While most Montrealers celebrate, others work through Christmas to keep the city running

From snow removal to emergency plumbing and hospital care, some Montrealers spend Christmas on the job.

It’s a time when many are home, busy making the final preparations for the holidays. But not everyone has the day off.

While many people wish for a white Christmas, Marco Orsini is not one of them. Orsini owns MPA, a snow-removal company, and was out all night clearing snow. Even on Christmas, he doesn’t get a break.

“When it snows, we’ve got to go work. We have a client base and they’re expecting us to show up,” Orsini said.

With family gatherings and extra guests, plumbing emergencies can happen. Ben Levine of Levine Brothers Plumbing says his workers will be there to answer the call.

“We’re a skeleton staff during the holidays. We work, we only take care of emergency calls for our current clients,” Levine said.

And he says those emergencies happen every year and they are costly. Levine’s workers get paid double time during the holidays, which means customers will have to pay the holiday tax.

“Yes, you do have to pay for it. And we’re back open full swing on January 5. So if it’s something that could wait, then by all means,” he said.

Essential workers are also taking care of Montrealers in need.

Françoise Ramel of the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec says it is the season of viruses, so things can get busy at hospitals in all departments.

“Every winter it’s always busier because of all the viruses that are circulating,” she said.

Juanita Meikle, housekeeping manager at the MUHC, says emergency rooms can be very full because a lot of family doctors are closed.

Retirement homes across Montreal also do not close during Christmas. Patients’ rights advocate Paul Brunet says their services are crucial.

“People who work in those facilities deserve all of our gratitude because it is a very special job,” Brunet said.

Montreal police (SPVM) officers are keeping watch while others celebrate.