Homeless youth in Montreal have been able to get a shower, have a hot meal or see a nurse at the Chez Pops Day Centre on Ontario Street since Le Bon Dieu dans la rue opened in 1988. Those who are willing to do more can get jobs or finish high school right on the premises.
The School, which opened in 1997, was christened the Emmett Johns alternative high school after the founder of the centre in 2003. That’s where the Suburban met Pierre-Luc, a 16-year-old who finished Secondary 5 last April. Pierre-Luc agreed to speak to media as part of Dans La Rue’s annual fundraising launch on Tuesday.
“I was approached by Matchek [the school counsellor] to do this, and I agreed,” he said. “I wanted to give back to Dans la rue because I discovered myself, all my potential here.”
Pierre-Luc, who is currently studying to become an automotive mechanic at EMM is among some 50 students educated at Emmett Johns every year. He’s also one of 15 people following professional training programmes. There are four others studying at university and seven in CÉGEP.
“We want to work to reach young people where they are,” said Aki Tchitacov, Dans la rue’s Executive Director. “Our school takes a very hands-on approach with students. We teach them much more than the basic subjects. We show them how to become self-sufficient and take control of their lives.”
The school is part of Chez Pops Day Care Centre. It joins the Bunker, a 17-bed emergency shelter and the van, which offers food, hot drinks and care packages on the streets of Montreal five nights a week. Dans la rue has already received $700,000 in pledges and donations for their 2012-2013 campaign. They hope to raise another $3.7 million.
Note: This article appeared on p10 of the City edition and p16 of the West Island edition of The Suburban on Wednesday, December 19.
Ticknart – I wish it was baguette!! Actually in Quebec (well, Montreal rellay) you have both French and English hospitals since there are enough anglos to support them. Both work in both languages… Just another layer of bureaucracy.Guillaume – um… yeah.UA – I think you get the same level of care in both. Why they don’t just do a super duper super hospital that all the universities can use is beyond me. But I’m sure both sides are against it.Citizen – they pretty much do. But we like to keep things complicated.TG – Most people do. Neither side will compromise.Joce – this morning on the radio, they were saying certain hospitals have more like an 18-20 hour wait. For some reason, more emergencies are coming in.Guillaume – Aren’t you supposed to comment on people’s posts, rather than hijack their comment section to answer comments they got? Just sayin’Rachel – Make sure the fuzziness isn’t some sort of bug. And if it is, don’t come to montreal to get it fixed…