Volunteers usually went first to Toronto, where they met at the headquarters for the operation, located at Queen and Spadina streets. Applicants were screened. For the most part anyone intending to enlist had to have had a history of working for the left. Drunken and adventurous types were weeded out, leaving those who were ideologically committed to the politics of the fight against fascism. These factors, together with the comparatively mature age of the soldiers – 61.5% were over thirty – resulted in a powerful and committed force. From Toronto they traveled to Montreal or, more frequently, New York City, to depart by ships for travel across the Atlantic Ocean to France. They continued to Spain by ship or on foot across the Pyrenees.