Remembrance Day in Montreal
Nov 12th, 2010 by admin
Press coverage in 24 Heures Montréal:
Errol arriving in Montreal
Running through the smoke
by Étienne Laberge
What would you do to convince young people not to smoke? Retired British Colombian anti-tobacco activist Errol Povah asked himself the same question before deciding he’d cross the country running from one ocean to the other to denounce the practices of the tobacco industry.
The resident of Victoria, BC has been running the equivalent of a marathon a day since May 31st just to sensitize young people not to smoke.
Determined to save on hotel costs, he sleeps in his minivan. “I run around 20 kilometres, then I retrace my steps to the van for a total of 42km. I get in the van and drive another 20km down the road”, he explains.
Thursday, the 50-something athlete stopped in Montreal, in front of the offices of Imperial Tobacco, after 5 000 km of jogging. An anti-tobacco delegation, including some 30 students from Collège Charlemagne, greeted him with cheers and congratulations for his accomplishment.
Youth in the target’s bull’s-eye
“Tobacco sellers continue to mock public health by developing new products ever more attractive for young people”, he said to a rally made up mostly of high school students.
Maxime Roderbourg, a member of the Gang allumée at his school, said he was surprised at the runner’s tenacity. “He’s brave to run. It’s very cold this morning.”
Errol Povah hasn’t put his bags away yet as he’s heading Friday for New York and the headquarters of Philip Morris International, some 700 km from Montreal.
“I hope I’ll be as well received there as I have been here”, he said enthusiastically, pointing at the group surrounding him.
A tough challenge
The sheer length of his route has forced him to do much of it alone.
Despite the exceptional side of his run, he refuses to consider it unique. He reminds people that Terry Fox (5 373 km, running), Steve Fonyo (7 924 km, running) and Rick Hansen (40 000 km in a wheelchair) did the same thing, or better, given their respective handicaps.
Original article in French: http://24hmontreal.canoe.ca/24hmontreal/actualites/archives/2010/11/20101111-142213.html
Congratulations Errol!!!! Here is a copy of a news tip I sent to CBC yesterday in relation to their recent coverage of the story of Barb Tarbox’s photo being considered for U.S. cigarette packages just after Canada backed off on its warning label improvements.
“In relation to the Barb Tarbox story, where the US is once again honoring a Canadian hero who has not been adequately honored in her own country….
Are you aware that we presently have another Canadian hero by the name of Errol Povah almost finished his ‘Journey for a Tobacco Free World’ – walking and running across Canada with destinations of Tobacco Industry headquarters in both Montreal and New York City? He departed from Victoria on May 31st, World No Tobacco Day, and is, I believe, in Montreal now, having crossed the country with next to no fanfare or support. His story is, in my opinion, a must cover along with the Barb Tarbox story presently being played out in the news. I attended his sparsely attended send off in Victoria, and then created a primitive little website for the purpose of posting the photos and two videos related to that event. Please check it out.
http://joanoconnor.shawwebspace.ca/
Google ‘Journey for a Tobacco Free World’ to see the rare posts along the way from Errol and to find his phone # etc.
Joan O’Connor RN
ps: I’m a registered nurse who helps people reduce and quit smoking. I am very interested in tobacco related history past and present – which is what has led to my interest in Errol and his journey. I met him for the first time on the day of his departure.”