Latest contributed news
Here are the winners of the QCT’s ‘Signs of Fall’ photo contest
Published: October 28, 2020
Photo: Gina Farnell
We received many wonderful photos of beautiful fall foliage and other signs of autumn. Nine QCT readers sent us a total of 18 photos to admire. It was a difficult choice for our judge (assistant copy editor Pauline Kerr) but the following people have been chosen to receive one of five $25 Tim Hortons gift certificates!
Opera de Québec Gala a virtual success
Published: October 28, 2020
Photo: Screenshot from YouTube
Close to 5,000 people watched the online presentation of the Opéra de Québec Gala in celebration of World Opera Day during the afternoon of Oct. 25. Although the concert hall at the Grand Théâtre was empty, the stage was filled with over 60 musicians and singers.
Halloween decorations found throughout the city
Photos by Cassandra Kerwin
Published: October 28, 2020
As Halloween approaches, residents of Quebec City decorate their homes. Here are a few examples from Sainte-Foy to the Old City.
The story behind Place Jean-Béliveau
STREET VIEWS
Published: October 28, 2020
Photo: Wikimedia Commons - Public Domain
The large open area in front of the Videotron Centre is named in honour of hockey legend Jean Béliveau (1931-2014). Born in Trois-Rivières, he began his hockey career at age 15 with the Victoriaville Panthers. He was later recruited by the Citadelles de Québec and the As de Québec, where he became the incontestable star.
MEMORIALS AND THINGS OF FAME
Published: October 28, 2020
Photo: Wikimedia Commons - Public Domain
October 26, 1826 – The Quebec Gazette
The Government has purchased the Grosse Isle below the basin at Chambly where they will build fortifications and barracks. It is understood that the old fort will be abandoned on the erection of the new and that troops will be stationed on the island.
October 28, 1870 – The Morning Chronicle
Where will you be when election night history is made?
Published: October 28, 2020
It’s a thing, I guess, to remember where you were when extraordinary events happened. Some details are hazy for the earlier ones, but I do recall where I was for the 9/11 attacks, the 1980 and 1995 referendums, John Lennon’s murder in 1980, the moon landing of 1969 and the assassination of JFK in 1963. We’ll stop there.
McGill University receives $15-million gift from Marc Bieler
Published: October 28, 2020
The McGill Reporter, the staff and faculty journal of McGill University, recently published an article about Quebec agro-entrepreneur Marc Bieler, a two-time graduate (Dip Agr 1958, B.A. 1964) of the university and the president of Canneberges Bieler Inc. On Oct.
Two candidates vying for QCGN presidency
Published: October 28, 2020
Photo: Twitter
The president of the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) is facing a challenge for his job in an election to be held on Nov. 5.
Geoffrey Chambers, who is completing his first two-year term as president of the Quebec anglophone lobby group, will be up against Marlene Jennings, the current QCGN treasurer and former Liberal MP for the Montreal riding of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce.
Morrin Centre holds virtual annual general meeting
Published: October 28, 2020
Photo: Screenshot courtesy of Donald Fyson
On Oct. 21, 41 members and staff of the Morrin Centre gathered online for the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec (LHSQ)’s first-ever virtual annual general meeting. Normally held in person in late March each year, the event was postponed and held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Autumnal bounty and new manager at the Grand Marché
Published: October 28, 2020
Photo: Jonathan Letellier-Black
As Quebec City’s Grand Marché marks its second fall season, it has a second head marchand. Jean-Paul Desjardins is the new interim general director of the market after the recent departure of Daniel Tremblay, the head of the Coopérative des horticulteurs de Québec (CHQ), which had spearheaded the move of the market from the Old Port to the ExpoCité site in 2019.
School Zone Awareness Day at Valcartier Elementary School
Published: October 28, 2020
Photo: Emma Perreault
We’ve all driven through one at some point. Bright neon-yellow signs suddenly come into view and sometimes lights flash to make sure you’re paying attention. A large building, usually surrounded by a fence, looms on one side of the road. Those bright signs and blinking lights are reserved for only one thing on Quebec roads: school zones.
The Halloween ‘trick’ this year is to stay safe
Published: October 28, 2020
Photo: Danielle Burns
Premier François Legault has decided that even a pandemic isn’t enough to scare Quebecers away from celebrating. He announced earlier this month that trick-or-treating, considered on the low end of the risk spectrum because it takes place outdoors, could go ahead this Halloween. The 2020 spooky show will go on – with caveats and creativity.
Life is beautiful … many thoughts
Thoughts from 91 years well-lived and counting
Published: October 28, 2020
Photo: Shirley Nadeau
Growing old is a secret, a pleasure you have to figure out. Let worries be forgotten. Love one another. Be happy and think of others. Share with one another. Life is full of joy and happiness. Life is worth living. Life is what you make of it. Live life with a purpose. When you are getting old, don’t complain or criticize. Take one day at a time. Every day is special. There is so much in life.
Halloween is the scariest time of year
Published: October 28, 2020
Photo: Patrick Lamontagne
Back in the time when history was spoken, not written, seeing the days grow shorter was surely a frightening experience.
The changing of the seasons was a mysterious process, understood in terms of powerful, capricious gods and magic, of ancient wisdom and tales told around smouldering fires.
So much with COVID-19 depends on your point of view
Published: October 28, 2020
Photo: of and by Pauline Kerr
There are as many ways of looking at a situation as there are people; we tend to see contentious issues and alarming situations from a highly personal point of view.
Silver for Valois-Fortier; FAA reaches semis in Cologne
Published: October 28, 2020
Photo: International Judo Federation
Quebec City native Antoine Valois-Fortier won the silver medal in the men’s under-81-kilogram category at the Budapest Grand Slam judo event on Oct. 24.
Ranked fifth in the world, Valois-Fortier qualified for the semifinal when he defeated Hungary’s Ivaylo Ivanov in his third match of the day.
OBITUARY: David Frederick BENNING
Published: October 28, 2020
David Frederick BENNING
1941-2020
David Frederick Benning died peacefully, surrounded by his family, on April 27 at Saint Brigid’s Home, Quebec City, following over 20 years with Parkinson’s disease. He was 79.
CCAA cancels 2020-21 winter sports championships
Published: October 28, 2020
One week after U Sports announced the cancellation of its national winter sports championships, the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) cancelled its own national winter sports championships.
OBITUARY: Willa Elizabeth Hicks LaCouvee
Published: October 28, 2020
Willa Elizabeth Hicks LaCouvee
Willa Elizabeth Hicks LaCouvee passed away peacefully on Sept. 17, 2020, in Burlington, Ont. She was born on July 27, 1929, to William and Freeda (McKinley) Hicks in Valcartier Village.
Willa loved country and Irish music, singing, yodelling and playing her acoustic guitar.
Halloween decorations found throughout the city
Photos by Cassandra Kerwin
Published: October 28, 2020
Grinning pumpkins gather on this doorstep on Rue Fraser. (Photo by Cassandra Kerwin)
SLC Fashion Show donates $7,000 to Make-A-Wish
Published: October 21, 2020
Photo: CEGEP Champlain-St. Lawrence
In March, CEGEP Champlain–St. Lawrence (SLC) students responsible for the annual fashion show were crushed when they learned that their event could not take place. “All those months of fundraising, finding sponsors, recruiting and preparing for the evening just all went up in smoke,” recalled student organizer Elizabeth Ratté.
Opéra de Québec gala highlights World Opera Day
Published: October 21, 2020
Photo: Shirley Nadeau
After a months-long pause due to the pandemic, the Opéra de Québec (OdQ) is restarting its activities with a virtual gala concert on Oct. 25 at 3 p.m. to mark World Opera Day, artistic director Jean-François Lapointe announced.
City seeks volunteers for kitchen waste collection trial
Published: October 21, 2020
Photo: Radio-Canada
Quebec City is moving forward with its plan for household kitchen waste collection. Residents are being invited to participate in a pilot project aimed at testing different methods of collecting kitchen scraps.
The story behind Avenue James-Douglas
STREET VIEWS
Published: October 21, 2020
Photo: Shirley Nadeau
This street is named in honour of Dr. James Douglas (1800-1886). Born in Scotland, he studied surgery in Edinburgh and London. After practising in India and Honduras, in 1824 he settled in Utica, N.Y., where he taught medicine.
MEMORIALS AND THINGS OF FAME
Published: October 21, 2020
Photo: Wikimedia Commons - Public Domain
October 23, 1820 – The Quebec Gazette
Lumber Merchants Meet
Canadian transition tradition keeps government lame ducks on a leash
Published: October 21, 2020
At the risk of turning this space into a periodic American Politics for Dummies, after recently exploring the aberration called the Electoral College, let us turn our attention to yet another curious quirk of our neighbour’s chosen system of government – the presidential transition.
Riverfront grain terminal project nears completion
Published: October 21, 2020
Photo: Jonathan Letellier-Black
A few years ago, the sudden appearance on Quebec City’s riverfront of two huge white silos, like twin inflated balloons, caused a flap.
Those domes, 46 metres in height, were erected in the Anse-au-Foulon industrial zone of the port, to store wood pellets from northern Ontario destined for shipment to hearths and heating plants in England.
Enjoy Halloween, avoid COVID-19: Practice safe trick-or-treating
Published: October 21, 2020
Photo: Patrick LaMontagne
On Oct. 15, Premier François Legault, Health and Social Services Minister Christian Dubé and Director of Public Health Dr. Horacio Arruda announced that little monsters across the province will be able to celebrate Halloween, although the holiday will be a bit different this year due to restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19.
