Day 68: Pointe Claire to Montreal (29.32)

This morning we found our way to the Pointe Clare Rehab Centre which is unique from those we've visited to date as it's the only one we've seen that is funded completely by donations.

The Quebec Provincial Government is one of the few that does not provide any funding to cardiac rehabilitation programs. This has left Agnes Cartier (shown above) with the difficult and commendable task of collecting funding for the centre through fundraising and sponsorship alone. They run small classes out of the hospital physiotherapy department free of charge. The only other alternative for local residents is a program in downtown Montreal that charges patients approximately $1000.00 for participation in a program.

Whether or not and when these classes run is completely dependent on their sucessfulness in collecting funds. This presents a whole new series of barriers to promoting accessibility and sustainability. We would like to thank Agnes for her wonderful hospitality and for her courageous work for cardiac patients in the Pointe Claire and Montreal area.

After our visit we biked twenty-nine kilometers to downtown Montreal and in comparison to the rough ride into Toronto (or any major city), it was absolutely delightful. As has been the case throughout our ride through Quebec, we were almost entirely on paved trails with beautiful views of the St Lawrence.

Once we arrived we were greeted with a delightful spread of cheeses and a bottle of red wine in our donated room in Le Centre Sheraton. As I write this I'm sitting in bed on the 31st floor, sipping a glass of wine and enjoying some brie and crackers. This is a far cry from our usual campsite. Thank you very much to the Sheraton for giving us a break from our sleeping bags and again to Agnes for arranging this luxurious stay.