Cassandra Kerwin

Ice Hotel returns to its origins for 25th edition

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Ice Hotel returns to its origins for 25th edition

Cassandra Kerwin

cassandra@qctonline.com

Year after year, dedicated artisans, architects and engineers work together to create a winter paradise from snow and ice. Stepping across the Ice Hotel’s threshold, the expected 80,000 visitors will discover a world of wonder built around the theme of “Back to the Origins.” The hotel is open to tours, visitors and overnight guests until mid-March, weather permitting.

Construction began as soon as temperatures dropped be- low freezing over consecutive days, giving artists, arti- sans and construction crews about a month to complete the 53,000-square-foot Ice Hotel from 45,000 tons of snow and 3,000 ice blocks. Visitors have

been touring the hotel since Dec. 27, with the first overnight guests welcomed on Jan. 4. Over the following weeks, all 30 suites, including 20 themed rooms, will be completed, add- ing to the Grand Hall, the Ice Bar, the Chapel and the 60-seat restaurant, a collaboration with the Château Frontenac. All of this is to accommodate an expected 80,000 visitors and 3,000 overnight guests over the season.

“From what I know, from what I’ve seen, a 100 per cent natural ice hotel, I don’t know of any other ice hotel in the world that has this surface area,” said Hugues Painchaud, site manager of the hotel located at Village Vacances Val- cartier.

The four basic elements, wind, fire, water and earth, are sculpted into the walls of the Chapel to be united at the altar. Their human shapes stand tall in the entrance hall. Behind them, visitors discover powwow dancers and a traditional canoe made of ice, and a snow longhouse. At the Ice Bar, visitors can order cocktails and mocktails served in glasses made of ice.

“We have new ideas every year. The talent for sculpture, since I started the ice hotels 15 years ago, has really increased tenfold,” said artistic director Guy-Olivier Deveau. “We pay tribute to nature and the elements in our lobby, our grand hall and our bar. Then, we also have a section that pays tribute to the First Nations. We are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Hôtel de Glace and we are taking a look back at the history that brought us here.”

After admiring the sculpted snow walls, visitors tour the rooms, each with their respective themes: origami, mosaic, Quebec and outer space, to name a few. People cannot help but stare, smile and wonder.

As day turns to night, visitors leave and guests check into their rooms. Thanks to the soundproofing and insulation provided by snow, people sleep through some of the quietest nights in rooms with temperatures hovering around -5 degrees Celsius, regardless of the noise and temperature outside. The hotel provides its guests with thermal sleeping bags, a pillow and a foam mat- tress on plywood over an ice base. In larger rooms, wood- burning fireplaces offer added warmth and ambience. Some lucky guests even have access to hot tubs and saunas. Wash- rooms are located in a heated building adjacent to the hotel. For an additional fee, guests can also reserve a room in the adjacent hotel.

Besides the Ice Hotel, the Village Vacances Valcartier offers a range of other winter activities including ice skating, snow sliding and the tropical indoor water park, Bora Parc. For those coming from the city without a car, Unitour offers transportation for a fee from the Château Frontenac to Village Vacances Valcartier and back, according to a schedule found on toursvieuxquebec.com. For more information, visit valcartier.com/en.

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Crowds are invited to learn about crowds at the Musée de la Civilisation

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Crowds are invited to learn about crowds at the Musée de la Civilisation

Cassandra Kerwin

cassandra@qctonline.com

Standing in the middle of a crowd, have you ever taken the time to observe it? Are crowds good or bad, safe or dangerous? The latest exhibit at the Musée de la Civilisation (MCQ), Crowds: A Human Laboratory, explores these questions and observations.

Until Aug. 30, 2026, visitors are invited to learn about the fascinating nature of crowds. Discover how they can be manipulated and influenced by individuals both inside and outside. Crowds: A Human Laboratory is designed to challenge the public’s perception of crowds and promote a better understanding of their behaviours.

From the research laboratories of the Max Planck Institute for Human Develop- ment in Germany, scientific curator and researcher Mehdi Moussaïd shared his passion for studying the behaviours of crowds on his YouTube channel, Fouloscopie. Over time, his work led to the creation of the exhibit Crowds: A Human Laboratory, first displayed at the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie in Paris from October 2022 to May 2024. From there, it crossed the At- lantic to the MCQ, where Mous- saïd tweaked it with a touch of Quebec flair and a nod to the Festival d’Été de Québec.

“It touches me personally to have this exhibit in Quebec because it is at [Université du Québec à Montréal] where it all began for me in 2004,” Moussaïd said in a YouTube video shown at the exhibit’s press conference on Dec. 18. “Crowds are first of all huge gatherings of thousands of people. In some cases, they can be so close together that it can become dangerous. In these situations, we study many things, including fluid mechanics, the spreading of rumours, crowd manipulation and collective emotions, errors and intelligence.” He continued, “I hope you will have as much pleasure in discovering [the exhibit] as we had in designing it.”

The new director general of the MCQ, Julie Lemieux, is of a similar opinion. “Crowds: A Human Laboratory is tailor-made for the MCQ, which loves to cross perspectives, gather, make people think and explore new subjects. It is a true hu- man and living laboratory that offers us a dual experience – experiencing the crowd and extracting ourselves from it to better analyze it and, perhaps, better understand ourselves.”

In this exhibit, visitors can cram into a square metre, step through one of three doors, sing karaoke in public and discover the science behind crowd evacuations, mosh pits, stampedes and much more.

For more information, visit mcq.org.

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Chapelle du Séminaire opens after years of restoration

Local Journalism Initiative / / / ,

Chapelle du Séminaire reopens after years of restoration

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

As churches close and are torn down throughout the city and province, one has been saved, restored and reopened after being deconsecrated in 1992. After three years of restoration costing $5.2 million, the Centre de Conservation du Québec (CCQ) and the Musée de la Civilisation de Québec (MCQ) reopened the Chapelle du Séminaire de Québec on Dec. 10.

“What a joy it is to be able to return the Chapelle du Séminaire de Québec to the community, which will be able to appreciate all of its artistic beauty and historical significance through a rich pro- gramme of cultural mediation activities,” said Julie Lemieux, the newly appointed director general of the MCQ. “I would like to salute the remark- able professionalism of the conservation and restoration specialists who have pooled their knowledge to ensure that this jewel of religious heritage remains sustainable for cur- rent and future generations.”

The conservation team had quite a task ahead of them when they started in the autumn of 2021. Besides the customary work done on a historic building, they also had to remove the traces of 90 years of daily use of incense, candles and tapers during religious celebrations. This was the CCQ’s largest project since its foundation in 1979. After three years of meticulous and innovative work and $5.2 million, the chapel has regained its original character, colours and shine. The final detail came from Quebec actor Roland Lepage, a major backer of the project, who restored its original name: Chapelle du Séminaire de Québec.

According to the MCQ, the current chapel was opened to worship in 1900, on the ruins of a much older chapel – built in 1753 – that had been destroyed by fire in 1888. Architect Joseph-Ferdinand Peachy (1830- 1903) redesigned it with certain improvements designed to make it more fire-resistant. For example, the trompe-l’oeil motifs of the ceilings, walls and columns were painted on sheet metal rather than wood. Upon closer inspection of the interior, visitors will discover that not everything is an illusion. The high and secondary altars are sculpted from white marble. The limited amount of wood is red cherry. The parquet consists of tiles from England. These details come together nicely to create an eclectic, busy and very colourful Second Empire-inspired decor.

The chapel is steeped in Quebec City’s rich architectural history: stained glass win- dows by Wallace J. Fisher from the Bernard Leonard workshop, gilded busts, a 1930 Casavant Organ and a replica of the 1753 Richard organ from Paris, originally made for the Cathedral-Basilica Notre Dame de Québec (which burnt in 1759 during the Conquest), and an alcove dedicated to Mgr. François de Laval, the founding father of Catholicism in New France, who had a chapel built on or near this site. When the chapel was deconsecrated, his remains were transferred to the adjacent basilica.

Now that the chapel is refurbished and restored, it also has a new vocation. The MCQ and the CCQ have a concert program lined up. On Dec. 21, the Solstice des insoumis will merge Scandinavian and Quebec music celebrating the winter solstice and Christmas under the direction of Gabrielle Bouthillier. Details can be found at mcq.org/decouvrir/activites/le-solstice-des-insoumis.

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‘Enweille dehors!’ ‘Go outside!’ for the 71st Winter Carnival

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

‘Enweille dehors!’ ‘Go outside!’ for the 71st Winter Carnival

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

‘Enweille dehors!’ ‘Go outside!’ for the 71st Winter Carnival

Cassandra Kerwin

cassandra@qctonline.com

Go outside! That was Bonhomme Carnaval’s order for the 71st Winter Carnival from Feb. 7 to 16. Now that snow has started to cover Quebec City, Bonhomme and his team are putting the pedal to the metal in preparing for the beloved winter festival.

Carnival energy was buzzing at the newly refurbished Maurice Restaurant on Nov. 28. The official program was announced, revealing a bundle of new and traditional activities and events. The exclusive Garrison Club will host an all-night pyjama party (Feb. 15). Experienced climbers will have the opportunity to rappel down the Château Frontenac on Feb. 8 and 9 (spaces are limited). At Place George-V, enjoy the view and music from the Philadelphia Ferris Wheel or dance to music at the Kraft Jukebox. On the last day of the celebrations – Feb. 16 – graffiti artists are invited to leave their mark on the Ice Palace.

The night parades will return on Feb. 8 in Charlesbourg and Feb. 15 on Grande Allée. Place de l’Assemblée-Nationale will be transformed into the Zone Loto-Québec with Bonhomme’s Ice Palace and its eight towers. The snow sculpture garden in Place de la Francophonie, the Calgary Flapjack Breakfast on Grande Allée (Feb. 8) and the Ice Canoe Race (Feb. 9) will also attract a crowd.

The popular music and dance dome near the Ice Palace will welcome a variety of performers, including Mariana Mazza and her guests on opening night, Habstrakt (Feb. 8), a New Country party (Feb. 12), Eman and Souldia (Feb. 13), David Pineau and Sara Dufour (Feb. 14) and Karma Kameleons (Feb. 15). Carnival-goers might also spot Bonhomme skating on weekends at the Place D’Youville ice rink.

After so much partying, Bonhomme will need a bath. Anyone brave enough to take a dip in the snow can join him for the Snow Bath on Feb. 16 at 2 p.m. at the Tourny Fountain “Whether it’s cold, chilly, sunny or stormy, Bonhomme’s invitation is clear: Get outside!” said Marie-Eve Jacob, general manager of the Quebec Winter Carnival. “In addition to the beloved classics, several extravagant new features are being added to experience our winter differently. During the day, our program is family- oriented, while in the evening, we switch to festive mode!”

Carnival-goers 13 and older need to purchase this year’s effigy to have access to the sites. Until Jan. 12, it is on sale for $25 plus tax at participating Couche-Tard stores and online. From Jan. 13, it will be priced at $39 plus tax. This year, for collectors, there are two versions: the more readily available yellow effigy and the harder-to-find blue effigy.

For more information and to see the full program, visit carnaval.qc.ca/en.

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Immigrants, French language advocates protest francisation cuts

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Immigrants, French language advocates protest francisation cuts

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

As generations of newcomers to the province have found out, living in Quebec means communicating in French. Without subsidized French courses, known as francisa- tion, immigrants struggle to integrate into Quebec society, find work and take care of everyday tasks. Thousands of students will lose access to their courses on Jan. 24, 2025, due to a misunderstanding over funding between the Quebec government and the school boards and service centres which administer most of the courses. This has upset immigrants and advocates for the protection of French. Tens of thousands marched to protest this decision throughout the province on Nov. 30, including in Quebec City from the Musée National des beaux-Arts du Québec to the National Assembly.

Law 14 has strengthened French language regulations, requiring organizations and businesses to communicate officially in French. Since its passing on June 1, 2022, enrolment in francisation programs has surged. Consequently, funding for these courses was depleted sooner than expected; without extra funding, school boards and service centres were forced to make sweeping cuts or close their adult francisation programs entirely.

In protest, thousands marched to the National Assembly. “We hope that if we make enough noise and often enough, Legault will rescind his decision, find the money for the courses and reinstate them,” said Kasandra Kawan, a francisation student from Colorado.

“This issue affects me personally because I have been taking the francisation courses for 18 years,” said Coun. Jackie Smith, originally from Hamilton, Ont. “It’s a demonstration of how tired we are of always hearing that we have to cut back on human sectors. … We have to inject our resources into the right places and that’s not what we’re doing right now.”

Quebec City-area Québec Solidaire MNAs Sol Zanetti and Étienne Grandmont expressed outrage at the budget cuts. “They’re cutting into the possibility of sharing a common language, they’re cutting into national unity, they’re cutting into something they promised to invest in,” said Zanetti.

According to Martin Hogue, president of the Syndicat de l’enseignement des Deux- Rives, immigrants must achieve a certain level of French to maintain residency – an unattainable requirement for many. Of the 1,227 students studying French as a second language at Centre Louis-Jolliet, only a few will continue learning, while others will be placed on waiting lists for classes offered by the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI) or look for other solutions.

An additional protest is planned for Dec. 18 at the MNBAQ.

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Marchand, Schuldt, Krampus launch German Christmas Market festivities

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Marchand, Schuldt, Krampus launch German Christmas Market festivities

Cassandra Kerwin

cassandra@qctonline.com

The 17th German Christmas Market is now open! Until Dec. 23, locals and tourists can savour German flavours, mulled wine, gingerbread and pretzels, and enjoy puppet shows and parades featuring Saint Nicholas and the Krampus. Even Santa Claus – the real one – will stop in to hear children’s Christmas wishes.

Despite the lack of snow, Old Quebec City has trans- formed into a magical Christ- mas village. The wooden cabins decorated with pine branches and lights create a path from Place D’Youville to the Jardins de l’Hôtel-de-Ville, Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville, Rue Sainte- Anne and Place d’Armes. The designers of the sites added something different to each one, such as stained glass birdhouse lanterns opposite the Cathedral-Basilica Notre-Dame de Québec, and a light-and-sound show amid a fir-tree backdrop developed by Clemens Schuldt, the musical director of the Orchestre Symphonique de Québec, who officially launched the show.

During the opening ceremony on Nov. 21, Britta Kröger, president of the German Christmas Market, said, “I would like to greet those who have come from far away. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being so loyal for 17 years. Compared to the 400 years of history of Christmas markets in Germany, we still have a long way to go, but we’re getting there! Come several times, and each time, you’ll discover something new.”

“I hope you share this Christmas magic with many people,” said Mayor Bruno Marchand. “Britta Kröger believed in it 17 years ago, and year after year, she works hard to make it happen, and we thank her and her team for that.”

To hear a memorable Christmas story, find a seat at the Theaterplatz for the popular French-language marionette show Un Krampus au Village. The story suddenly springs to life as Krampuses, Saint Nicholas, an angel, an accordion player and a ringmaster parade through the market. According to European folklore, Saint Nicholas, the Krampus and an angel visit children on Dec. 5, Krampusnacht, to either give gifts to the good children or beat the naughty ones with a stick. In Quebec City, the Krampus is more of a prankster, handing out potatoes and onions and making people smile and laugh.

Weather permitting, giant marionettes of Saint Nicholas and Krampus will depart from Place D’Youville at 7 p.m. on Nov. 30 and Dec. 14, parading up Rue Saint-Jean to the Cathedral-Basilica. This always attracts a large crowd who marvel at the marionettes that seem to come alive in the torchlight.

Over the next three weeks, the German Christmas Market offers a packed schedule – arts and crafts workshops, games and puzzles in the Kinder- chalet Ravensburger; choirs singing carols in Place Royale and on Avenue Cartier; and live music in Place D’Youville. Be- tween activities, taste and sa- vour German-inspired dishes, and drinks like glühwein (hot wine with spices), schnapps and hot cider. The sites are open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Thursday to Sunday (clos- ing at 6 p.m. on Sundays), and exceptionally on Monday, Dec. 23, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The light show takes place once an hour after nightfall in front of the grove of fir trees near the basilica.

For more information, visit mnaq.ca/en/program.

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The 41st Opération Nez Rouge offers a safe ride home starting Nov. 29

Local Journalism Initiative / / / ,

The 41st Opération Nez Rouge offers a safe ride home starting Nov. 29

Cassandra Kerwin

cassandra@qctonline.com

Looking for a ride home during the holiday season? Call Opération Nez Rouge from Nov. 29 to Dec. 31. For a 41st straight year, thousands of volunteers will safely drive people home for free or for a donation in 70 communities across the country including 50 in Quebec.

Inspired by its mission and history for this year’s theme, Opération Nez Rouge wants to ensure that people have “a night you’ll remember.” Jean- Marie De Koninck, president and founder of Opération Nez Rouge, invited drivers to volun- teer or to call for a ride home.

Last year, 22,600 volunteers gave 24,000 rides, helping take impaired drivers off the road. According to the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), accidents due to alcohol caused an average of 85 deaths and 200 serious injuries each year from 2017 to 2021.

“There is an awareness among young people compared to my time. In the ‘80s, it was not common and Nez Rouge was just starting, but if I look at my children, it is clear that they already know in advance who will be the designated driver for the weekend,” said the president and CEO of the SAAQ and honorary president of the 41st Operation Nez Rouge, Éric Ducharme.

“As Operation Nez Rouge begins its 41st campaign, the importance of our mission remains clear. Without the volunteers’ unwavering commitment, the true pillars of our organization, it could not have been accomplished,” said De Koninck. “Together, we play a crucial role in improving road safety, year after year, by offering a drive-home service that saves lives and raises aware- ness of the dangers of impaired driving.”

Hoping to reach the younger crowd, Opération Nez Rouge partnered with stand-up comic and podcaster Rosalie Vaillancourt. “Nez Rouge belongs to us and is part of us as Quebecers, so I’m happy to get involved. It shows how much it is part of our values to care for our families,” she said. “Nez Rouge helps take a weight off your shoulders, knowing that there’s a plan if my uncle has had too much crème de menthe, if my sister has smoked too much weed behind the garage or if my cousin hasn’t slept for three days because he just had a baby.”

For whatever reason people need a lift home in December, volunteers are key to this operation. “Recruiting volunteers has always been our hobby horse. The more volunteers we have, the better our service will be. It’s always a challenge, but we’re lucky to have a positive reputation and we have a very festive connotation,” said Marilyn Vigneault, the executive director of Opération Nez Rouge

“For now, we’re doing pretty well after 41 years.”

For more information, visit operationnezrouge.com or call 1-866-DESJARDINS.

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Immigrants rally against cuts to francisation courses in Quebec City

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

Immigrants rally against cuts to francisation courses in Quebec City

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

Students across the province rallied on Nov. 12 to call on the Coalition Avenir Québec government to walk back planned cuts to subsidized French courses for adults, known as francisation. More than 250 students assembled at the Centre Louis-Jolliet, the largest francisation course centre in Quebec City.

School boards and service centres across the province have been forced to drastically reduce adult francisation course offerings because of a lack of funding.

“Last year, we sent $104 million to school service centres, and this year, we are sending another $104 million to school service centres. The total budget allocated to francisation, which has been increasing for four years, will reach $251.3 million in 2024-2025. Quebecers’ ability to pay is not elastic,” Jean-François Roberge, minister of immigration, francisation and integration, argued in October. “No one is telling us, ‘Increase our taxes and our duties to francize more people.’”

Demand for the courses has risen significantly in recent years, pushed by rising immigration and changes to the Charter of the French Language which opened the courses, previously reserved for recent immigrants, to longtime Quebec residents and newcomers from other provinces. As teachers’ union representatives previously explained to the QCT, school service centres scheduled courses and hired staff for the current school year based on current demand, but the funding for the courses was calculated based on far lower pandemic-era demand. When it became clear that the government didn’t intend to top up the funding, service centres cancelled classes.

“I understand that they want to do well, but the demand is enormous,” said Roberge. “Every day, 350 people register with Francisation Québec. That is 170,000 people per year. We cannot francize 170,000 people per year.”

“These budgetary restrictions lead to human tragedies. After years of investment, immigrants won’t be able to access the job market, while others will have to give up their plans for permanent residency if they do not master the French language,” said Marianne Bois, a francisation educational advisor and teacher at the Centre Louis- Jolliet who has taught there since 2018. Bois explained that immigrants must complete level seven of 12 to earn a certificate allowing them to apply for permanent residence, a path that has been suddenly cut short.

“I don’t understand Premier François Legault and Minister Jean-François Roberge claiming to be the greatest defenders of the French language and, on the other hand, cutting francisation. It doesn’t take a PhD in quantum physics to understand that this is completely ridiculous, that it’s not going in the right direction,” Québec Solidaire MNA for Taschereau Étienne Grandmont said at the protest.

“We could certainly have let this cohort finish their course. It doesn’t make sense to cut it off in the middle of the process,” said Grandmont. “What are their options? What do they have left?” Government officials suggest applying to programs run by the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI), despite long waiting lists for places in those programs.

“If these people had the right to vote, I’m pretty sure the CAQ would take better care of them,” said Grandmont. “Today, I’m very happy to see them come out, to demonstrate, to say that they’ve had enough of this government that mistreats them.”

Francisation student Maria Estevez arrived in Quebec five years ago from Miami, Florida. “These courses are extremely useful and helpful for us im- migrants. They teach more than just the French language. We learn about the Quebec culture, society and how things work here.” Her words were echoed by numerous others at the rally. Students of the Centre Saint-Louis, an adult education centre in Loretteville where francisation courses were also cut, distributed an open letter on the matter; separately, members of the Fédération autonome de l’enseignement (FAE) teachers’ union federation protested against the cuts at the office of Education Minister Bernard Drainville in Lévis on Nov. 15.

With files from Ruby Pratka, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

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Quebec City to get new multifunctional public curling centre

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Quebec City to get new multifunctional public curling centre

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

The decade-long wait for a new curling centre is coming to an end. On Nov. 15, the Ville de Québec revealed images of the new multifunctional curling centre in Lebourgneuf, and broke ground at the new site.

The new curling centre is estimated to cost $39.5 mil- lion and scheduled to open in January 2027, just in time for the Canada Games (Feb. 27 to March 15). After the Games, city officials hope up to 700 people will use the centre weekly for curling and other activities.

“Local curlers have been asking for their centres to be restored or to build a new one for over a decade,” said Marchand. “The Ville de Québec listened and answered with an investment of $39.5 million. We did ask the provincial government for financial support, but they turned us down. We couldn’t make the curlers wait any longer.

Marchand said funding the curling centre was “a political choice in line with our values.”

“We want to become the most active city, with healthy citizens and fewer people in hospitals,” he said. The price tag is $12 million more than previously announced; this new budget includes all projected costs, according to Marchand and Coun. Jean- François Gosselin, member of the executive committee responsible for sports and recreation.

“The international-calibre facility can host large-scale events while allowing residents to benefit from these multipurpose facilities all year round. The centre will meet the highest quality standards for curling and become the only modern centre with eight lanes of ice – two series of four lanes – in Quebec,” said the mayor.

A CO2 refrigeration system will freeze the rinks. A geothermal system will heat the building. It will have a green roof, a training room, a play area, a multi-purpose room with a capacity of 300 people, a kitchen and a bar. Outdoor facilities will include a parking lot for 125 cars, bicycle park- ing, a picnic area, a synthetic mini-curling space and a small public square with a work of art.

Despite the ceremonial groundbreaking on Nov. 15, construction won’t begin in earnest until spring 2025. “We are working closely with the Jacques-Cartier and Victoria curling clubs in planning this fantastic project and I thank them for their commitment,” said Gosselin. The president of the Club de Curling Victoria, Claude Drolet, and the president of the Club de Curling Jacques-Cartier, François Bouffard, attended the groundbreaking and enthusiastically praised the plans for the new centre.

The Ville de Québec plans to purchase and resell the Club de Curling Jacques-Cartier and the Club de Curling Victoria  for an estimated $6 million to offset the cost of building the new centre. The site of the Club de Curling Jacques-Cartier in Montcalm is earmarked for housing and that of the Club de Curling Victoria in Sainte-Foy for industrial use.

Quebec City to get new multifunctional public curling centre Read More »

Santa Claus will be coming to town with the 23rd Parade des Jouets

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Santa Claus will be coming to town with the 23rd Parade des Jouets

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

Christmas is fast approaching, and it’s already almost time for the 23rd annual Parade des Jouets (Toy Parade). In the spirit of Christmas, anyone can bring letters to Santa and new or gently used toys to the parade on Saturday, Nov. 9, starting at 2:30 p.m. The parade will kick off in Charlesbourg and continue to ExpoCité.

With help from Les Ateliers Balthazar, Santa Claus thought of a new theme for this year’s parade. He asked all the inhab- itants of the North Pole – elves, snowmen, animals and mythical creatures – to complete the 12 Labours of Christmas. With their help, Santa Claus will show children that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. Spectators along the parade route will marvel at the 15 decorated floats and the 325 costumed performers.

Children can bring their letters to Santa Claus; Canada Post employees will collect them and deliver them to the North Pole in time for Christmas. Santa Claus will, of course, reply.

Starting at 52e Rue in Charlesbourg and making its way down 1ère Avenue to ExpoCité, the parade will be a magical mobile bubble. Children and families can donate good-quality new or used toys to make the holidays more festive for families in need. (Stuffed toys are not accepted this year.) “We will give some of the toys collected to six organizations helping 1,000 children,” said Marie-Anne Comtois of the Joujouthèque Basse-Ville. “Since last year, we have divided the toys into categories. For example, we group all the puzzles, Lego, board games and dolls. It makes the work of the organizations much easier.” The Joujouthèque toy library, with its 545 subscribers and about 900 monthly rentals, will draw on this collection to renew its toy bank.

To help fund the free annual parade, parents can purchase 50/50 tickets for the Christmas Stocking Draw. Tickets are available online (paradedesjouets.ca) and will be sold during the parade until 5 p.m.

The parade route ends at Place Jean-Béliveau, where temporary bleachers have been installed. For $21.14, people can purchase VIP tickets online (paradedesjouets.ca or lepointdevente.com) giving them access to 90 more minutes of entertainment and gifts from Chocolats Favoris. “With the pandemic, we had to reinvent ourselves. The happening at the end of the parade is extraordinary. It’s full of people, it’s moving, and even if the weather isn’t nice, everyone has fun – and for it to work, we need and are thankful for our financial partners and 425 volunteers,” said Pierre Dolbec, chair of the parade’s board of directors.

Santa Claus will be coming to town with the 23rd Parade des Jouets Read More »

Bonhomme Carnaval opens his Winter Beach starting Dec. 21

QCNA NEWS / / / , , ,

Bonhomme Carnaval opens his Winter Beach starting Dec. 21

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

Even though summer is over, it will soon be time to go to the beach! That’s right! Bonhomme Carnaval is inviting everyone to join him at his Gougoune & Doudoune Winter Beach behind Espace Quatre Cents at 100 Quai Saint-André.

Bonhomme will open the frosty festivities here as early as Dec. 21. 

People can once again attempt to conquer the climbable giant iced polar bear, slide down the Blizz Slide, jump into the giant ball pool, try out the snow racer tri-ski trail, or compete in the ice canoe races (weather permitting). There will also be family activities such as mini-golf, beanbag games, snowboard swings and a small obstacle course.

“Even though this event is a production of the Ateliers du Carnaval, it is not part of the 71st Winter Carnival, from Feb. 7 to 16,” said Marie-Ève ​​Jacob, executive director of the Quebec Winter Carnival. This means that the effigie does not give access to the activities. Daily passes cost $15 plus taxes for children (12 and under) and $25 plus taxes for adults; and season passes cost $54 plus taxes for children (12 and under) and $79 plus taxes for adults.

“Our objective is to offer winter activities while waiting for the carnival to start,” said Jacob. “We want to enrich and liven up the city in December and January by offering locals and tourists a new attraction over a long period. It helps that the site is near the popular tourist areas of Place Royale and Quartier Petit Champlain. We are even setting up a shuttle service to get from major tourist areas including the German Christmas Market in Upper Town to our site. The schedule is yet to be finalized.” 

The site will be open throughout the holiday season, including on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, on all weekends from Jan. 11 to Feb. 5, and throughout Winter Carnival (Feb. 7 to 16). 

For more information, visit carnaval.qc.ca.

Bonhomme Carnaval opens his Winter Beach starting Dec. 21 Read More »

CEGEP Champlain-St. Lawrence holds first TEDx Talk

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

CEGEP Champlain-St. Lawrence holds its first TEDx talk

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

CEGEP student Tristan Massicotte brought TEDx to CEGEP Champlain–St. Lawrence. Under his guidance, on Oct. 24, nine students and two guest speakers gave presentations on the theme of “What’s Next?” For nearly two and a half hours, they touched on the future of cancer research, genomics, technology, population growth, the Arctic, geopolitics, the psychology of good, rethinking work culture, adaptability, entrepreneurship and dance.

Over the past 40 years, experts in various fields have given over 44,000 conferences and lectures under the banner of TED (Technology, Entertain- ment, Design) or TEDx about recent developments in business, science and global issues, many of which are available on YouTube.

Inspired by his own TEDx Talk when he was 12, Massicotte organized one for his fellow students, along with class- mate Louis Théoret. “We had to move fast because things move fast in CEGEP. I started planning this talk last semester by applying for a TEDx Talk licence and then searching for our guest speakers. At the start of this semester, we held an open call for student speak- ers,” said Massicotte. “After screening the applicants’ vid- eos, we selected nine [people] to speak about ‘What’s Next?’ They had about two weeks to prepare their eight-minute talk.”

Louis-Philippe Gervais used statistics to follow and predict population growth. Jordan Tchouamou Tchiadjeu shone a light on the BRICS alliance (named for the first five countries to join the bloc — Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa). Abraham Eyestone looked at the benefits of opening the Arctic region for better global shipment and naval traffic.

The next speaker, Abigail Esther Mendez Mora, took a more personal approach in her talk on adaptability and its role in this ever-changing world. A key part of adaptability involves having good coping skills – like dancing, as explained by professional Ukrainian dancer and PW Sims Business student Sofia Gagné. Sarah Luger talked about social media as a coping mechanism. Justin Simard speculated on whether these behaviours are good and what it means to be, do and feel good. Dominic Gaumont looked inside people to find how genomic cells become cancer, while Tassnym Echchahed presented her research on artificial intelligence and its potential benefits for humanity.

To close this TEDx Talk, artificial intelligence specialist Dev Aditya, who was unable to attend in person, gave a video presentation on his own work. He spoke about how he and his team created the first digital human artificial intelligent teacher. This was their answer to the teacher shortage, especially in remote and less developed parts of the world.

Guest speaker Thomas Eckschmidt, chair of the board of business consulting firm CBJourney, advised business students, “There are four principles for a highly successful organization: a clear cause, a recognized leader, understanding of interdependence and creating a responsible culture.”

CEGEP Champlain-St. Lawrence holds first TEDx Talk Read More »

Electric cars continue to advance by leaps and bounds

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

Electric cars continue to advance by leaps and bounds

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

Thousands of Quebecers visited the fifth Salon du véhicule électrique du Québec (SVEQ; Quebec City electric car show) from Oct. 25 to 27. The latest models from Porsche, Mazda, Tesla, Volvo, Mercedes and Audi made visitors dream of owning eco-friendly vehicles.

Meandering through the 20-odd brands of cars, visitors noticed that electric vehicles are still more expensive than gas-powered vehicles, although subsidies can help offset some of the cost for the time being. “With the [Quebec government’s] Roulez vert program subsidies set to be reduced in 2025, the SVEQ is perfect for those who were hesitant to go electric,” said SVEQ general manager Charles Drouin. “The $7,000 subsidy for purchasing a 100 per cent electric vehicle will drop to $4,000 in 2025 and gradually disappear in 2027. The subsidy for purchasing a plug-in hybrid vehicle will suffer the same fate. The fed- eral government’s financial assistance, which can be up to $5,000, is still available. To obtain the full provincial subsidy, electric vehicles must be registered by December 31, 2024.”

“[The SVEQ] is a unique opportunity to compare the majority of electric vehicles available in Quebec while taking advantage of current government credits,” said Drouin. Besides eyeballing the newest models and getting the latest information from sales representatives, visitors could test-drive any of the 75 available vehicles on a five- kilometre circuit.

“I’ve owned gas-powered vehicles all my life. I am a manual transmission guy. You don’t get the same pleasure out of maneuvering an electric car as you do driving a manual transmission car. You don’t feel or hear the engine,” said Jerry Deslauriers. “My 30-year-old son here is trying very hard to convince me of the many benefits of these electric ve- hicles. Since we are here, he had me test-drive the Volvo EX30. Despite my preferences, I greatly enjoyed the drive. Was

it enough to convince me to go to the green side?”

Besides the driving experi- ence, the freedom to roam long distances is another major factor for car shoppers. Tesla continues to be a leading brand in terms of battery life, with models able to cover about 650 km between charges. Although fully charging a vehicle still takes hours compared to minutes to fill a gas tank, more and more service stations are investing in electric chargers. For this reason, hybrid cars remain an interesting option for many drivers, especially in Quebec winters. According to CAA, electric cars lose 25 per cent of their power when the temperature falls below -15, and 45 per cent at -25.

Charging costs, however, often tip the balance in favour of electric vehicles. According to Hydro-Québec, it costs about $0.11892 per kilowatt hour to charge an electric car, compared to $1.50 per litre of gas. In other words, on aver- age, to drive 100 km, it costs drivers of electric cars $2.50 for a 21-kilowatt hour charge and drivers of gas-powered cars $10.65.

Whether to run errands in town or to drive leisurely through the countryside, electric vehicles continue to cover more and more ground.

Electric cars continue to advance by leaps and bounds Read More »

Tens of thousands of Quebecers walk in the 10th Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Tens of thousands of Quebecers walk in the 10th Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

Large crowds of energetic, cheerful people assembled at the Fontaine de Tourny early on Oct. 19. They were there for the 10th annual Grande Marche of the Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie. Starting at 11 a.m., they walked five kilo- metres to and from Gilmour Hill. The sun was out to encourage the thousands of participants who leisurely walked or jogged on the Plains of Abraham and down Grande Allée.

By Friday midday, nearly 100,000 people across the province had registered for this walk. Event founder Pierre Lavoie expected over 120,000 registered participants with countless other unregistered walkers. He said he believed that over the past decade, more than one million people have joined him in the annual walks.

Supported by family doctors, Pierre Lavoie encourages Quebecers to participate in the annual Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie.

On Oct. 19, thousands of people walked five kilometres from the Fontaine de Tourny, across the Plains of Abraham to Gilmour Hill and back under a cloudless blue sky.

It was a beautiful day for a walk. Over the weekend, people across the province participated in the 10th Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie. In Quebec City, the walk is a loop from the Fontaine de Tourny through the Plains of Abraham to Gilmour Hill and back.

“Throughout our lives, no matter our physical health and our age, there are only two sports that we can always do: swimming and walking. All the other sports, we will be forced to stop at one point or another,” Lavoie said on a stage overlooking the crowded Fontaine de Tourny and Place de l’Assemblée-Nationale. “We each have a responsibility to maintain our physical and mental health. Walking can do wonders for both, and it is free and fun! People greatly appreciate what we are doing. They want to live longer, healthier lives.”

Thousands of family doctors joined the movement in their respective cities, showing by example the importance of integrating physical activity into their busy lives.

Respecting a longstanding tradition, the Grande Marche officially started on Friday, Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m. in Lavoie’s hometown of Saguenay, fol- lowed by a second walk in the provincial capital on Oct. 19 and a third one on Oct. 20 in Montreal. Numerous other cities, towns and villages across the province held their own Grande Marche at different times.

For more information about the Grand Défi, visit, onmarche.com.

Tens of thousands of Quebecers walk in the 10th Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie Read More »

MNBAQ presents Early Days: Indigenous Art from the McMichael Canadian Art Collection

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

MNBAQ presents Early Days: Indigenous Art from the McMichael Canadian Art Collection

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

Early Days: Indigenous Art from The McMichael Canadian Art Collection at the Musée National des Beaux-arts du Québec (MNBAQ) shines the spotlight on First Nations art. Until April 21, this exhibition displays 110 works of art by 50 artists from 13 nations across Canada.

The moment visitors to the museum enter the main hall, they are drawn to the welcoming mural of words and phrases in various Indigenous languages. Behind the glass doors, they will find creative and intriguing works of art spanning from the 18th century to the present day.

“This exhibition is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen [our] ties with the Huron- Wendat Nation community,” said MNBAQ director general Jean-Luc Murray. “This exhibition reflects the museum’s desire and actions to ensure better representation of First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists in the museum’s exhibitions and collections.”

Early Days allows visitors to take in art by the lesser- known artistic communities of First Nations across Canada. “These are large sections of art history that people have tried to remove from museums,” said Ève-Lyne Beaudry, director of collections and research at the MNBAQ. “We are part of a won- derful and fortunate trend that is rising in popularity in the museum world to rediscover this history. When we put this exhibition together, we chose not to display the works in a linear aspect. Everything is mixed up, with old and new pieces often placed side-by- side,” said Ève-Lyne Beaudry, director of collections and research at the MNBAQ.

To bring history and context to these works of art, Abenaki columnist, actor and exhibition spokesperson Xavier Watso is the voice of the audio guide. Through him, visitors will hear the eloquent tales behind the works and discover the 20 stops of Early Days, the major themes and key works and artists. Among the 50 artists, visitors will find works by Dana Claxton (Wood Moun- tain Lakota), Duane Linklater (Omaskêko Ininiwak), Faye HeavyShield (Káínawa), Caro- line Monnet (Anishinabeg and French) and Annie Pootoogook (Inuit) among others. One section is completely dedicated to women artists.

For more information, visit mnbaq.org.

MNBAQ presents Early Days: Indigenous Art from the McMichael Canadian Art Collection Read More »

Quebec City celebrates street art and artists with Réverbère

Local Journalism Initiative / / / ,

Quebec City celebrates street art and artists with Réverbère

Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

cassandra@qctonline.com

During Thanksgiving weekend, the heart of Old Quebec City pulsed with performances by street artists at the first edition of Réverbère. Inspired by late 19th- and early 20th- century Parisian artists who performed under street lamps at that magical time when day turns to night, the Ville de Québec funded over 200 acts by 80 local and European artists from Oct. 11 to 14.

As the sun set over the Jardins de l’Hôtel-de-Ville on Oct.11, Mayor Bruno Marchand inaugurated Réverbère. “With an investment of $400,000, this weekend, we are encouraging our street performers. They live among us and we must sup- port them. We are super proud of this event and to encourage these highly talented, skilled and entertaining artists,” he said. “Every event contributes to the vitality of Quebec City. A city without cultural events is a city without a soul. It is a city that does not share its culture.

“Street art has always been free to the public. It is im- portant that it remains that way,” said Marchand. “Quebec City has numerous theatres and performance halls where performers from here and elsewhere come to perform for which we have to pay. It is fun to have free activities like these, especially in these difficult economic times for families.” He continued, “I am so excited to invite the people of Quebec and thousands of tourists to discover and watch our performers in eight locations.”

Even before the mayor began speaking, street performers had already begun entertaining the public. Dressed as oversized vegetables turned Renaissance aristocrats with colourful, illuminated outfits, the group Louve put on the charming and funny improvisation act Les Follies Potagères. While passersby were mesmerized by their act, another couple wandered by – Charlot and Edna (a.k.a. Charlie Chaplin and Edna Purveyance). The Transcontinental Tricycles then pedalled in with blazing horns attached to their rear wheels.  It was a challenge to follow each act.

Across the street at Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville, Julia Perron Laflamme attracted a large crowd with her act, Plaf! She performed acrobatics with a circus wheel and pyrotechnics, drawing oohs and aahs. In front of the City Hall steps, Imagicario stilt-walkers dressed as human street lamps for their silent act, Parédolïa. There was all this and so much more throughout the weekend from Place D’Youville to the Château Frontenac.

Quebec City celebrates street art and artists with Réverbère Read More »

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