By William Crooks

Jim Manson, a historian with deep roots in the Eastern Townships, is set to deliver a talk on April 13 at the Bruck Museum in Cowansville, honouring the remarkable contributions of Marion Phelps to local history. The event, part of the QAHN Heritage Talks 2025, will explore Phelps’ legacy and her lifelong dedication to preserving and promoting the region’s past.

Manson, who studied under Phelps as a child, recalled how she inspired his love for history from an early age. “She was somebody committed to expanding people’s knowledge of history in the region,” he said. “She really promoted the idea of local history and the fact that it was important to us.”

Born in 1908, Phelps grew up in Stukely Township, where she attended local schools before training as a teacher at Macdonald College. It was there that she stumbled upon a book by Catherine Day on Eastern Townships history—an experience that changed her life. “She had never heard of the Loyalists before reading that book,” Manson explained. “From that day forward, she was committed to not just finding out more about Eastern Townships history but also trying to interest other people in it.”

Phelps taught for decades, spending much of her career at Cowansville High School. However, her work extended far beyond the classroom. After retiring in 1962, she became a fixture at the Brome County Historical Society, volunteering in the archives for over 40 years. From behind her desk, she assisted countless researchers, preserving historical records and ensuring that the region’s heritage was not forgotten.

“She didn’t get paid for it,” Manson noted. “All the work she did, she did as a volunteer. And we’ll never see those days again, I don’t think. Just her selflessness, her complete commitment to encouraging young people in particular to learn something about their history—to be proud of their history.”

Throughout her life, Phelps remained deeply concerned about the decline of local history education, particularly in English-speaking communities. Manson recalled that she often worried about how to instill a love of history in future generations. “She was aware that a lot of Anglophones were leaving the region and that exposure to history in schools was being reduced. She wanted to do something about it.”

In 2001, the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network (QAHN) established an award in her honour to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to local history. At the award’s inaugural ceremony, Phelps was introduced by Manson himself. “It was fitting,” he said, “that it was held at Macdonald College, the place where her journey into history really began.”

Even in her later years, Phelps remained active. She continued working at the archives well into her 90s and, according to Manson, remained as sharp and dedicated as ever. “I remember her telling me, ‘I won’t be working full-time anymore—I’ll be working part-time,’” he said with a chuckle. “And she was about 96 or 97 at the time.”

Phelps passed away in 2013 at the age of 105, leaving behind a legacy of dedication and service to the region’s history. Her funeral, held several months after her passing, saw Manson delivering her eulogy, an honour he describes as deeply meaningful. “To me, she was somebody I looked up to, somebody I respected—not just for her knowledge but for everything she gave to this community.”

The upcoming talk will highlight these aspects of Phelps’ life, bringing her story to new audiences. “She did so much to promote local history right up until the end of her life,” Manson said. “That’s what I really want to bring out.”

Following Manson’s lecture, attendees will be invited to share their own memories of Phelps in an open-mic session. The event runs from 2 to 4 p.m., and seating is limited. Those interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP in advance.

L’article Marion Phelps – A lifelong champion of Townships history est apparu en premier sur Sherbrooke Record.

It’s election time in Canada. All elections are important, but the April 28 election comes at a critical time. We’re facing an increasingly costly, accelerating climate crisis, daily plant and animal extinctions, a worsening affordability crisis, a widening wealth gap and rising anti-democratic authoritarianism in parts of the world.

Canada is caught between two superpowers, the United States and Russia, but few would have thought it was our neighbour to the south we’d have to defend against. With confusing on- and off-again tariffs, threats to make Canada the 51st state and claims on our water and other natural riches, the U.S. administration seems determined to weaken our economy and bend us to its will.

Although we share many ties with the U.S. — cultural, geographic, historical, familial and economic — we are distinct. Of course we’re not perfect, but we have universal health care and other benefits; a high standard of living; a diverse, skilled and educated population and respect for fundamental civil liberties, such as freedom of expression and assembly. We may have a long way to go, but we’ve made strides toward greater social justice and environmental protection.

We need political leaders who will maintain and build on the strengths we’ve developed over our troubled history. We also need decision-makers who will take the climate and biodiversity crises seriously, who will strengthen measures to reduce emissions and pollution while ensuring that no one gets left behind in the energy transition. We need a government that respects Indigenous governance, rights and title.

Many of these issues shouldn’t even be political. I remember in the 1980s when climate change really appeared on the public radar. Leaders including Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, U.S. President George H.W. Bush, Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev and U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher all urged greater environmental protections and strong measures to reduce the climate threat.

But fossil fuel industrialists aren’t ready to give up their obscenely enormous profits, no matter how much damage their products cause. Their wealth allows them to influence politicians and governments through lobbying, campaign financing and more. They also shape public policy and opinion through media ties and fake grassroots or “astroturf” organizations.

The wealthy Koch family network, which has global interests in oil, plastics, forestry and more, has been a driving force behind the Cato Institute, the Federalist Society, the American Enterprise Institute, Canada’s Fraser Institute and the Heritage Foundation. The latter is responsible for Project 2025, the far right blueprint for the current U.S. administration.

We can’t let billionaires and oligarchs determine our direction, and we can’t let what’s happening in the U.S. spill over into Canada. We need to protect and strengthen our democracy and the shared values it’s built on.

Our politics have become too divided over issues that shouldn’t be divisive, such as the need for clean air, safe water, toxic-free food and a stable climate. We face serious threats, from climate disruption to dumbfounding U.S. aggression. Policy differences are healthy, but some things should not be in dispute — including the need to tackle the climate crisis and to stay strong in the face of U.S. bullying.

This is a time for everyone in Canada to stand united.

Politicians and political parties exist to represent our interests — even though some appear to be more concerned about their billionaire backers than the public. It’s up to us to tell them what we expect. Most people in Canada want continued progress on issues ranging from climate change to nature preservation and restoration. We want to maintain our strengths as a distinct nation — our diversity, social programs, education and health care systems and freedoms.

The most important thing we can do as adults is vote. But to really do our part, we should talk to candidates from all parties to ensure they’ll strive to protect and improve our environment, social programs, economy and independence. This is a good time to get informed, go to town halls, talk to friends, neighbours and family, write letters to your local news outlets or join campaigns.

No matter which party you vote for on April 28 (or earlier), make sure it is committed to keeping our environment healthy and our country strong and free.

This is an important time to be involved. Please vote!

David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. Written with David Suzuki Foundation Senior Writer and Editor Ian Hanington.

Learn more at davidsuzuki.org.

The post Vote to keep Canada strong and free! appeared first on rabble.ca.

Canada needs another inquiry into foreign interference — this time focused on the one party on the receiving end of outside help.

In recent days, we’ve learned Danielle Smith asked Trump to pause his tariff war to benefit Pierre Poilievre — but not stop it entirely, which would benefit all Canadians.

We’ve also learned that Poilievre is alleged to have considered using back channels (J.D. Vance’s friend, Tory MP Jamil Jivani) to ask Trump to back off because it’s damaging his campaign.

Poilievre is alleged to have benefitted from Indian government agents who worked to raise funds and support for his 2022 leadership campaign. Poilievre refuses to get his security clearance, bogusly claiming it would prevent him from speaking freely. This is utter nonsense.

It is abundantly clear that foreign interference is only benefitting — and potentially even being sought by — a single federal political party.

The Conservatives already benefit from biased media coverage (from the CBC no less), an American-owned national newspaper network that effectively acts as their propaganda arm and from a number of American-funded libertarian think tanks and third-party advertisers connected to American-owned Big Oil. 

It begs the question: Does Canada have a Conservative Party, or a foreign interference party?

For our latest in news, please visit the News section.

The post Canadians need an immediate inquiry into foreign interference with the Poilievre campaign appeared first on Cult MTL.

P.E.I.'s Deedee Austin has advanced on Canada’s Got Talent after getting a golden buzzer from judge Howie Mandel. Austin performed on the show Tuesday night, singing 'Buried Truth.' The 19-year-old singer from Abegweit First Nation tells CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin that she wrote the song to honour the victims and survivors of Canada’s residential school system.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court refused Wednesday to lift an order barring the Trump administration from deporting Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador under an 18th century wartime law.

A split three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld a March 15 order temporarily prohibiting deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

Invoking the law for the first time since World War II, President Donald Trump’s administration deported hundreds of people under a presidential proclamation calling the Tren de Aragua gang an invading force.

The Justice Department appealed after U.S. District Judge James Boasberg blocked more deportations and ordered planeloads of Venezuelan immigrants to return to the U.S. That did not happen.

Attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit on behalf of five Venezuelan noncitizens who were being held in Texas.

The case has become a flashpoint amid escalating tension between the White House and the federal courts.

Michael Kunzelman, The Associated Press

As Nova Scotia tries to lift its moratorium on fracking, it's unlikely New Brunswick will follow suit.

Thousands of people could have been exposed to measles, health officials warned Wednesday after releasing a list of busy places where someone with the highly contagious virus may have infected people.

Plans to introduce robot-assisted surgery tools to Newfoundland and Labrador's health-care system were unveiled to the public on Wednesday, and the Health Care Foundation says it's already over halfway toward its fundraising goal to make it a reality.