Friends trying to reassemble Camille Maheux's photography after death in Old Montreal fire
Of those who perished in the major Old Montreal fire, 76-year-old Camille Maheux is the only one who has been identified to date.
The photographer and cinematographer moved into the building more than 30 years ago.
Suzanne Girard met Maheux in 1975 and the two shared a love of snapping pics.
"She was a very good photographer," said Girard. "She was a very good camerawoman. She had the eye."
Most of Maheux's life work is now gone, adding to the tragedy.
"Everything went with her, her archives, her photos, her negatives," said Girard.
Maheux's images have been featured in the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the National Gallery of Canada.
Camille Maheux's photo of Montreal Pride in the 1990s. Friends are trying to reassemble her work after she perished along with her photos and negatives in the Old Montreal fire. SOURCE: Suzanne Girard
Friends from the photographer's world travels are now trying to build back her collection.
"People are phoning from France, from Spain, from Italy, from Brazil," said Girard, who has some of Maheux's photos from past Montreal Pride parades, where she photographed the event for four years in the 1990s.
Camille Maheux's photo of Montreal Pride in the 1990s. Friends are trying to reassemble her work after she perished along with her photos and negatives in the Old Montreal fire. SOURCE: Suzanne Girard
Going through archives of Maheux's work is bringing back positive memories for Girard despite the heartbreaking current reality.
"It's all these good memories right now because I have something of hers, you know, I sort of put it in the back of my mind the circumstance," she said.
Camille Maheux's photo of Montreal Pride in the 1990s. Friends are trying to reassemble her work after she perished along with her photos and negatives in the Old Montreal fire. SOURCE: Suzanne Girard
A second crane is now on the scene to help remove debris from the site, and rescue crews say it will speed up recovery efforts and hopefully end the agonizing wait for families and friends of those loved ones who are still missing.
Once the scene is cleared, Girard wants to honour her late friend and her work properly.
Camille Maheux's photo of Montreal Pride in the 1990s. Friends are trying to reassemble her work after she perished along with her photos and negatives in the Old Montreal fire. SOURCE: Suzanne Girard
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
WATCH | Rate hike 'may be the last straw' for some homeowners: mortgage broker
With the latest hike bringing Canada's key interest rates to levels not seen since 2001, one mortgage broker is warning that it may be 'the last straw' for some homeowners with variable mortgages.

Wrestling icon The Iron Sheik dead at 81
World Wrestling Entertainment legend The Iron Sheik has died. He was 81.
Bank of Canada ends pause on hikes, raises policy rate by 25 basis points
The Bank of Canada raised its overnight rate by 25 basis points to 4.75 per cent on Wednesday, its first increase since pausing hikes in January.
opinion | Top takeaways from Prince Harry's seven hours on the witness stand
It's been a busy, tumultuous few days for Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex as he took his place on the witness stand in his trial against the Mirror Group Newspapers. Here are royal commentator Afua Hagan's top takeaways from his two-day grilling.
Wildfire smoke blankets Ontario, Quebec, air quality plummets, affects activities
Poor air quality is forecast to persist into the weekend across parts of Ontario, as plumes of wildfire smoke blanket the province and prompt school boards to limit outdoor activities.
Have rising home prices driven you to leave Canada? We want to hear from you
The Bank of Canada's latest decision to raise its key interest rate comes at a time when many are struggling to afford their homes. CTVNews.ca wants to hear from people in Canada who are going to great lengths to find affordable housing.
Canadians want revenge on Bernardo, but that's not how prison works: ex-official
One of the architects of the law that governs Canada's prison system says it's understandable people want revenge on killer and serial rapist Paul Bernardo, but that's not what the prison system is designed for.
Indigo founder Heather Reisman retires, almost half of board steps down
Indigo founder Heather Reisman announced she is retiring as almost half of the book retailer's board of directors steps down.
Kids and social media: Tips for developing positive habits before it's too late
With social media ever-present in modern life, figuring out when and how to introduce it to children is something every parent will have to deal with eventually. CTV's Your Morning spoke to a child-life specialist about how parents can have that conversation and be positive role models too.