Quebec Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette defends his proposed Québec Constitution Act, 2025, at National Assembly hearings on Dec. 4. (Screenshot by Kevin Dougherty via National Assembly website) ANALYSIS Hearings on Quebec constitution open with cheerleaders praising the bill Kevin Dougherty kevin@qctonline.com Bill 1, the Coalition Avenir Québec’s hastily drawn up Québec Constitution Act, 2025, has been widely…
OBITUARY
Dr. Michel Cescas passed away at Enfant-Jésus Hospital in Quebec City on Aug. 4, 2025. He was the husband of Beatrice Cox and the son of Paulette Lamine and Jean Cescas. He was a native of Bordeaux, France. He lived in Quebec City.
Michel was a retired professor at Université Laval in the soil and agri-food engineering department.
Michel leaves behind his son James, as well as Tom Van Arsdall, Paul Van Arsdall and Janet Van Arsdall Lindsey, children of his first wife Marjorie Thompson Cescas; his wife’s son Brendan Keegan; his sister France Cescas Peltier, her spouse Pierre Peltier and their daughter Catherine Peltier.
Funeral services will be held at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church (5 Rue Cook, Quebec City, QC G1R 3X8) on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Doctors Without Borders or to St. Andrew’s Church.
Coopérative funéraire des Deux Rives
418 688-2411 or 1 888 688-2411
www.coopfuneraire2rives.com
Église Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, the oldest stone church still standing in North America, is reflected in the ornament from the grand Christmas tree standing majestically in Place Royale. Although the church is closed until Easter due to lack of funds, a last-minute donation has allowed it to keep the lights on through the winter. (Photo by Danielle Burns) PHOTO: Making the season bright…
The Celtic music group Irish Tree – Mike Labonté, Olivier Leclerc and Frédéric Drouin – provided toe-tapping entertainment during the Holiday Happy Hour. (Photo by Shirley Nadeau) COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS HAMPER CAMPAIGN
VEQ holds Holiday Happy Hour at Morrin Centre
Submitted by Shirley Nadeau, chair of the CCHC organizing committee
One of the most anticipated events of the pre-Christ- mas season – the Voice of English-speaking Québec Holiday Happy Hour – was held at the Morrin Centre to support the 30th annual Quebec City Community Christmas Hamper Campaign (CCHC) on Dec. 3.
Nearly 150 people gathered for a delightful, delicious cinq- à-sept in College Hall of the historic building, all looking forward to meeting and greeting their friends and neighbours to wish them the best for the holiday season.
“I’ve never seen so many people here as I have this year,” said attendee Sharon MacLeod. “It’s amazing! It’s a delight to walk around and see people I haven’t seen in a while, even years!”
CBC Radio, one of the major sponsors of the event, was present, interviewing people about their favourite memories of past years, what they are looking forward to in the new year and what the Community Christmas Hamper Campaign means to them.
Toe-tapping entertainment was provided by the Celtic music trio Irish Tree – Mike Labonté, Frédéric Drouin and Olivier Leclerc – courtesy of CBC Radio.
Santa Claus (Paul Williamson), with his naturally white beard and hair, took some time to enjoy the event before hitching up his reindeer to help deliver hampers in Quebec City on Dec. 20. Originally from Hamilton, Ont., and a member of the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve, Williamson is in his third year as the Community Christmas Hamper Campaign’s Santa.
VEQ administrative assistant Maria Hoyt was happy to report on Dec. 8 that the final count from the event was $548.05 from the sale of raffle tickets and $829.24 at the bar for a grand total of $1,377.29 – another successful event for the Community Christmas Hamper Campaign!
Thank you to everyone who has helped this campaign, which this year will distribute hampers to some 250 house- holds in need. We are almost halfway to our $50,000 goal to help purchase the fresh fruit, meats, vegetables and dairy products that are included in each set of hamper boxes. It’s not too late to contribute! Please help put us over the top before the end of December.
The Soweto Gospel Choir set a South African tone to their Dec. 3 Peace concert at the Palais Montcalm. (Photo by Shirley Nadeau) REVIEW Soweto Gospel Choir spreads peace in Quebec City Shirley Nadeau shirley@qctonline.com The Soweto Gospel Choir, whose name is derived from the South Western Townships (now a suburb) of the…
The cast of The Reluctant Dragon take a bow at the end of their performance at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. Cast members in the front row are Hugo Turner- Dufour, Tessa MacKenzie, Aimee Dawson, Fiona MacKenzie, Gail Turner, Elizabeth Reeves, Miriam Blair (also stage director) and narrator Sylvia Morin. Children in the front of the aisle had the best seats! (Photo by Shirley Nadeau) REVIEW Cathedral of the Holy Trinity presents a dragon’s tale for Christmas’ sake! Shirley Nadeau shirley@qctonline.com The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity was aglow with the Christmas spirit on Sunday,…
Masami Gauvin and André Gauvin, co-founders of the Association d’amitié Québec-Japon, greeted visitors at the tea ceremony table at the beginning of the Marché de Noël Japonais on Dec. 6. (Photo by Oksana Mukhina) Thousands flock to first Japanese Christmas Market at Domaine Maizerets Oksana Mukhina oksana@qctonline.com On Dec. 6, approaching the Domaine de Maizerets at 10:30 a.m., just half an hour after opening,…
Canada draws Switzerland, Qatar, qualifier for 2026 World Cup Luc Lang luc@qctonline.com The soccer/football world was riveted to television and computer screens on Dec. 5 as the Fédération Internationale de…
Nova Scotia native Brinly Holt (7) of the Université Laval Rouge et Or and her teammates are looking to qualify for the U Sports Final 8 in March. (Photo courtesy of the Rouge et Or via Flickr/Louis Charland) Rouge et Or top RSEQ women’s basketball standings, to host U Sports Final 8 in March Luc Lang luc@qctonline.com The Université Laval Rouge et Or women’s basketball team heads into…
St. Lawrence women’s basketball head coach Justin Robert has his division two club playing at a high level once again in 2025-26. The defending provincial champions are only two points behind league leaders Cégep de Chicoutimi heading into the holidays. (Photo by Luc Lang) Lady Lions head into 2026 with 76-65 victory over Thetford Luc Lang luc@qctonline.com The CEGEP Champlain- St. Lawrence women’s division two Lady Lions basketball team concluded the 2025 portion of…