Many Quebecers will be in the job for the New Year

Axel Marchand-Lamothe

Sunday, 31 December, 2017 01:00

UPDATE
Sunday, 31 December, 2017 01:00

Look at this article

If millions of Quebecers will be celebrating the arrival of the new year with family or friends, they will also be thousands at work to ensure the well-being and safety of their fellow citizens. The Journal has also met some of the workers who will be at their posts tomorrow.

Photo courtesy

Pierre Rivard

Police officer

For the past 23 years, he lived for several holidays away from loved ones.

“We would like to be with our families, but we must ensure the safety of citizens above all. It is a choice of life, ” says the sergeant in the Sûreté du Québec in Mauricie.

It will take a few minutes to call his wife and his children during the night, but the duty will remain at the centre of priorities.

“The emotions are multiplied, it requires more empathy to intervene. However, people are also generous with us, we appreciate it, ” said this former instructor at the national School of police.

Photo taken from Facebook

Sylvain Durocher

Firefighter

The captain will spend the New Year’s eve with a dozen firefighters in a fire in Repentigny.

“I find that the midnight of the new year strikes more than Christmas, oddly enough. Maybe because it’s more festive, ” says the one who has 21 years of service.

“We always wish that there is no intervention at this time of the year. It seems that it affects us more’, ” he says.

Photo Axel Marchand-Lamothe

Yinh Ly Truong

Nurse

A nurse at the university Institute of geriatrics of Montreal, she will give care to elderly in loss of autonomy and end-of-life.

“Love and the small things that it brings to make a difference for our residents,” says the one who had especially prepared treats at Christmas.

The woman is present to the seniors for the past 19 years.

“It is important to celebrate as a family, but we are also part of their family [to patients]. It is necessary for them also. The smile is essential, it is what comforts them the most, ” she continued.

Photo Axel Marchand-Lamothe

Jean-Christophe Ferland

Paramedic

He began his eighth year in the Lanaudière region. Each year, Mr. Ferland is on the road to respond to emergencies during the Holiday season.

“This is not necessarily more difficult, but it is necessary to let the children and the family side. We always said that it’s for a good cause, ” he says.

Psychological distress, accidents, heart attack. The calls are both similar and unpredictable, but Mr. Ferland would like to start the year in beauty.

“It would be fun childbirth, may be the first baby of the year ! “, joke-t-it.

Photo Axel Marchand-Lamothe

Roselisse Richard

Nurse

She works at the pavillon Côte-des-Neiges for the past 26 years. Several residents in his charge do not have their families.

Hold the hand of someone, or make a biscuit to another are acts which go beyond the general care that she provides.

“These are the small touches that make the solitude is broken. It has no price, ” she says.

Despite the emotional charge of her craft, Mrs. Richard wanted to be with them.

“It is a joy to share these intimate moments with patients. It comes for me. One feels useful. It is very rewarding, ” she concludes.

Photo Axel Marchand-Lamothe

Pierre Nadeau

Educator

The employee of the Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de Is-de-l’île-de-Montréal will proceed as usual his tour of supervision of medication with people with mental health disorders.

“We are a big part of their social network. It is part of their family, of their daily lives, ” explains the one who has 38 years of experience in the field.

On the twenty people he meets, many will have taken advantage of the celebrations of the New Year. But the presence of the speaker is still important.

“It is a human contact and you get a lot of recognition for it. It is very rewarding for us, ” he says.

Photo courtesy

Jason Barlow

Bus driver

The driver of the Société de transport de Montréal hopper will deliver the party to a safe port in the night of 31 December to 1 January.

“The atmosphere is good. The people are happy that we are there. It seems to be part of the celebration, ” says the one who défoncera the year for a second time with the STM.

The former DJ’s claims that he used to be stationed at the New Year.

“It is a small sacrifice, but it is close to our work colleagues as well,” he said, stressing that they will definitely the time to celebrate in the garage.