Rainy River is the newest community to join campaigns in Kenora, Sioux Lookout, Fort Frances and Thunder Bay. Report of lots of volunteers from Sioux Lookout and repeated requests for more and more ribbons and handouts bode well for the community canvass across the vast distances of Northwestern Ontario. Thunder Bay has held forums, leafletting, and has focussed on life before Medicare to highlight what we risk losing. The ground is still hard in the North, but lawn signs are on order anyway!

10,000 Canada Health Act bookmarks in English and French, Municipal Council resolutions going to 20 municipalities, an essay contest, fabulous graphics on a banner that no one in town can miss -- this is a sizzling campaign organized out of Timmins.

Municipal Council Resolutions have passed in Sault Ste. Marie and Elliot Lake. A fabulous banner graces the campaign office in Sudbury where plans for canvassing are being finalized and a reluctant City Council passed the pro-Medicare resolution. The Romanow Hearing in Sudbury was unique as diaper-clad health coalition members from Timmins car-pooled down for a noon-hour rally of hundreds. Exciting breaking news - volunteer canvassers have come forward in Espanola - welcome and thank you!

In the midst of a provincial by-election, North Bay's campaign is spirited and exciting. Community forums, a campaign office and a recently passed Municipal Council Resolution mark a successful effort. Canvassers are signed up and ready to go!

A brand new addition to the campaign, Midland-Penetanguishene, Orillia and area will work together to canvass main transportation routes and get out those red ribbons!

8,000 lawn signs have just been picked up for Windsor where a local coalition-made video, community forums and a bustling hive of activism characterize a creative campaign. London's canvassing will kick off on the 27th with the Raging Grannies and the Town Crier opening the campaign office. Kitchener-Waterloo has been host to two community forums crowded with hundreds of concerned community members. A banner spans a busy commuter road into Guelph where ribbons already bedeck the centre of town. An essay contest has captured the interest of the younger set in Sarnia where the campaign is off the ground! Fliers and ribbons will be distributed with newspapers en masse in Woodstock's campaign to Save Public Medicare.

Go Train leafletting, mall displays and sidewalk brigades mark the exciting lead up to the canvass in Hamilton. Houses along all main streets in Lindsay are already host to Medicare ribbons after a successful door-to-door launch adding to very effective church leafletting in this dynamic and successful community effort! The farmers market is covered in red at weekend booths in Peterborough's lead up to the canvass. Toronto agencies are "superdecorated" community examples of ribbon and sign displays and regular blitz crews are hard at work as activists take on this huge city. Burlington activists are thrilled with the 1,200 petition signatures they got in two days at mall displays! A giant Yes! National Public Medicare sign can't be missed on Oshawa's main street in a city where canvass crews are already pounding the pavement. Brampton has been extremely busy organizing hospital rallies, leafletting of bus and Go Train stations and a lively campaign office opening.

Watch out for the "old nurse" touring St. Catharines where a hearse traversed the town followed by ribbon-laden activists. The campaign is off to a great start in Welland, Port Colbourne, Niagara Falls and Fort Erie after a lively canvasser training session.

The blossoms aren't out yet, but ribbons are going up in the new campaign in the Rideau Lakes Township. Businesses all along Port Hope's main street are home to window posters marking this highly visible campaign. In Northumberland an exciting town-by-town tour is in the works and canvassers are gearing up. A booming campaign in Brockville features radio talk shows, information booths, leaflets in doctor's offices and regional Municipal Council Resolutions. Seniors have joined in a petition pyramid and a City Proclamation passed to the excitement of local volunteers in Cornwall. A press conference linking over 50 community organizations to the campaign and an excellent start at canvassing has Kingston buzzing. After a great show at the Romanow Hearing Ottawa is gearing up blitz crews and planning a special showing of the pro-Medicare movie "John Q". Wow!