Montréal QC ☕ The morning chat
Good morning, Montréal.
We open the day with an electoral suspense stretching on the South Shore, while Quebec’s literary world goes through an unprecedented shake-up tied to new technologies. There’s also word on safety in our neighbourhoods, the unveiling of a highly anticipated winter lineup, and a medical study that invites a second look at our grocery carts.
Main Story
Victory by three votes in Vachon: the Parti québécois celebrates its 60th seat, the PLQ refuses to concede
The outcome of the vote in the Vachon riding, on the South Shore in Longueuil, finally tipped after a three-day judicial recount. Parti québécois candidate Stephan Fogaing was proclaimed winner with a razor-thin margin of three votes over his Liberal rival, Affine Lwalalika.
On October 5, only ten votes separated the two hopefuls, prompting the PQ to take the matter to the Court of Quebec for an official recount. This outcome gives Paul St-Pierre Plamondon’s government a 60th seat in the National Assembly.
But the political battle isn’t entirely over. The Quebec Liberal Party quickly said it would not concede for now. Its legal teams are currently reviewing all available options to decide on next steps.
The outgoing CAQ member for the riding, Ian Lafrenière, took the time to publicly congratulate Stephan Fogaing, noting that the phrase “every vote counts” has never rung truer.
In Our Neighbourhoods
Armed assault on Rivard Street in Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
Montreal police are investigating a violent attack that happened in the middle of the night from Wednesday to Thursday. A 36-year-old man was stabbed in an apartment on Rivard Street, close to Duluth Avenue.
Emergency services were alerted around 1:30 a.m. When they arrived, they took charge of the victim, who had serious injuries to the upper body. The man was rushed to hospital, where medical authorities confirmed his life was not in danger.
The canine squad was deployed to gather clues, and investigators began interviewing witnesses in the area. No arrests have been made yet, and the circumstances surrounding the attack remain unclear.
Pedestrian dies in collision in Dorval
A road tragedy claimed the life of a 69-year-old senior Wednesday early evening in the west of the island. The collision happened just before 7 p.m. at the intersection of Michel-Jasmin and Orly avenues, near Montreal-Trudeau airport installations.
According to initial accounts from authorities, the pedestrian was crossing the road when an SUV was making a turn. The driver reportedly didn’t see the man before impact. The victim died at the scene.
The driver wasn’t physically hurt but was treated for shock. Police continue to analyze the scene to piece together exactly what happened.
From the road to poetry: a Montreal driver’s first collection
After eight years balancing ten-hour driving shifts with writing, Montrealer Jibril Adamu is set to publish his first poetry collection, titled “Ode to a Red Country Rooster.” The official launch is planned for the end of the month, marking the culmination of a long effort carried out to the rhythm of the city’s streets.
Culture and Society
Les Éditions du Boréal cut ties with author Thélyson Orélien
The Montreal publishing house Boréal has announced the end of its professional relationship with writer Thélyson Orélien. The decision follows an analysis of metadata from some documents submitted by the author, which revealed clear traces of AI tools used during the writing process of his novel.
The author defended himself, saying he only used such technologies for research purposes. The publisher nonetheless chose to sever ties, setting an important precedent in Quebec’s literary world regarding creative integrity issues.
Igloofest reveals headliners for winter 2027
Electronic music fans already have reason to plan their winter nights on the Old Port docks. Igloofest has lifted the curtain on the lineup for its 19th edition, running from January 14 to February 6 under the theme “Face the Beast.”
Among the confirmed artists on the bill are Kaytranada, Fatboy Slim, deadmau5, as well as Boris Brejcha and James Hype. Presale starts today, ahead of general sale on Friday.
Health and Science
Ultra-processed foods: a link observed with silent brain lesions
A new Canadian study by researchers at McMaster University, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, establishes a worrying correlation between a diet rich in ultra-processed products and the presence of cerebral vascular lesions.
The research looked at a sample of 8,783 Canadian adults aged 35 to 69 who had no diagnosed cardiovascular disease. MRI scans revealed that those consuming the highest amounts of ultra-processed foods had about a 40% higher risk of showing signs of silent infarcts—tiny areas of damaged tissue in the brain.
Specialists remind that this type of cross-sectional data doesn’t establish a direct cause-and-effect link, but they advise favoring whole foods and simple daily habits, like swapping sugary drinks for water or choosing fresh fruit over packaged snacks.
To Close
Take the time to savor your hot drink this morning and ease into the day at your own pace. See you tomorrow for another Montreal chat. ☕