Latest contributed news
J.A. Moisan celebrates its 150th anniversary with new owners
North America’s oldest grocery store, located in the heart of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste neighbourhood, has welcomed customers since 1871. J.A. Moisan reopened under new ownership on Jan. 11, just in time for its sesquicentennial.
It was most appropriate that a journalist from North America’s oldest newspaper, now in its 257th year, pay the new proprietor a visit.
Pet adoptions break records during COVID-19 – but buyers beware
A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
The Société protectrice des animaux (SPA) in Quebec City had a 100 per cent adoption rate in 2020. With over 2,400 animals adopted, it is nice to think that all these animals have found good forever homes. According to many local media reports, the pandemic is partly responsible for this high adoption rate.
125 years ago the city boomed with modern progress
FROM THE ARCHIVES
The More Salient Features of Quebec City Improvements During the Last Two Years
It’s Super Bowl time for Laval graduate Anthony Auclair
Former Université Laval Rouge et Or football player Anthony Auclair will have a chance to duplicate what McGill alumnus Laurent Duvernay-Tardif did last year – win a Super Bowl.
Patrick Roy sets a QMJHL record with his 408th win
Quebec Remparts general manager and head coach Patrick Roy set a new Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) record with his 408th victory behind the Remparts’ bench. Roy got the milestone win when he guided his team to a 3-1 defeat of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar on Jan. 30 in Rimouski.
IOC committed to holding the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games
During a virtual press conference held on Jan. 26, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach declared that the 2020 Olympic Summer Games and the 2020 Paralympic Games will take place in Tokyo this summer.
How was your Groundhog Day this year?
Thousands of years ago when animism and the worship of the spirits of nature were prevalent, people in what is now Germany believed that the badger had the power to predict the coming of spring. Thus, they watched the badger to know when to plant their crops.
Sunrise and sunset along the frozen St. Lawrence River
Photos by Cassandra Kerwin
QCT photojournalist Cassandra Kerwin set out early in the morning of Jan. 30 to capture these gorgeous photos of the ice-choked St. Lawrence River. The interplay of light on the ice floes on the river and along the shore makes frozen works of art.
Kerwin even went back at the end of the day to capture a beautiful sunset over the river and the bridges that span it.
Laval’s ‘Nordic Campus’ offers antidote for pandemic idleness
The Université Laval campus has been transformed into a winter sports park. As the adage from that baseball movie goes, “Build it and they will come.” What the university built was a “Nordic Campus,” featuring a skating oval and trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and hiking. Since the campus opened on Jan. 25, winter sports enthusiasts have been flocking to the new facilities.
OBITUARY: Roberta (O’Hara) BRANION
OBITUARY: Patrick Michael Joseph HUTCHINGS
Patrick Michael Joseph HUTCHINGS
Patrick, son of Charles Hutchings and Mary Bryson Hutchings, both deceased, died on January 22, 2021, at 68 years old, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Patrick was predeceased by his wife, Nicole Gagnon.
OBITUARY: Frank (Francis William) HABERLIN
Frank (Francis William) HABERLIN
1949 - 2021
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Mr. Frank Haberlin at age 71, on Jan. 27, 2021, at his home in the Montcalm neighbourhood, Quebec City. He was the son of the late Ettie (Brigid) Bowles and the late Leo G. Haberlin and brother of the late Ralph Haberlin. Frank was retired from the Papiers Stadacona company.
Shelters walk a fine line during pandemic
Since last March, Éric Boulay, the director of Lauberivière, a nonprofit which operates Quebec City’s largest homeless shelter, has walked a delicate line. He and his staff and volunteers have had their hands full keeping the coronavirus out and dealing with the economic and psychological fallout of the crisis.
We need to focus on our objective, not the alligators
There is a popular saying that when you are up to your ears (or other parts of your anatomy) in alligators, it is hard to remember that your objective was to drain the swamp.
Regarding COVID-19 vaccines, we feel as if the alligators are closing in as we become aware that Canada’s contracts with foreign suppliers may not be enough to hold our place near the front of the line.
Winter pleasures on the Plains of Abraham
Photos by Cassandra Kerwin
This artistic snowperson (maybe a ninja snow turtle) sits on a park bench by the Pavillon Pierre-Lassonde of the Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec.
Black artist who painted Biden gift influenced Canadian landscape
Though not on the epic scale of the performances of Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and that amazing young poet, Amanda Gorman, shortly after their memorable outdoor inauguration on Jan. 20, U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris attended the presentation of a painting by an artist with a remarkable Canadian, specifically Quebec, past.
Labeaume: Tramway delay ‘starting to bug me’
Amid reports of a dispute within the governing Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) caucus over the city’s ambitious tramway plan, Mayor Régis Labeaume has voiced his frustration, saying the delay “is starting to bug me.”
City delays tax bill payment schedule again
Municipal taxpayers are again being given a break on the payment schedule this year. Mayor Régis Labeaume announced at a Jan. 14 news conference that the first of four payments will be due June 3 instead of the usual March 3.
The three other payments will be due Aug. 3, Sept. 15 and Nov. 15. The schedule applies to 163,000 residential and 5,400 commercial rate-payers.
The story behind Rue Jolliet
STREET VIEWS
This street is named in honour of explorer Louis Jolliet (1645-1700), who was born in Beaupré, near Quebec City.
MEMORIALS AND THINGS OF FAME
Editor's note: Starting in December each year, winter weather led to ice building up on the St. Lawrence River, making navigation difficult. Until 1909 the river would completely freeze over between Quebec City and Lévis from mid-January to late March.
First virtual Robbie Burns Night held in Quebec City
Well, it had to happen. With everything else going virtual, why not the annual celebration of Robbie Burns’ birthday?
Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel
We are being told the end is near – the end of life as we have known it for the better part of the last year, that is. And not a moment too soon.
We have seen the light at the end of the tunnel, and for the first time in a year, it does not belong to an out-of-control freight train.
Stoneham and Mont–Sainte-Anne adjust to skiers’ demands
Mont-Sainte-Anne (MSA) and Stoneham Mountain Resort found themselves with an avalanche of problems following the Jan. 15 snowstorm. Skiers with passes and tickets looking for a pleasant evening on the slopes faced packed parking lots and long lines for the chairlifts, and some were even turned away.
Agriculture, Food and Consumer Fair goes virtual
For 46 years, students in the faculty of agriculture and food science at Université Laval have been sharing their scientific and technical knowledge with the public at the annual Salon de l’agriculture, de l’alimentation et de la consommation (SAAC). In light of the pandemic, the first virtual edition was held this year, from Jan. 13-17.
Remembering Hank Aaron’s ‘royal visit’ to Quebec City
Quebec City has seen its share of royal visitors over the years: King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Grace of Monaco, Carl Gustav XVI of Sweden, and the home run king, Henry Aaron.
Henry “Hank” Aaron, the player who dislodged Babe Ruth as baseball’s all-time home run king on April 8, 1974, died on Jan. 22 at the venerable age of 86.
Remparts get one win in two games of QMJHL action
Pierrick Dubé scored two goals and added an assist while Finnish rookie Viljami Marjala added three assists. It wasn’t enough for the Quebec Remparts as they lost an offensive game 7-5 to the Rimouski Océanic on Jan. 24 in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
IN MEMORIAM: Terence J. Kerwin
IN MEMORIAM
Terence J. Kerwin
1956-2020
On Jan. 25, we commemorated the first anniversary of your death. Despite your absence, you are always present in our lives. The family values and the sense of mutual assistance that you have left us are considerable. Your concern to always provide aid to those in need, your counsel and your kindness are missed by more than one. Your absence is felt every day.
OBITUARY: Barbara (born Neville) McGRORY
FAMILY LITERACY DAY: Read your way around the world
"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." - Dr. Seuss
The first blizzard of 2021 hits Quebec City
High winds and blowing snow wreaked havoc on Quebec City streets and highways on Jan. 16. Although only about 12 centimetres of snow fell, the winds made it very difficult to walk or drive. Many trees and branches were knocked down, causing power outages and property damage. Poor visibility necessitated the closure of sections of some highways.
