September 28, 2004

To: Whom It May Concern:

Re: Bruce Montague

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is Marco DiGiosia, I’ve just recently relocated my family from Ontario, home to Nova Scotia. I'm a professional accountant by day and until recently the senior martial arts instructor at the University of Waterloo. The things I value most in life are respect, honour, decorum, integrity, honesty and compassion.

A week or so ago I called a dear friend of mine in Dryden to ask a question about a broken hunting rifle my father owns. No one was at home. A week later I received a collect call from Bruce asking if he could help me with my question. He apologized for calling collect and told me that he was in jail, arrested for refusing to register his hunting guns. I was stunned. I was further stunned to hear that the authorities were calling him dangerous. Sometimes headstrong when it comes to principles, yes but certainly not dangerous.

I’ve known Bruce Montague and his lovely family for 16 years, we’ve roofed houses together, plucked chickens, helped a Mennonite family who’s horse and buggy overturned and tossed them out in the middle of winter. A man who goes out of his way to help his neighbour, help the church put on their Christmas pageants, schools put on their plays. One of only a few individuals that I have met in my short 40 years that has touched my heart with his love and caring for people and his family and upholds the same values as I do.

I could go on and on about Bruce and his family, however, the point of my letter is that Bruce is the type of man who hundreds of years ago stood fast to his principles and beliefs and established this great country that we live in. Bruce is the type of man who stands up for what he believes in and is willing to suffer for the good of others.

What Bruce "hasn't done", he did out of conscientious principle, not any criminal or violent tendency.

Sincerely,

Marco DiGiosia - Halifax, Nova Scotia