless, feed the hungry, shepherd the ailing to medical appointments, and bring comfort to critically ill infants and their parents during difficult times.
Lafleur sat down with senior anchor Jamie Orchard earlier this week to discuss her career in education and her devotion to helping the city’s most vulnerable.
Comments