Latest contributed news
Sale of DND land last piece of merged English school project
An understated Feb. 23 media release communicated the announcement, but the sale of less than a hectare of Department of National Defence (DND) land in Sainte-Foy to the Quebec ministry of education is huge news for Quebec City’s English-speaking community.
Shannon and Valcartier St. Patrick’s Day festivities go virtual
This time last year, the town of Shannon was buzzing. Parents were sewing sequins onto dance dresses and rehearsal rooms were vibrating with the distinctive sound of hard shoes. The curtain was just about to rise on the 54th edition of the Shannon Irish Show.
In wake of pandemic, do music festivals need to be estival?
COMMENTARY
To everything, there is a season,” goes the song “Turn! Turn! Turn!” – a big hit for the Byrds in 1965, written by Pete Seeger in the ’50s, and taken almost verbatim from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, circa 450 BC. Some scholars consider that chapter, of uncertain authorship, to be a literary masterpiece of the Good Book.
MEMORIALS AND THINGS OF FAME
March 1, 1821 – The Quebec Gazette
Earthquake
A recent shock of earthquake was felt on Tuesday morning last, about four o’clock, at Valcartier, distant about 18 miles to the north-west of this city. It was accompanied by a rumbling noise resembling that of distant thunders.
March 2, 1871 – The Morning Chronicle
STREET VIEWS: The story behind Rue Lapointe
This street is named in honour of Hugues Lapointe (1911-1982) who was a lawyer, member of Parliament and lieutenant governor of Quebec.
Sylvia Melanson launches her first book
Local author Sylvia Melanson had her first children’s book, Square-Eyed Raccoon: Home Sweet Home!, published in December 2020.
CQSB’s Burke lauds ‘hard work’ for new high school project
"History is great, but the future is better.”
So declared Central Québec School Board (CQSB) chair Stephen Burke upon the Feb. 23 announcement of the “final piece of the puzzle which will allow us to move forward in building a 21st-century high school in Sainte-Foy to replace the aging buildings of Quebec High School [QHS] and St. Patrick’s High School [St. Pat’s].”
Tycho crater makes quite an impact on the moon
“It was a full moon and,
shining on all the snow,
It made everything almost as bright as day.
Only shadows were rather confusing.”
~ C.S. Lewis
The full moon that rose on the evening of Feb. 27, 2021 was the full snow moon, and a “snow” moon it was, since no one in Quebec City really saw the moon with all the snow that was falling.
Ludovica Miniland: creating worlds one block at a time
What do you do if you have a passion for construction and architecture, a creative imagination and a pile of plastic interlocking bricks? Gilles Maheux and his son Steven have turned their passion into a career and created Ludovica Miniland, now located in the Laurier Québec shopping centre.
Quebecers mourn the passing of a sports giant
On Feb. 25, one of Quebec City’s biggest sports boosters, furniture entrepreneur Maurice Tanguay, died at his residence in Lévis, at the age of 87.
Remparts close out February with two straight losses to Chicoutimi
The Quebec Remparts might want to burn the videos of their last two games against the Chicoutimi Saguenéens in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) action.
Another Blue Jay product hits the field with the Capitales this season
The Québec Capitales announced an important signing on Feb. 26: outfielder Connor Panas will be returning to the team in 2021.
Panas, who completed the 2019 season with the Capitales after playing with Team Canada at the Pan-Am Games in Lima, had a batting average of .271 with one home run and 10 RBIs in 24 games.
Portneuf’s Irish “tambourines” have centuries-old resonance
Gaétan Morissette comes from a long line of musicians, and plays several instruments, including the harmonica, the fiddle and the accordion.
OBITUARY: Hélène (Lafleur) WHITE
OBITUARY: Joyce (born Turner) BENDER
Joyce (born Turner) BENDER
On February 21, 2021, Mrs. Joyce Turner passed away at the age of 96 in L’Orignal, Ontario. She was the wife of the late Claude Bender and daughter of the late Sidney Turner and the late Bertha Raff of England.
She is survived by her children Mark (Suzanne Houde), David (Hélène Bastien), Paul (Rosemary Kerwin), Gérald and Jacques.
OBITUARY: Elizabeth Allyce (née Doherty) DAWSON
Elizabeth Allyce (née Doherty) DAWSON
Elizabeth Allyce Dawson (Doherty) slipped away peacefully on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, at home, in her 95th year, with her family by her side.
The eldest daughter of 13 children, she was born to Allyce Wilson Doherty and William Doherty on June 22, 1925 in Quebec City.
Winter wonderland in the Parc du Bois-de-Coulonge
Photos by Cassandra Kerwin
A glowing sunrise brightens the landscape in the large city park.
Federal cabinet minister Jean-Yves Duclos taking medical leave
A Canadian Press article reported on Feb. 23 that Liberal cabinet minister Jean-Yves Duclos has stepped aside temporarily due to illness.
The Village Nordik is ‘fishing’ for business
Photos by Cassandra Kerwin
Ice fishing at the Village Nordik requires specialized tools: a perforated stainless steel ladle to clear ice fragments from the fishing hole, a fishing rod and a rod holder, which is useful while waiting for the fish to bite.
What if Quebec was truly ‘free and capable’ to bolster use of French?
It may be foolish to draw an existential political lesson from a rather superficial sitcom, but anyway, here goes.
Searching the QCT archives for John Williams
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Recent research by local historian Jean-François Caron has turned attention to a certain John Williams during Black History Month. Born in Quebec City in 1834 to Thomas Williams, a Jamaican, and Catherine Quinn, who was of Irish heritage, Williams was a successful local businessman who operated a barbershop in Old Quebec with his brother James for 50 years.
STREET VIEWS: The story behind Rue Lavigueur
STREET VIEWS
A street, a stairway and a bridge are named in honour of Henri-Edgar Lavigueur (1867-1943), who served as the 27th and the 32nd mayor of Quebec City. Born in Quebec City, he was a co-founder of the Lavigueur and Hutchison Company, which sold sewing machines and musical instruments.
MEMORIALS AND THINGS OF FAME
February 26, 1821 – The Quebec Gazette
A comet was distinctly visible on Saturday night, in a north-westerly direction from this city – the tail was large but the light faint.
Note from Lorie: The parabolic comet C/1821 B1 (Nicollet-Pons), identified in 1821, was most likely the comet referenced in this notice. (Source – NASA.gov)
Local entrepreneur builds businesses and builds community
When Michelle Osbourne first arrived in Quebec City seven years ago to live with her partner, she felt like a fish out of water. She left behind a thriving business and a circle of friends in Toronto and arrived in la Vieille Capitale speaking no French, relying on her partner for basic errands and wondering what she was doing.
The MCQ reopens with the magic of 'Special Effects!'
Who hasn’t wondered how Keanu Reeves dodged bullets in The Matrix, or how Andy Serkis transformed into Gollum in The Lord of the Rings? How long have special effects been a part of cinematography?
APPELE-Québec urges Quebec government to extend mail-in voting
The Alliance for the Promotion of Public English-Language Education in Québec (APPELE-Québec) welcomes the Quebec government’s proposal to expand the use of mail-in ballots during November’s municipal elections, but wants the government to go further.
CAQ to draw own tramway route as spat continues with city
Political confusion and conflict continue to block the way forward for Quebec City’s $3.3-billion tramway plan. Just when Mayor Régis Labeaume thought he had momentum on his side last week, reports surfaced that the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government is planning to take control of the project.
Liberal critic for capital region defends outsider status
The newly named Liberal critic for the Capitale-Nationale region has quickly found herself in the fray over the city’s proposed tramway project. She is also unabashed that the Liberal watchdog for Quebec City should be an MNA from Montreal.
QAC brings back old-time radio dramas with a modern twist
Quebec Art Company (QAC), Quebec City’s foremost and longest-running English-language community theatre group, has taken a page from the glory days of radio to provide a unique form of entertainment during COVID-19 confinement.
