Difference Makers

Sam Watts of the Welcome Hall Mission and James Hughes of the Old Brewery Mission shine light on people who make a difference in society. On this episode, they speak with John Gladu, director of L’Aiguillage since 2014, an organization that offers support to the homeless population of Vaudreuil-Soulanges. Benoit Langevin is City Counsellor for District du Bois-de-Liesse, Arrondissement de Pierrefonds-Roxboro. He has consolidated a team of youth outreach workers in 10 municipalities on the West Island of Montreal.

Sam Watts of the Welcome Hall Mission and James Hughes of the Old Brewery Mission shine light on people who make a difference in society. On this episode: Dr. Arwa Hussain, a Ph.D scholar specializing in religion, gender, and digital media. Arwa is a Sacred Writes Public Scholarship Fellow whose research on the religious agency of Dawoodi Bohra women has been recognized with the prestigious Prix Relève Étoile Paul-Gérin-Lajoie. Ryan Beauchamp is a Certified Athletic Therapist, personal trainer, and founder of “pebble,” a nonprofit initiative on a mission to make giving back accessible, flexible, and fulfilling for young professionals.

Sam Watts of the Welcome Hall Mission and James Hughes of the Old Brewery Mission shine light on people who make a difference in society. On this episode: Leslie Roberts currently sits on the board of TALQ, formerly the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN), one of the province’s leading advocacy organizations for English-speaking Quebecers. Pearl Eliadis is an award-winning lawyer, educator, and author who has successfully led global human rights projects for the UN and other agencies, and has led in-country missions in China, Ethiopia, Nepal, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan and Timor Leste.

Sam Watts of the Welcome Hall Mission and James Hughes of the Old Brewery Mission shine light on people who make a difference in society. On this episode: Alessia Di Giorgio, Director of Events at The Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation and Danny Williams, founder of the West Island Men's Shed.

Sam Watts of the Welcome Hall Mission and James Hughes of the Old Brewery Mission shine light on people who make a difference in society. On this episode: Rosemary Cooke, President of the McGill university Retiree Association, and Michele Chappaz, Executive Director of MMFIM (Mouvement pour mettre fin à l'itinérance à Montréal).

Sam Watts of the Welcome Hall Mission and James Hughes of the Old Brewery Mission shine light on people who make a difference in society. On this episode: Marina Boulos-Winton has recently been named to head Sun Youth. Marina has devoted her considerable energy and vision to supporting society’s most vulnerable people, particularly women and youth in precarious circumstances. Sophie Gaillard has worked at the Montreal SPCA since 2013 as one of the first and leading animal protection lawyers in Quebec and Canada. As Director of Animal Advocacy and Legal and Government Affairs, Sophie oversees the organization’s efforts to advance animal law and strengthen animal protection legislation and public policy at the municipal, provincial and federal levels.

Sam Watts of the Welcome Hall Mission and James Hughes of the Old Brewery Mission shine light on people who make a difference in society. On this episode: Soraya Martinez Ferrada is Mayor of Montreal and has served as leader of Ensemble Montréal since 2025. Soraya tells us in what ways she'd like to be a difference-maker for the city. Antonia Macris is Manager of Corporate Learning and National Youth Network, Co-Chair at Environment and Climate Change Canada. Antonia is a dynamic community leader with over a decade of volunteer leadership experience advancing initiatives that support education, environment, youth, women, and culture.

Sam Watts of the Welcome Hall Mission and James Hughes of the Old Brewery Mission shine light on people who make a difference in society. On this episode: Chris Gobeil, a chartered professional accountant in Hudson, Quebec with over 30 years of volunteer leadership and creative work, making him a passionate advocate for the arts and his community. Also, Jennifer Hobbs Robert who is a bilingual healthcare leader with advanced training and decades of experience in senior and end-of-life care, dedicated to advancing compassionate, high-quality health standards and supporting vulnerable communities.

Sam Watts of the Welcome Hall Mission and James Hughes of the Old Brewery Mission shine light on people who make a difference in society. On this Best of episode: Valentino Pietrantonio - Executive Director of Big Brothers / Big Sisters West Island and Meagan Sommerville, who runs West Island Community Shares.

Sam Watts of the Welcome Hall Mission and James Hughes of the Old Brewery Mission shine light on people who make a difference in society. On this Best of episode: Claude Pinard - President of the Montreal Executive Committee, volunteer Norm Horner and fundraiser Jim Morrison.  

Sam Watts of the Welcome Hall Mission and James Hughes of the Old Brewery Mission shine light on people who make a difference in society. On this episode, they look at a volunteer influencer, a group of families who sing Christmas carols at a veteran's hospital and a remarkable local palliative care centre.

Sam Watts of the Welcome Hall Mission and James Hughes of the Old Brewery Mission shine light on people who make a difference in society. On this episode,they take a look at philanthropy

Sam Watts of the Welcome Hall Mission and James Hughes of the Old Brewery Mission shine light on people who make a difference in society. On this episode, they look at the impact of giving and the impact of a teacher with student school activities. Plus hear some of the listener submitted shout outs to difference markers in the community.

Sam Watts of the Welcome Hall Mission and James Hughes of the Old Brewery Mission shine light on people who make a difference in society. On this episode, they look at volunteers in Montreal's business/corporate community and young caregivers who help families manage the effects of mental illness.

Sam Watts of the Welcome Hall Mission and James Hughes of the Old Brewery Mission shine light on people who make a difference in society. On this episode, they look at a horse rescue shelter and explain how people who start volunteering at a young age are more likely to continue doing so when they're older.

Sam Watts of the Welcome Hall Mission and James Hughes of the Old Brewery Mission shine light on people who make a difference in society. On this episode, they look at Hope for Dementia and employment in Quebec.

Sam Watts of the Welcome Hall Mission and James Hughes of the Old Brewery Mission shine light on people who make a difference in society. On this episode, they look at Communitas and their work of reintegrating people who have spent time in prison into society.

Sam Watts of the Welcome Hall Mission and James Hughes of the Old Brewery Mission shine light on people who make a difference in society. On this episode, they explore a fundraising initiative which has been collecting cans and bottles with the help of the community in order to raise money for cancer charities. 

Sam Watts of the Welcome Hall Mission and James Hughes of the Old Brewery Mission shine light on people who make a difference in society. On this episode, they look at the benefits that volunteering as a Big Brother or Sister have on both the mentor and the mentee.

Sam Watts of the Welcome Hall Mission and James Hughes of the Old Brewery Mission shine light on people who make a difference in society. On this episode, they look at women getting back on their feet and and an elementary school volunteering for Thanksgiving