MTLQC – Montréal QC
☕ Morning Chat
Feb 23, 2026
—
by
maria
in Daily
Montréal QC
Good morning, Montréal.
We hope your coffee is nice and hot this morning, because we’re starting the week off strong. Between a major fire in the Southwest, an Olympic weekend that leaves us with heavy hearts, and some news that affects our daily lives, there’s plenty to fuel your morning. Hang in there.
🔦 Main Story
Major Fire in the Southwest: 150 People Evacuated
Early Monday morning, a five-alarm fire ravaged a vacant church and a neighboring seniors’ residence in the Southwest borough. About 150 residents were evacuated, 73 of whom were from the seniors’ residence.
The 911 call came in around 2 a.m. for the fire that broke out in the former Saint-Paul church, located near Avenue de l’Église and Laurendeau Street. The flames spread to the adjacent seniors’ residence, but fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Firefighters were still on site in the morning. This kind of story reminds us just how essential our first responders are—especially when it hits so close to home.
⚡ To Note
Heartbroken after losing the gold.
The Canadian men’s hockey team lost the Olympic gold medal 2-1 in overtime to the United States on Sunday. Jack Hughes scored the winning goal for the Americans.
Fans across the country gathered in bars and arenas that opened early to watch the game, including at Scotiabank Centre in Toronto, La Cage aux Sports in Montréal, Shark Club in Vancouver, and Centre Bell. Prime Minister Mark Carney was cheering on the Canadian team in Chelsea, Quebec.
The Canadian women’s hockey team also lost 2-1 to the United States in the final earlier this week. Two finals, two one-goal defeats. It hurts.
Marie-Philip Poulin banned from speaking French.
The Canadian Olympic Committee says it is concerned after Canadian women’s hockey team captain Marie-Philip Poulin was forbidden from speaking French during a press conference following her team’s loss to the United States.
A Member of Parliament also expressed concern about the incident.
Unacceptable.
Valérie Maltais and Steven Dubois carry the flag.
Short track skater Steven Dubois from Laval, champion in the 500 meters, and Valérie Maltais from Saguenay, who won three medals including gold in the team pursuit, carried the Canadian flag at the closing ceremony in the Verona arena in Italy on Sunday.
A well-deserved Quebec pride.
Man found unconscious in critical condition.
Montreal police say a man was in critical condition after being found unconscious early Monday morning in the Ville-Marie borough. A 911 call was received around 12:25 a.m. about the victim on Sainte-Catherine West, near Clark Street.
The victim lost consciousness outside for reasons still unknown and appeared to be accompanied by at least one other person who left before police arrived.
A crime scene was established and the investigation continues.
NEXUS and Global Entry suspended in Canadian airports.
Canadian airports are warning travelers that NEXUS and Global Entry pre-clearance programs for flights to the United States are suspended. Vancouver International Airport said the programs are suspended until further notice due to the partial shutdown of the U.S. government.
The partial shutdown began February 14 after Democrats and the White House failed to agree on legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security.
Airports in Calgary, Montréal, Vancouver, and Toronto are asking passengers to allow extra time to clear security.
Quebecers in Puerto Vallarta urged to stay indoors.
Christopher Skeete, Quebec’s Minister of International Relations, expressed concern about rising violence in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and the Canadian government said a shelter-in-place order is in effect in the region.
Violence erupted following the death of Jalisco Nueva Generación cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes during a capture attempt Sunday. Armed men triggered violence across Mexico with burning cars blocking roads in nearly a dozen states.
People locked themselves in their homes in Guadalajara, and schools were canceled Monday in several states. Airlines canceled flights to and from Puerto Vallarta.
Canadians are urged to register online with the Registration of Canadians Abroad.
Conservatives want to restrict health benefits for asylum seekers.
The Conservatives plan to present a motion Monday in the House of Commons to review how health benefits are provided to asylum seekers and to restrict access to these services.
The motion states that the cost of the Interim Federal Health Program has more than quadrupled since 2020, rising from $211 million to $896 million in 2024-2025. The Parliamentary Budget Officer expects the program’s cost to reach $1.5 billion annually by 2028-2029.
About 624,000 people were beneficiaries in 2024-2025, compared to about 200,000 in 2020-2021.
The federal government is introducing a co-pay for additional coverage and prescription drugs starting May 1.
Tax season: deadline is April 30.
The 2025 tax filing season officially begins Monday and will last just over nine weeks, ending April 30 for most taxpayers. Most employers send T4 slips by the end of February.
Taxpayers have until March 2 to contribute to their RRSP for the 2025 tax year. There are more than 400 credits and deductions Canadians may be eligible for.
The CRA is introducing several changes, including allowing taxpayers to verify their identity online using a valid government-issued photo ID.
Quebecers regularly switch languages.
At home and among friends, multilingualism is woven into Quebecers’ daily lives, a major survey reveals. A well-known Montréal reality.
🏙️ Local Stories
Nearly 20% of Montrealers lack easy access to fresh food.
Nearly 20% of Montrealers do not have adequate access to sources of fresh food like grocery stores or fresh produce markets within a 10-minute walk from their home or workplace, and half do not have access to more than two such stores, researchers at Concordia University found.
An access problem that deserves attention.
The Canadiens held their skills competition.
While the Canadian team lost to the United States in the Olympic gold medal game Sunday, the Canadiens held their annual skills competition at Centre Bell.
The event also featured players from Montréal’s Victoire women’s team.
🌡️ Practical Corner
Cold week with snow before a thaw this weekend.
A cold and unsettled week is ahead for Montréal, with temperatures well below zero for most of the next seven days and several episodes of snow before a thaw at the weekend.
Monday brings mostly cloudy skies and a high of zero Celsius with gusts up to 40 kilometers per hour. Wind chill will make it feel like minus 13°C in the morning. Overnight, skies will become partly clear with a low of minus 14°C and wind chill dropping to minus 20.
Tuesday will see clouds clearing for sunny but cold skies, with a high of minus 9°C. Snow periods will arrive overnight with a low of minus 15°C.
Wednesday will see continued snow periods during the day and a high of minus 2°C.
Thursday will bring sunshine and a high of minus 1°C.
Friday will offer a mix of sun and clouds and the first above-zero temperature of the week, with a high of 2°C.
Saturday is expected to bring a mix of sun and clouds with a 30% chance of showers and a high of 5°C.
Dress warmly this week.
👋 Before We Go
That’s it for this Monday morning. Between challenges facing our city, sporting disappointments, and fickle weather, there’s plenty to keep us busy.
But remember, each day is a new chance to make a difference in your community.
Take care, stay warm, and have a great week, Montréal. 🍁
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