Police are thanking our unsung heroes.
Dozens of smiling nurses, doctors and frontline medical staff at St. Joseph’s HealthCentre, on The Queensway, were applauded and thanked by officers of 11 and 22 Divisions on Easter Sunday for working long, stressful hours to battle COVID-19.
The healthcare workers, wearing their gowns and masks, were presented with a lovely card signed by most officers from the Divisions and serenaded by two officers with guitars.
The appreciative officers, with the lights of their police vehicles flashing, paid a visit to the hospital to show their appreciation to staff and the speedy recovery of patients during a break on Sunday.
Many frail patients looked out from the hospital windows at a cavalry of flashing lights from the police vehicles.
A video of the show of support has been posted on Twitter for members of the community.
“This was such a nice gesture, it made my friends and I cry,” wrote Elma Selimotic. “Thank you.”
“Very nice,” said Jen Maharaj Singh, who saw the video while on the bus.
“Thank you so much,” Setka K. wrote. “Happy Easter to all.”
The west-end officers work closely with St. Joseph’s Health Care officials, moreso during the COVID-19 pandemic.
St. Joseph’s has a long and proud tradition of serving the diverse and growing needs of the city’s west end for nearly a century. The hospital was founded in 1921 by the Sisters of St. Joseph to care for those in need.
Today, the Catholic hospital and community teaching health centre is affiliated with the University of Toronto and serves a community of nearly 500,000 people.