MONTREAL — Focus Montreal introduces Montrealers to people who are shaping our community, bringing 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 at midnight.
Take a look at who we’re meeting this week on Focus Montreal:
Centraide’s efforts to help Syrian refugees
The news has been dominated by the much talked about plan to bring thousands of Syrian refugees to Canada by the end of this year.
Canada and Quebec both spelled out the details of their programs this week.
Eight hundred Syrian refugees have already arrived and nearly 3,000 more will be here by January 1. By the end of 2016, 7,300 Syrian refugees are expected to settle in the province.
The federal government however could ask Quebec to take 2,100 more over that same period.
It will cost $29 million this year alone to settle those who come to Quebec.
It’s a logistical challenge to do the job well, and the province will be counting on the support of community organizations like Centraide to help with things like food security and access to affordable housing.
Centraide’s expert on immigration and refugees, Myriam Berube, explains how the organization will use the expertise of its 350 member agencies to meet those needs.
To make a donation to Centraide, go on their website or text the word “Don” to 80100.
The Shoebox Project
The holiday season is often a painful time of year for the homeless.
Volunteers at the Shoebox Project work tirelessly to make this time of year a little easier for women in need, collecting tens of thousands of items to place in shoeboxes that are wrapped and given to women’s shelters for the holidays.
The Shoebox Project was born ten years ago, when Katherine Velan and a friend filled about 30 shoeboxes with everything from toothpaste to chocolate and donated the boxes to a Montreal shelter.
The next year, that effort grew to 500 boxes. Now, the organization will deliver 1,500 shoe boxes to 32 charities across Montreal and 22,000 boxes across Canada.
Katherine Velan, the founder of the Shoebox Project dropped by Focus Montreal studios to talk about her unique charity.
To learn more about the Shoebox Project and how you can help visit the Shoebox website.
Oscar Lives Next Door
The new picture book Oscar Lives Next Door is an exploration of Little Burgundy through the story of it’s most famous resident: Oscar Peterson.
Author, Bonnie Farmer, had always wanted to write about the famed Montreal borough and its famous resident musician but hadn’t until now.
The book is a real treat for Montrealers who love jazz and love their neighbourhoods.
Senior anchor Jamie Orchard sat down with Bonnie Farmer to talk about how this story came to be.
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