MTLQC – Montréal QC
Montreal QC ☕ Morning Chat
Good morning, Montréal.
We hope your coffees are nice and hot this Friday morning, because we’ve prepared a special edition for you.
Between local initiatives that change lives, a culturally rich weekend ahead, and some news that directly affects our daily lives, there’s plenty to start the day off right.
Hold on, here we go.
🔦 Main Story
Ékip jeunesse Opens Its Doors for Youth Leaving Youth Protection
A new ray of hope shines for vulnerable young people in Montréal.
On Thursday, Ékip jeunesse officially opened its new location at 5498 Hochelaga Street, a space dedicated to young people aged 16 to 25 who are extremely vulnerable as they leave the youth protection system.
Co-founder Nancy Audet explains that more than 2,000 young people leave the youth protection system every year, and most are alone. What should be a celebration at 18 instead becomes a moment of anxiety for teens who don’t know where they’ll sleep.
The space offers clothes, winter coats, grocery cards, bus tickets, hygiene products, and starter kits for apartments. Many leave the system without housing, income, or family support.
Audet says she wants to be there for them like family, offering not only material donations but also a sense of belonging. She left her full-time job as a journalist to dedicate herself to this mission, having experienced difficulties herself in her youth.
The organization relies on dozens of volunteers and community partners to transform lives at the most critical moment.
⚡ Noteworthy
A Survey Reveals 25% of Quebecers Believe a Referendum on Separation Would Succeed
A new survey for CityNews revealed that exactly a quarter of Quebecers believe a referendum on separation would succeed.
The 25% of Quebecers who think sovereignty could become reality represent the second-highest percentage in the country, behind Alberta at 27%.
The survey also shows that most other Canadians (87%) outside these two provinces would prefer to remain in Canada.
Overall, only one in five Canadians surveyed believes that a hypothetical referendum on separation held in Quebec or Alberta in the next six months would pass.
Canada Pulse Insights surveyed 1,510 Canadian adults from February 9 to 19, 2026.
OpenAI Says Tumbler Ridge Killer Evaded Its Protections
OpenAI says the perpetrator of the Tumbler Ridge murders circumvented a ban related to problematic use of ChatGPT by using a second account.
The revelation came as the company presented a series of “immediate measures” it plans to implement in response to the murders.
Vice President Ann O’Leary explained that the company only discovered the existence of the second account after the name Jesse Van Rootselaar was made public by the RCMP.
O’Leary added that OpenAI wants to strengthen its detection systems to better prevent attempts to bypass protections, improve communication protocols with police when conversations cross the threshold of imminent and credible risk, and create a direct contact point with Canadian law enforcement.
Liberals and Bloc Face Off Again in Terrebonne
Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné and Tatiana Auguste will face each other again in Terrebonne after the Supreme Court annulled a Liberal victory by one vote.
The by-election is one of three that will determine if Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals can secure a majority. Bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet announced his candidate Thursday.
Quebec Coffee Roaster Returns to Sherbrooke
A well-known coffee producer is bringing operations back to Sherbrooke after running part of its business in the United States last year due to tariffs.
A Quebec Campaign Against Male Influencers
Universities and CEGEPs in Quebec are launching a new campaign to counter the rise of male influencers who trivialize sexual violence.
Bombardier Looks to Expand Sales in India
Bombardier is well positioned to benefit from the federal government’s new “buy Canadian” defense strategy, said company President and CEO Éric Martel Thursday.
At the same time, opportunities to increase sales in India are strong, he said, on the eve of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s trade mission.
Health Reform Passed But Specialists Still Disagree
The federation representing the province’s medical specialists accuses the Coalition Avenir Québec government of delaying negotiations for a new agreement. Lawmakers passed Bill 19, the special law that will change the way general practitioners are paid.
Statistics Canada Releases Q4 2025 GDP Data
Statistics Canada is set to release economic results for the end of 2025 Friday morning. A Reuters poll of economists expects real GDP to have remained stable on an annualized basis in the fourth quarter.
Return-to-Office Mandates Boost Demand for Canadian Offices
Widespread return-to-office mandates are driving renewed demand for office space in major Canadian cities, according to a new report.
🏙️ Local Stories
Metro and REM Extend Hours for Nuit Blanche
Montreal’s metro and the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) will be open late Saturday night as the city celebrates Nuit Blanche. Metro service on all four lines will continue up to two hours past normal closing, with last trains leaving Berri-UQAM at 3 a.m., while the REM will run all night. A great opportunity to enjoy Montreal’s culture without worrying about transportation.
Trudeau Airport Braces for Spring Break Chaos
Montreal’s airport authority urges travelers to prepare for traffic headaches as spring break arrives amid major airport renovations and demolition of a parking garage. About 58,000 passengers are expected to pass through the airport each day over the next ten days.
The surge comes as the airport demolishes a parking garage, resulting in thousands fewer spaces and more cars in main drop-off zones. Two alternative pick-up and drop-off areas have been added, with shuttle service to the terminal.
The airport infrastructure is already operating at full capacity. New permanent drop-off zones are set to open by 2028 as part of a ten-billion-dollar, ten-year plan.
Canadiens Lose 4-3 in Overtime to the Islanders
In their first game after the three-week Olympic break, the Canadiens surrendered a late lead against the New York Islanders, losing 4-3 in overtime Thursday at the Bell Centre.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored 3:14 into overtime. Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer scored twice in 55 seconds late in the second period.
Noah Dobson scored two goals for the Canadiens. Cole Caufield scored his team-leading 33rd goal of the season.
It was Dobson’s first game against his former team after spending his first six NHL seasons with the Islanders before being traded last June.
La Victoire Beats the Sirens 4-1
La Victoire de Montréal defeated the New York Sirens 4-1 Thursday night in the LPHF, returning from the Winter Olympic break.
Lina Ljungblom earned her first two points of the season, and Ann-Renée Desbiens made 34 saves. Dara Greig opened the scoring five minutes in. Jade Downie-Landry doubled the lead 47 seconds later. Skylar Irving made it 3-0 with an unassisted goal.
La Victoire joins the Boston Fleet in first place with 30 points. Erin Ambrose and Marie-Philip Poulin were absent due to injuries.
“Go Habs Go!” Slogan Returns to Buses
Montreal’s transit agency says the slogan “Go Habs Go!” will return to some city buses next month, after the provincial language watchdog authorized the use of the English expression.
Last April, the Quebec government stepped in to protect the public use of the expression, following an uproar caused by OQLF pressure on STM to replace the digital banner “GO! Canadiens GO!” with “Allez! Canadiens Allez!” during the playoffs.
French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge said at the time that “Go Habs Go!” is part of Quebec’s DNA. Future complaints about the expression will now be ignored.
Montreal Police Conduct Searches on the South Shore
Montreal police carried out several searches on the South Shore Thursday morning as part of an investigation into the circumstances of Nooran Rezayi’s death during a police intervention.
The searches are part of an investigation related to the death of the teenager, who was shot by Longueuil police in September.
💛 Spotlight
Nancy Audet, who left her full-time job as a journalist to found Ékip jeunesse and provide a safe and welcoming place for young people leaving the youth protection system, embodying generosity and community commitment in service of the most vulnerable.
🚇 Practical Corner
Enjoy Nuit Blanche with Extended Public Transit
If you plan to go out Saturday night for Nuit Blanche, you’ll be happy to know the metro will run up to two hours past normal closing, with last trains leaving Berri-UQAM at 3 a.m. The REM will run all night. An excellent way to enjoy the festivities without worry.
Plan Ahead for Trudeau Airport
If you’re traveling during spring break, arrive at the airport at least three hours early. With a parking garage demolished and 58,000 passengers expected daily, patience will be needed. Reserve your parking in advance and consider alternative drop-off zones with shuttle service.
👋 Before We Go
That’s it for this Friday morning. Between initiatives that change lives, culture that brings us together, and the daily challenges we navigate together, there’s plenty to be proud of in our community. Enjoy your weekend, take care of yourselves and others, and happy Friday, Montréal. 🍁
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