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Mitch is a film-maker, community leader, world traveler, public speaker and Candidate for National Membership Secretary for the Liberal Party of Canada. (For more info visit www.votemitch.ca)Traveling to over 40 countries in his wheelchair by the age of 28 has given him a broad view of the world. From the jungles of Colombia to the megacities of Asia, Mitch has experienced it all. Mitch's first film aired nation wide on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and Current TV in the United States. Mitch has filmed in the most remote regions of the world, typically focusing on human rights issues. Mitch has also been a strong advocate for conflict regions which is what inspired him to get involved in politics. Politics has allowed Mitch to meet primeministers, presidents and many influential policy makers.
Mitch St.Pierre
tv radio
Telvision & Radio Interviews
Travel Talk Radio with Sandy Dhuyvetter
Radio - The Border Interview
TV - Meeting Barack Obama
Radio - Train Hopping Film
TV - Obama Campaign
TV Interview on "Daytime"
TV - Mitch on Gene Simmons
Travel Talk Radio with Sandy Dhuyvetter
Radio - The Border Interview
TV - Meeting Barack Obama
Radio - Train Hopping Film
TV - Obama Campaign
TV Interview on "Daytime"
TV - Mitch on Gene Simmons
videos
Videos
Visiting of Cambodian Village
Beyond Borders
Thai-Burma Border
Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality
Nicki Goes to New York
The Race Around South America 1/2
The Race Around South America 2/2
Obama Campaign Documentary
Breaching Area 51 - Use of deadly force authorized
Footage of Haiti - Gonaives, Cap Haitien, Port-au-Prince
Asia Trains
Gliding Video
Traveling throughout Cuba
Mining of Natural Resources and the Extractive Industry in Africa
Visiting of Cambodian Village
Beyond Borders
Thai-Burma Border
Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality
Nicki Goes to New York
The Race Around South America 1/2
The Race Around South America 2/2
Obama Campaign Documentary
Breaching Area 51 - Use of deadly force authorized
Footage of Haiti - Gonaives, Cap Haitien, Port-au-Prince
Asia Trains
Gliding Video
Traveling throughout Cuba
Mining of Natural Resources and the Extractive Industry in Africa
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PeoplePolitics
Mitch meets Tom Cruise
Diane Sawyer n Mitch St.Pierre
Gene Simmons Shannon Tweed
Fox News Interview
Mitch and Seth Green
Interviewing Noam Chomsky
Colombian President Uribe
North Carolina - Nov 3rd- 2008
Mitch and Jesse Jackson
Trailer Park Boys
Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Senator Romeo Dallaire
Backstreet Boys and New Kids
Mitch being interviewed in NYC
Mitch and Michael Ignatieff
Burma's fexiled Prime Minister
Former PM of Portugal
Venezuelan Ambassador
Mitch meets Tom Cruise
Diane Sawyer n Mitch St.Pierre
Gene Simmons Shannon Tweed
Fox News Interview
Mitch and Seth Green
Interviewing Noam Chomsky
Colombian President Uribe
North Carolina - Nov 3rd- 2008
Mitch and Jesse Jackson
Trailer Park Boys
Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Senator Romeo Dallaire
Backstreet Boys and New Kids
Mitch being interviewed in NYC
Mitch and Michael Ignatieff
Burma's fexiled Prime Minister
Former PM of Portugal
Venezuelan Ambassador
WorkAbroad
Floating village school
Hanging out with the kids
Abandoned trains
Whitehouse
Mae Tao Clinic
Hanging out with the kids
Guyana
Bodyguards
Abandoned train home
Guatemala
Brazil Argentina Border
Child living in train
Kids having fun in wheelchair
Abandoned train yard
Rio
Favela's
Vietnam
Along the tracks
Along the tracks
Bolivia
Malaysia
Boat
Bolivia
Kids playing with Mitch
Suriname Guyana Border
Shawn at Angkor Wat
Entering Peru
Hong Kong
Floating village school
Hanging out with the kids
Abandoned trains
Whitehouse
Mae Tao Clinic
Hanging out with the kids
Guyana
Bodyguards
Abandoned train home
Guatemala
Brazil Argentina Border
Child living in train
Kids having fun in wheelchair
Abandoned train yard
Rio
Favela's
Vietnam
Along the tracks
Along the tracks
Bolivia
Malaysia
Boat
Bolivia
Kids playing with Mitch
Suriname Guyana Border
Shawn at Angkor Wat
Entering Peru
Hong Kong
Community
Fundraising Event
Mitch speaking
Mitch Trudeau and Neha
Rallying for Tibet
Leadership Ottawa
Speaking
HIV TB Roundtable
Radio Interview
Premiere Awards
Speaking
Mitch screening a film
Mitch and Ignatieff
Fundraising Event
Mitch speaking
Mitch Trudeau and Neha
Rallying for Tibet
Leadership Ottawa
Speaking
HIV TB Roundtable
Radio Interview
Premiere Awards
Speaking
Mitch screening a film
Mitch and Ignatieff
Living
Mitch and Carolina
mitch javier flying
mitch gliding
jake mitch
Pancakes
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Mitch and Carolina
mitch javier flying
mitch gliding
jake mitch
Pancakes
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articles
SATH
Mitch Speaks at the SATH World Congress
In early 2011, Mitch St.Pierre was invited to speak at the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality World Congress onboard a Cruise ship to Mexico. Mitch spoke to an audience that included the travel industry, corporations, people with disabilities and those interested in advocating for accessible travel. Speaking on "Remote Regions of the World", Mitch gave an overview of how it is to travel abroad in unaccessible area's. --- SATH.orgOur mission is to raise awareness of the needs of all travelers with disabilities, remove physical and attitudinal barriers to free access and expand travel opportunities in the United States and abroadThe Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (SATH), founded in 1976, is an educational non-profit membership organization whose mission is to raise awareness of the needs of all travelers with disabilities, remove physical and attitudinal barriers to free access and expand travel opportunities in the United States and abroad. SATH, formerly Society for the Advancement of Travel for the Handicapped, has a well-established record in representing the interests of persons with disabilities. SATH participated in the writing of regulations for the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Air Carriers Access Act, as well Resolution 700 and 1700 of the International Air Transport Association. A Code of Conduct toward travelers with disabilities written by SATH was adopted by the World Tourism Organization in 1991. SATH has also lobbied for legislative change in the European Community and assisted numerous governments to develop national access guidelines.SATH's annual World Congress, is an important convention bringing together travel agents, tour operators, cruise lines, and destinations from all over the world as we strive to make travel a more accessible experience for everyone.SATH works closely with a number of sponsoring corporations to help create training programs and materials improve customer service and develop better outreach and marketing. SATH also assists foreign governments with accessibility projects to make their destinations accessible for people with disabilities.SATH has been awarded many accolades for the work that has been done till now and one of them being the prestigious The World Tourism Award sponsored by American Express (AMEX), International Herald Tribune (IHT), and Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE). In 2010 SATH was inducted to the Hall of Fame by CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association).www.sath.org
Thai Burma Border
The Thai/Burma Border: Misery & Hope by Mitch St.Pierre
I've been following the ongoing conflict in Burma for several years, but it wasn't until I heard the stories at former Secretary of State David Kilgour's house that I decided it was time to check out the situation on my own. Mr Kilgour had a reception at his Ottawa home for several Burma advocates including Dr. Cynthia Maung - everyone simply calls her Dr. Cynthia. She had come to Ottawa from the Thai-Burma border to urge the Canadian government to continue its federal funding of relief projects there. Dr Cynthia is an inspiring Burmese woman who has won a slew of international human rights awards; she also runs a medical clinic for refugees on the border of Thailand and Burma, where hundreds of thousands have received treatment since the conflict began.It wasn't long after that I threw my bag on the back of my wheelchair and embarked on a journey to witness some of the impacts caused by a brutal military regime. I landed in Bangkok Thailand where I would begin my journey to Mae Sot. It's a town that shares a border with Burma where Burmese refugees outnumber Thais by more than two to one. As a main over-land gateway between the two countries, it has gained a notorious reputation for gem trading, human trafficking and drugs. It is also home to hundreds of thousands of Burmese refugees and economic migrants. Refugees come mostly from Burma's war torn ethnic Karen State, a region engulfed by intense conflict between the 400,000 government soldiers and a small rebel force of 12,000 fighters. The rebels are determined to achieve an autonomous Karen State and to protect the Karen people from abuses by the government. Over the years, thousands of ailing refugees make their journey to Dr. Cynthia's Mae Tao Clinic. Many of them arrive on foot, some barely making it. The clinic was established by Dr. Cynthia during the 1988 Burmese pro democracy movement. The military seized power, many activists disappeared, and others fled the country. Traveling through the jungle at night, Dr Cynthia and fourteen of her colleagues carrying limited supplies made their way to Thailand. Along their 7 day journey through the jungle, they passed through remote villages, treating local people suffering from disease and injury. To the generals of Burma, she is an opium-smuggling terrorist and an insurgent causing unrest. To the thousands she treats and trains, she is a saint. The clinic provides free health care for those who are escaping the military rulers. People of all ethnicities and religions are welcome at the clinic. The success of the Mae Tao Clinic depends upon collaboration with other local and international organizations and the ongoing support from the international community. My stay in Mae Sot was heartbreaking but hopeful. From education projects, health clinics, to orphanages, people from all around the world come to Mae Sot to assist in any way they can. Derek Koch is one of these people, a fellow Canadian who works with an NGO called Imagine Thailand. For years, large numbers of children have been fleeing the region towards the relative safety of Thailand. This has led countless children into over crowded orphanages in Mae Sot. Imagine Thailand works in poor and marginalized communities empowering youth, businesses and communities with the tools needed to bring about beneficial change. Derek brought us to a few of the many orphanage/boarding schools where in some cases only 2 bathrooms were available for 400 students, 140 of them who live there on a permanent basis. One of the projects his NGO is involved with; is the 'Clean Water Project'. Globally, diarrhea is the leading cause of illness and death and 88% of diarrhoeal related deaths are due to a lack of access to sanitation facilities. The Clean Water Project helps by providing each migrant school in Mae Sot with a source of clean, reliable drinking water. The reverse osmosis water filtration system removes bacteria and toxins and cleans the water to nearly 100 percent purity. For the most part, the border town does not lack water; it lacks water that is safe and clean. For many, drinking water without toxins and bacteria is not an option. Bottled water is expensive, especially for those with an extremely limited budget. Improving access to clean water and sanitation is vital for children to develop physically, and mentally. It is also one of the UN Millennium Goal targets.After leaving Mae Sot, I left for Burma. flew into the capital, Rangoon. The city was old, run-down. Its infrastructures were crumbling and inadequate. At the same time, it had beautiful sites such as the Shwedagon Pagoda, a 2500 year old sacred Buddhist pagoda with relics of the past four Buddha's. The people of Burma too are warm, welcoming and very friendly. This was surprising given the oppressive conditions they live in. Government control is pervasive. Internet access is highly censored. There is no independent judiciary or democratic institutions. Burma is the textbook example of a police state. The average Burmese person is afraid to speak to tourists except in superficial ways, fearful of being hauled in for questioning or worse. Every attempt I made to travel to the Karen region proved impossible. No driver would take us there. My journey to the border was something I will never forget. The images of misery are enduring as is the hope for a brighter tomorrow thanks to the many local Burmese, Thais and foreigners who dedicate themselves to helping the refugees. Despite the continued suffering inflicted by the Burmese military government, around the world there is support. Grass roots organizations and NGOs are mobilizing, advocating, and putting pressure on governments to urge Burma to change its course. For more information please visit:www.maetaoclinic.org www.imaginethailand.org www.filmsforhumanrights.org
Colombia Misjudged
Colombia Misjudged and Getting There by Mitch St. Pierre
It seems like just yesterday since that fateful day when I packed a small backpack, loaded it on the back of my wheelchair, met up with my good friend Shawn and took a one way flight to Los Angeles, California. Our mission, to travel by land and or sea to Colombia, the jewel of South America. I knew the journey would be challenging, but never did I think this trip would see me visiting ancient Mayan temples deep in the jungles of Guatemala, or surviving an encounter that saw us staring down the barrel of a gun in Panama, only to find myself stranded on a tropical island in the middle of the Caribbean ocean.It was a trip that greatly affected the way I see the world today. It is my hope that in reading these adventures you will come to realize as I have that there is more to life and that anything is possible if you have the courage to run with your dreams. Of course too many things happened on that fateful journey to write about at this one moment in time, so forgive me if I leave out a few details.After thousands of kilometres and several months of intense trekking we found ourselves in Panama City. By this point we had picked up a friend named Max. Max was from Alaska and like us was working his way south. We had bumped into him a few times on our trip and eventually we just stayed together. Once settled in the city we learned from some travelers that it was possible to sail to Colombia via a small city called Colon, about an hours bus ride east of Panama City along the Panama Canal. From there we could sail the trade winds through the sandblast islands and on to Cartagena Colombia. It was one of the two ways to travel to Colombia, the other being by land. The land route is known as The Darien Gap. Its the land that connects Panama to Colombia. There are no roads between Panama and Colombia, only dense jungle. We had been told at the time it was due to the governments trying to slow the transport of illegal narcotics and weapons. Its definitely a road less traveled, and well there really was no road. To put it bluntly it was dense jungles controlled by guerrillas. After little thought, we decided against the Darien Gap it didnt seem to be very wheelchair friendly anyway.Colon is dangerous, plain and simple, but its a place of stark contrast. On one hand its the worlds second most important duty-free zone, located on the Atlantic coast along the mouth of the Panama Canal; it was a huge economic engine. On the other hand outside the fenced in complex which could only be entered with a valid passport, we had crumbling infrastructure, impoverished people, drug and weapon trafficking, money laundering, all fused together to create an atmosphere of corruption and danger. As our rickety bus rolled into town it was easy to see how men of old called it the pest hole of the Universe. We stuck out like a sore thumb and little did we realize at the time that we had arrived in hell.Somewhere within this dilapidated city we needed to find someone who not only had a boat, but who was also willing to take us to Colombia. After taking a taxi all over town and visiting every possible nook and cranny we finally arrive at the Colon yacht club where we found an Italian boat captain who agreed to take us. Looking back I find it hard to understand why it didnt strike us odd that our cab driver took us to the yacht club last and not first, but hey we saw the city and he made a few bucks. The Italian boat captain whom we shall refer to from now on as the captain, told us he could take us to Colombia in his 30 foot sailboat, and that we would be leaving in a couple days. The journey was to take around 5 days. Along with Shawn and Max we would also be sailing with two friends from Switzerland who we had met a few times during our travels through Central America. Before we were to depart we decide to go into town and buy some supplies for the trip. By now it was three oclock in the afternoon, kids are at play, and the sky is blue without a cloud in the sky. We were walking and discussing the days journey when suddenly we were surrounded by 5 men. One man walks towards Shawn, the American and I, pulls out a handgun and points in Shawns face. At the same moment another man is hitting our boat captain over the head with a metal piece and Im sitting still in a state of shock helplessly watching as the events began to unfold. They demand our things, everything. At first Shawn is compliant and begins to take off his bag. Halfway through he realizes everything he owns is in that bag, including his passport and money. This is the last hell hole most people would want to be, let alone without money or a passport. Deciding it would be better to have a bullet wound than no passport or money Shawn begins to resist. Another man is going through Maxs pockets taking whatever he can, which Max gladly gives. By now one of the men is struggling with Shawn as he refused to hand over his bag, even with a gun to his head. The ordeal lasts about 2 minutes and the men scatter across the street to a crumbling apartment complex. I thought that an experience like this would scare me onto the next flight back to Canada but the adrenaline kept me yearning for more.A few cuts to head for the boat captain, stolen money and camera for the American and Shawn and I left unharmed with all our belongings. Police showed up shortly afterwards and took a report from Max as the locals all watched from a cross the street. They as well as we knew what was gone was gone, and we were just excited to be alive. We made our way back to the boat, me and Shawn grinning at each other over the close encounter while making sure the now long faced Max didnt notice.I cant say I was excited for the 5 days sailing at sea that lay ahead of us. Especially considering I wouldnt be able to use my wheelchair due to the size of the boat. It wasnt more than 2 days when I decided I wanted off of the boat. We hit large waves, which was quite nauseating. I felt like vomiting every time I sat up. I was constantly being tossed from side to side from within the hot and humid hull. Not to mention the closet of a bathroom wasnt what you would call accessible to my kind.The romantic sail at sea was not happening for me. I convinced Max who was in a similar situation as me that we needed to get off the boat. Shawn was pretty keen on staying aboard the boat as he was having no problems and wanted to continue the adventure. The captain urged us to stay but we were adamant on getting off the boat and onto solid land. We asked to be dropped off at a nearby island that was the size of half a city block. It was big enough for a small plane to come pick us up at some point. The island only consisted of a few bamboo huts and a little restaurant that served barracuda. Max and I got off the boat and said our goodbyes. A part of me was nervous and anxious being that I was separating from Shawn. We had been traveling for 3 month together by now, 24 hours and 7 days a week together. Although it was nice to get a break we had no idea where we where or how wed get out, let alone meet up in some new country. Keep in mind these were the days before cell phones and texting, Ill be honest it was a bit scary. We decided we would meet in Cartagena Colombia, Shawn would continue to sail on through the sandblast Island while me and Max would attempt to fly out of here somehow and meet him there. The goal was to meet at a fabled hostel in Cartagena. The hostel was called Casa Vienna and who ever got there first would wait until the other showed up, our fingers were crossedAs we watched Shawn and his boat shrink into the horizon we decided to find out when we could get of this little island and on to Cartagena. We quickly found out that it would be several days before a plane could come rescue us. Max and I spent the days sitting by the ocean eating barracuda listening to the waves crash; I mean what else was there to do. One day whole sitting and watching the waves we learned that a local man would be able to take us to another much smaller island nearby so that we could experience the life of the local Kuna indigenous people. Of course, we accepted his offer. We hopped into a small boat and travelled an hour from our island to the much smaller island; this island was not much bigger than a school gym. It had several palm trees, sandy beaches and one hut with a family of 4. The local man told us he would pick us up in 24 hours or so and that we could return to our island in order to catch our flight. Once again we watched as our ride disappeared into the blue horizon.The local Kuna people were probably wondering what the heck a tall white man and a little man in a wheelchair were doing on their tiny island in the middle of nowhere. Im surprised we didnt wonder the same thing. We strolled over to introduce ourselves in Spanish and they just looked at us with a blank stare. We didnt feel very invited to their island home which is understandable as we had basically invaded their island. We tried to make them feel comfortable with us being on their island but they didnt seem interested at all. Now that we wanted off their island, we were stuck. We strolled to the opposite side of the island put our backpacks on the sandy beach and commenced to once again watch the waves and the sea, only this time a little ill at ease.We decided to camp out, actually that was all we could do, and with the family and their home 30 yards away it was a bit odd if anything. We had 24 hours to kill before our local boat man would be back to pick us up. I soon began to become paranoid thinking of the fact that this local boat man was the only person in the world who knew where we were. If he didnt come back, we would be in a lot of trouble. We may be forced to marry into the local family and become permanent residence of this little clump of sand, climbing trees and picking coconuts, well at least Max would. But on the bright side, maybe I could use the time to learn the Kuna language.After a night under the stars, plastered in huge mosquito bites due to the lack of bed nets, Max and I woke up to a bowl of banana rice. The father of the family was gracious enough to bring us some food. We ate our banana rice and played tic-tac-toe in the sand as we waited for our boat. Finally, on the 24th hour, our local boat man returned to bring us back to the bigger island. We thanked the family for allowing us to live on their island for the night and returned to the bigger island. Im sure they happily watched us drift of over the horizon. Once there we said our goodbyes to our fairy driver, got ashore and met with a small plane that was just big enough to bring us to Panama City where we would connect to Cartagena Colombia.We arrived in Colombia approximately 5 days later to the rendezvous point Shawn and I had discussed prior to our separation in the middle of nowhere. The sailing trip was supposed to take 5 days so I figured Shawn would be back at the same time, but no Shawn. A couple days went by and still no sign of Shawn. His parents were writing me asking where he was. A part of me thought something happened at sea. From what I remembered, the waves were quite large. It wasnt until the night of day 9 when Shawn finally made it into port. Alas, we were all at our final destination, Colombia, and what a city to meet in. Cartagena has easily earned its title as the jewel of the Caribbean.Unfortunately, Colombia is a country with an unwelcoming reputation. Colombias 40 year internal conflict between paramilitaries, guerrilla groups and the Colombian army has created the ground for one of the worlds most internally displaced people. Although Colombia has many problems, it definitely does not deserve the reputation it has. It is a country saturated of many flavours, colors, culture and very good people.We spend a few weeks in Colombia, exploring the many coastal towns and cities, as well as traveling inland to the mountains and fabled cities like Medellin. Of all the places we passed through on this trip Cartagena by far won our hearts and respect. It rustic Spanish colonial architecture, warm Caribbean vibe and immensely friendly people was just what we needed after months of hard travelling. Days in and out spent crammed in chicken buses on dusty jungle roads, packed in with people and livestock. Hours packed away on decapitated cargo ships that promised to be luxury fairies only to leave us wondering how it even floated.Looking back I cant help but smile, we still talk fondly of even the worst of moments. We did a lot, we saw a lot, and we grew in leaps and bound. I traveled a great since that trip through Latin America; but the impact that trip had on me and Shawn has changed the course of our lives, and I owe much of what I am today to that trip. A lifetime has passed since but the memories will forever stay vivid in my mind and in my heart.For more information click here.
Rally for Burma
Protesters demand human rights, end of military regime in Burma by David Koch
The news of violence comes on the heels of an election in Burma on Sunday that has been condemned internationally as marred by fraud and voter intimidation.If the regime takes a harsh approach, there will be more conflict, more bloodshed, more refugees, Tin Maung Htoo, Executive Director of the Ottawa-based Canadian Friends of Burma (CFB), said Monday.The junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) claimed victory in the poll yesterday while the military cracked down on an uprising by rebel fighters along the southeast border.In Ottawa, pro-democracy activists and Burmese refugees gathered at the Human Rights Monument on Saturday to protest the military junta and the election, which they called a sham.Among the protesters was Naing Aung, the Secretary General of the Thailand-based Forum for Democracy in Burma, which brings together various groups that are opposed to the military junta.He described the Burmese refugees as revolutionaries who would one day return democracy to Burma.We are the future generation of the leadership in our country, Aung said.Htoo estimated that there are about 400 people from Burma living in Ottawa.The protesters, many wearing red headscarves emblazoned with the words Free Burma, said the elections were designed to prolong the rule of the military regime.The elections were boycotted by the National League for Democracy (NLD), which is Burmas main opposition party.Aung San Suu Kyi, the head of the NLD, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize while under house arrest in 1991.Although the NLD won general elections in 1990 under her leadership, the junta has never let go of power.As the junta-backed USDP claimed victory in the election yesterday, members of the ethnic Karen minority living along the Thai border were forced to flee from fighting in the town of Myawatt.Clearly this is not a democratic Burma, said Nisha Toomey, a student at the University of Ottawa who sits on the CFBs board of directors and helped organize the protest on Saturday.The Irrawaddy, a news website based in Thailand, reported today that junta troops had suppressed the uprising in Myawaddi.The UN refugee agency estimated that 15,000 Karen refugees had fled Burma into northern Thailand to escape the fighting between the military and rebels. But some estimates go as high as 40,000.Theres a crisis situation where people need food and water and clothes, said Toomey, who worked in Thailand for three years in schools established by Burmese refugees.We dont know how long this is going to last.She said that Canada should earmark money for emergency situations like this one.She also called on the Canadian government to push Thailand to accept the displaced people as refugees so that they would be able to access social services.For more information click here
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