Mission Statement

Even before the pandemic, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation proposed that a group of nurses be called a “compassion.” And since January, compassions have been a regular sight at the shelter I run in downtown Montreal. Every five days or so, with their laptops and super swabs, a half-dozen nurses in full scrubs have been conducting COVID‑19 testing of the people we serve at the Old Brewery Mission. They’ve also been vaccinating them on site. A second jab for most is due soon, and it almost feels like we’ve wrestled the virus to the ground. But I’ve felt this way before.

Back in March 2020, the original mesures d’hygiène were imposed on all Montreal shelters. We had to reduce the number of beds by about half to permit safe distancing in the dorms and cafeterias. Arenas and hotels had to be appropriated and staffed to accommodate those disinvited from our...