Thank you to the Hope Foundation, for asking me to be a part of this welcome and for giving me the opportunity to speak with all of you this morning.

In addition, I would like to extend greetings from the Mayor and City Council, who wish you much success in the "Power of the People Run".

We are all very familiar with the great work of the Hope Foundation and appreciate your longstanding commitment to hope.

Today, in particular, I would like to salute you for your willingness to focus much needed attention on home care and long term care. Ann's run comes at a critical time in our nation. Our baby boomers are ageing and the need for home care has never been more evident. The sobering truth is that the home care crisis is far from over.

We have made and continue to make important strides…but we cannot allow these strides to breed complacency.

There is more…much more…to be done.

Your "power of the people" theme makes a very valuable point. With the help of the people, we have the power to find better ways to care for our sick and our aged.

We have the power to build hope. And, with hope, anything is possible.

Thank you Ann and the Hope Foundation for your dedication to the power of hope.

On behalf of the City of Edmonton, I would like to welcome you home, An. You are an inspiration. And…as you continue your trip westward, we wish you continued success in your goal to raise funds and awareness for home care and long term care.

You have brought hope to a great many lives and have touched many people with your dedication to make the world a better place.

Have a safe journey.