A translation by Judith Turcotte The government has just expanded the size of the flood zones, a consequence of the increasingly frequent torrential rains that fall on us due to climate change. The extension of these flood zones leads to disastrous consequences for the residents living in these zones. The property values decrease, insurance becomes … Lire plus
A translation by Judith Turcotte. In 2013, François Legault published a book titled Cap sur un Québec gagnant-le projet Saint-Laurent. Given my interest for the St. Laurent, the book attracted my attention and I must admit that its content was exciting. In his book, he proposed to create an innovation valley project equivalent to Silicone … Lire plus
Translated by Judith Turcotte When I began my blogs on the St. Lawrence River, I chose to concentrate my research on the little or poorly known aspects of our river. Dozens of books have been published on the beauty of our mysterious St. Lawrence; however, very little has been written on what takes place under … Lire plus
A translation by Judith Turcotte UNESCO has announced that Anticosti Island is now a World Heritage Site. Excellent news. As such, it joins the Miguasha site and the historic district of Old Québec. I had not realized until today that Anticosti Island, with its 7715 square kilometres and its population of barely 200 people is … Lire plus
A translation by Judith Turcotte. At the end of the year 2016, I published a series of blogs denouncing the idea that Paul Comtois, lieutenant-governor of the province, had died in the fire of Bois de Coulonges while he was trying to recover from the chapel the objects essential for the Eucharist. I believed it necessary to … Lire plus
For the past few years, politicians, in an attempt to convince us that the St. Lawrence waters are now clean, announce the opening of beaches on its shore. This is way too premature. Beaches are often closed because of the quality of their waters. You are entirely free to go swimming there but I will … Lire plus
On a regular basis I read horror stories about the poor quality of the waters in the St. Lawrence River, stories that should raise the ire of the population but that seem to fail to attract attention. The St. Lawrence is a beautiful river but only on its surface. Its waters are polluted to a … Lire plus
Part #6: CONCLUSION? The coroner then questioned a number of first respondents including Gerard Tobin, the fire chief of the city of Sillery where Bois-de-Coulonge was located. He described some of the difficulties encountered with incompatible fire hydrants, lack of water and low pressure. He admitted, however, that even without these problems, they could not … Lire plus
Part 5: CORROBORATION? The next two witnesses described the circumstances surrounding the finding of the body among the still smoking ruins. Doctor Richard Authier explained that he was called to the site to examine a torso with no arms, no legs and no head. Brian Turpin, the fireman who found the body, went on to explain … Lire plus
Part 4: The CORONER and the WITNESSES. The next step in my search was to obtain a copy of the coroner’s report. After an initial demand at the coroner’s office, I was directed to the Bibliothèque et archives nationales du Québec and within a few days I received the report, all 300 pages of it. The … Lire plus