In February of this year I received an e-mail from a ‘Jim Wright’. It said: ‘Congratulations! The selection committee of the Sauvé Scholars Program has chosen you as one of its Scholars for 2007-2008.’ I had already almost forgotten about the program, since I had send my application for it months earlier. Six months later I arrived in Montreal. My luggage didn’t. It was somehow left behind in London. It took me over an hour before I could finally walk through the exit, since I had to make sure they would send my luggage to me. I was exhausted after a long, long trip. As soon as I walked out I saw a very tall man, who was holding a Sauve sign. That must be Jim, I thought. And even though I had never seen him before, he immediately gave me a hug and a kiss. Welcome to Canada. That was Jim. The first week we were here Jim seemed to live at the airport. Almost every day he had to go there to pick up one of the scholars, and he did so with much pleasure. He didn’t have to pick us up, but he wanted to. No matter what time of day –or night- the flights arrived. Jim was really looking forward to the year. He was so happy to see all of us. Not only was Jim the director of the program, he was also its heart and soul. In the first week he was there for us all the time. No matter what we asked, he would take care of it. Help out with any questions or problems we had. After the second week we were finally complete. The thirteen of us and Jim drove to a beautiful place in the countryside which was filled with lakes and forests. We went on the yearly canoe trip! It was great. Jim bought us poutine and corn. I hated corn all my life, but this stuff… this was different. It tasted really good, I loved it. At the campfire we talked about the scholarship, made jokes about the fact that we were even getting paid to go on a canoe trip. Jim told us that he wanted to use this year to review the program and to put a lot of stuff on paper, because a lot of information was in his head only. ‘If I walk under a truck, nobody can take over right now’, he joked. After we returned to Montreal Jim left almost immediately, to drop off the sleeping bags he had brought along. I sent him an e-mail, to thank him for the great trip. He replied: ‘It was a great trip thanks to you all’. He couldn’t even just accept my gratitude, he immediately turned it around and thanked US! That too was Jim. Then there was the reception, at the Sauvé house. I thanked Jim again and repeated for like the 5th time how great I think the scholarship is. Jim said: 'It's great. It's absolutely great. And a privilege. After decades of working in business and for NGO's that always, always have to be concerned with getting money, it is absolutely great that I don't have to worry about that now. This is a great way to end my career'. The next day, Friday, we all had to go to the bank to open a Canadian bank account. Because it took a long time we had a schedule for the whole day. Two persons every hour. Jim was in the bank all day, to help with any possible problems that could occur. Like many times before I was surprised about his calm, steady and kind attitude, and about the way he was involved with the program and especially with us. He was just always there for us. Later that day I saw Jim again in the kitchen. He told me he was going to his country house and he wished us a good weekend. Then he left. I miss him so much. Kirsten Verdel