For Immediate Release 
August 2nd, 2005

Montréal, World Book Capital presents its ambassador for the month of August: author, journalist and filmmaker Josh Freed

MONTREAL, Aug. 2 /CNW Telbec/ - Montréal, World Book Capital is honoured to introduce its ambassador for the month of August: Josh Freed. An internationally renowned author, journalist and filmmaker, Mr Freed is also a voracious reader who uses books to combat his chronic insomnia.

In the coming weeks, Josh Freed will participate in a number of activities, including:

• Je lis Montréal: on Thursday August 11, at noon, at Altitude 737, Place Ville- Marie: launch of a photo exhibition by the non-profit organization Reporters Communication in collaboration with Les Editions de l'Homme, to be presented all summer long on McGill College Avenue, as part of Montréal, World Book Capital;
• The Fête des enfants, Saturday, August 20 and Sunday, August 21 at Parc Maisonneuve;
• Words & Music Show, an evening organized by the Quebec Writers' Federation at the Casa del Popolo on Sunday, August 21.

It is with great pleasure and interest that Josh Freed has agreed to act as ambassador of Montréal, World Book Capital for the month of August. Mr Freed will thus take advantage of the summer season to share his passion
for reading, while continuing to publish his weekly column in The Gazette. In addition, he will be playing onstage to sold-out audiences at Theatre Lac Brome in Four Anglos of the Apocalypse, accompanied by caricaturist Aislin (Terry Mosher) and comedians Bowser and Blue.

Josh Freed's first memories of reading date back to his childhood. Does he remember the first book he read? "The Cat in The Hat, by Dr. Seuss. I must have been about seven years old. I then went on to read all of Dr. Seuss, including Horton Hears A Who, Yertle the Turtle and Fox in Socks." Mr Freed fell in love with Seuss's rhyming couplets, and explains: "I talked in rhyme/ Until I was nine/I still often do/Why? Not a clue."

Asked when he prefers to read, Josh Freed replies, "When everyone else is asleep and the only thing in the world is me and the book I'm clutching. I'm a lifetime insomniac who's always up till at least 3 a.m., when a book never leaves my hands. I start out early with compelling novels then switch to essays and history as I get closer to being ready to fall asleep." He elaborates: "TV wakes me/E-mail shakes me/Books give me bliss/They're my late night kiss."

As well as being one of the country's most widely respected newspaper columnists (recipient of Press release For immediate release Page 2 of 2 Canada's National Newspaper Award for Best Columnist in 1998 and 2003), Josh Freed is an award-winning documentary filmmaker whose work has received numerous Genie awards. His films, which have taken him from Mongolia to Russia via the North Pole, have been broadcast on CBC, PBS and A&E, on Discovery and Bravo in the United States, on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom, and in 50 other countries. "I love to travel but when I can't, I read."

Josh Freed has published several short-story collections, including Sign Language, Fear of Frying and Press 1 and Pray, and, in French, Vive le Québec Freed. He has also co-authored two best-selling humour books, The Anglo Guide to Survival in Quebec and 2000 Reasons to Hate the Millennium, published in Canada and the United States.

Montréal, World Book Capital has twelve ambassadors, one for each month of the year. Hailing from all horizons and backgrounds, they underscore the broad diversity of the city's reading public. Publisher and sculptor Alain Stanké (June) and actress Pascale Montpetit (July) have already had the opportunity to share their passion for books and reading. The title of World Book Capital has been awarded annually by UNESCO since
2001. Montréal is the fifth city to be thus honoured, following in the footsteps of Madrid, Alexandria, New Delhi and Antwerp. From April 23, 2005 to April 22, 2006, numerous activities will be organized to promote books and
reading.

The event Montréal, World Book Capital is made possible thanks to the contribution of several partners, including premier partner Quebecor inc. Other partners of Montréal, World Book Capital include the City of Montréal, Heritage Canada, the Québec government and the Canada Council for the Arts. The collaboration of the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) and the Radio- Canada Première Chaîne and CBC Radio One stations should also be noted. For more information on Montréal, World Book Capital or to consult the
calendar of activities, visit our Web site at mcml.canoe.com .

For further information: Normand Desjardins, Director of Communications,
Montréal, World Book Capital, (514) 273-4606, extension 273, Fax:
(514) 273-9657, E-mail: ndesjardins@montrealcapitaledulivre.com