Behind the lens: Chronicling three decades of life at the JGH

Mar 6, 2025

Felipe Argaez

For over 35 years, Felipe Argaez has trained his lens on the people and events that make a thriving institution like the Jewish General Hospital tick. Surgeries, inaugurations, researchers at work—he’s been there to record it all.

On March 14, Mr. Argaez retires after a rich career chronicling the moments, large and small, that belong to JGH history.

“I always looked for that special moment that no one else saw,” Mr. Argaez says. “It was a wonderful career—I was there to witness so much.”

Here are 10 photographs selected by Mr. Argaez that highlight his career.

1988: The late Dr. Mark Wainberg and an assistant in a lab at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research.
1988: The late Dr. Mark Wainberg and an assistant in a lab at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research.
2006: A baby’s tiny foot appears inside an incubator at the JGH Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
2006: A baby’s tiny foot appears inside an incubator at the JGH Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
A researcher works in his lab at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research.
2006: A researcher works in his lab at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research.
2007: Beverly Rudolph of The JGH Auxiliary surrounded by pillows for the Helping Heart Pillow Project, aimed at alleviating post-surgical pain for cardiac patients.
2007: Beverly Rudolph of The JGH Auxiliary surrounded by pillows for the Helping Heart Pillow Project, aimed at alleviating post-surgical pain for cardiac patients.
2008: A beam of light focuses on a neurosurgeon’s hands during an operation.
2008: A beam of light focuses on a neurosurgeon’s hands during an operation.
2016: A doctor at a console (at left) controls robotic arms to perform cardiac surgery.
2016: A doctor at a console (at left) controls robotic arms to perform cardiac surgery.
2020: Members of the Maintenance team stand before boxes of donations for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Members of the Maintenance team stand before boxes of donations for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: The JGH Laundry team handling a portion of the 9,100 kilograms of daily laundry during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: The JGH Laundry team handling a portion of the 9,100 kilograms of daily laundry during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Male members of management sport beards and moustaches behind their masks to raise funds for research and treatment of prostate cancer at the JGH.
2020: Male members of management sport beards and moustaches behind their masks to raise funds for research and treatment of prostate cancer at the JGH.
2020: Before a throng of journalists, teams deliver the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines in Montreal to residents at Donald Berman Maimonides Geriatric Centre.
2020: Before a throng of journalists, teams deliver the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines in Montreal to residents at Donald Berman Maimonides Geriatric Centre.

Tags: COVID-19, Donald Berman Maimonides Geriatric Centre, Dr. Mark Wainberg, Felipe Argaez, Jewish General Hospital, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Laundry, Maintenance Department, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Photography, Surgery, The JGH Auxiliary