Cassandra Kerwin

National Day of Truth and Reconciliation celebrated on the Plains of Abraham

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

National Day of Truth and Reconciliation celebrated on the Plains of Abraham

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

To commemorate the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR), albeit two days early, on Sept. 28, the National Battlefields Commission (NBC) invited the public to discover Indigenous culture on the Plains of Abraham.

At Cap Diamant, named for the quartz mistaken for diamonds by the 16th-century French explorer Jacques Cartier, the NBC organized two types of activities in honour of NDTR. The celebrations began at 11 a.m. with entertainment for children and children at heart. Those present participated in traditional games, a drawing and other cultural discovery activities.

“We greatly enjoyed going to the activity this morning. My children loved the games, and they had so many questions about the traditional attire,” said Mary Donnelly. “It is important to take part in these activities and to learn about the colourful and rich culture and heritage of the First Nations, like that of the Wendat Nation. This afternoon, after the English tour of the art pieces, we are going to Wendake before heading back home to Montreal.” The NBC offered three 30-minute tours of the art pieces: 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. for the French-language tour, and 1:30 p.m. for the English-language tour.

The two artworks of art displayed on Cap Diamant are Remembering Through Beads by Wendat artist Ludovic Boney, and The 3 WatchMen by Haida artist 7IDANsuu Chief James Hart. The former is meant to link the past, present, and future, while the latter keeps a watchful eye on the spiritual and material worlds, according to the NBC. Both pieces bridge the East and the West of Canada in Quebec City.

The Wendat Nation of Wendake was officially known as the Huron- Wendat Nation until members voted to drop the name “Huron” – meaning “boar head” and given by French colonists to describe a traditional Wendat hairstyle – in a referendum earlier this year.

The Haida Nation are from Haida Gwaii (known until recently as the Queen Charlotte Islands) in British Columbia. Their territory once stretched along the northwest coast of North America, as far as Alaska. For thousands of years, artists from this community created totem poles. Some of them were topped with the three watchmen.

When visiting Cap Diamant, feel free to walk through the giant beads. Remember through the beads: sit and contemplate, pose for photos or walk through the giant beads.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is celebrated annually on Sept. 30, which coincides with Orange Shirt Day. Both events are meant to recognize the lasting impacts of the residential school system on Indigenous Peoples in Canada. They are meant to honour victims of the residential school system and those who survived, help the healing process for the survivors, their families and communities.

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City-funded Réverbère street festival returns for second edition for Thanksgiving

Local Journalism Initiative / / / ,

Réverbère street art festival returns for a second edition for Thanksgiving

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

As days grow shorter and nights longer, street artists step into the glow of street lights for all to see. The City of Quebec is funding, for the second year, the Réverbère street art festival from Oct. 10 to 13. Over Thanksgiving weekend, locals and tourists can watch a variety of street performances in Old Quebec.

“Street performers have always been a part of Quebec City’s culture, even though in recent years, [that culture] has diminished,” said Mayor Bruno Marchand at the Sept. 15 press conference at City Hall. “The budget was $480,000 last year, and it’s $580,000 this year. We’ll continue to increase it next year because we believe in culture, we believe in artists and we believe in supporting our local community. It’s also the soul of a city. That is why we are investing in these cultural events and will continue to do so in the future.”

Despite criticism from some media outlets, last year’s event was deemed a success, enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of attendees, according to the mayor. These street performers are often popular with tourists, some of whom inquire about their whereabouts and schedules.

From 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 10, noon to 9 p.m. on Oct. 11 and 12, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 13, visitors and locals can meander along Rue Saint- Jean from Place D’Youville to Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville, the Jardins de l’Hôtel-de-Ville, Rue Sainte-Anne and Place d’Armes and from Parc Montmorency to Dufferin Terrace to watch artists from more than 24 companies dance, make music or perform circus acts. Cirque Kikasse, Flip Fabrique, Graffiti Numérique, Bazar Création, École de Cirque, Compagnie Artifice and the Ligue d’improvisation musicale de Québec, to name a few, are among the participating companies.

“On Saturday, Oct. 11, we are celebrating the the 51st- and-a-quarter anniversary of L’Aubergine, the founding company of street performances in Old Quebec,” said Marc Gourdeau, the artistic director of Réverbère. “At noon, we will have a parade from City Hall Place to Place D’Youville.”

“In 1974, my father, Paul Vachon, and Josette Déchène and Lina Vachon created the clown trio L’Aubergine de la Macédoine to do clown acts in Quebec City,” said Émile Vachon. “That same year, he created Informatique, becoming one of the first acts of the Festival d’été de Québec. In 1979, they attracted 21,000 spectators. Within a few years, they had an audience of over 300,000 people.

“Today, L’Aubergine is more than alive and is happy to partner with the City of Quebec. There have always been street artists in Quebec City, but we were missing an event dedicated to them,” said Vachon. “Magic is created when spectators become part of the act. We are here to mark and celebrate an anniversary and the art of street performances. Paul would be more than happy to see this party return to the streets of Quebec.”

For more information on the Réverbère, visit ville.quebec.qc.ca/reverbere (link in French only). For more information about L’Aubergine, visit laubergine.qc.ca/en.

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Religious sites open their doors to the public for Religious Heritage Days

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Religious sites open their doors to the public for Religious Heritage Days

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

In honour of the eighth Journées du patrimoine religieux québécois (Quebec Religious Heritage Days) organized by the Conseil du patrimoine religieux du Québec, 175 religious sites in the province opened their doors on Sept. 5, 6 and 7.

Among the long list of churches, cemeteries and museums that had been opened for the occasion, the QCT visited Église Saint-Charles de Limoilou on Sept. 7. This church, closed since 2012, was reborn in a way when Machine de Cirque moved in, in

2020. The circus group saw the potential of the church as a prac- tice and performance hall with its two-storey vaulted ceilings, strong pillars and foundations. Wanting to focus on what they do best, circus performances, Machine de Cirque founded the nonprofit Centre Manivelle to manage the church as a multi- purpose space available for rent for shows, concerts and exhibits.

As the public learned on guided tours offered by the Société d’Histoire de Limoilou, this church has had a rocky history. After it was opened in 1897 for surrounding residents who didn’t want to walk to Ég- lise Saint-Roch, it burnt down

in 1899. It was rebuilt in 1901 and handed over to the Frères Capucins in 1902. It burnt again in 1916, and the parishioners had it rebuilt and inaugurated in 1920. There was no major event to report over the next 60 years besides major renovations in 1945 for its 50th anniversary the following year. The parish took over its management in 1982, only to close it 30 years later in 2012 due to rising maintenance and upkeep costs. But this was not the end of Église Saint- Charles de Limoilou.

In 2020, Machine de Cirque was searching for the perfect training space, and this aban- doned church caught their attention, especially with its two- storey-high vaulted ceilings in the centre, facing balconies and strong pillars. Street, circus and acrobatic performers have a long history of performing in the front courtyards of churches, so why not inside?

Centre Manivelle and Machine de Cirque teach their visitors that buildings can always have a second life. Bibliothèque Monique-Corriveau (Église de Saint-Denys), the Pavillon du Centre de recherche de l’Hôtel- Dieu (the original St. Patrick’s Church), and St. Matthew’s Church, now a public library, are among the many examples of this in Quebec City.

For more information, visit journeesdupatrimoinereligieux.ca, centremanivelle.ca and machinedecirque.com.

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More than 200 reenactors bring history to life on the Plains

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More than 200 reenactors bring history to life on the Plains

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

“The British are coming!”  “The Americans are coming!” From Sept. 6-7, near Martello Tower 1 on the Plains of Abraham, the National Battlefields Com- mission (NBC) reenacted four sieges of Quebec City and invited 200 reenactors to set up camp and sleep on the Plains of Abraham.

“It is amazing. I walked my dog around the Martello Tower on the morning of Sept. 5, and nothing was there. I came back yesterday, and today, I have travelled through time and space,” said Mathieu Lemelin. “It is quite a sight to see so many reenactors dressed in period clothing – and not just the British and French soldiers, but also the Americans!”

Rest assured, these Americans reenacted the Siege of William Phips in 1690 and the American invasion of 1775 – not the theoretical invasion that could make Canada the 51st state. They came in peace to reenact two failed attempts to take Quebec City. Between shooting practices with blanks, they cheerfully shared their knowledge of history and acknowledged that Quebec City was not easily conquered – at least until the British arrived in 1759 to win the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. The French retaliated to win the bloodiest battle on Canadian soil, the Battle of Sainte-Foy in 1760. During the American Revolutionary War, the Americans tried and failed to conquer all of British North America.

For passionate armchair historians and reenactors, learning about history from books and movies is important, but nowhere near as interesting as a reenactment. For two days and through the rain, over 200 men, women and children from all over Canada and the United States camped on the Plains of Abraham for the annual Battlefields – Quebec City Under Siege reenactment. The bad weather did force the event to end earlier than scheduled on Sept. 6; however, it stopped in time for the reenactors to have a dry sleep on the Plains of Abraham.

“The event has become, over the years, a must-see for the public at large and for history buffs,” said Stéphanie Roy, director of museum affairs at the NBC. The public attended in great numbers to watch reenactors fire blanks from muskets and cannons – always a crowd pleaser – and learn about games, food, tools and medicine used in the British, French, Continental Army and First Nations camps at the time.

This event echoes the current temporary exhibit on display at the Plains of Abraham Museum, Quebec 1775-1776: Blizzards and Battle, on display until January 2026.

“As well as being one of our biggest events to organize annually, and this edition being particularly enormous with all the tents and community tables and fire pits, it is also one of our most popular,” said NBC outreach program manager Virginie Arsenault. “We are very pleased with the outcome.”

This event concludes the NBC summer events program. To learn more about upcoming activities and events this fall and winter, visit plainsofabaraham.ca/activities-events.

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Quebec City’s history projected on silos at Espace 400e

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Quebec City’s history projected on the silos at Espace 400e

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

At the magical moment of dusk when the sky darkens, the silos in the Old Port are illuminated with images of Quebec City over the past 150 years.

Until Nov. 2, passersby will be able to watch the rich history flash before their eyes. The City of Quebec sponsored this event to commemorate the 40th an- niversary of its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On Sept. 4, two silent slide shows were premièred, preceded by a private cocktail reception at Espace 400, complete with cinema treats like popcorn and candy. “This 40th anniversary reminds us of the importance of preserving and showcasing this historic jewel that is Old Québec, a vibrant neighbourhood that is our pride, here and around the world,” said Mayor Bruno Marchand. “Admiring these projections is a wonderful way to celebrate our history together, while offering residents and visitors a unique artistic experience.”

As interested and proud as Marchand may be of Quebec City’s rich history and heritage, he delegated the task of creating these slideshows to the specialists: Guillaume Cyr of the Maison de la Photo and artists Jimmy Pettigrew and Yannick Nolin. Through their collaboration, they created two short slideshows. Cyr selected iconic and historical photos from the Quebec City archives, the Musée national des Beaux-Arts du Québec, the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, and the Patrick Altman collection to create a short video titled, Où voyage la lumière – Hommage photographique par la Maison de la photo.

The second video brings out the child in all viewers and may even recall a lost memory. Terrain de jeu – KINOMADA feels inspired by one of the National Film Board’s most often-requested films, Log Driver’s Waltz, where history is recounted in cartoon form. Artists Pettigrew and Nolin take their viewers on a colourful, silent visual voyage through the streets and history of Quebec City.

“The rich heritage of Old Québec is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for our local artists. I am confident that the proposed projections will inspire the public to take a fresh look at this unique setting, a testament to our history. Congratulations to the artists who created these unique and unifying works,” said Mathieu Lacombe, minister of culture and communications.

As visually amazing as these two videos are, they are missing certain elements, such as an audio track (music and dialogue) to fully captivate the audience and stop passersby in their tracks. At the launch, Cyr mentioned that an accompanying melody had been composed for this project, but the group behind this event ultimately decided to project silent videos. The images could have stretched beyond the main rectangular block with the two-dimensional photos moving along the silos, similar to past projections on various buildings.

These projections are in honour of Quebec City’s 40th anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On Dec. 3, 1985, Quebec City made history by becoming the first North American site inscribed on UNESCO’s prestigious World Heritage List. This international recognition crowned more than a century of efforts to preserve and enhance the historic district, which began in the 19th century. Even a decade before this initiative, as Quebec City was undergoing a concrete phase, then-deputy mayor Jules Blanchet and his colleagues led a project to pre- serve the Old City, limit vehicle traffic with one-way streets, and make it the jewel of a neighbour- hood it is today.

“This anniversary is an opportunity to highlight the central role that Old Québec continues to play in shaping our city’s identity and influence,” said Coun. Mélissa Coulombe-Leduc, member of the city executive committee responsible for heri- tage. “With these larger-than-life works of art, we want to pay tribute to the major milestones of our past while looking to the future.”

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Storm-damaged Escalier des Franciscains to be torn down and rebuilt

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Storm-damaged Escalier des Franciscains to be torn down and rebuilt

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

Pedestrians looking for a shortcut between Saint-Sauveur and Montcalm will have to find an alternative to the Escalier des Franciscains. After a major storm in June, the city closed the staircase for safety reasons. On Aug. 29, city officials announced it would be demolished and rebuilt.

“Closed since June 26, the staircase has undergone inspections to assess the feasibility of reopening safely. However, the inspections revealed significant deterioration and instability of the structure and its foundations, particularly due to the torrential rains experienced this summer. These findings led the city to decide to proceed with its preventive demolition to ensure the safety of residents,” the Ville de Québec communications and citizen relations service said in a statement.

“The work, which includes demolition, soil stabilization, and site restoration, is scheduled for completion by the end of September 2025 and will be carried out by city teams,” the statement said. “The preliminary design for the staircase reconstruction will be submitted in the fall of 2025. The call for tenders for the production of plans and specifications will be launched in the following months. The reconstruction … will aim for greater resilience to current and future climate conditions, as well as additional considerations to ensure the long-term stability of the structure.” The full cost of the reconstruction will not be known until after the call for tenders.

The Escalier des Franciscains has connected Ave. de l’Alverne in Montcalm to Rue Saint-Germain in Saint- Sauveur since the early 20th century. For over 100 years, Quebecers have been running up these 178 steps, originally built to connect two lines of the first Quebec City Tramway. Ac- cording to the Ville de Québec register of heritage buildings, the staircase was named after the nearby Franciscan monastery, built in 1901 on Ave. de l’Alverne. In 1982, the city bought the building with its 106 apartments.

The Escalier des Franciscains earned a bit of fame when it was mentioned in Roger Lemelin’s novel Les Plouffe. It was even one of the many filming locations of the 1981 movie of the same name, directed by Gilles Carle.

It was regularly used until the infamous tempest of Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day 2025. The June 23 storm, which ripped trees apart, caused power outages and floods and led to the cancellation of the long-planned Grand spectacle de la Fête nationale on the Plains of Abraham, also damaged the staircase. On the afternoon of June 26, the city closed off the staircase indefinitely. “Over the next few days, the city will conduct a thorough assessment of the situation to identify solutions for a safe and rapid reopening, officials said at the time.

Its users have been forced to find an alternative route to their destination – via Côte de l’Aqueduc, Escalier Victoria or Côte de la Pente-Douce.

While the summit is fully blocked off, the base of the Escalier des Franciscains allows people to see the underside and pillars. Looking closely, cracks are clearly visible in the foundations.

With files from QCT staff

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Dig reveals secrets of cemetery resting under Rue De Buade

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Dig reveals secrets of cemetery resting under Rue de Buade

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

If the walls or streets of Old Quebec could talk, what stories they would tell! Archeologists, historians and guides have been telling their tales to curious tourists and locals for decades. For Archeology Month in August, the Ville de Québec even invited guided groups to visit and observe current archeological sites. On Aug. 29, the QCT visited the site on Rue De Buade, the former location of the Cimetière Sainte-Famille.

According to maps from the time presented to the public, the original Rue De Buade, named after Louis de Buade de Frontenac, was no more than a footpath in the early years of New France. Over the next few centuries, it grew into the natural extension of Côte de la Montagne. Since the excavation began on June 11, the city has made it a one-way street, travelling east to west.

As stated in a city press release in June, “This archeo- logical project aims to comprehensively excavate the northern half of Rue De Buade, an area with high archeological potential, little disturbed by modern underground infrastructure, even after being widened multiple times. It also includes the exhumation and documentation of graves of the former Sainte-Famille Cemetery, used between 1657 and 1842.”

The city hired a team of archeologists headed up by the GAIA archeological co-operative, led by Olivier Lalonde. “Even though the site is not deep, with the bedrock sitting only 1.5 metres beneath the surface, there is a lot of history here. We have learned that the Wendat people had settlements in many places, including in this specific area,” he said. “In case they might have buried their deceased here during the dozen years they were here in the 15th and 16th centuries, the community has requested people not to photograph the site, to respect their spirituality and culture.”

Lalonde and city archeologist Serge Rouleau, who guided the tour, brought the excavation site alive, tracing its four centuries of history from its time as a Wendat settlement, to Samuel de Champlain and his fellow settlers erecting a church, to the growing cemetery and widening of the adjacent footpath onto Rue De Buade.

Some parts of the story have been lost to history or have yet to be rediscovered through excavations like this one. People even hope to find the final resting place of Samuel de Champlain, who died on Dec. 25, 1635 and is said to be buried in the vicinity of the Basilica-Cathedral Notre- Dame-de-Québec.

Since June, Lalonde and his team of archeologists have excavated 40 to 50 of the 250 graves. It was fascinating to listen to the two archeologists tell the historical facts and stories of the cemetery that has been hidden beneath the modern streets for centuries. The lucky few given the privilege to look beyond the temporary enclosure can discover old stone walls, skeletal remains, broken bottles, tableware, disintegrating clothes and other items from New France and the British conquest.

According to Lalonde, the archeologists have mainly found skeletal remains of children, including infants and even fetuses. This con- firms the historical documentation and the story behind the name used from 1780 to 1842 – Cimetière des Enfants or Cimetière Sainte-Famille. While people of all ages were buried here starting in the mid-17th century, the smallpox epidemic of 1702 and 1703 hit children especially hard. Other diseases, like yellow fever, typhus and influenza, also caused numerous deaths. After 1842, the cemetery was abandoned because city and religious officials decided to establish cemeteries outside the city walls, which explains the locations of the cemeteries in Sillery, Sainte-Foy and Vanier. Stepping away from the excavation site and back into the present day, Quebecers will have to be patient for another four months. “We aim to complete our archeological work by December,” said Lalonde. “Thanks to this temporary structure protecting us from all weather, onlookers, photographers and vandals, we can continue to work in all conditions. Often, the most important information is found in the final days and discovered in post-research and analysis.”

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The 14th Quebec City Film Festival celebrates women at the heart of the movie industry

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

The 14th Quebec City Film Festival celebrates women at the heart of the movie industry

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

Cinemaphiles will get their fill from Sept. 10 to 14 with back-to- back movies playing all over town. For its 14th edition, the Quebec City Film Festival (QCFF) announced an almost all-female program, on Aug. 21 at the Cinéma Beaumont in the Méduse complex.

At Théâtre Le Diamant, the festival opens with a cocktail reception and Mille secrets mille dangers, by Quebec film- maker Philippe Falardeau – a film about secrets finally revealed after a wedding, based on a 2021 novel by Alain Farah. From then on, female directors and producers will be in the spotlight. “After 135 years of male-dominated cinema, during which we saw very few female directors at the Oscars and only three Palmes d’Or at Cannes, it was about time that the QCFF humbly gave women a prominent place,” said filmmaker and director of the festival Hugo Latulippe. He said the festival was following a trend observed at the Berlin and Venice festivals, among others.

“About 45 per cent of films made in Quebec would have been directed by women, according to the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC). By showcasing female voices from here and elsewhere, the QCFF invites us to see the world differently, with sensitivity, strength and boldness,” said Coun. Catherine Vallières- Roland, member of the executive committee responsible for culture and major events. “For all these reasons, the Ville de Québec is proud to support this event, which has carved out a prominent place at the heart of the capital’s cultural life.”

To get the festivities going, in memory of the great cinematographer Jean-Marc Vallée (1963-2021), the QCFF will hold a Mixtape event at Le Diamant throughout the week- end. The rest of the festival will be dedicated to women in film. To highlight their work, members of the QCFF board wore white shirts emblazoned with the names of women who had made their mark on cinema in Quebec: Indigenous director, writer and activist Kim O’Bomsawin; screenwriter, director and producer Anne- Claire Poirier; and director, actor, screenwriter and musician Micheline Lanctôt.

In addition to shining the spotlight on women, the QCFF continues to focus on environ- mental issues. It will present Geographies of Solitude, an award-winning documentary by Nova Scotia-born, Montreal- based filmmaker Jacquelyn Mills, which follows naturalist and environmentalist Zoe Lucas and the wild horses she studies on the beaches of Sable Island, N.S.

Other feature films include the dark Quebec teen comedy Vampire humaniste cherche suicidaire consentant and Patrice: The Movie, an acclaimed American documentary about a couple, both of whom have physical disabilities, navigating the perils of marriage and bureaucracy.

It wouldn’t be a film festival without a bit of friendly competition. Movie makers pour their heart, sweat and tears into their work. With pride, they present it to the public and to juries at events like the QCFF. In the long feature film category are Mille secrets mille dangers; The Swedish Torpedo; Sorda précédé d’Orbites; Coexistence, My Ass!; Girls & Gods; Anna Kiri; Ms. President; Puisque je suis née and La mort n’existe pas. The short film category has 126 entries, including 76 from Quebec. The jury prize for Best Short Film is presented in addition to the $30,000 Best Quebec Short Film prize, awarded by a student jury and sponsored by Spira and Paraloeil.

Many more films are on offer, including films for young audiences. The QCFF is also hosting a few other events at different locations and times: a community party at the Powder Magazine, cocktail parties, discussions, master classes, and karaoke. While the majority of the program is presented in- doors and requires tickets or a pass, free outdoor films will be shown at Place D’Youville. Film lovers can even be spectators or extras in the festive real- time shoot at Place Dis Oui, the playground of the Théâtre Rude Ingénierie collective.

“There is so little to do and so much time, scratch that, reverse it,” said Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka in the 1971 classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. He was referring to a chocolate factory tour, but the same could be said of the QCFF. For more information, a detailed program and a “create your own schedule” tool to make sense of it all, visit fcvq.ca.

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Cathedral of the Holy Trinity shares treasures during Archeology Month

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Cathedral of the Holy Trinity shares treasures during Archeology Month

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

Quebec City celebrates its rich history by dedicat- ing the month of August to archeology. From Aug. 1 to 31, the public can discover and rediscover the secrets, skeletons and stories of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

As the QCT reported in June, major excavations are currently underway at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity as part of the Cathedral Gardens project and of ongoing renovations to shore up a centuries-old wall surrounding the cathedral complex. As part of Archeology Month, residents have an opportunity to meet archeologists and learn more about the dig. “Before any construction can happen in and around historic sites like the Old City, archeologists and their team do the initial digs to retrieve any and every item from past dwellers and users,” said the assistant archeologist at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity site, Eli Blouin Rondeau. “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure cannot be any truer. Behind the presbytery and the church hall, we are digging through [what would have been] the garbage pit.

“It is hard to distinguish items from the New France era and the British era without further analysis and research, because they ate similar meats, just slightly different cuts. Some of their dishes are similar, too,” said Blouin Rondeau. “It is these subtle differences that fascinate me and tell us so much about these everyday people of a different age.”

Speaking with Blouin Rondeau, people can learn that this site was originally used as a hospice by the Récollet order. It later became a monastery and a general hospital for just over a century, when the British took over. By the time they were evicted, they had constructed a church and a monastery that were both destroyed during the Conquest of 1759. Buildings were reconstructed for military usage and as a prison for invading American soldiers. The site then burned down, leaving space for the construction of the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, the presbytery, the church hall and the courthouse, which still stand today.

While the dig sites are not generally open to the public, passersby are invited to discover some of the artifacts at the display table near the main entrance of the cathedral from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., except during lunch hour. The archeology-related activities at the cathedral are part of a long list of free activities organized by or in partnership with the Ville de Québec for Archeology Month. Although the activities are open to the public, many require registration in advance because of space limitations. Visit blogue.ville.quebec.qc.ca/decouvrir/plongez-dans-le-passe-de-quebec-avec-le-mois-de-larcheologie (in French only) to learn more.

On Aug. 29 and 30, people can learn about the archaeo- logical site on the Rue de Buade. On Sept. 20, the City offers a tour of the Cathedral-Basilica Notre-Dame de Québec and its funeral crypt. There’s also a talk on the his- tory of cemeteries, 17th- and 18th-century funeral rites and this archaeological site given by archaeologist Paul- Gaston Langlais.

The Îlot des Palais has an ongoing special exhibit, and the Maison des Jésuites has a day dedicated to aspiring archeologists on Aug. 23. There is so much to discover within the walls and ground of Quebec City.

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Quebec City, Lévis in cleanup mode after flooding

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Quebec City, Lévis in cleanup mode after flooding

Ruby Pratka, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

editor@qctonline.com

Photos by Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

Residents and business owners around the region are still in cleanup mode after close to 100 millimetres of rain fell in some areas of Quebec City and Lévis on July 17 and 18.

Environment Canada meteorologist Steven Flisfeder described the weather event as a succession of slow-moving summer storms which slammed parts of the city over the course of several hours. “Every storm is different. A run-of-the-mill summer storm would have a downpour over the course of 30 to 60 minutes, and then it would be over, but here we ran into a situation where it’s one after the other,” he told the QCT. The Lévis suburb of Charny received 93 millimetres of rain in a single day, and 87 millimetres were measured in Sainte-Foy.

The hardest-hit area was along Chemin du Foulon, in Sillery, where about 20 people were forced to evacuate, and placed in temporary housing by the Red Cross. Allison McCan, who lives in the neighbourhood, told Radio-Canada she and her neighbours were “in the muck as far as it goes.” Along Rue Champlain, near Cap-Blanc, more than 100 people had to temporarily leave their homes due to water infiltration. By Friday afternoon, all evacuees were able to return to their homes.

Chemin du Foulon was closed between Côte de Sillery and Côte à Gignac until Friday. Avenue Belvedère remained closed from Chemin Sainte-Foy to Côte de la Pente-Douce as of press time on Monday; police are asking cyclists who normally use the Belvedère bike path to detour via Ave. Chouinard. The Escalier du Cap-Blanc, threatened by erosion, remains closed until further notice. Much of the region was without power at the height of the storm, although power has since been fully restored, according to the Hydro-Québec outage tracker.

The city did not hold a press briefing on the storm or its aftermath, but released several statements over the course of the storm. City spokesperson François Moisan said a crisis response unit had been put in place with representatives from the city and emergency services, and plans were made to house evacuees in community centres – plans that ultimately weren’t necessary.

“As soon as the crisis unit was activated, all municipal departments involved swung into action to limit the impact on the population and provide assistance to affected residents and businesses,” said Mayor Bruno Marchand in a state- ment. “I would obviously like to thank the city’s teams for their remarkable work. I am thinking, among others, of the firefighters, police officers and municipal employees, particularly those from the Bureau de la sécurité civile, des transports et des travaux publics, who were deployed to the field at full speed and who were already working late yesterday to clear and clean the streets where traffic had to be restricted. Our priority in the coming days remains supporting citizens and restoring damaged streets and infrastructure.”

“As soon as the first alerts were received, we activated our public safety plan. Our teams were dispatched to ensure the safety of citizens and limit the impacts. We have the resources and teams necessary to respond to this type of situation and adjust quickly,” said Jean-Sébastien Gagnon, public safety co-ordinator at the Ville de Lévis.

Small businesses in Vieux-Québec were still in cleanup mode as the QCT went to press Monday evening. “The flooding had a significant impact on many businesses in Old Quebec. Businesses with basements and semi-basements experienced significant water accumulation. Some streets experience chronic sewer backups during heavy rainfall, particularly on Saint-Louis Street, where significant damage occurred,” said Xavier Bernier-Prévost, director general of the SDC Vieux-Québec, the area’s small business owners’ association.

A memorable downpour

Several longtime city residents told the QCT they couldn’t remember a downpour as heavy as the one on Thursday in such a short period, at least not in downtown Quebec City. “We’ve had heavy rainstorms before – the one that comes to mind right away was in 2004 when the Lorette River overflowed – but rain this heavy in this short a time, I personally have not seen anything like that in Upper Town,” said Moisan, who has worked for the city for more than 30 years.

Marchand, in a later statement on his personal Facebook page, said the experience showed the importance of investing to improve climate resilience. “As we can see, extreme weather conditions are increasing, intensifying, and changing with each season. We don’t know where they will strike next, but we must be prepared. This is why we have set up a financial reserve to adapt our infrastructure, and also why all of Quebec’s cities are calling for increased funding from the governments of Quebec and Canada to make our infrastructure more resilient to climate hazards,” he wrote. “With the right investments and technologies, we can at least mitigate the effects on citizens – and the associated costs.”

Quebec City, Lévis in cleanup mode after flooding Read More »

Royal Canadian Naval Reserve welcomes new commandant

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Royal Canadian Naval Reserve welcomes new commandant

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

Under a bright blue sky at Quay 22 on July 19, the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve gave a final salute to its outgoing commandant Patrick Montgomery and welcomed the newly appointed Commodore Beth Vallis. Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), presided over the Change of Command ceremony, which included a parade of Naval Reservists and band.

The Change of Command ceremony marks the transfer of leadership and management of the Naval Reserve. Naval reservists are civilians who work in various fields outside the military while having a military career through part-time service. They generally serve evenings, weekends and during the summer. The Naval Reserve includes 24 units, called divisions, from Newfoundland to British Columbia. Six of them are located in the province of Quebec.

Montgomery began his naval career in 1986 when he enrolled in the Naval Reserve. He has had a fruitful naval career, which included commanding the Maritime Coastal Defence vessels HMCS Edmonton (2008- 2010) and HMCS Saskatoon (2010-2012). As a civilian, he holds a PhD in applied mathematics from the University of Alberta and teaches mathematics at Camosun College in Victoria, B.C. When he is not researching gravity currents or working for the Navy, he plays the tuba for the Greater Victoria Concert Band. In his retirement, he plans to continue to teach and do research.

“Commodore Montgomery, on behalf of the formation, the Navy, and all those you have served with such dedication, I extend our heartfelt thanks for your vision, commitment and exceptional service,” said Topshee. “You leave this command with honour, having strengthened the Naval Reserve for the future, and can approach your next chapter with confidence. Commodore Vallis, as you take command today, you do so with full authority, well-earned legitimacy and the trust of those around you. Your career stands as a testament to your unwavering commitment to the institution and your ability to lead this formation to new heights.”

To serve as Naval Reserve commander, a person needs to be able to juggle civilian life and military life while demonstrating impressive leadership qualities. According to an official biography provided at the ceremony, Vallis has extensive experience as a public servant within the Department of National Defence and as head of business development and property for Vallis Law and Strategic Solutions. She is actively engaged as a board governance, risk management and policy consultant for youth, sport and nonprofit volunteer associations. In recognition of her exemplary service and outstanding leadership, Vallis was awarded the Order of Military Merit.

Following tradition, Montgomery departed in a boat and was saluted by the troops standing on the quay as he sailed past them.

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Quebec City to celebrate Pride in August

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Quebec City will celebrate Pride in August

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

The height of summer is the perfect time for bright colours, celebrations and a season full of festivals. For four days, from Aug. 28 to 31, the 21st Festival Fierté Québec (formerly known as the Fête Arc-en-Ciel) will colour different areas of Quebec City and host a range of public events celebrating the two- spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (2SLGBTQ+) community.

According to the program, available online at fiertedequebec.ca/en, there will be free concerts and a Winter Carnival cooling station at Place D’Youville and the Passage Olympia, a Pride march along Rue Saint-Jean and a “Queer-tanic” celebration on board AML Louis-Jolliet. Renowned Quebec band Milk & Bone will get the party started on Aug. 29, with festivities on Rue Saint-Jean continuing throughout the weekend. On Aug. 30, festival-goers can enjoy storytime with Barbada at the Palais Montcalm at 10 a.m., a literary panel on growing up queer, a festive “100% Céline” cruise on the Louis-Jolliet ($65), the Pride Gala featuring Mona de Grenoble at 9:30 p.m. and a range of free outdoor performances starring local DJs, drag artists and other performers. For $50, VIP ticket holders get reserved seats to outdoor performances, food and drinks. For $75, they have access to the legendary Drague Cabaret Club.

On Aug. 31, members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community and allies are invited to wear their brightest colours during the Pride march, starting at 1 p.m. “We want to remind the public that this is not so much a parade as it is a supportive march, meaning that members and their allies are invited to show and affirm their colours in support and celebration of equality and plurality of the 2SLGBTQ+ community,” said Béatrice Robichaud, president of Alliance Arc-en-ciel de Québec. There will be more entertainment and Zumba at the Passage Olympia, tattoos at the Marriott Downtown hotel on both days and the Queer Market along Rue Saint-Jean on Sunday.

For the first time, Fierté de Québec is partnering with the Winter Carnival. “Their expertise, recognized well beyond our borders, allows us to deliver a coherent, inclusive and ambitious program, while ensuring rigorous resource management and exemplary c-ordination with our various partners,” said Sara Gagné Somarriba, co-executive director of Alliance Arc-en-ciel.

Quebec City to celebrate Pride in August Read More »

Quebecers celebrate a damp 158th Canada Day

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Quebecers celebrate a damp 158th Canada Day 

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

From coast to coast to coast, Canadians celebrated the 158th anniversary of Confederation on July 1. In Quebec City, Mother Nature joined the fun by dropping more rain on Canada Day festivities. The ceremonial flag raising on Dufferin Terrace was cancelled, but crowds of people lined up in the rain to get their slice of Canada’s birthday cake prepared by the chefs of the Château Frontenac.

For almost an hour before the cake was served, people lined up outside and watched through large windows as the final touches of icing were applied.

Sticking to the schedule, at noon, some 2,000 pieces of the huge traditional cake, decorated to resemble the Canadian flag, were distributed from a side door of the hotel near the Champlain monument.

Regulars at the annual party tasted something different. Did the chefs dare change the recipe? Besides the usual 600 eggs, 360 egg whites, 11 pounds of white sugar, 50 pounds of flour and 90 pounds of butter, the head pastry chef added apple sauce to moisten the cake and used Quebec-made flour to make it more authentically Canadian. The result was delicious!

Slices of cake were served from under a tent by Jean-Yves Duclos, MP for Québec Centre; Lt.-Gov. Manon Jeannotte; Quebec City councillor David Weiser; and the director general of the Château Frontenac, Jean-François Vary.

While waiting for their cake, people waved their small Canadian flags. “I love coming to this event. I never miss it,” said Kasandra Pelletier. “I always meet people I know and haven’t seen in a year. Canada is a wonderful and welcoming country. I am so happy my grandparents chose to move here from Greece.”

On the Plains of Abraham, the National Battlefields Commission hosted an afternoon of family-friendly festivities. In the World Zone, families discovered various cultures that make up Canada’s multi- cultural society at the numerous booths, such as making bubbles at the SOIT (Service d’orientation et d’intégration des immigrants au travail) booth, traditional West African drums at the Djembé Québec booth or tasting tea while learning about Quebec’s English-speaking community at the Morrin Centre tent.

Children had their faces painted by the Kromatik Make-up before jumping around on the numerous bouncy castles. Parents had to keep a watchful eye due to the rainy weather making things more slippery. People were captivated by five performing acts on the nearby stage. Dragon and Drum, Kumquatz and the Old Men and the Sea roamed the site giving one-on-one performances. People stopped by the Trivia Canada table and photobooth for memorable experiences.

The sky finally cleared and the sun shone briefly over Quebec City before it set, just in time for the grand finale of the Canada Day celebrations. At 8 p.m., the duo Maxime Landry and Annie Blanchard gave a Western-style show at the Edwin Bélanger bandstand – The Country of Our Idols. They had the crowd line dancing in cowboy boots and hats to the tunes of the Daraîche Family, Patrick Norman and Renée Martel. The celebrations and the show ended with the Boréalis immersive laser show.

Quebecers celebrate a damp 158th Canada Day Read More »

Quebec City celebrates 417 years of existence and 40 years as heritage site

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Quebec City celebrates 417 years of existence and 40 years as heritage site

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

On July 3, Quebec City celebrated its 417th anniversary since French explorer Samuel de Champlain founded the New France colony in 1608. This is also the 40th year since the historic walled district of Old Quebec was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

To begin the festivities, at 11:15 a.m., dignitaries, residents and visitors gathered for the official ceremony in the Jardins de l’Hôtel-de-Ville. As Old Quebec City is recognized as the only walled city in North America with a functioning military citadel, built by the British between 1820 and 1831, and home of the Royal 22e Régiment since 1914, members of the regal regiment and its band opened the ceremony with a colourful parade, including Bâtisse the goat, the regiment’s official mascot. This was followed by speeches, MCed by re-enactors portraying Samuel de Champlain and former mayor Jean Pelletier (1977-1989).

“Every summer, Quebec City’s anniversary is a unique occasion to assemble and to vibrate to the rhythm of our city,” said Mayor Bruno Marchand. “Whether it be in one’s district or in the heart of the Old City, I invite you to celebrate together what makes Quebec City strong: its energy, its creativity and its spirit of community. Together, we have preserved our heritage and our historic district. It is in our DNA to care for and promote our unique heritage.”

If it weren’t for pioneering city councillors and businessmen in the 1960s, the Old City of Quebec might have been lost to history. Under Mayor Jean Pelletier, they restored and preserved the historic district, and applied for the UNESCO World Heritage Site designation, which it received in 1985. In 2017, under Mayor Régis Labeaume, the city was recognized for its unique cultural presence in North America and received its second UNESCO title as a Ville de Patrimoine Culturel, part of the Réseau des Villes créatives. Under Marchand, the city has applied for its third UNESCO designation as an international Biosphere Region.

To celebrate Quebec City’s culture, history and heritage, numerous free activities took place throughout the city.

Starting at Place d’Armes, guides led groups on tours around the Old City, recounting facts about the people and structures that marked its history and society. City Hall was open to visitors during the afternoon. Celebrations continued in the different districts of Quebec City during the late afternoon and early evening.

Quebec City celebrates 417 years of existence and 40 years as heritage site Read More »

The MCQ presents the human stories of the Titanic

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The MCQ presents the human stories of the Titanic

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

Most people know the fatal story of the Titanic’s maiden voyage, but what about the people on board? For its latest exhibit, open until Jan. 11, 2026, the Musée de la Civilisation (MCQ) presents Titanic: The Human Story.

Even before stepping into the MCQ, visitors encounter Titanic written out in large red letters on a single blue block beside the replica bow, where people can mimic Jack Dawson from the iconic 1997 movie: “I’m the king of the world!”

Entering the exhibit, visitors travel through time to April 1912 to meet the workers, architects and engineers of the Titanic, the crew and pas- sengers on board and the ships that rescued the survivors. Listening to the audioguide, in French or English, they discover the stories behind the 200 displayed objects (clothes, jewelry, journals, tickets, docu- ments, life jackets, silverware, dishes and more); the models of first-, second- and third- class rooms; and the ship in all its glory and in its current condition, sitting in two large pieces at the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean. They also find authentic journals, leather shoes, postcards, papers and a diamond necklace that inspired the countless films and stories that have stemmed from the fatal night of April 14, 1912.

“Every time we’re able to host a major international exhibition here, the magic happens, and audiences from all over turn out,” said Julie Lemieux, MCQ executive director. “Titanic is the human story behind the great history, an approach faithful to what distinguishes the MCQ, a museum of society par excellence.”

The creative geniuses be- hind this exhibit are from the Spanish museum Musealia. To create Titanic: The Human Story, they worked with one of the world’s leading Titanic experts, Claes-Göran Wetterholm, who has made four research voyages to the wreck. “What moves us most about the story of the Titanic is not just the facts of its tragedy, but the lives tied to it: the choices, hopes, and consequences that shaped an era,” said Luis Ferreiro, president and CEO of Musealia. “With this exhibition, we attempt to go beyond the myth to reveal the world from which it emerged, and the people who embarked and perished on board during that voyage. Presenting it for the first time in Canada, within the walls of the MCQ, is a privilege – this is where this story should be heard.” It has been presented in Barcelona; Stockholm; London, England; Mexico City; New York; Brisbane and Sydney, Australia; and now, Quebec City.

“I have seen many exhibits presented at the MCQ. This is one of the best, if not the best,” said Laura Blouin. “Often, when I learned about the Titanic, I imagined the ship, the crew in the [crow’s] nest, the iceberg, the musicians, the freezing water and the wreckage. Now, I see beyond the steel and wood. I feel like I’ve met the passengers and crew, thanks in part to the extremely well-written and narrated audioguide. The enormous piece of ice in the middle of the exhibit is a nice touch and reminds people just how cold the waters were that night.”

For more information, visit mcq.org/en/discover/exhibitions/titanic.

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28th Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France offer free access to history

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The 28th Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France offer free access to history

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

Quebec City is once again preparing to celebrate its rich history. From Aug. 7 to 10, Quebecers will step back into the 17th and 18th centuries for the 28th Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France (FNF).

Once again, the FNF is work- ing in partnership with various historic sites to offer visitors an interesting and interactive journey through history. In Lower Town, for the second straight year, the Îlot des Palais will host the Last Intendant’s Treasure activity for $50 per backpack ($20 off with the medallion).

In Upper Town, the Cathe- dral-Basilica Notre-Dame de Québec will offer self-guided tours, while the Garrison Club hosts history lectures for me- dallion holders. The National Assembly offers similar lectures for free.

The highly popular FNF Treasure Hunts at the Jardins and Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville are returning with five free new quests for children ages five to 13. At the same location, people will discover a range of audiovisual tours for all ages in the evening.

“Although access to our main sites is free this year, people who purchase the iconic medallion for $20 will receive benefits, including augmented reality with the Scan Your History app access and discounts,” said Marie-Ève Jacob, executive director of the festival. “By opening the sites to free admission, we are making it easier for the high number of tourists in Quebec City.

We can share our history and heritage with more people. It is a calculated risk.”

“It is really breaking away from traditional methods of presentation and present- ing history differently,” said Jérôme Déchêne, director of programming. “Yes, we have historical events; yes, we have musical performances; yes, we have more traditional activities, artisans, of course, but we try to surprise people.”

For more information, visit nouvellefrance.qc.ca/en/programmation.

28th Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France offer free access to history Read More »

Quebec High School honours the Class of 2025

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Quebec High School honours the Class of 2025

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

As spring turned into summer on June 20, Quebec High School (QHS) congratulated the Class of 2025. Dressed in the traditional blue caps and gowns, graduating students lined the corridor of the school before entering the gym to celebrate with their friends, family and teachers.

This year, the school was honouring a special group, dubbed the “COVID Cohort” because they started high school amid the pandemic. Vice-principal JoAnne Arsenault reminded them of that challenging time, when each group was restricted to a classroom and colour-coded areas as indicated by the colour of their masks. They missed out on key aspects of a typical high school experience: mingling between classes, participating in extracurricular activities and sports and moving from classroom to classroom. That changed once pandemic restrictions were lifted, life returned to normal and students were able to socialize more freely; yet, this period left a mark.

These points were also mentioned in the guest speaker’s address. QHS graduate, retired teacher and vice-principal Gina Farnell gave several pieces of advice: “Learn to let it go! You will meet precious people that you will treasure, and you will meet toxic people; in both cases, you will have to learn to let them go. Life will throw you some curveballs. Life is not fair. You will have to learn to move on,” she said. “You will also have to learn to persevere. Fulfil your dreams, and set goals that can be reached. No one knows where life will take you. There is a difference between stubbornness and perseverance. You will have to figure it out.”

Following her wise words, the ceremony continued with the distribution of diplomas and gold cords for those with averages of 80 per cent or higher. Awards were then distributed; Victor Sweeney, Benjamin Rouleau, valedictorian Ophélie Bernier and Freya Turner-Dufour received five each, and salutatorian Cedrick Goulet-Ratté received four.

Bernier gave the closing speech. “I chose QHS because it is a small school, which means that your business is everyone’s business. This means that we know each other. That sense of closeness between the 63 of us is something special,” she said. “Tonight is the end of a road, one that we have been on for five years. Just as we are starting to know who we are, getting used to the routine and people, we are thrown once again into the void. The imprint of QHS ties us together.”

A reception in the cafeteria followed. A full list of graduates and award winners can be consulted on the QCT website.

Quebec High School honours the Class of 2025 Read More »

KWE! celebrates Indigenous cultures at the Grand Spectacle

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KWE! celebrates Indigenous cultures at the Grand Spectacle

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

On the Summer Solstice, Canadians celebrated National Indigenous Peoples Day. In Quebec City, the eighth KWE! Meet with Indigenous Peoples festival crowned the celebrations with a free concert, this time, on the steps of the National Assembly.

All day, people stopped to listen to the soundchecks. Artists jokingly said, “If you want to hear the rest of the songs, you’ll have to come back this evening.” They did and in great numbers, filling every space from the stage, around the Fontaine de Tourny to the remparts, even climbing on top of them. Hundreds of spectators watched and listened in awe, admiration and respect.

As the hot, cloudless first day of summer came to an end, KWE! celebrated the 11 First Nations and Inuit of Quebec with a free concert in partner- ship with the Quebec govern- ment. Public officials including Quebec minister responsible for relations with First Nations and Inuit Ian Lafrenière; Ghislain Picard, the former grand chief of the Assembly of First Nations Québec-Labrador;  Wendat Grand Chief Rémy Vincent; Lt.- Gov. Manon Jeannotte, former chief of the Mi’kmaq Nation of Gespeg and the first Indigenous lieutenant governor of Quebec; and city councillor Maude Mercier Larouche were present for the opening ceremony.

Northern Voice set the beat on a ceremonial drum to the breathtaking throat singing by Sandy Emudluk and Janice Parsons as dancers performed a traditional powwow dance.

Internationally renowned violinist and composer Geneviève Gros-Louis then came on- stage. From her first note to her last, she captivated the growing audience under the setting sun. The Wendat composer skilfully and melodically blended music inspired by Indigenous traditions with modern elements. Through her work and art, she addresses important concerns such as mental health and women’s issues. She has composed music for the National Geographic Channel series Life Below Zero and the Cannes Film Festival event presenting the Martin Scorsese film Killers of the Flower Moon, honouring the Osage people. This evening was all about her heritage and that of the 11 First Nations and Inuit of Quebec. Singer Keyara Gros-Louis and traditional dancers accompanied her performance.

Following this outstanding opening set, Abenaki actor and entertainer Xavier Watso got the crowd laughing. “We are here this evening to celebrate our culture with you and to show everyone that we are strong and proud,” he said. “Let’s make enough noise to make the statues on the Parliament building behind me shake!” He then named the different First Nations to discover who was from where, with the loudest cheer coming for the nearby Wendat Nation.

Members of each nation stepped onto the stage to sing in their native language. Punctuated by throat singing, one by one, they sang “Un musicien parmi tant d’autres” by Serge Fiori, to enthusiastic applause.

They then left room for the performers of the evening: Florent Vollant and his guests, including Zachary Richard, Maten, Dumas, Ivan Boivin- Flamand, Hauterive, Scott-Pien Picard and Vincent Vallières.

KWE! celebrates Indigenous cultures at the Grand Spectacle Read More »

CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2025: CEGEP Champlain-St. Lawrence honours graduates and teachers

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2025: CEGEP Champlain-St. Lawrence honours graduates and teachers

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

The Class of 2025 of CEGEP Champlain-St. Lawrence (SLC) entered the darkened hall of Le Montmartre on June 6 to the sound of Edward Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance.” Hundreds of graduates dressed in caps and gowns, and their families and friends, attended a ceremony to mark a milestone in their academic lives.

Graduates and parents lingered outdoors for photos be- fore being called into the hall. At 7:30 p.m., the ceremony began with speeches given by communications advisor Emma Lawrence and director of the constituent college and director of studies Edward Berryman.

Before the graduates and student award winners were named, the school honoured its dedicated faculty. This year, the AQPC Excellence in Teaching Award went to history professor Geneviève Ribordy. The students selected her fellow history professor Thomas Welham for the SLC Student Association Recognition Award.

The Highest Academic Achievement awards went to Hirad Haghbayan (science), Ève Richard (social science), Charlie Tremblay Groleau (P.W. Sims Business Program) and Harun Trtak (arts, literature and communications). Haghbayan also received the Highest Overall Academic Achievement Award, the Champlain Regional College Board of Governors’ Merit Award and the Governor General’s Medal. The prestigious Loran Honour Citation went to Tristan Massicotte. The Lieutenant-Governor’s Award went to Merrick Marshall and Paloma Calleja.

Of the 30 awards presented, Tremblay Groleau received four: the Puissance Onze Award, the Ernst and Young Award, the Beneva Resilience Scholarship and the Highest Academic Achievement Award in the P.W. Sims Business Program. As president of the SLC Student Association, he also gave the closing speech.

“I am truly honoured to have this chance to speak on behalf of the Class of 2025,” he said. “After our time here, we have come to understand that St. Lawrence is much, much more than an anglophone CEGEP in a francophone city. It is because we are small that we were able to have such a memorable and personal CEGEP experience, whether it was with our classmates or the dedicated faculty through extracurricular activities, studies, sports and clubs.” He concluded, “On behalf of the class, I thank you, St. Lawrence, and to the Class of 2025, continue to make a positive reputation.”

A full list of graduates and award winners follows below the photos.

CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2025: CEGEP Champlain-St. Lawrence honours graduates and teachers Read More »

Quebec City prepares for the Grand Spectacle de la Fête Nationale

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Quebec City prepares for the Grand Spectacle de la Fête Nationale

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

With summer just around the corner, Quebecers are preparing to celebrate Fête Nationale, which marks the summer solstice and honours the patron saint of French Canadians – Jean Baptiste, or John the Baptist.

On June 23, the annual Grand Spectacle on the Plains of Abraham will feature Garou, Claude Dubois, Ariane Moffatt, Sarahmée, Alaclair Ensemble and Bleu Jeans Bleu, among others, to celebrate Quebec culture and honour legendary singer-songwriter Gilles Vigneault. The show will be broadcast on TV and radio for all to enjoy.

“The Grand Spectacle de la Fête Nationale in the capital is part of a 25-year tradition for Télé-Québec,” said Télé-Québec CEO Marie Collin. “This year, the excitement is at its peak as we also take the production reins with various partners. True to our mission of promoting Quebec culture, we are delighted to bring together and excite the entire province of Quebec by sharing this immense moment of pride … We are celebrating the 50th anniversary of Quebec’s unofficial anthem, ‘Gens du Pays,’ a tribute to Gilles Vigneault.”

“Our national holiday celebrations on the Plains showcase the artistic talent of Quebecers throughout the province,” said Mayor Bruno Marchand. “This annual musical event in the heart of the capital kicks off the festive season in Quebec City, a vibrant season in every corner of the city.”

This year, the traditional patriotic speeches will be delivered by television and radio personalities Sébastien Diaz and Bianca Gervais. “The 2025 celebration falls at a pivotal moment. Let’s face it, our world is a bit turned upside down,” said Gervais, co-spokeperson of the 2025 celebrations. “It’s a good reason to celebrate our expertise, our talents, to let our personalities shine, to pull together, to buy local and to rekindle our pride in our identity.”

Street performers, dancers and face painters will entertain passersby on Avenue Cartier and Grande Allée. The party continues on the Plains of Abraham when the gates open at 6 p.m. The Grand Spectacle begins at 9:30 p.m, with warm- up acts beginning at 7:30.

For the occasion, the Réseau de Transport de la Capitale (RTC) will increase its regular service on June 23 from 6:30 p.m. to 12:45 a.m. on June 24. In addition, free park-and-ride lots will be available. For more information, visit rtcquebec.qc.ca.

Télé-Québec will broadcast the show live on TV, online at telequebec.tv and on the Télé-Québec mobile app. Local radio stations Rouge FM and iHeartRadio will also broadcast it live. There will be a rebroadcast on June 24 at 6 p.m. and on June 27 at 10:30 p.m. On June 25, TV5Monde will broadcast the show on its digital platforms throughout the French-speaking world. Festivities continue on June 24 with the official flag-raising ceremony at the Grand Marché.

Quebec City prepares for the Grand Spectacle de la Fête Nationale Read More »

Women march for equality and an end to poverty

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , , ,

Women march for equality and an end to poverty

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

To mark the 30th anniversary of the historic 1995 Bread and Roses March, women across the province held commemorative events. In Quebec City, women and men assembled beside the Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec on June 7 for speeches before marching along Grande Allée to the National Assembly and to the Parc de la Francophonie for celebratory cake and refreshments.

Françoise David played a key role in the 1995 march as president of the Fédération des femmes du Québec (FFQ) and later became an MNA, serving as co-spokesperson for Québec Solidaire. She said she still feels there is much work to be done in the name of gender equality and the fight against poverty, despite the progress made over the last three decades. “On the legal level, in terms of laws, we can’t say that women have taken a step backwards in Quebec,” she said. “The creation of a network of childcare centres was essential for women to be able to work, and recently, given the rise in reports of sexual assault against women, the creation of a specialized court. So, there has been progress for women.”

“It is a good thing to celebrate this milestone now, especially in these international political times,” said social worker Elizabeth Lopez. “We cannot allow the toxic masculinity and patriarchy rising from the south to undo all the work we have done in the past decades. That is why I skipped school to march back then and that is why I am here today.” She added, “It is great to see so many men among us and support[ing] us.”

“It is amazing to see how much has changed in 30 years,” said Amélia O’Connor, a retired social worker and volunteer in a women’s shelter in Montreal. “The demands we made back then still resonate with us today.” According to the FFQ, the marchers’ main de- mands included pay equity, social programs for women with potential jobs, security benefits and unemployment insurance, social housing, and an automatic child support collection system. This year, women walked for equality, social justice and an end to poverty.

Much has improved for women since the initial Bread and Roses March in 1912, a strike of immigrant workers at a textile factory in Lawrence (near Boston), Mass. Over the past century, women in North America have gained the right to vote, hold office, have careers outside the home and keep their jobs after giving birth and while raising young children. The gender salary gap has decreased, abortion has been legalized and shelters for women who have escaped domestic violence have become more accessible, although challenges remain.

Much remains to be done, as demonstrated by the hundreds of women and men present in Quebec City this past weekend. Among them were some of the original 1995 “godmothers” (sponsors and co-organizers) and newly appointed “godmothers,” including freelance journalist and broadcaster Ariane Émond, Sen. Chantal Petitclerc, Indigenous rights activist Michèle Rouleau, artist Marie-Claire Séguin, Radio- Canada anchor Marie-José Turcotte, and former executive director of the Maison d’Haïti and Montreal-based immigrant rights activist Marjorie Villefranche.

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Avenue Maguire springs into festivities with Les Printanières

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Avenue Maguire springs into festivities with Les Printanières

Cassandra Kerwin

cassandra@qctonline.com

Celebrations of Avenue Maguire’s 125th anniversary continued with Les Printanières de Maguire on May 30 and 31. The shops, restaurants and performers adjusted to the evechanging weather.

Despite rain in the forecast for May 30, the sun was out, yet not many people showed up. Due to the forecast, the SDC Maguire announced a change in the schedule. Festivities ran from noon to 5 p.m. on both days, rather than 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on May 30 and 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on May 31. These changes displeased some people who planned to celebrate on the terrasses and in the shops on Friday or Saturday evening.

MP for Québec-Centre Jean-Yves Duclos, MNA for Jean- Talon Pascal Paradis, city councillor Maude Mercier Larouche and director general of the Caisse Desjardins Saint-Louis- de-France Kathleen Bilodeau visited Avenue Maguire on Friday afternoon. SDC Maguire director general Brian Aubé gave them a tour, visiting a few merchants.

“It is important to start the spring and summer season on the right foot,” said Aubé. “The weather has not really been on our side, these past few weeks, dropping buckets of rain over our heads. For our events, we have taken measures. We modified the schedule a bit, and we are ready to set up tents. We asked certain merchants and shops to hold their kiosks inside rather than on the side- walks.” This explained the lack of crowds on the streets on Friday, despite the sun and warm temperatures. On Saturday, rain poured down.

“My grandmother has been doing the family grocery shopping at Roset’s since it opened in 1947,” said Alexandra Bélanger. “I have so many memories on this street that I am happy to share them with my own daughters.”

During the weekend, visitors sampled foie gras and duck rillettes from Canard Goulu, shopped at Boutik Suisse, savoured chocolates at Eddy Laurent or enjoyed a refreshing ice cream at Chocolats Favoris or the Bar Laitier Maguire. Street performers were invited to showcase their skills and talents.

The history of Avenue Maguire dates back to 1900, when Father Alexandre-Eustache Maguire requested a shorter route to the St-Colomb–St- Michel de Sillery cemetery on Boul. St-Cyrille (now Boul. René-Lévesque). Over time, businesses opened along this newly constructed road. The first tramway reached it in 1910, passing along another new street, Rue Sheppard. Today, RTC bus 11 follows this route.

Since his passing in 1934, Father Maguire has been forgotten by the general public, and the pronunciation of the name of the street has shifted from “Maguire” to something closer to “Magoirre.” No matter how it is pronounced, it has a lot of options for local shopping and dining.

Editor’s note: To learn more about the history of Avenue Maguire, see Bill Cox’s July 7, 2021 Street Views column.

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Massive dump truck rally drives through Quebec City

Local Journalism Initiative / / / ,

Massive dump truck rally drives through Quebec City

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

On May 14, over 2,500 dump trucks rolled into Quebec City to demonstrate against the most recent changes to Bill 62, giving more flexibility to Quebec companies to hire truckers from outside the province. Quebec truckers worry they may lose contracts, especially in the current hard economic times.

The truckers were rallying against the recent modifications to Bill 62, an act mainly to diversify the acquisition strategies of public bodies and offer them greater agility in carrying out their infrastructure projects, adopted by the National Assembly on Oct. 8, 2024. It is meant to improve project performance and provide better services at lower cost.

After seven months of following these modifications, the Association nationale des camionneurs artisans (ANCAI) and its members and its members, who were gathered at an annual assembly in Chicoutimi earlier this month, voted to rally in Quebec City to protest the legislative changes.

Over 2,500 of the 5,200 members of the ANCAI answered the call and drove into town, creating traffic disruptions all day, particularly on Pont Pierre-Laporte, Autoroute Henri-IV, Boul. Charest Est, Ave Saint-Sacrement, Boul. Wilfrid-Hamel and Autoroute Laurentienne. Several Quebec government departments and agencies encouraged their employees based in the capital to work from home. When drivers stuck to alternative routes, driving around town was manageable. It was quite a sight to see the long line of dump trucks with passing drivers honking in support.

In preparation for the rally, city crews blocked both ends of the street in front of the National Assembly, forcing trucks to line up along Boul. René-Lévesque from Boul. Honoré-Mercier to the Grand Théâtre. In abnormally warm, sunny weather, truckers came prepared for a long day. The Sûreté du Québec and the Service de police de la Ville de Québec were both advised of the rally and its route and helped redirect traffic.

Everything went peacefully and according to plan. “We didn’t want to make too much noise or disturbance because we are not associated with — nor do we want to be assumed that we are with — the convoy truckers of the last major strike that took over Quebec City and Ottawa,” said ANCAI director general Gaétan Légaré. “We don’t want to take the city hostage. We just want to demonstrate that we mean business, which is why we asked our drivers to stick to one lane on the roads and not to honk their horns.”

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EXMURO unveils latest public art exhibit

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EXMURO unveils latest public art exhibit

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

On May 14, EXMURO unveiled its latest public art exhibit in Lower Town, which will remain until Jan. 10, 2026. Starting within EXMURO’s headquarters in Place Royale, three artists – Martin Bureau, Isaac Cordal and Pipilotti Rist – expose their works in the building and on the streets.

Curious passersby get a glimpse of Quebec artist Bureau’s latest piece in the building. The waving flags are of his own creation, inspired by five actual flags found at the United Nations. They are part of his piece, Counterfeit Edens for Times of Chaos/Feindre l’Éden Pour un temps le chaos, found on the second floor, where visitors will find a large circular conference table surrounded by fake national flags and burnt, charred office chairs. Bureau created this two-part installation in partnership with the National Film Board of Canada. “This is a sinister reproduction of an international committee, similar to the Security Council at the United Nations,” he said. “It is my interpretation of them being unable to regulate the chaotic world in which we live.”

More mysteries are unveiled beneath the stone arches in the vaults and behind the closed doors of EXMURO’s facilities. To fully appreciate Rist’s work, one needs complete darkness. The Swiss artist created a series of videos projected onto screens and the stone walls of the gallery: Ever is Over All and Sip My Ocean. Visitors can sit on the floor or on large beanbag cushions. Her third piece, Open My Glade, is visible outdoors on the Côte de la Montagne side of the building, from across the street after the sun goes down.

Whether within the building or throughout Lower Town, Spanish artist Cordal invites the public to Follow the Leaders through the Cement Eclipses. “It is my take on the destruction of the capitalist world, what happens to businessmen when the world around them is destroyed,” he said. On one diorama located on the floor in the building, he placed a large frame filled with a destroyed city, in which he placed countless businessmen in varying positions. Focusing on the different individuals and groups from various angles encourages viewers to reflect on the modern world.

More surprises await the public this summer, the first of which is Minigolf Belleville Plaisirs from June 20 to Sept. 1. This first collaboration between EXMURO and the Ateliers Belleville (a.k.a. Lab-545), the Montreal-based artistic hub, had 18 Quebec artists create an artistic twist on a popular summer pastime. Other surprises will be unveiled throughout the season.

In addition to the outdoor installations, EXMURO has opened a coffee shop, Café de l’Aire publique, in the lobby of its headquarters, inviting visitors to discuss art over coffee, tea and treats made by local businesses.

For more information, visit exmuro.com.

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Duclos attends fish ecology talk by B.C. exchange student at QHS

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Duclos attends fish ecology talk by B.C. exchange student at QHS

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

Ava Zielinski, a visiting student at Quebec High School (QHS) from Hornby Island, B.C., gave a memorable presentation in front of fellow students and Québec-Centre MP Jean-Yves Duclos to raise awareness of the devastating impacts of overfishing on Pacific herring stocks.

QHS participates annually in the YMCA Student Exchange Program supported by Heritage Canada. This year, they partnered with Hornby Island Community School (HICS), on Hornby Island, off the east coast of Vancouver Island. Twenty QHS students travelled to Hornby Island from March 3 to 10, while 10 HICS students visited Quebec City from May 1 to 8. During this visit, Zielinski, whose father is a sea captain, gave a presentation about the Pacific fishing industry.

The Pacific herring is a small silvery fish, measuring on average 33 cm in length and weighing about 405 grams. The herring has been fished for centuries by the Japanese and Pacific Coast Indigenous people for its roe, oils and meat. It spawns in estuaries and coves, like those found along the Georgia Strait be- tween Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia.

“Being a visitor from the traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation, I would like to start my presentation by acknowledging that we are on the unceded territory of the Wendat First Nation,” said Zielinski. “Hornby Island is one of the few remaining and largest places where the Pacific herring still spawn.” She then displayed a time-lapse map of the Georgia Strait, showing the rapid decrease of spawning zones. In early March, the dark turquoise waters of the strait transform into milky turquoise as over six million eggs per square metre are laid, attract- ing various species of whales, birds and mammals. As a result, only two of the 20,000 eggs laid by each female Pacific herring make it to adulthood. Hornby Island holds an annual Herring Fest to celebrate this natural phenomenon; the most recent edition, the ninth, ran from March 13-15.

Since the early 17th century, the roe of the Pacific herring has been a highly popular delicacy in Japan. Due to overfish- ing in the 1950s, the industry collapsed in Asia, creating opportunities for B.C. fishing families, like the Zielinskis, to make a living. “There are some intensive industrial fisheries for herring on Canada’s west coast,” said Zielinski. “These are very wasteful fisheries. They catch thousands of tons of herring, but only a small amount for human use. Most are used for pet food, fish farm food and garden fertilizer. There are other less wasteful ways to get the roe, including traditional First Nations ways, like letting herring spawn on kelp or tree branches.

“There may be concern that pausing the herring fishery will cause people to lose their jobs,” said Zielinski. “Many jobs depend on healthy herring populations, like other commercial fisheries, sport fishing and tourism. So you could say that protecting herring protects jobs.” She continued, “Our big ask is to help us pause the industrial Pacific herring fisheries to allow its populations to rebuild. Please help us advocate for our cause to the federal Fisheries, Oceans and Coast Guard minister, Joanne Thompson. I also encourage you to speak to my Member of Parliament, Gord Johns.”

Following the presentation, Duclos congratulated Zielinski for her work and her courage.

He then turned to the students to ask for their input and solutions. They mentioned that fish harvesters may be able to rotate their fishing zone from year to year, establish a weight limit or find less wasteful ways of fishing. They also spoke about developing different industries like tourism, to allow the community to thrive.

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CEGEPs honour Indigenous achievement at St. Lawrence

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CEGEPs honour Indigenous achievement at St. Lawrence

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

For the first time, the four CEGEPs of Quebec City honoured Indigenous students at a recognition gala for the Indigenous college community of Quebec. On May 2, the ceremony welcomed recipients, family, friends and community members for a cocktail, gala dinner and show at CEGEP Champlain- St. Lawrence.

The ceremony opened with a land acknowledgement followed by an opening prayer by Wendat elder Yolande Picard. “Throughout my life, I never considered higher education important, but now, after re- flection, I have realized that it is greatly important in today’s age because my education has allowed me to tour the world and to be here this evening,” she said after the prayer. “Thanks for recognizing the value of our youth and their hard work. Thanks for recognizing our peoples, because they’re just as important and valuable as any other people.”

“In a spirit of friendship and solidarity, inspired by Université Laval’s territorial acknowledgement, I pay tribute to the First Peoples who welcome our college and all of its activities onto their ancestral territories,” said Edward Berryman, director of studies at St. Lawrence. “Since we are at the crossroads of the Nionwentsïo of the Wendat people, the Ndakina of the Wabanaki people, the Nitassinan of the Innu people, the Nitaskinan of the Atikamekw people and the Wolastokuk of the Wolastoqey people, we honour our relationships with one another.

“Dear students, this gala is an opportunity to recognize your remarkable journeys of resilience and commitment, to celebrate your voices and, through them, those of your families and communities, and to highlight your unique contributions that enrich our college and community life,” said Berryman. “You bring knowledge, cultures, visions and dreams that transform our institutions, step by step. Tonight’s event, which brings us together around you, is a magnificent example of how far we have come and the hopes we can nurture for generations to come!”

To celebrate the students’ hard work and dedication, the Indigenous community organized the first Recognition Gala for Indigenous CEGEP students in Quebec City, inspired by a similar ceremony at Cégep de Sept-Îles, created by Innu author Naomi Fontaine. The gala ceremony was held in English, French and several Indigenous languages.

Members of the community and alumni from the four participating CEGEPs (St. Lawrence, Garneau, Sainte-Foy and Limoilou) distributed four awards to the 16 participants: Leadership and Community Engagement; Promotion of Indigenous Cultures; Resilience and Perseverance; and Solidarity and Collaborative Spirit. The Puamun Meshkenu organization also awarded a Coup de Cœur scholarship. After the ceremony, attendees enjoyed a buffet dinner and a concert with a live band.

The full list of award winners is below:

Leadership and Community Engagement

– Frédérique-Christina Picard (Innu Nation; Cégep Limoilou)

– Hugo Picard Copeau (Innu Nation; Pessamit, Que.; Cégep Limoilou)

– Laurence Vollant-Vachon (Innu Nation; Pessamit, Que.; Cégep de Sainte-Foy)

–  William-Frédéric Bacon-Hervieux (Innu Nation; Cégep Garneau)

Promotion of Indigenous Cultures

– Émilie Labbé-Hervieux (Innu Nation: Pessamit, Que.; Cégep Limoilou)

– Janie Fontaine (Innu Nation; Pessamit, Que.; Cégep de Sainte-Foy)

– Kimi Ottawa-Flamand (Atikamekw Nation; Manawan, Que.; Cégep Garneau)

-Logan Morsillo (Ojibway Nation; Matachewan, Ont.; St. Lawrence)

Resilience and Perseverance

– Anne-Marie Riverin Rousselot (Innu Nation; Pessamit, Que.; Cégep de Sainte-Foy)

– Ève Jean (Wendat Nation; Cégep Garneau)

– Jennifer Côté-Wapachee (Cree Nation of Eeyou Istchee; Cégep de Sainte-Foy)

– Julianne Labbé (Wendake, Que.; Cégep Limoilou)

– Stecy Jourdain (Innu Nation; Uashat mak Mani-Utenam, Que.; Cégep Garneau)

Solidarity and Collaborative Spirit

– Aiden Aqpik-Savard (Inuit Nation; Iqaluit, Nunavut; Cégep Limoilou)

– Amélie André (Innu Nation, Maliotenam, Que.; Cégep de Sainte-Foy)

– Louis-Félix Morin (Abenaki Nation; Odanak, Que.; Cégep Garneau)

Puamun Meshkenu Coup de Coeur award

Laurence Vollant-Vachon (Innu Nation; Pessamit, Que.; Cégep de Ste-Foy)

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Avenir St. Patrick consults the English-speaking Community

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Avenir St. Patrick consults the English-speaking community

Cassandra Kerwin

cassandra@qctonline.com

As the the Central Québec School Board (CQSB) moves ahead with plans to build a single consolidated English high school in Quebec City, members of the English-speaking community and residents of the sur- rounding neighbourhoods are curious about the future of the buildings currently housing Quebec High School (QHS) and St. Patrick’s High School (SPHS) and the land they occupy. On April 30, Avenir St. Patrick invited the English-speaking community to a consultation at the Centre culture et environnement Frédéric-Back to discuss the future of the SPHS property.

Among the 20 or so attendees were current and former SPHS teachers, parents, alumni, members of the Irish community, representatives of local nonprofits, residents and sports enthusiasts. In table discussions, each person gave their opinion, thoughts and ideas for the site. The discussions focused on three main possibilities: non-profit and privately-owned co-operative housing, a community centre and a green space.

For many house hunters and entrepreneurs, Montcalm is a sought-after neighbourhood, with SPHS at its heart. If and when the land and building are sold, members of the local Irish community worry they may lose a major piece of their historical identity and heritage. The use of the property dates back to the 1830s, when it was St. Patrick’s Cemetery, until the cemetery was moved to Sillery to make room for the new school in 1916. With such deep roots, they want to continue to use the space and land, and for it to represent them, which includes conducting activities in English.

The building has two major parts: the school and the gym. The latter is not as easily transformed into housing and requires more engineering and planning. This integrates into existing plans for a community hub with a performance hall and a multipurpose space. As for the outdoor green space, local residents said they appreciate it, and community sports clubs use the soccer field for Gaelic football and hurling, among other sports.

Much of the discussion at the meeting was speculative because the land and building are not for sale at the moment. All that is certain is the school’s eventual move to the new location in Sainte-Foy, the second move in its long history, slated for 2028. Backers of the “super- school” project say it is necessary to allow the school board to sell off the aging high school buildings, stimulate enrolment and offer CQSB students educational opportunities and options similar to their counterparts at local French-language schools.

Avenir St. Patrick indicated that another meeting would be planned in the near future, probably in French, to reach more community members. The group would like to present solid plans to the city before 2028.

Keep an eye on the Avenir St. Patrick Facebook page for further information.

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KWE! showcases First Nations and Inuit cultures

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KWE! showcases First Nations and Inuit cultures

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

From June 12 to 15 at Place Jean-Béliveau, Quebecers are invited to discover the rich cultures of the 11 First Nations in Quebec through conferences, kiosks, films and music at the KWE! Meet with Indigenous Peoples festival at Place Jean-Béliveau and other sites around the city. The word kwe means “hello” in several Indigenous languages, and the festival is all about connection.

“KWE! is above all an invitation to connect, share and discover in a festive and welcoming atmosphere,” said KWE! executive director Mélanie Vincent. “We are reaching out to the entire population to come and meet us. Thanks to a diverse and interactive program, everyone will be able to enjoy a unique and enriching experience!” She continued, “The purpose of the festival is to meet our neighbours. Sometimes, we travel the world and know more about other nations than we do about our First Nations.”

KWE! is pulling out all the stops for this eighth edition. It opens with Tressages, a fashion show featuring collaboration between renowned Quebec fashion designer Jean-Claude Poitras and First Nations and Inuit designers, on June 12 at the Grand Théâtre. Tickets ($20) are available now.

From movies to conferences and workshops, discussions over tea, and savouring Chef Maxime Lizotte’s menu, there is much to discover and learn over the four-day festival.

“The traditions of the First Nations and Inuit of Quebec reflect exceptional richness and diversity. I am convinced that the event will once again be a resounding success this year,” said Ian Lafrenière, Quebec minister responsible for relations with First Nations and Inuit.

While some people walk through the Forest of 11 Indigenous Languages, others will work with modern and traditional tools at the FabLab Workshop or attend one of many talks about Indigenous life or powwows. On June 13, KWE! will project Anishnabe short films from Wapikoni Mobile, and on June 14, the coming-of-age film Ninan Auassat – Nous, les enfants, directed by Kim O’Bomsawin. To keep people moving, Dr. Stanley Vollant will lead the Puamun Meshkenu (Path of a Thousand Dreams) Walk at 1 p.m. on June 14.

In support of the festival, on June 13, the Gabrielle-Roy Library will present Frétillant et Agile, a play by Wendat author Jocelyn Sioui about two people, young and old, embarking on the adventure of a lifetime to discover humanity.

The festivities will continue on June 21, National Indigenous Peoples Day, with a show at Place de L’Assemblée-Nationale. Wendat composer and film music producer Geneviève Gros-Louis will open the show and be joined by members of the 11 First Nations to sing the festival theme song, inspired by Serge Fiori’s Un musicien parmi tant d’autres. A live tribute to pioneering Innu singer-songwriter Florent Vollant will feature Zachary Richard, Maten, Dumas, Hauterive, Scott-Pien Picard and Vincent Vallières.

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Climate activists form Earth Day human chain around National Assembly

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Climate activists form Earth Day human chain around National Assembly

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

On April 22, Earth Day, thousands of Quebecers, including members of the Coalition régionale pour la justice climatique et sociale (CRJCS), formed a human chain around the National Assembly to send a message about climate change, the importance of implementing environmentally friendly strategies, and the need to hold governments and corporations accountable.

“The climate is warming faster than expected, with 2024 being the hottest year in recorded history. Last year, average land and ocean tempera- tures rose 1.3 degrees Celsius. The consequences are already being felt across the planet with increasingly extreme weather events, thawing permafrost and the rampant loss of ecosystems. These consequences have an impact on our food, our health, our income and our quality of life,” said Naélie Bouchard-Sylvain of the Regroupement d’éducation populaire en action communautaire des régions de Québec et Chaudière-Appalaches. “This puts us on a trajectory where the human and social costs will be catastrophic in the next two decades.

“Meanwhile, our governments are backtracking on several climate measures,” said Bouchard-Sylvain. “While the majority of the population sees their living conditions worsen, one per cent continue their luxurious lifestyles thanks to their portfolio of polluting stocks and political influence. On this Earth Day, we demand an acceleration of the fight against the climate and biodiversity crises, such as phasing out fossil fuels, and a massive reinvestment in environmentally friendly public and social services.”

Organizers presented a seven-foot-long by three-foot-wide “ticket” to the government for their perceived inaction on climate, which was hung from the ramparts and quickly pulled down by police officers.

Fighting deforestation and pesticide overuse

At the municipal level, Quebec City is encouraging “no-mow May” and pesticide- free movements on most municipal lawns. In addition, the city will distribute free trees on May 1.

In a joint effort with the federal government through a $440-million investment, Quebec aims to plant 100 million trees in public and private forests by 2030-31. The Quebec government restricts deforestation to 278,000 square kilometres of its 834,000 square kilometres of forests. It also requires the forestry industry to rotate lots by continuously replanting. However, environmentalists argue the government is not doing enough and not acting fast enough.

Quebec’s Bill 97, An Act mainly to modernize the for- est regime, was introduced on April 23. Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry Maïté Blanchette Vézina presented amendments to the bill that aim to create “priority forest management zones.” Environmentalists fear that the forest industry, with the government’s support, is going too far. “In priority forest management zones, the plan even goes so far as to ban protected areas, which means banning conservation. It’s as if the Ministry of Forests is trying to protect itself legally against the Ministry of the Environment,” said Alice-Anne Simard, director general of Nature Québec. “These amendments could be compromising the achievements of our conservation objectives.”

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Hundreds of families celebrate Easter at the Musée de la Civilisation

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Hundreds of families celebrate Easter at the Musée de la Civilisation

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

There was chocolate, an acorn hunt, a sugar shack, chocolate egg decorating, a live show and much more as the Musée de la Civilisation (MCQ) hosted its ninth annual family Easter celebration.

The museum started the festivities at 9 a.m. on April 19 by inviting families in need to a free private brunch, followed by privileged access to the weekend’s activities before the doors opened to the public at noon. “For the foundation, this kind of event is essential because it allows us to continue fulfilling our mission of promoting accessibility for children and families with special needs. It’s a privilege to see families come together and celebrate together in such a warm and festive atmosphere,” said the museum’s executive director, Julie Lemieux.

“It was a wonderful surprise when we got the invitation,” said Elizabeth-Anne Smith- Bélanger. “The brunch was exquisite. My two children loved the activities, especially the chocolate eggs, hunting for the acorns and squirrels and the sugar shack, but now, it’s time to head home to get ready for Easter tomorrow.”

Free access for these families was supported by the Fondation du MCQ. For 34 years, through different events, it has raised funds to make culture accessible to as many people as possible, particularly children and families from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Later in the day, the MCQ invited visitors to enjoy the free Easter activities for the price of admission. Despite the rain, families lined up around the corner.

Due to the bad weather, the outdoor sugar shack did not open April 19. It reopened on sunny Easter Sunday for families to savour maple taffy on snow, barbecued burgers, fries with maple and herb mayonnaise and other delicious treats. A maple taffy stand and a juice stand were also set up just inside the entrance, and hot chocolate was served on the other side of the atrium.

“The line moves surprisingly fast for its length,” said Mark Beaumont. “We are waiting longer to paint the chocolate eggs.” In the basement, children painted chocolate eggs with coloured white chocolate. Once decorated, some children savoured their works of art. Families had their pictures taken in the nearby photo corner.

Other visitors, especially children, rushed around the museum with a pamphlet in their hands, containing the five riddles of the annual Easter scavenger hunt. This year, they helped Eric the squirrel find his lost acorns and friends. “My children love the hunt,” said Valérie Julien. “It’s absolutely genius because we get to see different exhibits in a fun way.”

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Elementary school students celebrate 20 years of PAF at Palais Montcalm

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Elementary school students celebrate 20 years of PAF at Palais Montcalm

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

The Central Québec School Board (CQSB) is celebrating an impressive milestone this year: the 20th anniversary of the Performing Arts Festival, better known as PAF. Over the years, the festival has grown from drama festivals in different schools to a major annual event for 18 schools, featuring an array of workshops and student performances, with separate divisions for elementary and high schools.

On April 9, about 250 elementary school students from across the province assembled at the Palais Montcalm for a day of artistic workshops and a climactic PAF show. “We are very proud of our school board. We have staff, students, parents and supporters here. The message I want to share with the students is that I hope they are having fun and that they are making friends with students from our schools in different cities,” said the recently named chairperson of the CQSB council of commissioners, Jean Robert. “It is something special for me to be standing here today, because when I was a student at St. Stephen’s Elementary School, I once performed on this very stage. We had a concert at the Palais Montcalm. Mind you, it was not as nice as we see it today. It is a funny full circle.” That concert was decades before the first PAF, highlighting the importance of art in education in the English-speaking community.

Robert was not the only nostalgic person at the 20th edition. Over the years, past participants have returned as teachers, workshop leaders and parents of current participants. The shared stories and the strong desire of the students to participate each year have helped the festival grow in popularity. Certain workshops like photography were fully booked. Other workshops included dance, animation, manga, wax art, DJ skills, singing and improvisation.

“The students really do love PAF. Once it is over and when the new school year starts, they ask their teachers if they are going to PAF this year. They start thinking about their acts and preparing them,” said CQSB arts education consultant Bronwen Hughes. “It really is varied. Students put on musical shows, plays, dances, singing …”

Once again, the students’ hard work, creativity and talent amazed the audience. The show opened with Holland Elementary School students giving a rocking performance of 1970s hits: “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver, “Dancing Queen” by ABBA, “YMCA” by The Village People, and “We Will Rock You” by Queen. The drums were amazing for the last song.

From that point on, it was just one great performance after another. Portneuf Elementary School gave “The Greatest Show” with their interpretation of the hit song from the musical The Greatest Showman. A few acts later, Ste-Foy Elementary School thought outside the box by presenting a cinematic production they made at their school. Everest Elementary School gave an outstanding première performance with a cheerleading act. Ste-Foy Elementary School closed the show with incredible dance moves to millennial hits. They danced to “Step By Step” by New Kids On The Block, “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” by the Backstreet Boys, “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child, “What Makes You Beautiful” by One Direction, “Dynamite” by BTS, and “Bye Bye Bye” by N’Sync, made popular again by the 2018 movie Deadpool 2 nearly 20 years after its original release.

This year, for the first time, the PAF high school division is going on the road — to Jonquière. On April 16, workshops for high school participants will be held at Riverside Regional High School. The next day, students will perform at the Palace Theatre in Arvida.

Students, parents and community members can follow the 20th PAF by listening to the podcast Voices of PAF! online at cqsbperformingartsfestival.com.

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Quebecers speak out about long COVID at National Assembly rally

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Quebecers speak out about long COVID at National Assembly

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

Five years ago, life on Earth seemed to stand still as a new disease spread from person to person and continent to continent. Hundreds of millions of people around the world contracted COVID-19 and millions died from it. Many people contracted it more than once, leading to a post-COVID-19 condition commonly known as “long COVID,” which as yet has no cure. The condition can lead to debilitating fatigue, breathing problems, cognitive struggles and other symptoms which persist for months or years after a COVID infection.

On March 15, several dozen people affected by the condition, doctors and supporters gathered in front of the National Assembly to mark Long COVID Awareness Day. They placed some 200 pillowcases with written testimonies from long COVID sufferers of varying ages and backgrounds on the sidewalk in front of the National Assembly building. Athletes have been forced to quit their sports and drop out of school. Adults have been forced to find less demanding employment. Parents have been forced to choose between caring for their family and keeping a job. Some patients have become handicapped, adding yet another challenge to their lives. These are only some of the devastating stories.

The World Health Organization, Health Canada and the Ministry of Health and Social Services remind Canadians that five years after the beginning of the pandemic, coronavirus is still infecting people, some of whom will develop long COVID. Although many long COVID patients appear healthy, they are more susceptible to contracting other infections, forcing them to self-isolate for long periods.

“Long COVID is invisible. [Patients] have chronic fatigue, difficulty concentrating and fogginess,” said Dr. Marie- Michelle Bellon, an internist and member of the board of directors of the Canadian COVID Society. As a doctor and a mother, she has observed patients with these symptoms daily since her son was diagnosed with the condition in July 2022, and her daughter is also showing symptoms.

Dr. Amir Khadir, a microbiologist and specialist in infectious diseases, shares Bellon’s concerns. “Since the 10 to 15 per cent of patients who develop COVID are affected to varying degrees, these numbers could misrepresent reality because the symptoms are wrongly attributed to other medical conditions … lifestyle and stress. Their condition can worsen, especially for those who are unaware of their diagnosis, overwork their health and infect others.

“Since the first diagnosed cases of COVID-19, governments have been doing re- search. It is important to continue because we have yet to find a cure for long COVID,” said Khadir, a former Québec solidaire MNA who returned to his Montreal medical practice after leaving politics in 2018. “Currently, we do not know the precise mechanism by which some people become infected with symptoms and remain ill, while others don’t. We need to do more research. To do that, we need the help and investment of the government. If we don’t invest in clinical research, we won’t be able to offer anything for years.”

On March 15, the Association québécoise de la COVID longue (Quebec Long COVID Association) officially established plans to eventually offer home care, psychological sup- port and a dedicated helpline, as announced in August 2024. For now, the association has a basic website and about 10 trained people working on the support line. It even has a ready-to-print two-page letter for elected officials, explaining everything from diagnosis to the current state of research to fundraising and awareness-raising suggestions. Members hope that if more voters bombard elected officials with these letters, they will be more inclined to invest in long COVID research and care.

For more information in English, visit longcovidtheanswers.com or covidsociety.ca.

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Quebec to form civilian disaster response force

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Quebec to form civilian disaster response force

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

Anywhere disaster strikes in Quebec, the Réserve d’intervention d’urgence en sécurité civile (RIUSC) will be there. At a press conference in Quebec City on March 21, Public Safety Minister François Bonnardel announced that the emergency response force would be fully functional on April 1, with 200 men and women ready to be deployed across the province.

“Climate change is hitting us. The year 2023 was immensely difficult with the floods in Baie-Saint-Paul, where we lost two firefighters, and with the forest fires,” said Bonnardel. “The government is preparing for future disasters with concrete means to protect Quebecers, their property and infrastructure. RIUSC crews could be called upon install sandbags to protect infrastructure, for example, during a flood. They could also set up an emergency shelter.”

According to Bonnardel, this provincial emergency force is a first for Canada. It will allow municipalities and regions to be less reliant on the Canadian Armed Forces for assistance in case of natural disasters. The RIUSC is currently training 200 volunteers in four qualification camps set to last from Feb. 21 to March 29, for them to be deployed as early as April 1. The majority of these trainees are already part of the Quebec Search and Rescue Volunteer Association, while others are members of the Société de Protection des forêts contre le feu (SOPFEU), the Canadian Red Cross and other emergency management organizations.

Bonnardel hopes to attract another 1,000 trained volunteers in the coming years. The province has set aside a budget of $30.5 million over five years for the RIUSC.

The Union of Quebec Municipalities (UMQ) supports this initiative, but is calling for clarifications around the funding. After establishing their disaster response coordination structure, municipalities requesting this aid must accept paying for a portion of it and will receive a bill, according to a statement from the RIUSC.

According to a report by the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, bilingual personnel are especially helpful in disaster response, because people often resort to their native language in stressful situations.

For more information or to apply to become a RIUSC member, visit quebec.ca/securite-situations-urgence/securite-civile/soutien-municipalites/reserve-intervention-urgence-securite-civile-riusc.

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Irish flag flies over City Hall for St. Patrick’s Day 

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Irish flag flies over City Hall for St. Patrick’s Day 

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

The green, white and orange flag of Ireland was raised at City Hall on March 17, the feast day of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. For the occasion, the mayor, city councillors, consuls of Ireland and Spain, members of the organizing committee of the Défilé de la Saint-Patrick de Québec (DSPQ) and two Irish wolfhounds were present.

“This flag on this mast is a decisive beacon so that people understand that we are wel- come here in Quebec City,” said the grand marshal of the 2025 DSPQ, Bruce Kirkwood. “Happy St. Patrick’s Day!”

“Heritage, history and the Irish community are very im- portant for Quebecers,” said Mayor Bruno Marchand. “It is important to renew and celebrate it annually and to repeat it again and again. We can talk about St. Patrick’s High School, Saint Brigid’s Home, the Celtic Cross, the Irish culture, Irish food, the pubs, the music, the festivities, et cetera. Quebec was and will continue to be influenced by the green, by what made us.”

The Irish community has been an integral part of Quebec City’s social fabric since the early 19th century. Countless St. Patrick’s High School alumni have left their mark on Quebec City, Quebec and Canada. Irish Quebecers celebrate their rich heritage and complex history loudly on the days leading to and following St. Patrick’s Day.

Among the numerous 2025 festivities in Quebec City, from March 15 to 22, is the DSPQ on March 22. The parade leaves St. Patrick’s High School at 2 p.m. Participants will march up Avenue Cartier and along Grande Allée and Rue Saint- Louis up to the Château Frontenac, where they will turn on Rue du Fort and Rue de Buade, ending at Place de l’Hôtel- de-Ville. Before and after the parade, families can search for the leprechauns who play tricks throughout the Old City.

Local historian Steven Cam- eron and his guests will give a talk at McMahon Hall on March 19 at 7:30 p.m. about Irish history in Quebec City. Celtic bands from near and far will perform throughout

the week, including Rosheen on March 20 at the Théâtre du Petit Champlain; the Pipes and Drums of the Chicago Police Department at the Blaxton on Avenue Cartier on March 21; the Toronto Fire Services Pipes and Drums at Le Trèfle on 3e Avenue the same evening; and Irish Moutarde at Grizzly Fuzz on March 22.

For more information, visit ville.quebec.qc.ca/saintpatrick.

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Pôle Montcalm explores future of QHS building

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Pôle Montcalm looks to the future of QHS building

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

As the English-speaking community anxiously awaits the opening of the new consolidated English high school resulting from the merger of Quebec High School (QHS) and St. Patrick’s High School, residents of the surrounding neighbourhoods are exploring plans for the future of these buildings. On March 12, the Montcalm Community Hub (MCH) held its first annual general meeting at QHS to inform the public about its mission and projects, as well as the current situation surrounding this specific property.

After seeing many culturally and historically significant buildings abandoned and demolished in favour of more modern urban projects, residents of Montcalm, Saint- Sacrement, Saint-Sauveur and Sillery who spoke at the event do not want this fate to befall the QHS building. With that in mind, in 2024, five people created the MCH. Their mission, according to their website, “is to protect and enhance an essential community space. It is committed to supporting the transition of the QHS building and its green space into a sustainable community-use area.”

The cofounders “are calling on the community and all three levels of government to preserve this unique space in the face of real estate development projects. This place is not just a plot of land; it represents a gathering space, a hub for recreation and valuable con- nection between generations.”

Before any plans can be discussed, there is much to consider. This plot and its building are currently zoned institutional, meaning that the QHS lot can only be used for schools, hospitals, fire stations, libraries or government buildings. The zoning will have to be modified for any other use.

The MCH is inspired by similar successful projects, like the city’s Plan particulier d’urbanisme (PPU) for the Pôle urbain Belvédère. According to the city website, this plan favours harmonious development, respects the local population and fulfills the city’s overall objectives.

Pôle Montcalm explores future of QHS building Read More »

Musée de la Civilisation explores the teenage brain

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

Teenagers’ minds are full of wonder. Even though they might appear to be lazing around, their minds are active, creative and inventive, as demonstrated in the latest exhibit at the Musée de la Civilisation (MCQ), Teens: Creative Minds. Within the 170 square metres, 11 Canadian teens and their creations are showcased to educate and inspire future inventors.

The source of this exhibit sprouted from one of Quebec’s most innovative and renowned inventors, Joseph-Armand Bombardier, who, at the age of 15 in 1922, built the prototype of what would become the snowmobile. “We wondered how adolescence is creative. [Looking at Bombardier], we wondered why he is so creative and what drove him to be so,” said Antoine Laprade, manager of exhibits at the Musée de l’ingéniosité J. Armand Bombardier (MIJAB) in Valcourt.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of this invention, the MIJAB created this exhibit in collaboration with the Université de Sherbrooke by researching other ingenious Canadian teens. Visitors will discover 11 young Canadian inventors and their inventions, from the airless baby bottles created by Jean Saint- Germain, then 16, in 1953, to the QualyL, the robotic heart adaptable to patients’ efforts devised by Jonathan Lévesque, then 17, in 2018, to other innovations such as self-heating ski poles. The MCQ even invites visitors to test some of these inventions. The exhibit also takes a closer look at how teenagers’ brains work. At the heart of Teens: Creative Minds stands a giant structure representing the shape of the brain. Stepping into it, visitors will discover the parts of this vital organ and learn how it keeps developing right through adolescence up to around age 25, despite reaching its full size by the time a child turns six.

“By presenting this exhibition, we wanted to reach and engage an audience that is dear to us: teenagers,” said MCQ general director Julie Lemieux. “We wanted to offer a space where their dynamism and ideas take on their full dimension. It also allows us to discover unsuspected inventions, purely from our region, to which we had not previously paid attention.”Until Sept. 1, the MCQ invites the public to discover and even test these inventions.

For more information, visit mcq.org/en/discover/exhibitions/ados-cerveaux-inventifs.

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Bruce Kirkwood is the Grand Marshal of the 2025 Défilé de la Saint-Patrick de Québec

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Bruce Kirkwood is the Grand Marshal of the 2025 Défilé de la Saint-Patrick de Québec

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

Green season is in full swing in Quebec City and around the region. Green, white and orange flags are being raised everywhere. Irish jigs and reels are heard loud and clear. Traditional emblems decorate Quebec City in preparation for the 2025 Défilé de la Saint- Patrick de Québec (DPSQ).

The organizers of the annual parade traditionally choose a grand marshal who has been deeply involved in the local Irish community. This year, the selection committee chose Bruce Kirkwood, a career volunteer.

“[When I was told that I was this year’s Grand Marshal], I didn’t believe it. I thought it was a joke or that someone was pulling my leg,” said Kirkwood. “But when I saw the seriousness in the president of the committee, Félix-Antoine Paradis’s face, I realized that the time was now. It is big. When you are named grand marshal, you are walking in some big shoes, following Dennis Dawson, Pauline Bigaouette McCarthy and the original [grand marshal], Marianna O’Gallagher, to name a few.

“Having been on the committee for a number of years, I have the list, but I did not consult it to see how I’d fit in,” said Kirkwood. “It is interesting to know that being a professional volunteer gets recognized. That is what is appreciated.”

Kirkwood is everywhere and involved in almost everything in the Irish community. He is a handyman, musician, photographer, sound engineer, driver, genealogist and more, known for his intelligence, quick wit and diplomacy. He has lent a hand at Shannon Irish Shows, Irish dancing shows and com- petitions, parades and a multitude of other events over the years. He was on the board of the DSPQ until 2023, when he stepped down as vice-president of operations.

“It is a wonderful recognition of all I have done for the Irish community and the DSPQ,” said Kirkwood. “I re- tired because I felt that I had done my part, and my role had run its course after 10 years. I had been part of the committee during the pandemic, which was a little rough, to say the least. Should I mention that [Terry Kerwin’s] passing cut my legs out from under me?”

Kerwin*, as president of the DSPQ, and Kirkwood, as vice-president of operations, complemented each other. Kirkwood said they had hit their stride to bring the DSPQ to its full potential when Kerwin died in January 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic hit a few weeks later, and the parade didn’t return until 2023.

Kirkwood and Kerwin were behind one of the parade’s most cherished traditions – the visit of five police pipe- and-drum bands from Chicago, New York City, Boston, Philadelphia and Toronto, as well as the civilian Montreal Pipes and Drums, to Quebec City. The Quebec City parade is always held a week after St. Patrick’s Day, to allow all bands to march in their respective hometown parades.

Kirkwood was born and raised in Quebec City and baptized at St. Patrick’s Church. He has been volunteering since the age of 12, starting as an “in-house” DJ at the original Shannon Hall for weekend dances and events. In 1974, his family settled in Shannon, “a move that helped forge a sense of community spirit and belonging,” he wrote. “It takes a village – in this case, two: Shannon and Valcartier – to raise a passionate volunteer.” Having felt at home in Shannon, he built a home in neighbouring Saint-Gabriel- de-Valcartier, where he resides with his family and continues to volunteer.

*Disclosure: The late Terry Kerwin, former president of the Défilé de la Saint-Patrick de Québec committee, is the author’s father.

Bruce Kirkwood is the Grand Marshal of the 2025 Défilé de la Saint-Patrick de Québec Read More »

Handmaids fill the streets for International Women’s Day

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Handmaids fill the streets for International Women’s Day

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

On March 8, hundreds of women in red capes and white bonnets marched through Quebec City for International Women’s Day, at Laurier Québec in Sainte-Foy, in front of the U.S. Consulate in Old Quebec and in a march that ended at the Palais de Justice de Québec on Boul. Jean-Lesage. Similar protests took place at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa and in 14 cities and towns across Quebec, including Montreal, Sherbrooke and Frelighsburg, on the U.S.-Canada border.

The capes and bonnets are taken from Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel The Handmaid’s Tale, set in a dystopian world in the near future, where women are stripped of their rights to read, write and control their reproductive choices. Handmaids – lower-class women whose red dresses and capes and white bonnets make them stand out – are forced to give birth to the babies of higher-class families, who wear green. The book was adapted into a popular TV series in 2017.

Inspired by the story, the Regroupement des groupes de femmes de la région de la Cap- itale-Nationale dressed in red capes and white bonnets for their protests on International Women’s Day. One red-clad group of protesters surprised shoppers at Laurier Québec around noon by walking in tight unison into the atrium with signs bearing misogynistic quotes from public figures.

Less than an hour later, the women attracted a rather large crowd when they assembled at the corner of Avenue Sainte- Geneviève and Place Terrasse-Dufferin in front of the U.S. consulate, protesting the rise of anti-feminist sentiment in the United States under President Donald Trump.

At 2 p.m., these women joined the crowd at the Centre résidentiel et communautaire Jacques-Cartier in Lower Town.

The year 2025 is the 30th anniversary of the of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a sweeping inter- national plan to achieve a better world for women and girls. To mark this milestone, feminist groups around the world, including in Quebec City, marched under the theme of “Still Fighting.” The local groups chanted in French, “Still fighting to end violence against women! Still fighting against the poverty experi- enced by women! Still fighting for feminist climate justice!”

“With everything that’s going on right now, it’s really a good

time to come together and feel less alone,” said activist Maria Tremblay. “It is not a question of gaining something over men, but equal to men. Some toxic masculine-misogynistic groups are growing in popular- ity, mainly in the States, and passing laws there that are removing the rights of women. We hear not only men but also women speak about how women must become wives, mothers and even servants to men. That boggles our minds. It is exactly what Margaret Atwood wrote about 40 years ago.”

The march ended in front of the Palais de Justice in Saint- Roch, where the handmaids in red raised their white bonnets and chanted along with the crowd, “Mother, daughter, sister, never again in fear.”

With files from Ruby Pratka, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

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Day camp registration season around the corner

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

Day camp registration season around the corner

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

With spring just weeks away, cities across the province are preparing for summer. Quebec City and Lévis recently announced rates, schedules and registration timelines for their summer day camps. Registration starts in early April with limited spots: 15,000 in Quebec City and 1,130 in Lévis.

With the support of 22 partner organizations, the Ville de Québec has an $11.5-million budget to cover 65 per cent of the weekly costs per child, with families paying the remaining 35 per cent. This budget includes $3.2 million for integration programs for children with disabilities. In Lévis, families pay 34 per cent and the city takes care of the remaining 66 per cent. Other Quebec cities have similar pricing structures for city-run camps.

In Quebec City, the early- bird registration price is set at $68 per week for the first child – a $2 increase from 2024 – with slightly lower rates for the child’s younger siblings, plateauing at four children or more. The city will also accommodate non-resident campers for $155 per child. Registration begins April 14 and prices go up May 6. Summer day camps will run from June 24 to Aug. 15.

Low-income families can receive financial assistance from the 22 partner recreational organizations listed on ville.quebec.qc.ca/citoyens/loisirs_sports/camps-de-jour.

Families pay more in Lévis, with the price set at $113 per child per week from June 30 to Aug. 8. Registration will take place April 7 and 8 in the west sector and April 9 and 10 in the east sector. The camp will run from June 30 to Aug. 8.

“Quebec City is a major city that offers the most accessible, most affordable day camps in the province,” said Coun. Marie-Pierre Boucher, member of the executive committee responsible for summer day camps.

In 2024, 18,449 children participated in the camps offered by Quebec City. Attendance fluctuated over the eight weeks because Quebec City offers families the option to register children for two, three or five days per week, with prices adjusted accordingly. Similar information for Lévis was not available at press time.

Both Quebec City and Lévis are currently hiring camp counsellors. Quebec City offers rates of $17.60 per hour for 35 days, while Lévis pays $16.50 per hour over 30 days. Quebec City has 2,000 positions to fill. The number of vacancies for Lévis was not available at press time. Both municipalities expect to fill the positions quickly.

City-run summer camps are offered in French only.  Voice of English-speaking Québec offers an English-language camp; visit veq.ca/directory/fit-fun-english-summer-day-camp to learn more.

For more information about city-run day camps in Quebec City, visit ville.quebec.qc.ca/ citoyens/loisirs_sports/camp-jour.

Day camp registration season around the corner Read More »

Colisée destined for demolition after 75 years

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Colisée destined for demolition after 75 years

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

On March 5, the Ville de Québec opened the doors of the Colisée de Québec to the media for a final photo-op. The group walked the vacant halls, rooms, restaurants and stands vibrating with 75 years of sports and entertainment history.

During this visit, there were no official speeches, only remarks by people who shared memories of watching famous games and shows. Many photographers and reporters recalled their first assignments covering hockey games and concerts, from the stands to the press gallery up in the rafters. The final event was a Metallica concert on Sept. 14, 2015. Two days later, the new Videotron Centre, with a capacity of over 18,000 spectators for games and 19,000 for concerts, opened for the first time.

If the walls of the Colisée could talk, they would have many stories to tell. Construction of the original building started on May 24, 1949. It still stands today, despite being hidden in plain sight after the 1980 renovations, which gave it its glass facade and more entrances. While maintaining its charm, the modernized Colisée grew to accommodate an additional 5,000 spectators, just one of the NHL requirements.

From December 1949 to May 2015, families and fans flocked to the home games of the As, Nordiques, Citadelles and Remparts, as well as the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament every February from 1960 to 2015.

The Colisée was originally nicknamed “the House Béliveau Built,” in honour of Jean Béliveau, whose minor hockey heroics filled the arena in the early days. From those games on, the ambience and atmosphere at the Colisée were electrifying, especially during Nordiques-Canadiens games. Between periods, children played street hockey in the corridors as their parents bought hot dogs, drinks and popcorn. In the meantime, players and coaches planned their moves in the locker rooms. Now vacant and stripped clean, the rooms appear tiny in comparison to those in modern arenas. For hockey fans, it’s a privilege to step onto the ice in an arena that saw the likes of Béliveau, Guy Lafleur, Jacques Cloutier, the Stastny brothers and Patrick Roy. Even Maurice “The Rocket” Richard left his mark there when he coached the Nordiques’ first two games in 1972. It’s hard to imagine the roar of the crowd when the ice has long since melted away and the vast space converted into storage facilities for the Festival d’été de Québec.

Besides hockey games, the Colisée also hosted thousands of concerts. Fans filled the amphitheatre to see and hear Céline Dion, James Blunt, Ozzy Osbourne, Korn, Blink-182, Bryan Adams, Shania Twain, Bob Dylan, David Bowie and KISS, to name a few.

The once lively amphitheatre is now a shadow of its former self. Dust covers everything. Metal bolts on the concrete bleachers are all that is left of the 15,176 seats. The souvenir boutique is bare; the ticket counters are vacant. The lobbies are filled with neatly piled chairs, plywood and tables. A ghost-like “COLISÉE PEPSI” can still be seen on the facade, although the letters were removed in September 2019.

No demolition schedule has yet been set for the Colisée. The estimated cost is $20 million over two years.

Colisée destined for demolition after 75 years Read More »

Ukrainian Quebecers mark three years of war

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Ukrainian Quebecers mark three years of war

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter 

Cassandra@qctonline.com

As Quebecers continue with their lives, compete in friendly sporting events and celebrate the beauty of winter, war wages on in Ukraine. Russia dropped more bombs on the eve of the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

On Feb. 23, Ukrainian communities around the world, including across Canada and in Quebec City rallied to send a message of support to those still fighting for their lives, peace, justice and liberty in Ukraine. 

The Associations of Ukrainians of Lévis and Quebec City organized a peaceful gathering in front of the National Assembly where hundreds of people shared words of love, solidarity and hope for a better future. 

“The war in Ukraine has been going on for three long years … years of destruction, but also of incredible resilience and exemplary courage,” said Bohdana Porada, president of the Alliance des Ukrainiens de Québec. “We are here to remind people that the Russian aggression continues to breathe with full lungs.” She continued, “The people of Ukraine are showing the world the true meaning of dignity and liberty. Ordinary men and women have become heroes. We have to fight for a place where children won’t be obliged to fight.”

Porada, like her fellow Ukrainians now living in Canada, looks to the government for a solution to end this war. The Canadian government has already given over $19.5 billion in assistance to Ukraine, including $4.5 billion in military aid since February 2022, in addition to training more than 42,000 members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Canada will support Ukraine joining NATO, something that must be done urgently, even at the cost of President Volodymyr Zelensky stepping down. This comes after President Donald Trump called him “a dictator with elections” and claimed Ukraine was the instigator of this warfare. 

“We have to work hard for peace, justice and liberty. We are all revolted by what we have heard from President Donald Trump. We cannot let ourselves be intimidated,” said the Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos who was present at the assembly. “We will always be there to support Ukraine. We will always be there to defend peace, liberty and justice.” His words of support were echoed by MNAs Jean-François Simard and Étienne Grandmont. 

To raise more money for the reconstruction of his homeland, Ukrainian cyclist Dariy Khrystyuk bikes long distances in an initiative he named “Je roule pour l’Ukraine.” During the night of Feb. 22 to 23, he pedalled from Montreal to Quebec City through snow, low visibility and in total solitude, arriving just after 2:30 p.m. to a large welcoming committee. “I find inspiration from the Cossacks, symbolic warriors of Ukraine, to push through the challenging obstacles,” he said. 

This was Khrystyuk’s fourth long-distance fundraising challenge. In 2023, he biked 53,000 kilometres from Vancouver to Quebec City. “I wish to complete the Canadian trail to Newfoundland and Labrador,” he said. “After I finish my studies in 2027, I want to donate all the money after biking from Bordeaux to Kyiv (over 3,000 km).” Hopefully, he will pedal to a country still standing. 

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Quebec Winter Carnival triumphs over the weather

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Quebec Winter Carnival triumphs over the weather

Cassandra Kerwin, LJI reporter

Quebec Winter Carnival triumphs over the weather  

Cassandra Kerwin

Cassandra@qctonline.com

Not even a blizzard or two could keep people from enjoying the 71st Winter Carnival. Organizers pulled out all the stops to create another memorable and successful edition. 

The 71st Winter Carnival closed on Feb. 16 with the traditional St-Hubert Snow Bath. Men and women wearing nothing but swimsuits, tuques and boots jumped into a pile of snow surrounded by a warmly dressed cheering crowd. “Every year, we come to Quebec City and the carnival as a family trip. This year, I had to call my husband’s bluff,” said Sarah O’Malley from Atlanta, Georgia. “He says he never gets cold. So I signed him up for the Snow Bath.” After watching the first of two waves of people, smiling from ear to ear, he dove right into the snow to make a snow angel.

Local artist and muralist Phelipe Soldevila supervised Graff the Ice Palace. “It is pretty crazy. It is actually something we had done unofficially [in 2018] when I and my artist friends were hired to create live art. It is great to see it officially part of the carnival,” he said. “Everyone is enjoying themselves, which is the main objective. It really shows you that art sometimes is not about the end result and more about the process.” 

Tagging and painting graffiti on the Ice Palace was a popular activity. Even the executive director of the carnival, Marie-Eve Jacob and program director Jérôme Déchêne added their creative touches. Throughout the carnival, they visited the sites and participated in numerous activities and events. 

“This year, we continued to root our vision, which is to offer extraordinary activities that cannot be done outside the carnival and that defy conventions,” said Jacob. “The sold-out rappelling on the Château Frontenac and the Popunderwear Carnival White Night at the Cercle de la Garnison are good examples of this. We aim to balance these extravagances with the traditions that have made the event’s reputation, but that we enhance by constantly evolving them, such as the Palais de Bonhomme and the night parades.”

“We make a conscious effort to reach a variety of clientele,” added Déchêne. “For example, we had activities for families during the day and young adults in the evening, in addition to offering programming that is popular and festive, sometimes contemplative. We tend towards a very interesting balance that allows us to affirm that there is something for everyone at the Quebec Winter Carnival.”

“Quebec City was the number one destination in Canada during the two carnival weekends with an occupancy rate of 85 per cent the first weekend and for now, we’re looking at 90 per cent for the last weekend,” said Déchêne. 

Organizers mentioned that musicians, entertainers and spectators loved the shows under the Dome for the second consecutive year. The night parades attracted large crowds from start to finish. Large crowds watched 54 teams participate in the ice canoe race across the St. Lawrence River for the 130th year and 70th carnival race. The official sites, Zone Loto-Québec, Zone Kraft Jukebox and Scotiabank Sculpture Garden always had a good flow of people. None of this would have been possible without the dedication and loyalty of the 450 volunteers. 

For those who want more, there’s the Télé-Québec (in French) six-episode documentary series La fièvre des festivals which invites you to take a behind-the-scenes look at the Quebec Winter Carnival, the Francos de Montréal, the Festif! de Baie-Saint-Paul and the St-Tite Western Festival.

The Quebec Winter Carnival will be back from Feb. 6 to 15, 2026.

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The 71st Winter Carnival is open

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Cassandra Kerwin

cassandra@qctonline.com

The 71st Quebec Winter Carnival is now open! From Feb. 7 to 16, people will celebrate winter in all its glory. They will skate with Bonhomme, visit his Ice Palace, dance in the Kraft Juke Box, tour the garden of ice sculptures, watch the night parades and enjoy the many partner activities. There is something to please everyone.

“I am very proud to see everyone here assembled to celebrate the opening of the 71st Winter Carnival, to celebrate winter and the cold,” said Bonhomme. “I hope to see you at the Carnival.”

As tradition demanded, May- or Bruno Marchand handed Bonhomme the key to the city at the opening ceremony on Feb. 7. “I want you to take good care of our city because it is the most beautiful winter city in the world, as stated by people from all over the world! You are the master of the city over the next ten days!” With those words, Marchand handed Bonhomme a giant brass key, officially opening the Winter Carnival.

Inspired by the falling snow, MNA for Montmorency Jean- François Simard quoted Gilles Vigneault, “‘Mon pays ce n’est pas un pays, c’est l’hiver,’” he said. “Quebec City and Quebecers love winter. There is no winter in Quebec City without the Winter Carnival! There is no Winter Carnival without Bonhomme.” He continued, “Bonhomme, you have been bringing us joy and sun every winter for 71 years! Every year, we are happy to see you again! On behalf of the Quebec government, I wish you all a wonderful Carnival.”

After the ceremony, the stage was set for the opening show, featuring stand-up comic and singer Mariana Mazza and her guests. Wearing a red fake-fur hat, a Nordiques jacket and moon boots, Mazza had the crowd laughing to her quick wit and vulgar jokes and dancing and singing along with her Bon Jovi covers, “Living on a Prayer” and “It’s My Life.” She asked the crowd not to blow their horns, to which a spectator objected, adding an unexpected comical dialogue to the show. The rest of the show was a mixture of jokes, songs and dance moves performed by Véronique Claveau, Erika Suarez, Rafaëlle Roy, King Melrose and Émily Bégin. Until Feb. 16, anyone with a Carnival effigy can tour the Ice Palace at Zone Loto-Québec (Place de l’Assemblée-Nationale), the ice sculpture garden (Parc de la Francophonie) or the giant Philadelphia Ferris Wheel in the Kraft Jukebox (Place George-V). In Lower Town, visit Bonhomme’s Beach behind Espace 400. There are over 50 partner events and activities throughout the Quebec City region.

For more information, visit carnaval.qc.ca.

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Mary Gillespie House purchased for English-speaking community

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Mary Gillespie House purchased for the English-speaking community

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

The historic Mary Gillespie House in Sainte-Foy has been purchased for the use of the local English-speak- ing community. By next year, it will open as a multipurpose venue, thanks in part to the $1.5-million contribution from Canadian Heritage through the Community Spaces Fund program for official-language minority communities. Federal Minister for Public Services and Procurement and MP for Québec Jean-Yves Duclos announced the funding arrangement on Feb. 3.

“This project started with a young individual who saw the potential in this house in July 2023,” said Jean Robert, presi- dent of Jeffery Hale Community Partners. “From there, our staff got involved. The boards of two of our community foundations, architects, lawyers and the staff at Canadian Heritage had the same goal: an inclusive multipurpose space for the community.”

Robert affirmed that Mary Gillespie House will be trans- formed for the English-speaking community by next year, if all goes according to plan. “It will provide an inclusive space for cultural preservation, col- laboration and connection,” said Robert. “It will become a vibrant hub of services and ac- tivities for the English-speaking

community for years to come, promoting a sense of belonging for its members and helping to ensure its long-term vitality.”

“The English-speaking com- munity has been present in Quebec City for over 265 years. This is a lot of years and hard and heavy work with great suc- cess,” said Duclos. “Here, we have an example of a heritage home that will last and be preserved for its beauty and be used for the benefit of our English-speaking community. When we are diverse, we are more proud.”

“The Mary Gillespie House is in my riding, and I’m de- lighted that our government is investing in this community space for the people of Quebec City. I hope that Louis-Hébert

residents will be able to come together and build relation- ships in this magnificent and historic Sainte-Foy building,” said Louis-Hébert MP Joël Lightbound. “This is good for the community. It is not the biggest community, but it is strong, vibrant, and has deep roots. I am very happy that this space will bring the community together.”

According to the Ville de Québec register of historic buildings, the house was built between 1860 and 1867. Its first resident-owner appears to have been Mary Gillespie (1840-1935), widow of mer- chant James Hewitt and sister of James Gillespie, who owned Maple Cottage, formerly located on Chemin des Quatre-Bourgeois. The residence remained in the Hewitt family for almost 30 years.

The house is located at 819 Ave. Moreau in Sainte-Foy. It is a 1.5-storey farmhouse situated on a large lot. The majority of its historical components, including wooden windows, dormers, doors and floors, a metal roof, a covered gallery on three sides and chimneys at each end, have been maintained. Since the front lot was sold for a commercial building on Chemin Sainte-Foy, the original main entrance faces the back of that building rather than Avenue Moreau. 

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Ateliers du Carnaval pull back curtain on night parades

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Ateliers du Carnaval pull back curtain on night parades

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Ateliers du Carnaval pull back the curtain on night parades

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

Over the past weeks, the staff at Les Ateliers du Carnaval has been working hard to create and restore the iconic floats in preparation for the legendary night parades.

On Feb. 3, reporters were invited to tour the various workshops as staff put the finishing touches on the floats and dancers practised their moves for the parades.

The Ateliers du Carnaval is where the magic of the Winter Carnival is brought to life year after year. It is where 500 people, including 350 artists and artisans, spend 3,000 hours creating temporary art in the dead of winter. With a few coats of paint, some sculpted wood and lots of plywood, the wheeled platforms are transformed into different worlds: Bonhomme’s icemobile, Flip Fabrique’s acrobatic zone, Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows float and much more.

On the evening of Feb. 15, residents who missed the Feb. 8 Lower Town Night Parade (see article in this edition) can see the floats come to life at the Upper Town parade, with lights, music and performers, and the nine sequences directed by 11 artistic directors. There will be something for everyone: circus performances, dancers, lights, music and even pyrotechnics. To enjoy the full experience, spectators are reminded to dress warmly and bring their Carnival trumpets and other noisemakers.

The massive 16-foot-high Ubisoft float will capture everyone’s attention. Inspired by the soon-to-be-released action-adventure video game Assassin’s Creed Shadows, this float resembles a traditional Japanese house. The Assassin’s Creed logo is added to the hanging lanterns.

In an adjacent workshop, workers were building Bonhomme’s float. On the day of the tour, there was little to see. Reporters, like the rest of the public, will have to wait for the parades to see the complete show.

The Feb. 15 Upper Town parade starts at 7 p.m. on Grande Allée from Avenue des Érables.

For more information about the parades and other Carnival events, visit carnaval.qc.ca/en.

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Bonhomme’s ice palace days away from being ready

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Bonhomme’s Ice Palace is days away from being ready

Cassandra Kerwin

Cassandra@qctonline.com

From Feb. 7 to 16, visitors with Quebec Winter Carnival effigies can walk among the eight towers of Bonhomme’s Ice Palace and marvel at their height, with the tallest tower reaching 36 feet (nearly 11 metres). It took more than 17 days for snow and ice sculptor Marc Lepire and his team of 10 builders to complete the “Nordic sanctuary” using 2,800 ice blocks, each weighing 300 pounds and measuring 40 inches by 20 inches by 10.5 inches. Once completed, the Ice Palace will cover 5,800 square feet. Be sure to dress warmly when you visit it, because Bonhomme likes it cold, with ideal temperatures between -10 and -15. 

“There aren’t many people who build ice walls,” said Lepire, who has been building a new Ice Palace for Bonhomme every year for 13 years. “The first year I did it, there were 22 of us, and this year there are 10. I had to adapt and find the right people to do it.

“After last year’s abnormally warm weather forced us to close the site early, we had to rethink the structure and the effects of the sun on the ice, even in February,” said Lepire. “This year, we thought of the palace differently – the corners of the towers, the strongest parts, are oriented toward the sun. We hope it will last throughout the Carnival if temperatures remain below -5 degrees.” 

Quebec’s winter wildlife inspired Lepire and designer Jean-François Couture as they decorated the palace. Visitors will discover ice sculpted into moose, trees, owls, traditional snow boots, ceinture fléchée sashes and more. After sunset, everything is lit by colourful LED lights, bringing life to all the sculptures. 

“It’s truly a representation of Bonhomme’s one and only great love: winter,” said  Carnival director Marie-Ève ​​Jacob. “Lepire and his team finished the exterior of the palace a few days ago and now they are working on the interior. Thanks to their skills in sculpting, visitors will discover eight unique towers. The first one represents the snowflake, because Bonhomme was born from a snowflake. At the end, we have a lookout, to see the site from a bird’s eye view. It will truly be another wonderful Carnival experience.”

Visitors must have a Carnival effigy to visit the Zone Loto-Québec. The effigy, available for $39 plus tax, is valid for entry to all the carnival sites from Feb. 7-16. For more information, visit carnaval.qc.ca.

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Demonstrators brave the cold to demand rent freeze

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Demonstrators brave the cold to demand rent freeze 

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter 

Cassandra@qctonline.com

Renters’ rights groups are raising the alarm about the combined impact of inflation, rising food prices and record rent increases on renters, a week after the province’s housing tribunal announced a record high 5.9 per cent rent increase benchmark. They are calling on the provincial government to impose a freeze on rent increases. 

During “rent control week” activities organized by the Regroupement des comités logement et associations de locataires du Québec (RCLALQ), on Jan. 30, some 25 protesters gathered in the cold in Parc de l’Amérique-Française and marched across the street to the offices of Housing Minister France-Élaine Duranceau in Édifice Marie-Guyart in the hope of freezing rents. 

Contrary to popular belief, the RCLALQ states, “There is no rent control in Quebec,” leaving tenants vulnerable to abusive increases. When presented with an increase they believe is abusive, tenants can go before the Tribunal administratif du Logement (TAL) and have a judge set an increase. According to the RCLALQ, many tenants are unaware of their rights, and when they do contest abusive, negligent or illegal practices, they often fail to make their voices heard at the TAL. 

On Jan. 21, the TAL announced a 5.9 percent rent increase benchmark for 2025 (see article in Jan. 29, 2025 edition). While the Coalition de Québec contre les hausses de loyer claims this trend drives rents up across the board, landlords argue these increases are overdue, compensating for nearly 10 years of mismanagement within the Régie du Logement and the TAL and allowing landlords to adjust to the rising costs of maintenance. 

Nicolas Villamarin Bonilla of the Coalition stated, “Owners’ income has risen, allowing them to increase rents further. This wealth drain is making the poor poorer and the richest are getting richer at their expense. The outdated calculation methods are concerning, particularly regarding rent evolution this year.” He continued, “We need action before it’s too late. Many tenants are already struggling to pay rent or find affordable housing. Rent-setting by the TAL is ineffective.” 

As a recourse, the RCLALQ and the Coalition are demanding an immediate rent freeze and provincewide rent control. At the Jan. 30 protest at the housing ministry offices, they threw white confetti to mimic snow and sang a modified version of the theme from Frozen while distributing stickers asserting the right of tenants to refuse rent hikes, until security personnel showed them the exit. 

Along with rising rents, there is a housing crisis in Quebec, renters’ groups assert. “There is housing available, but it is even more expensive. What is currently being built in Saint-Sauveur, we are talking about 4 1/2s [two-bedroom apartments] that start at $1,600, $2,000 [per month]. This is well above the ability of a large part of the neighbourhood’s population to pay,” said Guillaume Béliveau Côté of the Comité des citoyens et des citoyennes du quartier Saint-Sauveur.

As of Feb. 1, there is no indication the government plans to legislate to freeze rents, despite calls for a freeze by the Quebec Liberal Party and Québec Solidaire. Duranceau has said the Coalition Avenir Québec government’s approach to the housing shortage is centred around increasing supply. 

With files from Ruby Pratka, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

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Tea, pastries and pleas for peace mark anniversary of mosque massacre

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Tea, pastries and pleas for peace mark anniversary of mosque massacre

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

Eight years have passed since the mass shooting at the Centre culturel islamique de Québec. Some 300 friends, relatives, community members and supporters of survivors and victims gathered over tea and pastries on Jan. 25 at the Manège Militaire to commemorate the event. They celebrated the lives of the six men who were killed and the 19 who were injured on Jan. 29, 2017, and shared messages of peace in uncertain times.

The ceremony opened with a performance by Canadian- Palestinian composer and pianist John Farah, that included a classical piece by Johann Sebastian Bach and “A Lullaby for the Children of Gaza.” No matter one’s position on the situation in Gaza and Palestine, the performance was impeccable and inspirational, reminding attendees of the innocence of children in war zones.

“We feel that every time we talk to people who were there or not, we are revealing our permanent scar. It also reminds us every year that we have to pay tribute to Ibrahima Barry, Mamadou Tanou Barry, Khaled Belkacemi, Abdelkrim Hassane, Azzeddine Soufiane and Aboubaker Thabti, our six fellow Muslim citizens whose lives were taken on the evening of Jan. 29, 2017,” said Mélina Chasles, member of the 29 janvier, je me souviens citizens’ committee and co-host of the event. “We are also sharing messages of peace, solidarity and hope for a future without Islamophobia, racism and hatred in all forms.”

Mayor Bruno Marchand spoke about the importance of hope amid tragedy and uncertainty, particularly in light of the re-election of Donald Trump. After a brief apology to Danielle Monosson, the U.S consul general in Quebec City, who was in the room, he said he believed “a lot of people had seen their flame of hope flicker” since Trump was elected. “We have to talk about hope – because if we don’t, then these six individuals will have died in vain – and to honour the survivors and their families,” said Marchand. “People are show- ing us that there is something worth building here. Hope is strong within this community and city.”

This is a sentiment felt by Muslims across Canada, according to Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s special representative on combatting Islamophobia. “Muslim Canadians live in constant worry of being attacked on their way to prayer, school, work or the park,” she said, referencing the white supremacist terrorist attack on June 6, 2021, in London, Ont. where four members of the same Muslim family were fatally injured. “The federal government has taken great measures to support the Mus- lim Canadian communities and other minority communities in Canada by putting in place strategies and plans against Islamophobia, hatred and racism. We all have a role to play to protect every Canadian’s right to be who they are and to live in dignity and safety.”

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Bonhomme, Carnival organizers present 50 partner events

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Bonhomme, Carnival organizers present 50 partner events

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

One of the best ways to embrace Quebec’s long winter, especially on the coldest days and nights, is to join Bonhomme in the annual Quebec Winter Carnival. For the 71st edition, from Feb. 7 to 16, he and his team have a jam-packed program reaching the four corners of Quebec City. So, as they say … “Enweille Dehors!” (Let’s go outside!)

After presenting the pro- gram of the official sites and unveiling the 71st-edition effigy ($39 plus tax) last November, Bonhomme, programming director Jérôme Déchêne and executive director Marie-Eve Jacob, presented the 50 partner events on Jan. 16 at Le Capitole.

“When people tell me that in Lotbinière, there were Japanese people in a race, I think, ‘That’s great. That’s what’s needed.’ I want to have tourists and locals in the small alleys, in the regions, on Île d’Orléans. It’s part of the DNA of the Carnival,” said Jacob. “We want people to indulge in the forbidden and have extreme fun. We’re not afraid of abuse. Sugar, salt and alcohol, they’re welcome at the Carnival; it’s 10 days, so we make the most of it. We’ll make up for it with sports activities.” She invited Carnival-goers to savour the Calgary Pancake Breakfast (Grande Allée, Feb. 8, 8 a.m. to noon); the Gourmet Route (Old Port, Feb. 8, 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.); Gougoune & Doudoune at Espace Quatre-Cents from now until Feb. 16; and much more.

Bonhomme invites the public to ice skate with him on Jan. 18, 19, 25 and 26, and Feb. 11 and 13 on rinks throughout the city, including at Place D’Youville and the Agora du Vieux-Port. Bonhomme also invites his friends and fans to visit his Ice Palace at Place de l’Assemblée-Nationale or to participate in the friendly broomball match on Feb. 7 at Collège François-de-Laval. In Lotbinière, check out the Grizzly Diet Challenge dog sled race on Feb. 10 and 11. It’s nice to enjoy a hot chocolate and admire some ice sculptures after a day of running around in the cold. Before heading home on Feb. 8 and 15, find a spot along the famous Night Parade routes in Lower Town and Upper Town, respectively.

For those who want to continue partying in town, check out the Dome at Place de L’Assemblée-Nationale. There, performing artists, musicians and comedians will entertain the crowds and keep them warm on Feb. 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15.

A few tickets remain for thrill seekers 18 and older who want to rappel down the facade of the Château Frontenac on Feb. 8 and 9.

To mark this 71st edition, the Winter Carnival is encouraging various buildings in Quebec City to light up in red, Bonhomme’s favourite colour. Grande Allée, Rue Saint-Jean, the Campanile, Jean Lesage International Airport, the Château Frontenac, the Convention Centre, Montmorency Falls, the Complexe Jules-Dallaire, the Hôtel Le Concorde and the Grand Théâtre are among the many structures to be illuminated in red at night.

For more information, visit Carnaval.qc.ca/en.

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Quebec sends two more water bombers to Los Angeles to fight fires

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Quebec sends two more water bombers to Los Angeles to fight fires

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

Since Jan. 7, Los Angeles has experienced more than 30 wildfires, with the largest destroying two major neighbourhoods at opposite ends of the city. Within hours, the Palisades and Altadena neighbourhoods were evacuated and large expanses burned. Fire departments from around North America swiftly responded, including two water bombers from Quebec that were already deployed. Nonetheless, this was insufficient to tackle the escalating fires, prompting a request for two additional planes from Quebec.

On Jan. 15, Quebec dis- patched two CL-415 planes along with a crew of six firefighters – Éric Pelletier, Carl Villeneuve, Julien Flouquet, Pierre Boulanger, Karol Bouchard and François Lapierre. Their journey took two days, spanning 6,100 kilometres with stops in Columbus, Ohio (for customs), St. Louis, Missouri (for rest), Boise, Montana (for a mechanical inspection) and finally, Los Angeles.

Southwestern California’s landscape and climate are susceptible to rampant forest fires, due to prolonged dry spells, strong warm winds from the Pacific Ocean, and the Santa Ana winds from the east. The presence of highly flammable non-indigenous eucalyptus trees exacerbates the situation. Local officials report that these wildfires have become increasingly devastating in recent years.

Given these conditions, CL-415 planes have become essential firefighting assets due to their unique ability to scoop water from nearby large water sources. They can collect 6,400 litres in 12 seconds and perform this operation three times an hour, nine to 12 times before needing to refuel. Over the years, the United States has acquired 10 such planes, stationed in Washington D.C., Montana, San Diego and Los Angeles. Additionally, each year from September to December, Los Angeles County contracts two extra planes from Quebec. Recently, one of these planes was grounded by a civilian drone; once the culprit is identified, they risk fines of up to $75,000 US and 12 months in prison, as man- dated by the Federal Aviation Administration.

As of Jan. 19, the Los Angeles Times reported that the Palisades fires had burned 23,713 acres, destroyed 4,996 structures, and resulted in the deaths of 10 people in the northwest. The Eaton Can- yon fires have burned 14,117 acres, affected 9,366 buildings and claimed 17 lives in the northeast. Both fires are now mostly contained, although ongoing strong winds and the persistent lack of rain pose challenges. Consequently, Los Angeles authorities requested two more planes from Quebec, which obliged, as Canada has a fleet of 64 CL-415 aircraft.

“We assessed the situation and determined we could assist California without jeopardizing our primary mission of fighting forest fires in Quebec,” said Luc Dugas, senior director of strategic and air operations at the Société de protection des forêts contre le feu (SOP- FEU), the Quebec government agency responsible for fighting forest fires. Typically, Quebec takes advantage of the winter months for fleet repairs.

“I’m feeling a bit fatigued, especially mentally,” said Pascal Duclos, chief pilot of the Service Aérien Gouvernemental (SAG; Quebec government air service) has been battling fires in California for days and spoke to Quebec media via videoconference. “We’ve been coming here for 30 years. We anticipate such situations and have relief teams to manage fatigue. However, the workload has been particularly intense in recent weeks.

“What transpired is truly a tragedy,” Duclos remarked. “On my first day, we saw a few homes in flames. By the second day, an entire neighbourhood was reduced to ashes. I had never witnessed anything like it before. Infrastructure and schools were burned. It’s quite devastating.”

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