4 lessons from hospital volunteers
Volunteering is described by many as a personally enriching experience. On this International Volunteers Day 2025, hear from Thomas Gillespie, volunteer at the Montreal General Hospital, as well as Sophie Chevalier, who volunteers at the Montreal Children’s Hospital.
Lesson 1: Kindness doesn’t go unnoticed.
Thomas Gillespie still remembers an unexpected conversation with a mysterious young man who walked into the hospital. Upon first glance, Tom found the young man a little intimidating due to his rugged exterior.
“He had a ring through his nose and tattoos on his throat. His head was shaved and he had a wispy beard wrapped with a rubber band. I was at the information desk alone, and wondered where he might be going, but he sat down at the entrance and stayed put for about half an hour. Suddenly, he got up and headed towards me. I wondered if something was about to happen…
‘Mister’ he said firmly. ‘I’ve seen you helping all these people for the last half an hour. Can I buy you a cup of coffee?’”
The young ‘rocker’ headed to the café around the corner (a café also run by MUHC volunteers) and came back holding a toasty cup of coffee for a stranger. Thomas says, we might be surprised by who is noticing our kind actions and who feels impacted.
Lesson 2: Small joys in life matter.
Sophie Chevalier recalls bringing a two-year-old boy outside for fresh air, but this was no ordinary stroll for the baby. He had been hospitalized since birth and up until that point, hadn’t been cleared to go outside due to precautionary protocols. The baby could not talk, but the moment he felt the crisp autumn wind on his face, he became visibly excited!
“That’s all it took to make him really happy,” says Sophie. “It really humbled me. We can sometimes lose sight of the importance of our simple, small joys.”
Sophie recounts a few other stories in the same vein. A mother had been bedside with her twins in acute care. Sophie had been asked by an MUHC staff member to offer this mom a helping hand.
“I suggested a walk to grab some coffee, but the mom answered: ‘All I want is to take a shower. I'll be really, really fast!’ I looked right at her and said, ‘Make it the longest shower of your life.’ She came out after 30 minutes and was very happy.”
Lesson 3: A small window of time is all it takes.
Not everyone can offer multiple volunteer shifts per week—Thomas included. He volunteers once a week. A little bit of his time is all it takes to know that he’s contributing positively, because of how enriching the task is by nature.
“My two younger brothers also do a bit of volunteering for this reason. None of us went into it with a sense of obligation, but we were brought up in a family that believes in looking after other people,” Thomas explains. “One of my brothers lives in Vancouver and has volunteered for a mental health crisis helpline. My other brother lives in Ottawa and volunteers for a food bank.”
Thomas’ wife was also drawn to volunteer work at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. “Seeing people being helped or comforted makes your small window of time into something significant,” concludes Thomas.
Lesson 4: Volunteering is a great option in retirement.
Sophie received retirement advice to find activities like the ones she used to love as a child. She thought back to her younger self, who loved played in the park with friends.
Gentle yoga, toning, and aqua fitness now help keep Sophie’s retirement in motion. She added volunteering to stay social.
“You always need that human contact,” Sophie has learned. “We need volunteers, so I encourage retired people to give it a try. But whatever you choose in your retirement, it must be something that you want to do.”
Sophie also makes seasonal visits to Quebec City to visit her daughter and son-in-law, Annie and Jonathan, who make a world of difference in her life.