Latest contributed news
Former spaceman and PM contender Garneau has new lofty mission
For a guy who’s spent a total of 28 days in space, Marc Garneau seems pretty down to earth.
He’s also pretty grounded. Until his appointment on Jan. 12 as the minister of foreign affairs, Garneau had been Justin Trudeau’s minister of transport, ever since the Liberals strode so full of hope and purpose to be sworn in at Rideau Hall back in November 2015.
It’s a ‘wrap’ for the 25th Community Christmas Hamper Campaign
The 25th annual Community Christmas Hamper Campaign was very different from past years, but the organizing committee is just as pleased with the results. COVID-19 changed the way many things were done, but we were able to help 235 families and individuals.
Machine de Cirque breathes new life into Limoilou church
Saint-Charles-de-Limoilou Church may have peeling paint inside and piles of dead flies in the basement, but Machine de Cirque (MDC) co-founder, artistic director and CEO Vincent Dubé sees only “lots of possibilities!”
City takes another step toward expropriating Maison Pollack
The Ville de Québec says it has taken another step toward expropriating the badly deteriorating Maison Pollack on Grande Allée.
MEMORIALS AND THINGS OF FAME
January 20, 1871 – The Morning Chronicle Our Railways – A recent London journal commenting upon our system of railways gives the following description: – Quebec will soon be better provided with railways – those pioneers of commercial prosperity – than most of the British colonies.
The story behind Rue Jean-Carignan
STREET VIEWS
This street is named in honour of Jean Carignan (1916-1988), who was one of the greatest folk fiddlers of the 20th century and the leading exponent of the Celtic tradition in French-Canadian fiddling.
FEQ ‘studying scenarios’ for 2021 festival
Despite the optimistic notice on the Festival d’Été de Québec (FEQ) website – “Next FEQ – July 8 to 18, 2021” – there is little certainty, perhaps even little hope, that the mammoth event will be staged this summer. At best, it might be a FEQ like none before.
COVID-19 forces the 67th Winter Carnival to adapt
The ongoing pandemic has forced Winter Carnival organizers to make some major changes and go mostly virtual for the first time in the event’s 67-year history. From Feb. 5 to 14, Carnival-goers can discover Quebec City’s iconic winter magic from the comfort of their homes on the Carnival YouTube channel, #ColdOrNot, I’m Going!
Vaccination on track despite bumps in the road
Public health officials in the Capitale-Nationale region are calling for calm after a week that rattled the province’s efforts to distribute vaccines against COVID-19.
The B.O. stone is back at Chalmers-Wesley United Church!
An article in the Oct. 21, 2020 edition of the QCT reported that a historic boundary marker, known as a B.O. (Board of Ordnance) stone, was missing from the grounds of Chalmers-Wesley United Church on Rue Sainte-Ursule in Old Quebec.
Local athletes compete in international aerials, judo and speedskating
Even though COVID-19 has led to the cancellation or postponement of major events in many sports, some competitions in individual sports have gone ahead during the second part of the 2020-21 winter season, giving local athletes opportunities to measure up against global competition.
Stroller-skating on the Plains of Abraham ice oval
Photo by Peter Black
This mother took her little one stroller-skating on the ice oval on the Plains of Abraham last week. With favourable weather and excellent ice conditions, thousands of residents are lacing up their blades. For information on COVID-19 regulations on the use of outdoor rinks, go to the Ville de Québec website.
Patrick Roy makes two trades as Remparts season restarts
Patrick Roy, general manager and head coach of the Quebec Remparts, made two trades last week with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar as his team prepared to restart their 2020-21 season in Rimouski.
In the first trade, Roy acquired defenceman Alex Falardeau, 18, for a sixth-round draft pick in 2023, a draft pick that Baie-Comeau had traded to Quebec a few months earlier.
Morrin Centre, museums receive Quebec grants
On Jan. 13, Deputy Premier Geneviève Guilbault, on behalf of Minister of Culture and Communications Nathalie Roy, announced the government’s economic recovery plan for museums in the Capitale-Nationale region, with grants totalling $756,600.
COVID-19 curfew puts many outdoor activities on ice
During the first weekend of curfew, pick-up hockey was popular at the Anse-à-Cartier park along the St. Charles River. Photo by Danielle Burns
Family hockey bubble
Photo by Peter Black
Five members of the Patenaude family picked up sticks and laced up for a little early-morning shinny on the rink in front of the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec on Grande Allée. Under the latest COVID-19 restrictions, only family “bubbles” are allowed to play hockey on the city’s outdoor rinks.
Quebec imposes curfew hoping to curb COVID-19
The decision of the Quebec government to impose a curfew became real for most of the population at about 6:30 on Saturday, Jan. 9. At that time, security alerts on cell phones began sounding the warning that the curfew would take effect at 8 p.m that night.
Banking on an all-Canadian hockey division: personal cheques for body checks
Good thing we’ve got NHL hockey to keep us indoors after 8 p.m., eh?
No, we’re not going to talk about the curfew here. What is there to say besides yet another chorus of pandemic-inspired WTFs (where the F, kids, stands for “fudge”)?
No, let’s talk hockey, eh! Canadian hockey, eh! A brand new and temporary all-Canadian division, eh! Eh?
MEMORIALS AND THINGS OF FAME
Couperin Concerts going for baroque online
The Couperin Concerts are back (online) and are “going for baroque” with baritone Hugo Laporte and lutenist, theorbist and guitarist Charles Galipeau.
The concert consists of excerpts from baroque operas and solos for theorbo and lute, and includes works by Dowland, Purcell, Handel, Corbetta, Visée, Lambert, Lully and Couperin. Several arrangements are by Galipeau.
Saint Brigid’s COVID-19 outbreak over; hospital cases cause concern
The coronavirus outbreak that claimed more than 30 lives at Saint Brigid’s Home in November and December is officially over. Starting in late December, the home recorded 14 days without a new COVID-19 case.
Skiing and snowboarding more popular than ever during COVID-19
Once the snow begins to pile up, skiers are eager to hit the slopes, even during a pandemic. Ski resorts throughout Quebec are prepared for a record-breaking season this year. Not even a provincewide curfew has stopped people from strapping on their skis and snowboards.
Vandal leaves tache on Taché statue in new location
A statue of a father of Confederation displaced from a prime riverside location got a golden welcome from a vandal in its new, more discreet spot.
Who is decorating the trunks of the alder trees?
A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
Walking in the woods, I often pass by the Rivière aux Pommes that cuts through a piece of our land. Alder trees (Latin name Alnus, which means “close to the river”) grow on both sides. The alder is a deciduous tree, meaning it sheds its leaves in fall, and is a member of the birch family. There are many species of alder, including the speckled alder, which is native to Quebec.
Remparts return to action on Jan. 23 in Rimouski
After a month-and-a-half layoff, the Quebec Remparts will get back in action along with the other 17 teams of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) starting on Jan. 21.
The league’s Quebec teams will be in four different protected playing environments, similar to the one put in place at the Videotron Centre in late November.
A special season awaits NHL players, teams and fans in 2021
The 2020-21 season of the National Hockey League (NHL) got underway on Jan. 13 with five games, including the first of 10 meetings between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The late start was due to the completion of the Stanley Cup playoffs last fall and the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Exploring the origins of Mittens Alley in Limoilou
Alleys, or ruelles as they are known in French, are very important to the culture and lifestyle of Limoilou.
In a 2010 article titled “Les Ruelles de Limoilou: mythes, obligations et animation!” on monlimoilou.com, Erick Rivard said the alleys “belong to no one and are everyone’s!”
We must protect French – but not at the expense of Quebec’s English-speaking communities
At the dawn of 2021, English-speaking Quebecers are witnessing the relative language peace we have enjoyed for many years fade.
Embracing the outdoors during COVID-19
Photos by Lise Lafond
Get out and visit our Belle Province. The winter scenery will surely lift your spirits, but don’t forget to get back home before the 8 p.m. curfew.
OBITUARY: Winnifred (Crawford) McCARTNEY
