The former site of the RCMP building on Ave. Ernest-Gagnon, adjacent to Holland Elementary School, remains vacant as plans for a housing project are suspended. (Photo by Peter Black) 
Teachers and staff at CEGEP Champlain-St. Lawrence are shown picketing at the school during a half-day strike in November. Public sector unions have announced plans for a weeklong strike from Dec. 8-14 if an agreement is not reached in the next week. (Photo by Cassandra Kerwin from QCT archives) 
Microbrasserie Griendel will move in to the former Le Cochon Dingue location on Boul. René-Lévesque. (Photo by Peter Black) 
Benjamin Waterhouse, organist and musical director of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, sits at the console of the newly restored organ in preparation for the concert he gave for its inauguration on Nov. 25. (Photo by Shirley Nadeau) LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Tramway pause, moose memories
Dear Editor,
Further to “Could tramway pause be beneficial?” (Nov. 22): The second most costly aspect of the project, according to Alain Mercier, ex-director general of the Réseau de transport de la Capitale, corresponds to the doubling of the water and sewer lines all along the path of the tram. The justification given for this decision was to guarantee transit service if ever there was a need to undertake underground repairs. It is this doubling that pushes the pipes towards the sides of the roadway, which explains a good part of the tree-cutting that is foreseen.
If the pipes are placed right beside one set of rails, it would be possible to undertake repairs by redirecting the railcars for a short distance during the work period on the rail line in the opposite direction. Using electronic controls, it is possible to have alternate movement of the railcars in opposing directions without lowering the quality of transit service. One must remember that the announced peak frequency of the tramway is every four minutes, which gives ample time to create the necessary separation.
As for eventual repairs to the branch lines of these pipes that service residences on the other side of the tramway, there are now trenchless solutions that would solve the issue.
The third element to examine is the platform that is to be built in the centre of the roadway, at a height of 14 centimetres. The justification provided is that it would be essential for the speed, reliability and regularity of the tramway and that it would inhibit left turns at the planned non-traversable intersections. This inhibition is supposed to avoid having the tramway sit in the blind spot of drivers wanting to turn left. In reality, the blind spot of a car does not exceed 10 metres in length, while the railcars will be 43 metres long – they will thus be impossible to miss! The speed and regularity will depend a lot on the operation of the traffic signals and not the platform.
On the reverse side of the coin, notably on Boul. René-Lévesque and on Chemin de la Canardière, the platform creates a significant barrier for the movement of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. While it is true that level crossings will allow passage at a reduced number of intersections, the platform will nonetheless create many detours, which is particularly detrimental for seniors, visually impaired people and those in wheelchairs – without considering that sidewalks are not well-plowed!
Paul Mackey
Quebec City
Hello Chronicle!
Your Oct. 11 [issue] was great … I especially enjoyed Peter Black’s story of the moose hunt. My own closest encounter was on the Upper St. Maurice at night. The moose stood his ground, we grazed past him with contact, so – match nul.
Rest of that issue commendable.
Frank Corbett
Dollard-des-Ormeaux
William Provencher (centre), community life animator of wellness activities at Saint Brigid’s Home, and Saint Brigid’s Guild members Jennifer Hobbs-Robert (left), Yan Feng, Linda Boucher and Phyllis Savard sold a variety of handmade items at their table. (Photo by Anaïs Fortin-Maltais courtesy of CCHC) COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS HAMPER CAMPAIGN: Kildare Christmas Market raises funds for Hamper Campaign
Submitted by Diane Kameen, Community Christmas Hamper Campaign organizing committee
Thanks to the participation of many kind and generous people, the Kildare Christmas Market held Nov. 4 at Saint Brigid’s Home raised $1,300 for the Quebec Community Christmas Hamper Campaign, with the tally sure to grow after the second edition held Dec. 5 (total unavailable at press time).
Sales of honey, jewelry, Guild clothing, blankets, recipes, decorations and much more proved very popular. The mar- ket was also a wonderful oppor- tunity for residents and their loved ones to socialize. This is one of the many fundraisers taking place in the community to support the campaign. To learn more, visit qchampers.ca and follow the Quebec City Community Christmas Hamper Campaign on Facebook.
Carolers Katharina Urbschat, Bobby Fielding and Paul Mackey sing up and down Ave. Cartier on Dec. 2. They plan to return with a larger group on Dec. 16. (Photo by Cassandra Kerwin)