Veterans and newcomers guard the former Montreal Children's Hospital

Among the employees in charge of looking after and guarding the heritage site of the Montreal Children's Hospital of the McGill University Health Centre (MCH-MUHC), there are two carpenters and a few security guards.

A native of Cuba, Yoel Perez Gorris arrived in Canada two years ago. When he started guarding the original MCH-MUHC building last September, everything was already closed. “The job isn’t complicated,” he says, “but you have to make regular rounds and keep an eye on the surroundings.”

The former MUHC-MCH’s other two guards, Khemais Dassi and Gilles Gauthier, knew the hospital when it was fully occupied. They hold on to fond memories of the children and their families.

“I miss the little kids,” says Gauthier. “When they ask you, ‘Hi, who are you? What are you doing? Why are you protecting us?’ it’s moving. It touches your heart.”

“I used to work in the Emergency,” says Dassi. “I tried to reassure parents and direct them to the right department. I always thought it was important to keep a human outlook and to help parents of sick children.”

Gauthier has been working at the Children’s for two years, and Dassi for eight months, while carpenter Greg Beerwort has spent 26 years maintaining the Children’s.

“Have I seen changes here!” he says. “But my constant was always the pleasant relationships with my colleagues and supervisors.”

Beerwort shares his duties with Sylvain Parent, a woodworker who decided to change jobs four years ago.

“I built church organs for 30 years before this job,” says Parent. “It was meticulous work. This is more relaxed, because we are maintaining rather than building. I also enjoy the work environment here.”

After the sale of the site, Beerwort and Parent will be transferred to the Montreal General Hospital of the MUHC, and the security team will be sent to guard the former Royal Victoria Hospital site. Meanwhile, all continue to ensure that the heritage of the MUHC is well looked after.