Photo: Peter Black

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid a visit to Quebec City on Jan. 25 as the pre-election ball gets rolling. He spoke at a luncheon hosted by the Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de Québec, and took questions from the audience in a session hosted by chamber president Julie Bédard.

Photo: Shirley Nadeau

For several years now, Jeffery Hale Community Partners has organized a Get Out of the Red auction in January to raise funds to help make up any shortage in the Community Christmas Hamper Campaign (CCHC) fundraising appeal.

Photo: Lise Lafond

Since the first bottle of shampoo hit stores in the 1930s, it has become a bathroom staple. Some households have a multitude of shampoo and conditioner bottles, with family members having their own personal favourite brands. How many of us have the twin shampoo and conditioner combo? All these bottles add up.

Jan. 29 to 31 – YES Business Coaching: YES Montreal, in partnership with Voice of English-speaking Québec, offers professional business coaching services in person at the Jeffery Hale Pavilion* or online. To register, call 418-683-2366, ext. 225, or email [email protected].

Photo: Wikimedia Commons - Public Domain

The first Quebec City Winter Carnival was inaugurated on Monday, Jan. 29, 1894. Governor General and Lady Aberdeen had been invited as guests of honour for the occasion, but a major storm delayed their departure from Ottawa.

Photo: Shirley Nadeau

Some 40 Lifelong Learners attended a Welcome Tea held on Jan. 15 in the Valcartier Family Centre at its new address on 2630 Blvd. Hochelaga.

The gathering was an excellent opportunity to meet new members and hear about upcoming activities.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons - Public Domain

Any Bob Newhart fans out there? Sure there are. The American comedian and actor, still performing occasionally at 89, is the master of the deadpan reaction. His specialty is one-sided telephone conversations, and perhaps his best-known bit is his transatlantic chat with Sir Walter Raleigh in the English colony of Virginia.

On Jan. 12, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chrystia Freeland, welcomed 18-year-old Saudi refugee Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun (who now goes by Rahaf Mohammed) at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. The image of Freeland warmly embracing Mohammed, posing for the media, was as striking as it was diplomatically unwise.

Photo: Cassandra Kerwin

It is now possible to see Indigenous stone engravings from all over Canada virtually, thanks to the exhibit on the website of the Musée de la civilisation de Québec (MCQ).

Photo: Ruby Pratka

Zanzibar. The word itself sounds almost mythical, like “Timbuktu” or “Siberia.” Shorthand for a place where legends come to life. I think I was about five the first time I heard the word, in a kids’ alphabet song where the singer had obviously had to do a bit of digging to come up with enough “Z” words.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons - Public Domain

One hundred and twenty-five years ago, barely a year after the opening of the Château Frontenac, Quebec City was preparing for Winter Carnival. Held intermittently since then, the Carnaval de Québec, as we now know it, has been celebrated annually since 1955, the year that Bonhomme Carnaval, the mascot of the festival, made his first appearance.

On Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2018, Robert “Bobby” Norman Brown passed away peacefully at his home in Kelowna, B.C. surrounded by his family after a short battle with cancer. Robert was born on May 21, 1954 to Norman and Rolande (Guillot) Brown in Quebec City, Quebec.

Photo: Peter Black

In 1960, the 28 teams entered in the first edition of what has become one of the world’s most prestigious youth hockey tournaments played their games in two Quebec City arenas, both of which are now defunct.