CCIQ co-founder Boufeldja Benabdallah gave a message of peace at the vigil on Jan. 29. (Photo by Cassandra Kerwin) 
Lieutenant-Governor Manon Jeannotte met the QCT in her office. The drum mounted on the wall is a gift from the Gespeg Micmac council she served on for many years. (Photo by Peter Black) ‘Respect, reconciliation, environment’ top priorities for new LG Jeannotte Peter Black, Local Journalism Initiative reporter peterblack@qctonline.com It’s not often someone appointed to a government position immediately faces a unanimous parliamentary…
Provisions Inc. has been closed and the building is for sale after French buyers apparently abandoned the business. (Photo by Peter Black) 
Ice canoeists row, paddle, push, pull and drag their canoes across the ice-choked St. Lawrence River on a gorgeous Feb. 4. (Photo by Cassandra Kerwin) The QCT honours Pierre Asselin (1955-2024)
Shirley Nadeau
shirley@qctonline.com
The QCT was saddened to learn that Pierre Asselin, a journalist with Le Soleil for over 30 years, died Jan. 29 at age 69. He was the husband of Cathy Nolan, the executive director of the Quebec City Reading Council.
Throughout his career with Le Soleil, Asselin was also very active in the English- speaking community. He wrote an article about the “Information Age” for the QCT 250th- anniversary special edition in June 2014.
“Pierre championed the anglophone community,” Nolan told the QCT. “One of his most memorable journalistic moments was that he was the journalist to get the Shannon [tainted water] story out and spent months working with residents, the lawyer and other professionals to make sure the story got the attention it deserved.
“Throughout his life, Pierre was a big supporter of people no matter their stature in the community,” Nolan said. “He would buy chocolate bars from kids who came selling them at the house to raise money for school trips, et cetera; pens and Boy Scout calendars were bought. He was a true supporter of any local cause. He and I were and are strong support- ers of Doctors without Borders and the Community Christmas Hamper Campaign. He had a passion for recreational cycling and would think nothing of hopping on his bike with a tent and heading off to the Townships or Mont-Tremblant for a bike ride.
“He knew Karen Macdonald [owner and editor of the QCT from 1993 to 2007] very well. They worked the city beat on many common stories when she [and her husband François Vézina] lived in Quebec City. He also worked with former QCT journalist Bethann Merkle and wrote an article … when she was co-ordinating the 250th-anniversary celebra- tions for the newspaper.
“I believe he started his career at Le Soleil in 1980, initially based in La Pocatière, before moving to the city a few years later,” added Nolan.
The Asselin family will receive visitors at the Maison Gomin, 2026 Boul. René- Lévesque Ouest, on Feb. 8 from 1 to 3 p.m.
For more details, visit lepinecloutier.com/fr/avis-de-deces/73738-pierre-asselin-anglais.
Here are just some of the many volunteers, including VEQ and JHCP staff members, who helped out on Hamper Delivery Day, Dec. 16. (Photo by Adrian Glanvill) COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS HAMPER CAMPAIGN: THANK YOU to the volunteers, donors, sponsors and community organizations who made the 28th Community Christmas Hamper Campaign a success!
Submitted by Rev. Katherine Burgess, member of the CCHC Organizing Committee
And just like that, the 28th Community Christmas Hamper Campaign (CCHC) has drawn to a close. Thanks to the dedicated volunteers who gave so much time to this initiative. This year, over 160 people volunteered a total of 407 hours, which must be a new record. Members of the organizing committee are included among these volunteers, but we must also thank the staff of Jeffery Hale Community Partners (JHCP) and Voice of English-speaking Québec (VEQ) who are invaluable to the success of the campaign. Other notable volunteers included Canada Post employees who gave their time on Dec. 16 to ensure that all hampers were safely delivered. Many individuals and families also came out on Delivery Day to help load and deliver hampers.
This past December was the first time since the pandemic that the committee decided to collect food again. We would like to thank all who donated non-perishable food items – especially the schools that challenged students to bring in specific items each week.
Since we must purchase many items for the hampers, several fundraisers were held again this year. These included VEQ and the Morrin Centre’s joint Holiday Happy Hour, which is always a success. VEQ also ran their “Oh, Deer!” Holiday Dares challenge again, and JHCP held “Ugly Christmas Sweater Tuesdays” at the Wellness Centre. Pictures of these initiatives are on the CCHC Facebook page. The RISE program sold Fun Jars Cookie Mix. There were jewelry sales and a spaghetti sauce cook- off at Saint Brigid’s Home, while CEGEP Champlain-St. Lawrence sold hydroponically grown lettuce and herbs as their contribution.
We also thank our invaluable corporate sponsors: Bo-Fruits, Canada Post, Construction Dinamo Inc., IGA Marché Pou- lin and Nutri-Œuf Ovale Eggs (Saint-Lambert-de-Lauzon).
Every campaign has its challenges, and this year was no exception. The shutdown of the schools – including the Eastern Québec Learning Centre where the hampers are normally as- sembled – due to the strike in the public sector presented us with something to overcome. We pivoted quickly and moved everything to the Wellness Centre in the Jeffery Hale Pavilion. We extend a huge thank you to everyone who adapted to this last-minute change, allowing us to deliver goodness to some 250 households this year.
Another repercussion of the school closures was the postponement of the “Pound® for a Claus!” fundraising event organized by Vivian Yatabe. Don’t miss this dynamic Pound® drum-playing cardio workout that will be held Feb. 18 at 1 p.m. at Quebec High School. All proceeds go to the CCHC. To register, visit eventbrite.ca/e/801783846067.
In closing, thank you to each person who supports the CCHC with food or monetary donations or volunteer hours. You are all vital to the success of this heartwarming collective community initiative, and it is comforting to know that we can count on you every year.
