Difference Makers: Episode 24

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1. 

   4 Apr 2026 · 39 min

   Difference Makers: Episode 29

   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 Marie Christine Le Bourdais, Director of Programs and Services – Partnership and Alliance Development at the Alzheimer Society of Montreal. Susana Lazaro is President and CEO of Diabetes Quebec. As a former nurse, Susana brings a deep, real-world understanding of the healthcare system and collaborates closely with healthcare professionals, hospitals, and government partners to drive meaningful change.

2. 

   28 Mar 2026 · 38 min

   Difference Makers: Episode 28

   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 Dr. Olivier Farmer, a psychiatrist at Notre-Dame Hospital and an Associate Clinical Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Montreal. Mike Weston is the director of Andy’s House Treatment Centre. He co-founded Andy’s House Treatment Centre with the intention of filling a need for more heart centred care in the recovery world.

3. 

   21 Mar 2026 · 37 min

   Difference Makers: Episode 27

   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 Valerie Assouline who, with more than two decades of experience as a family lawyer, having been a prominent member of the Quebec Bar since 1998, founded SOS Avocats in 2007. Sandra Watson is Mental Health & Reintegration Director at the West Island Mission. Sandra has over 10 years of experience supporting individuals, families, and seniors facing food insecurity, social isolation, grief, and complex psychosocial challenges.

4. 

   14 Mar 2026 · 38 min

   Difference Makers: Episode 26

   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 Leslie Acs, Executive Director of La Passerelle, Leslie devotes his efforts top providing tools and support for mature workers’ re-entry into the workforce and creating public awareness of effective recruitment practices, including hiring mature workers. Millie Tresierra is co-founder of Family Care Collective, deeply implicated for almost two decades in advocacy for perinatal mental health resources as a Doula. Millie is a…

5. 

   7 Mar 2026 · 39 min

   Difference Makers: Episode 25

   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 Jean-Rémi Mayrand, founder of Les Colocs de l'Ouest, a fabulous residential project on the West Island developed for young adults on the autism spectrum. Judy Martin is the Executive Director of the Hylcan Foundation, which accepts grant applications from registered charities across Canada.

6. 

   21 Feb 2026 · 39 min

   Difference Makers: Episode 23

   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,…

7. 

   14 Feb 2026 · 38 min

   Difference Makers: Episode 22

   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…

8. 

   7 Feb 2026 · 36 min

   Difference Makers: Episode 21

   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.

9. 

   31 Jan 2026 · 38 min

   Difference Makers: Episode 20

   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).

10. 

    24 Jan 2026 · 36 min

    Difference Makers: Episode 19

    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…