Woodroffe campus after dark: a tribute to the overnight cleaning crew
It’s Friday, well past midnight at Algonquin College. The once-bustling hallways are now silent, with only the hum of fluorescent lights and the rhythmic tune of the electric floor scrubber gliding across the tiles. Hours earlier, these same corridors were alive with chatter and footsteps, but now they belong to the night shift crew.
“You know, sometimes I’m done in the morning, and as I’m walking home, students pass by completely unaware that I’m one of the people who keeps this campus clean,” said Caleb Edem Quarcoo, a environmental service worker who works overnight. “And that alone makes me feel good.”
Quarcoo’s quiet pride reflects the essential yet often overlooked role the cleaning staff play in the college’s ecosystem, ensuring students and staff begin each day in a safe and clean environment.
This photo essay honours the resilience and dedication of Algonquin’s night shift team. They are the unseen hands that ensure Algonquin College is ready to welcome its 20,000 students and 1,300 staff each morning.
In Quarcoo’s case, he is an international student from Ghana, pursuing a construction engineering technician diploma. By day, he’s a student; by night, an environmental service worker.
His tireless efforts to balance multiple jobs and academic ambitions reflect his determination to succeed. Quarcoo aspires to start his own business after graduation.
“It’s all about dedication and self-motivation,” said Quarcoo. “I work here overnight and during the day I work at a hotel and I’m a student.”
For these environmental service workers, their labour goes beyond cleaning. It’s about creating an environment where students, staff and faculty can thrive. Each worker brings their own story, shaped by unique backgrounds, sacrifices and dreams.
Many like Quarcoo, Tshilinda Musadi, Khushneet Singh and Mark Belarmin are immigrants who juggle the challenges of supporting their families while contributing to the college’s success.
Belarmin has been part of the environmental services team at Algonquin College for over five years. He has meticulous attention to detail and always ensures the classrooms and common areas are clean and welcoming.
Originally from the Philippines, Belarmin is a devoted father of two who is very professional and pleasant to be around.
“I focus on doing my job right,” said Belarmin. “When I see the results, it feels good.”
Singh, a level 1 nursing student from India, is one of the newest members of the team. He balances his studies with three night shifts per week.
“Most of my classes are in the morning so the night shift doesn’t interfere with my studies,” said Singh.
His flexibility and focus speak to the adaptability required of international students balancing work and school.
Tshilinda Musadi has been cleaning at Algonquin College for 16 years. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, she manages her demanding night shift while being a mother to three young adults.
She has a carefree personality and infectious laughter. Musadi lights up even the quietest corners of the Dare District and MakerSpace. Her favourite building is J-building, where she worked for the longest time.
By Monday morning the campus will come back to life, bustling with students and staff. The night shift crew will have clocked out quietly, their work done, as the spaces they’ve cleaned fill with the activity of a new day.
Their contributions may go unnoticed, but they remain indispensable.
So, next time you see an environmental service worker, take a moment to acknowledge them. A simple thank you can go a long way in showing appreciation for the people who keep Algonquin College running smoothly.
