The Community Singers raised funds over the Christmas season that will go towards food programs that benefit students at Knowlton Academy (K.A.) and Waterloo Elementary school.

Recognizing that there are issues with food insecurity in the area, members of the Community Singers recently came together to put on two separate concerts in support of the breakfast program at K.A., and the lunch program and other educational activities at Waterloo Elementary School.

The Municipality of the Township of Potton has officially unveiled its street banner project in Mansonville to promote local art.

The street banner project is an initiative of Potton’s Culture and Heritage Advisory Committee.

As we get set to welcome the new year, Brome-Missisquoi MP and Minister of Canadian Heritage Pascale St-Onge wraps up 2023 with a visit to CIDI’s studios to look back on the positive developments and challenges in the riding and what her priorities are for 2024.

Highlighting her major areas of focus throughout this past year, St-Onge told CIDI that there are concerns surrounding the preservation of the environment in Brome-Missisquoi. However, supporting the work of conservation groups like Appalachian Corridor is making a difference – a trend that she hopes to continue in 2024.

Opération Nez Rouge is launching its 40th campaign this year and the safe-ride service is inviting the population to get involved in raising awareness around impaired driving.

Running under the theme "you are cordially invited," Julie Martineau, coordinator for Operation Nez Rouge, said that the goal with this year's campaign is to expand the Operation Nez Rouge movement to other communities and to invite people to play their part in supporting the cause. The money that is raised through the safe-ride service is invested in programs related to the development of youth and amateur sports.

The Town of Brome Lake held its final council meeting of 2023 with two items topping the agenda - funding for new infrastructure in the West Brome mobile home park and changes made to a mining by-law.

Mayor for the Town of Brome Lake Richard Burcombe wraps up the December town council meeting in a conversation with CIDI where he provides all the details.

The federal government has announced rules and regulations for Bill C-18, The Online News Act.

The Minister of Canadian Heritage Pascale St-Onge (who is also the MP for Brome-Missisquoi) joins CIDI to talk about next steps.

As they wrap up the year, municipal councils in the Eastern Townships are adopting their 2024 budget forecasts.

With a rise in expenses due to inflation, municipalities are crunching their numbers this year in order to continue providing services to the population while trying to avoid placing a tax “burden” on citizens, according to Gilbert Arel, general manager for the Town of Brome Lake. He said that dealing with the pressures of inflation has been challenging for municipalities and citizens alike.

he Town of Sutton has completed studies on its water supply and the results show that the municipality’s water table has six times more water than what is currently consumed.

The studies were announced last year as a part of Sutton’s action plan to protect its water supply following a report on water shortages in the mountain sector.

Ski mountains in the Eastern Townships are launching the start of the season and they are finding ways to adapt to the unpredictable weather conditions.

According to Lydia Lyonnais, communications coordinator for Mont SUTTON; and Philippe-Olivier Vennat, Director of Customer Experience and Hospitality at Owl’s Head, the last few years have been a challenging time for the ski hills due to the more drastic changes in weather experienced during the winter. With less snow, warmer weather, and more rain, it’s been difficult to provide for proper conditions on the slopes.

The Knowlton Pub raised $8,600 for the Lac-Brome emergency food bank following its annual fundraiser on Dec. 9. 

For over a decade, the Knowlton Pub has organized a Christmas meal to raise funds in support of community members facing food insecurity.

Today marks the last day of the common front’s seven-day public sector strike in Quebec and union leaders hope to reach an agreement with government officials before Christmas.

In its most recent attempt to encourage the government to invest in the education and healthcare system, Éric Gingras, president of la Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ), said that the common front is putting “maximum pressure” on officials to take action.

Appalachian Corridor and Conservation des vallons de la Serpentine (CVS) have succeeded in protecting an additional 28 hectares of the Millington Bog in perpetuity.

Located in the municipality of Austin, conservation efforts in the Millington Bog date back to 2012. As a result of the most recent project, 155 hectares of the 260-hectare bog are now officially protected forever.

After hosting workshops on flash writing earlier this year, Write Here Write Now (WHWN) has launched its latest anthology series Flash Reads: An Anthology of Flash Fiction, Poetry, and Shorts. 

The term 'flash' refers to extremely brief forms of writing. This particular anthology series features poetry, flash narratives, and longer shorts capped at 1,200 words.

The CIUSSS de l'Estrie - CHUS and a number of community groups, including the Centre de services du Val-des-Cerfs, the Maison des familles de Granby et région, and the Centre de pédiatrie sociale de la Haute-Yamaska de la Haute-Yamaska have come together to support vulnerable families in the Haute-Yamaska region through an initiative called “Agir Ensemble.”

CIDI journalist Taylor McClure had the opportunity to speak with Geneviève Chabot, director of the youth program department at the CIUSSS de l'Estrie - CHUS, for more details on the Agir Ensemble initiative and future plans to expand it to other Municipal Regional Counties (MRCs) to better meet the needs of vulnerable children and families in the Eastern Townships. 

The Coalition of Women’s Groups of Haute-Yamaska and Brome-Missisquoi are in the midst of carrying out an awareness campaign as a part of the “12 days of Action Against Violence Towards Women” and they are calling on the population to take a stand in support of victims of gender-based violence. The theme for this year’s awareness campaign is collective responsibility means daring to denounce violence against women!

The “12 days of Action Against Violence Towards Women” is a campaign that was created following the École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal on Dec. 6, 1969 where 14 women lost their lives. The goal with the campaign is to sensitize and educate the general public around the forms of violence that women face in society and to encourage concrete action at the government level to prevent situations of gender-based violence. The major symbol of the campaign is a white ribbon, which people are encouraged to wear in support of the cause. 

Following the submission of an application and a thorough evaluation process, the Town of Sutton has been officially recognized as a  Child Friendly Municipality (Municipalité Amie des enfants – MAE) by Espace MUNI in collaboration with UNICEF Canada.

As a result of this international recognition, the Town of Sutton joins an estimated one hundred municipalities, boroughs, and MRCs across Quebec and a worldwide network of Child Friendly Cities that put the needs and rights of children at the forefront of its decision making. 

Three years after opening its doors in the historical Sutton creamery, the Sutton School of Art has expanded on its artistic and creative opportunities with the goal of providing children between 3 and 17 years old with a space for exploration and discovery and helping build connections between different communities in the Eastern Townships and beyond. 

The Sutton School of Art isn’t your typical ‘school.’ There is no such thing as a classroom, there is no curriculum or evaluation grid, and the focus isn’t necessarily on learning. According to founder Anne-Marie Lavigne, the Sutton School of Art is all about providing children with the chance to meet artists and helping them "find a sense of belonging” within their communities through this collaboration and experimenting with a variety of art disciplines. 

The Eastern Townships School Board is calling on families to apply for an eligibility certificate for their children as soon as possible following the implementation of language law Bill 96.

CIDI journalist Taylor McClure spoke with Chairperson for the Eastern Townships School Board (ETSB) Michael Murray for more details on the eligibility certificate requirement and the impact that Bill 96 is having on people’s access to education in English in Quebec.

A province-wide public sector strike kicked off in Quebec on Nov. 21 that will see schools, daycares, and health and social services affected.

Covering the strike mandate at the local level, CIDI went to Massey-Vanier High-school on Tuesday and spoke with teacher Justin Forster, union representative for the school; and Tamara Porter, member of the schools’ support staff and union representative for the Townships Regional Union of Support Staff. They spoke about the challenges that teachers and support staff are facing in the classroom.

Sutton has completed its first urban mural called “Le Spot” as a part of the municipality’s cultural mediation project known as LE MUR | THE WALL.

CIDI journalist Taylor McClure had the chance to attend the official launch of Sutton’s urban mural last week at Goyette Hill Park where she got all the details on the urban mural and the role that cultural mediation plays in communities.