'What about us?' Canada home care workers' lockdown heroics neglected

Personal care workers provided a vital service to their elderly and vulnerable clients but face precarious terms and low wages

For the elderly people in her care, Victoria Walker is perhaps one of the most important figures in their lives. The 37-year-old single mother eases them out of bed, bathes them and cooks their meals. If there is enough time, she pops out to the store for extra groceries.

And when Canada's largest city imposed a strict lockdown at the height of its coronavirus outbreak, Walker and thousands of other personal care workers continued to do their jobs: rising early each morning, taking public transit across the city and returning home late at night.