Difficult bet to publish a book on the COVID-19 pandemic in 2023. Who wants or even needs to read about what has poisoned our existence since March 2020?
That said, it is easy to understand the need to come back straight to this sad episode in recent history. Already several books have addressed the issue, including 5060 – The carnage in our CHSLDspublished by Éditions La Presse and signed by our colleagues Gabrielle Duchaine, Katia Gagnon and Ariane Lacoursière, The longest springby journalist Alec Castonguay, published by Éditions Québec Amérique, as well as Shock treatments and tartsfrom a collective of authors led by Josiane Cossette and Julien Simard, at Éditions Somme tout, to name but a few.
It’s André Pratte’s turn, former senator and chief editorialist of The Pressto present The forgotten angels, to recall the role of the community in the fight against COVID-19. In particular, the work carried out in the metropolis under the impetus of four philanthropic foundations in underprivileged neighborhoods such as Côte-des-Neiges, Parc-Extension and Montréal-Nord.
Driven by patrons, including Claire Trottier, Andrew Molson and Stephen Jarislowsky, private foundations have indeed felt the need to join forces in March 2020. A group is therefore formed with the assistance of an experienced coordinator, Félix-Antoine Véronneau, and organizations from all of Montreal’s neighborhoods are put together to establish an action plan.
The book, divided into seven short chapters, is a narrative and not an analysis of the fight against the pandemic in the metropolis. Driven by his usual rigor, André Pratte conducted some 70 interviews to review the work of these “forgotten angels” and to draw some conclusions on the importance of the private sector in the proper functioning of the public health system.
The forgotten angels has the merit of highlighting the work of community groups. Their multiple actions broke the isolation of many people. In some neighborhoods, door-to-door has thus made it possible to provide information and comfort to a section of society which remained completely impervious to the health instructions issued every day.
The author modestly echoes the tensions that may have arisen at the end of the period when the four foundations wanted to see Quebec inherit the structure developed by their initiative. Already in place, it was ready to continue to operate with state support. This was not the case, they lament.
The reading of the book ends, unsurprisingly, with a warning about the importance of learning the lessons of the past. The experience acquired over the past three years must feed our thoughts and we must remain prepared for the next crisis, whatever it may be. André Pratte retains, among other things, the intervention of the coordinator of the MultiCaf organization in Côte-des-Neiges, Jean-Sébastien Patrice, in a forum taking stock in September 2022 of the actions described in the book. “We have as many users as at the height of COVID. This time it’s inflation. We are still in crisis! »
Extract
“Now that we’ve pretty much learned to ‘live with the pandemic’, everyone who took part in this drudgery hopes that the government, community groups, philanthropic foundations and the public will benefit from this experience by view of future crises. And why not “permanentize” community action plans? Since the Quebec health system is in permanent crisis, why not harness the energy and knowledge of community groups in support of public health and disease prevention? »
Who is Andre Pratte?
André Pratte was a journalist for nearly 40 years, including 14 as chief editorial writer at The Press. He was an independent senator from 2016 to 2019. The author continues to participate in public debate through his numerous interventions in the media.
The forgotten angels
Editions La Presse
160 pages