Invitation - Launch of Centraide Campaign 2009 - 20,000 people are expected
to participate in Centraide's March of 1,000 Umbrellas through downtown
Montreal

MONTREAL , Sept. 28 /CNW Telbec/ - The Co-Chairs of Centraide of Greater Montreal's 2009 campaign, Jeffrey Orr , President and Chief Executive Officer of Power Financial Corporation, and Corporate Director Réal Raymond, as well as Michèle Thibodeau-DeGuire, President and Executive Director of Centraide of Greater Montreal , cordially invite the press to Centraide's March of 1,000 Umbrellas, which will mark the launch of Campaign 2009.

More than ever, Centraide will call on the entire community to mobilize in order to meet the needs of our most vulnerable fellow citizens in these tough times.

About 20,000 people -- donors, volunteers, company employees, business leaders, and representatives of the community-based agencies, the public sector and the trade unions -- will march as one, holding up their umbrellas, to demonstrate their solidarity with the 360 agencies and projects supported by Centraide. Together, these community resources help over half a million disadvantage people, forming the largest mutual aid network in Quebec .

    
    Date:           Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 11:30 a.m.
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    Activities:     Centraide's March of 1,000 Umbrellas, followed by the
                    announcement of the goal of Centraide Campaign 2009

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                                  TIMETABLE
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    11:30 a.m.   Participants assemble on McGill College Avenue (corner of
                 Ste. Catherine Street West). Personalities join the ranks of
                 community agency representatives, volunteers and donors. The
                 team from Nautilus Plus will warm up participants for the
                 march.

    11:45 a.m.   Brief interviews with Michèle Thibodeau-DeGuire from
                 Centraide and participating personalities (media tent,
                 northwest corner of Ste. Catherine Street and McGill College
                 Avenue).

    12:00 noon   The march begins, led by Kumpa'nia, with animation by street
                 entertainers, mascots and musicians.

    12:20 p.m.   Arrival at Complexe Desjardins. Brief concert by the
                 Metropolitan Orchestra and announcement of the goal of
                 Centraide Campaign 2009 (photo opportunities)

    1:00 p.m.    End of the event: Individual interviews.
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PHOTO PLATFORMS: Four raised platforms will be installed for photographers and camera operators wishing to take overhead shots of the march: on Ste. Catherine Street West at the southwest corner of McGill College and at the corner of Union, City Councillors and De Bleury.

For further information: Annick Gagnon, Media Relations, [phone], ext. 242, Cell phone: [phone], [email protected], www.centraide-mtl.org