Latest contributed news
Bonus Episode: The Podcasters
GASPÉ TALES
Expatriate Gaspesians stuck far from the peninsula this holiday season will be able to have a bit of home in their headphones, thanks to a new podcast series launched by New Richmond-based historian Tom Eden in partnership with Vision Gaspé-Percé Now and Canadian Heritage.
Quebec City to welcome 2021 with virtual Toboggan
As the countdown to Christmas continues, people are wondering how to celebrate the year-end festivities during the pandemic, in light of public health restrictions on gatherings.
‘Pour Moi, Pour Québec’ encourages public participation in COVID fight
On Dec. 19, the Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux (CIUSSS) de la Capitale-Nationale held a press conference at Place d’Armes in Old Quebec, where Dr.
OBITUARY: Helen (Ellen) Payne LAFOND
Helen (Ellen) Payne LAFOND
1927-2020
“Mother, you left us beautiful memories,
Your love is still our guide,
Although we cannot see you,
You are always at our side.”
Sports traditions remain on television during the holidays
The holidays are here and with them come the usual Christmas and New Year’s Day traditions.
Although traditional holiday gatherings and visits are restricted during this holiday season, there are some TV traditions that remain and will hopefully bring cheer during these hard times.
Pee-Wee Tournament to build back bigger
The Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament may be cancelled for 2021, but it will be back bigger and stronger in 2022.
That was the promise made by the tournament’s president, Michel Plante, and general manager, Patrick Dom, during a press conference at the Videotron Centre on Dec. 15.
In 2022, the tournament will grow by 24 teams, for a total of 144.
Year-end honours for COVID fighters
THE LUC-KY AWARDS
It has become a tradition, here at the QCT, that in the last issue of the year, we present the annual “LUC-ky” Awards, handed to the female and male athletes of the year, along with the best team.
Château Frontenac ‘decks the halls’ for Christmas
Photos by Cassandra Kerwin, [email protected]
Place Jean-Béliveau resounds with musical lights
Photos by Cassandra Kerwin, [email protected]
Christmas cards for Christmas hampers
Students at Ste-Foy Elementary School are bursting with Christmas cheer. The Cycle 3 students are once again creating greeting cards to add to the boxes of groceries put together by the Community Christmas Hamper Campaign, which will be distributed to families in the Quebec City area on Dec.19.
‘Videos from the North Pole’ are a real FUNraiser
It is unlikely to surprise anyone to learn that the Coronavirus Grinch prevented Santa from dropping by the Jeffery Hale Hospital this year for the HO! HO! HO! Here We Go Again children’s Christmas party that usually takes place in the Coin Soleil. This annual get-together for English-speaking parents and their young children has become a holiday tradition for many families in our community.
The story behind Rue Jovette-Bernier
STREET VIEWS
This street is named in honour of Jovette-Alice Bernier (1900-81), a journalist and writer, born in Saint-Fabien-de-Rimouski. Because of the extensive exposure she received in print media and on the radio, she was often referred to simply as “Jovette.”
MEMORIALS AND THINGS OF FAME
COVID outbreak at Saint Brigid’s claims lives
Saint Brigid’s Home in Quebec City is currently enduring the worst COVID-19 outbreak in a long-term care facility in the Capitale-Nationale region, according to data provided by the ministry of health on Dec. 13, with 58 total cases among residents and staff and 20 deaths.
Report reveals systemic failures in long-term care
Quebec ombudsperson Marie Rinfret didn’t mince words when releasing her office’s interim report on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in long-term care homes. She concluded that residents of many long-term care homes, despite the at times heroic efforts of health-care workers, were victims of “dereliction of duty” by the health care system.
Vaccine offers hope for future Christmases
Christmas came early, with approval by Health Canada for at least one vaccine against COVID-19. It marked the official start to what will become the largest vaccination campaign in Canadian history.
As a general rule, the first to get the vaccine will be residents of long-term care homes and the health-care professionals who look after them – the groups hit hardest by the pandemic.
Suggesting a nominee for Canada’s Person of Annus Horribilis 2020
The tradition of Time magazine picking a Person of the Year – or, from its debut in 1928 until 1999, either a Man or Woman of the Year – is a veritable, er, time capsule of the march of humanity.
Sagamité to rise from the ashes with government loan
Steeve Wadohandik Gros-Louis has been paddling in rough waters for the past two years.
In 2018, Sagamité, the Indigenous restaurant, gallery and cultural centre he founded in Wendake in 1999, was heavily damaged by an accidental fire.
Saint-Sacrement residence to be named for arboretum shrub
The QCT has learned what the name will be for the huge housing complex under construction at the prominent corner of Chemin Sainte-Foy and Avenue Saint-Sacrement, behind the abandoned Église du Très-Saint-Sacrement.
City sets pandemic rules for use of outdoor and indoor rinks
Residents eager to lace up their skates and hop on the city’s outdoor and indoor rinks will need to abide by tightened restrictions due to the pandemic.
Last week, city officials announced the options available for using public ice surfaces. Two familiar rinks with refrigerated ice are already open, each with its own policy for users.
A SPECIAL 70th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY MESSAGE FOR HELEN AND PETER MARSHALL
From their family
On January 2, 2021, Helen (née Hudson) and Peter Marshall will celebrate 70 years of marriage. We could just say “Happy Anniversary” but instead, let us tell you a short story to give meaning to such a special occasion.
Filling Christmas hampers by the POUND
POUND is a recent fitness trend that does not involve stepping on a scale, but rather, channeling one’s inner rock star using drumming cardio movements. In fact, POUND’s motto is “changing minds before bodies.”
Lampshades shed light on art on Avenue Cartier
The lampshades on Avenue Cartier have been changed again, just in time for the holiday season. Anyone who has passed by this busy commercial street in the Quartier des arts lately has probably noticed the tall lampstands with shades covered in works of art by the artistic duo Pierre&Marie (Pierre Brassard and Marie-Pier Lebeau Lavoie) entitled Les Paysages révolutionnaires.
QAC presents its first-ever virtual play reading on Dec. 20
Quebec Art Company (QAC), Quebec City’s premier English-language theatre troupe, announces that in these exceptional times of social distancing restrictions and darkened stages, the show must go on – with a first-ever virtual play reading.
The OSQ creates holiday magic with an illustrated Nutcracker story
The Orchestre symphonique de Québec (OSQ) invites the young and young-at-heart to revisit the magical story of The Nutcracker.
Narrated by Widemir Normil while seated in the Morrin Centre’s cozy library, the classic Christmas story is gaily illustrated by Richard Vallerand and accompanied with music performed by the OSQ under the direction of Mélanie Léonard.
Santa Claus and his trusty elf Lucas visit Quebec City
Photos by Cassandra Kerwin
Santa Claus and his trusty elf Lucas spread Christmas magic over Quebec City in December.
This Christmas is a good time for self-love
Photo by Danielle Burns
With COVID-19 case numbers on the rise and Christmas gatherings cancelled, this holiday season is a good time for self-care and concentrating on the joys of being at home or outside in nature.
We wish you a Merry Christmas and Joyeuses Fêtes!
Photo by Désirée Maltais
Pelletier makes Team Canada for World Juniors
Quebec City native Jakob Pelletier has been selected as a member of the team that will represent Canada at the upcoming 2021 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship in Edmonton, from Dec. 25-Jan. 5, 2021.
