DRUMMONDVILLE. More than a hundred vehicles crisscrossed the streets of Drummondville to show their support for the workers in the health network, Saturday afternoon.
At 1:00 p.m., the participants gathered in the parking lot of the administrative center of the Chênes School Service Center. On the starting line, there were as many sedans as semi-trailers. Either way, it was a smile that featured on the drivers’ faces.
“For us, it is important to encourage health workers. We take our hats off to them. They work day and night. It’s worth taking a little of our time to show them our solidarity ”, proclaims Réal Gaudet, accompanied by his wife.
Retired Jacques Letendre was of the same opinion. “It’s interesting that the event is in Drummondville,” he says. I have a more difficult medical past and I want to encourage staff in hospitals, not to mention those in CHSLDs and RPAs. ”
The first destination was the Sainte-Croix hospital. The cars then continued on to the Frederick-George-Heriot Long-Term Care Accommodation Center (CHSLD).
Dominique Patenaude, a participant, was delighted to see the popularity of the event. “I am a beneficiary attendant at the CIUSSS MCQ. It is can give to know that we are supported by the people of the population, in addition to the members of the network. ”
The latter wanted to be present to support her colleagues in the field. “Some of them are having their vacations cut and their working hours are increasing. I don’t endorse this. We have needs and we would like to be respected and have good working conditions, ”she says.
The route ended in front of the Les Terrasses de la Fonderie retirement home. Sirens and horns were on hand to greet a handful of employees who were outside.
“Today, we had a clear answer. The people are with us. We saw people from outside the region, such as Montreal, Quebec City and Laval. It gives us a lot of energy. In times of a pandemic, it is heartwarming to see that we are not alone in this after months of giving everything ”, concludes Pascal Bastarache, president of the Syndicat du personnel paratechnique, aux services auxiliaires et des professions du CIUSSS de la Mauricie and Center du Québec.
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