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Mayor Valérie Plante visited Dans la rue Thursday afternoon during its open house to mark 30 years of helping street kids.

Plante paid tribute to the organization founded by Father Emmett Johns, known as Pops, who died last January at age 89.

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“Pops isn’t with us any more, he left us last year, but you can see how vibrant the organization is, and you can feel the spirit of Pops somehow,” she said to journalists.

Plante said one of the highlights of her visit was learning about the organization’s school program to help young people finish their high school education.

Photo by Christinne Muschi / MONTREAL GAZETTE

“That was very interesting to me,” she said.

“I think it’s a great way to encourage young people to take back their lives.”

The mayor got a guided tour of Dans la rue’s day centre on Ontario St., which offers services like hot showers, a cafeteria, music room, laundry facilities, nursing care, dog kennel, job guidance and psychological counselling.