Photo: Wikimedia Commons - Public Domain Illustration by John Leech 1843

The virus was not dead: to begin with.

Ebenezer Legault was busy in his accountability house, keeping an eye on his humble finance clerk Girard, shivering in his dismal little cubicle trying to balance the ledger.

Into the office with a tinkle of a bell came two gentlemen, representatives of the tavern-keepers’ and gym-owners’ benevolent societies.

Photo: Canadian Forces

The man tapped to lead an unprecedented nationwide vaccination campaign is a former commander at Canadian Forces Base Valcartier who is originally from Montmagny.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons - Public Domain

December 4, 1820 – The Quebec Gazette
Cure For Tooth Ache
To a table spoonful of any kind of spirits, add the same quantity of sharp vinegar, and a tea spoonful of common table salt – mix well together; hold the liquid in the mouth that it can enter the cavity or hollow in the tooth; it will give almost instantaneous relief, without any pain.

As you all know by now, the Coalition Avenir Québec government has listened to reason and has put all elections in Quebec’s nine English-language school boards on hold for an indefinite period. The government’s response came on Nov. 26.

Photo: Community Christmas Hamper Campaign

Due to COVID-19, all fundraising events for the Community Christmas Hamper Campaign are taking place online this year. Here are a few initiatives you can support:

Chocolate chip cookie and mac ’n cheese recipe ingredients in Mason jars are on sale, a joint initiative of SNACS and Rise. The deadline to order is Dec. 10.

The Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph (QCT) continued its coverage of the ongoing crisis following the murder of Pierre Laporte on Oct. 17, 1970.

Despite all the gloom and doom, many of us have managed to weather the pandemic fairly well, so far.

We have kept our jobs (or have pension income) and still have a decent place to live and a social life, even if it is mostly electronic. Best of all, we, and those close to us, have remained reasonably healthy.

Photo: Lise Lafond

Walking in the forest, I noticed a tree that seemed to have little snowballs sitting on its branches. Intrigued, I cleared a path through the dense shrubs and branches to get a better look. Up close, these little snowballs resembled a cluster of beautiful white feathers floating in the wind.

Photo: LBJEQ website

The Diamants de Québec announced on Nov. 26 that manager and general director Dominik Walsh is leaving the organization after eight seasons at the helm.

Walsh, who played for the Diamants from 2002 to 2007, guided the team to four championships in the Ligue de Baseball Junior Élite du Québec (LBJEQ).

Photo: Cassandra Kerwin

In spite of the cancellation of the Marché de Noël allemand de Québec (Quebec City German Christmas Market) this year, the team behind the event has found a unique way to bring the spirit of a German Christmas back to the Old City.

Photo: Régis Labeaume via Facebook

Since forever – OK, since the 1930s – being mayor of Quebec City has been a long-term job.

Not since 1938 has a chef of La Vieille capitale ruled the sceptred town for less than 12 years, or three terms. Sainte-Foy suburban warrior Andrée Boucher was the tragic exception that proved the rule in recent history.

Photo: Jonathan Letellier-Black

Work is well underway on the repair and renovation of Memorial Hall, next to St. Michael’s Anglican Church on Chemin Saint-Louis.

Concrete steps have been removed from the entranceway and there’s been excavation around the foundation on the east side of the building.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons - Fair Use

November 26, 1870 – The Morning Chronicle

In support of the Community Christmas Hamper Campaign, Voice of English-speaking Québec (VEQ) is organizing an ugly sweater photo contest. The rules are simple. Donate at qchampers.ca, dig that ugly Christmas sweater out of storage, snap a selfie or get someone to take a picture of you wearing that abomination, and send the photo to [email protected] by Dec. 4.

Photo: Central Québec School Board

On Nov. 19, Premier François Legault, accompanied by the minister of health, the minister of education and the province’s director of public health, announced that there might be a way for families and friends to celebrate Christmas.