To Lebanon for an hour

Stories from Canadian hikers on the Lebanon Mountain Trail

Moderator: Dunia Raouda
CFLMT board members introductions: Hisham Saab
Tuesday, May 11
7:30 to 8:30 PM EST
(Toronto time)
Virtual Zoom Event

Our Guest Speakers

René Berthiaume, Retired Professor
René taught French Business Writing for 35 years in Québec. Among the sports that René practises, trekking occupies a privileged place. With his wife Marie, he has trekked in Nepal, Peru, Argentina, the French and Italian Alps and, of course, in Québec and the rest of North America. He especially enjoyed his trekking experience in Lebanon. He found the LMT team members amazing and the welcome from the Lebanese people fantastic. He wants to go back again!

Maryse Noujaim Teacher, Designer
Canadian-Lebanese Maryse lives in Montreal and visits Lebanon regularly. Her favorite hobbies and sports are hiking, swimming, dancing, and discovering other countries and cultures. Maryse found a new way of exploring Lebanon through the Trail and has joined the Thru-Hike – the month-long hike along the entire 470 km. trail – many times.

Rafic Kamaleddine Marketing & Commnication Consulant
Rafic is a marketing and communication consultant living in Oakville. He is Canadian-Lebanese who loves nature and goes on frequent hiking trips. He believes that nature is a remedy for both the body and the soul and a way of self discovery. Rafic hiked the LMT during a corporate trip he made while working in Dubai-UAE, and since then he admires the efforts of the LMTA team and supports the CFLMT.

Marie Gérin-Lajoie Retired Psychologist
Recently retired, Marie finds that walking on the trails of Québec is a hugely important resource for her. Discovering other corners of our planet adds a perspective that opens the heart and the mind. The trek in the mountains of Lebanon in 2018, from north to south for thirty days with the LMTA, was one of the most beautiful and memorable hikes that she has done to date. She wants to share this enthusiasm.

François Chanel Psychologist
François is a clinical psychologist. He discovered Lebanon when he met Maryse and gave in to the charms of both of them. Hiking the LMT, with its incredible landscapes and diversity, and feeling the warm welcome in every village, was such a deep experience that he sincerely recommends it to his Canadian friends.