Voice of English-speaking Québec

Express Yourself: Writing the Messy First Draft
2026-02-23 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Toronto) | Morrin Centre, 44 Chaussée des Écossais, Québec City, Quebec, G1R 4H3, Canada
Express Yourself:
Writing the Messy First Draft

Join us for the creative workshop Writing the Messy First Draft: A Somatic Approach to Creative Writing

Does perfectionism stop you before you’ve written a single word? Does your inner critic hijack the creative process? This workshop teaches you how to bypass the editor and access authentic voice through your body.
Using breathwork, bilateral movement, and embodied writing exercises, you’ll learn to quiet mental chatter and write from a grounded, present state. We’ll explore the neuroscience behind creative flow and practice somatic techniques that shift you out of “editor brain” and into generative mode.

Participants will:
– Understand how nervous system regulation supports creative expression
– Practice body-based techniques for accessing creative flow
– Generate 3-5 pieces of raw written material using sensory prompts
– Learn to write from body memory rather than mental narrative
– Take home a resource guide with somatic writing practices to continue using them independently

All materials will be provided. This workshop is open to writers of any level, with no previous somatic experience required.

Book your tickets here!

Works created during the workshop may be submitted for the Morrin Centre’s call for zine publications.
Come ready to move, breathe, and get some words on the page!

Check out the Morrin Centre Website Here: https://www.morrin.org/en/event/express-yourself-writing-the-messy-first-draft/?mc_cid=66a2230d63&mc_eid=783d4e7481

Workshop Facilitator
Amanda Jeanne is a writer and visual artist based in Lac-Beauport who integrates somatic practices into both her art-making and teaching. She publishes “Squirrel Brain, Chickadee Soul” on Substack, exploring creative practice, neurodivergence, and immigrant experience in Quebec. Amanda facilitates intuitive painting workshops and creative retreats with an embodied approach and is currently completing a memoir. Her training includes AMI Quebec’s “Write from the Heart” workshop series, therapeutic arts facilitation, and Somatic Activated Healing (SAH) method practice. You can find her work online on her website and on Substack.

The project Express Yourself—From Thought to Zine is made possible thanks to the support of the Government of Canada.

Chair Yoga - Shannon
2026-02-24 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-03-03 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-03-10 09:30 - 10:30 | Valcartier Military Family Resource Centre, Edifice 93 C.P. 1000, Succursale Forces, Courcelette, Quebec, G0A 4Z0, Canada
VEQ in partnership with the Valcartier Military Family Resource Center will be hosting chair yoga classes in the Northern Perimeter. Running every Tuesday from September 16th to December 15th, the classes will be held from 9:30 to 10:30am. A chair yoga session compliments a guided meditation during this 50 minute long class. Equipment is provided but participants are asked to bring their own mats if they have them. Registration is required by contacting David Zhu at david.zhu@veq.ca or by calling 418-683-2366 x 228.

Brain-Power Drop-In
2026-02-24 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-03-03 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-03-10 10:00 - 12:00 | Jeffery Hale Pavilion, 1270, chemin Sainte-Foy, Québec City, Quebec, G1S 2M4, Canada
Brain-Power Drop-in

February 3 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Event Series (See All)

Are you an English-speaking adult aged 50+ who wants to keep your mind sharp and healthy?Come join us for fun and stimulating board games designed to challenge your brain and help you connect with others.
Train your brain and play at your own pace
Meet new people
Enjoy a healthy snack
To participate:
Contact Anaïs
afortinmaltais@jhpartners.net
581-446-7476
To volunteer:
Boost your own brain power while supporting others—it’s a win-win!
Contact Elise
eholloway@jhpartners.net
581-446-6452

https://jhpartners.net/event/brain-power/2026-02-03/
Financial contribution from:

Out & About: Bingo!
2026-02-24 12:00 - 16:00, 2026-03-03 12:00 - 16:00 | Le Bingo de la Capitale, 100 rue Chabot, Québec, QC, G1M 1K2, Canada
Out & About offers English speakers (50+) free transportation to various community activities while providing the opportunity to get out, socialize, and bond with others.
This week, are you ready for some classic fun? Join us for a bingo outing you won’t want to miss! We will head to the Bingo place early to set up. You’ll be able to grab a bite to eat from their cafeteria if you wish!
Prices to play will start at 13$, with add-ons available.
We can pick you up by bus at your place, or you could meet the bus at the Jeffery Hale Pavilion (1270 chemin Ste-Foy, free parking).
To register or get more information, please get in touch with Léa Bureau:
By phone: (418) 683-2366 ext. 229
By email: lea.bureau@veq.ca

Details
Arrival at Bingo de la Capitale around 12:00 p.m.⏰ Bus departing around 4:00 p.m.
Pick-up time will vary depending on your location.

Goblins and Grimoires: STEAM Club
2026-02-24 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-03-03 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-03-10 18:00 - 19:00 | Morrin Centre, 44 Chaussée des Écossais, Québec City, Quebec, G1R 4H3, Canada
Morrin Centre is hosting a STEAM Club for children ages 8-12 every Tuesday evening from February 10 – April 07, 6-7pm.
To register, click HERE
More details to follow!

Pixels & Pages Book Club
2026-02-24 19:00 - 20:30 | Morrin Centre, 44 Chaussée des Écossais, Québec City, Quebec, G1R 4H3, Canada
Pixels & Pages Book Club

Interested in discussing literature with other book lovers?
Missing connecting over books in the Library? Come join Pixels & Pages!

Selection for February: Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
This event will be hybrid; the book club will meet in the Library, but it is also possible to participate online via Zoom.
Please email library@morrin.org to learn more or to sign up!

**Please note that this Pixels & Pages meeting will take place on the LAST Tuesday of the month.

This project is in partnership with La Maison Anglaise.

Local Vocals
2026-02-25 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-03-04 14:00 - 15:00 | Saint-Michael’s Anglican Church, 1800 chemin saint-louis, Québec, QC, G1S 1H7, Canada
Local Vocals Singing Ensemble – Join Us!Wednesdays | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Saint-Michael’s Anglican Church
1800 chemin Saint-Louis

Do you love singing and learning new songs? Join the Local Vocals, an English-language singing ensemble led by Choir Director Katharina Urbschat.We sing a vibrant mix of folk, pop, and classical songs—mainly in English, with occasional tunes in German, French, and Latin.
Whether you’re a seasoned singer or just starting, you’re welcome to join us for musical fun and vocal exploration!
For more info, contact: K.Urbschat@gmail.com

In the Ballroom: Scottish and Irish Dances at Home
2026-02-25 19:00 - 21:00 | Morrin Centre, 44 Chaussée des Écossais, Québec City, Quebec, G1R 4H3, Canada
In the Ballroom:
Scottish and Irish Dances at Home

Dive into the lively practice of traditional québécois dances!

Join us for five exciting events celebrating québécois dance and music traditions, some of which are rooted in English-speaking communities that have long helped shape our province’s cultural landscape. If you are curious, love living heritage activities, or simply want to move and have fun, come experience the energy of traditional dances and the stories behind them with our Ès TRAD guests!

On February 25, discover the québécois twist to Scottish and Irish dances that have found a home in our province with James Allan (call), François Dumas (violin), and Susie Lemay (piano)

Program:
-Short concert
-Short historical introduction to Scottish and Irish dances in Quebec
-Dance workshop

This activity is offered bilingually, in both French and English.
Please bring comfortable shoes with with good support and non-adherent soles, as well as a water bottle.

Book your tickets here!

Guests

Credit: Carbo Photo

Of Scottish and Irish origin, James Allan was born in Kinnear’s Mills and is part of a dance and calling heritage. Originally a dancer, James started calling in 1988. He is the sole member of the new generation to call in English, respecting this tradition of over 60 years in the Inverness townships, which stretch along the North-East limit of the Les Bois-Francs region, between Beauce and the Eastern Townships, on the South shore of the St-Lawrence River. As always, James will give his explanations in French, present the vocabulary of the workshop, and call in English.
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Born in Saint-Charles de Bellechasse, François Dumas discovered the violing at 4 years old. Very young, he developed a passion for the music of his idol Jean Carignan, whose style he will study methodically. Today, François is admired and known everywhere as a violonist with exceptional talent. Thanks to his breathtaking bow manipulation, François Dumas has become a worthy bearer of Jean Carignan’s repertoire and technique. François has participated in many shows and recordings. His love of québécois folklore has carried him a little bit everywhere on Quebec stages, in a few European countries, and in Mexico.
—

Susie Lemay started playing the accordion through her family’s influence. In 1987, she started exploring traditional music from Quebec, Ireland, Scotland, and musette on the melodeon and the three-row accordion with musical masters such as Denis Pépin and Philippe Bruneau. In 2005, Susie purchased a two-row, ré/do# accordion. She has since dedicated her efforts to that instrument, and her music presents tonalities faithful to the original melodies and the opportunity to expend her repertoire through the adaptation of violin parts to the accordion. In recent years, she is also present in the field on the piano. In 2016, she founded the group “TIPSY 3” with two other musicians from the Maritimes, promoting traditional music from Eastern Canada. Many traditional music event organizers call on her to showcase her mastery of her instrument and her knowledge of the repertoire. She has performed in Quebec, in Canada, in the United States, and in Europe. She shares the best of the musical treasures in a universe where tradition doesn’t have borders. In 2014, along with Denis Pépin, she was granted the “coup de coeur” Heritage Prize from the Ville de Lévis for their album DEUX, which came out in 2022.

In the Ballroom—Traditional Music and Dance of a Community is presented in collaboration with the Centre de valorisation du patrimoine vivant Ès TRAD and made possible thanks to financial support from the Gouvernement du Québec and Ville de Québec through their cultural development agreement.
Check out the full programming here!

Northern Perimeter - Community Kitchen
2026-02-27 09:30 - 13:30 | Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier Community Center, 2215 Bd Valcartier, Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, Quebec, G0A 4S0, Canada
Join us for a day of cooking, with recipes found locally and afar! Enjoy lunch and bring home a portion too! A big thank you to the Valcartier Community Centre for allowing us to use their amazing kitchen facilities!
Registration is required, participants have the option to either pay a flat fee or contribute to the ingredients for the session, please indicate which you prefer on your signup!
Contact David at 418-683-2366 x 228 or david.zhu@veq.ca to confirm your participation.

Parents and Petits Get-Together
2026-02-27 10:00 - 11:30 | Jeffery Hale Pavilion, 1270, chemin Sainte-Foy, Québec City, Quebec, G1S 2M4, Canada
Parents and Petits Get-together

February 13 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am

A great chance for English-speaking parents of babies or preschool-aged children to meet and chat with other parents, talk about being a parent and get support. Expectant parents also welcome.

Guest speakers on subjects of interest to new parents. See the list of speakers in the Upcoming Events callout on this page.

Breastfeeding support available upon request.

Special events

Drop-in, no registration required
The space is set up to give English-speaking pre-school aged kids a chance to play and interact.
Parents must stay on-site.

Out & About: Guided Tour Pôle culturel du Monastère des Ursulines
2026-02-27 10:00 - 14:30 | Pôle Culturel du Monastère des Ursulines, 12 Donnacona Street, Québec City, Quebec, G1R 3Y7, Canada
Out & About offers English speakers (50+) free transportation to various community activities while providing the opportunity to get out, socialize, and bond with others.
During this outing, we will be given a guided tour of the Pôle Culturel du Monastère des Ursulines’ museum. We won’t be stopping for lunch after the tour.
We can pick you up by bus at your place, or you could meet the bus at the Jeffery Hale Pavilion (1270 chemin Ste-Foy, free parking).
To register or get more information, please get in touch with Léa Bureau before the 22nd of February:
By phone: (418) 683-2366 ext. 229
By email: lea.bureau@veq.ca

Details
Arrival at the Pôle culturel du Monastère des Ursulines around 10:15 p.m.⏰ Bus departing around 12:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
Pick-up time will vary depending on your location.

Goblins & Grimoires: Storytime
2026-02-28 10:30 - 11:30, 2026-03-07 10:30 - 11:30 | Morrin Centre, 44 Chaussée des Écossais, Québec City, Quebec, G1R 4H3, Canada
Morrin Centre is hosting a storytime for children ages 3-7 every Saturday from February 14 – April 04, 10:30 – 11:30am.
To register, click HERE
More details to follow!

Snowshoeing at the Plains of Abraham
2026-03-01 11:00 - 13:30 | Quebec
Have you noticed that locals love being outdoors—even in winter?!
Have you been wanting to try snowshoeing but don’t own a pair?
VEQ, in partnership with Accès-Loisirs, is once again offering you the opportunity to try a popular winter activity: snowshoeing!

We have a limited number of snowshoes available (15 adult pairs and 10 children’s pairs), so reserving your spot is essential.
***This visit is not guided.***

Since we only have a limited number of snowshoes, REGISTRATION IS A MUST!

We will follow the walking trails on the Plains of Abraham (shown in the picture below, with the fucsia arrow). Please observe the signage for a better experience for everyone!

Please remember to follow safety guidelines when going for a hike, like wearing appropriate clothing and shoes, or notifying someone which trail you will explore. You can take a look at this suggested how-to dress checklist. It is also recommended that you download the trail map, you can do so here.
More websites with advice on how to dress and what to bring:
What to wear winter hiking
Snowshoeing Checklist
Snowshoe Gear Checklist
If you are coming by car, there is parking available on George VI Ave. There are parking booths nearby or you can pay with the app (Flowbird Parking). There is also parking at the Fine Arts Museum’s parking (on the same avenue, past the roundabout).

For more information reach out to Viktoria Poulin Gareau:
Newcomers@veq.ca
(418) 683-2366 ext.225

Caring Chapters
2026-03-02 13:30 - 15:00, 2026-03-09 13:30 - 15:00 | Online, Quebec, Canada
The Caring Chapters Club is a weekly virtual book club especially for caregivers. Engage in open discussions, connect with fellow caregivers and find solace in a community that understands.
Join our Fall 2025 Caregivers’ Book Club for a shared exploration of “The Poetry Pharmacy” (Teal version) by William Sieghart.
These poetic prescriptions and wise words of advice provide comfort, delight, and inspiration for all.
Reading will be spread over 10 weeks on Monday afternoons.
Secure your complimentary copy and reserve your spot by September 15.
Click to enroll in the Caring Chapters Club.
Questions?
For inquiries and registration, contact Anaïs Fortin-Maltais at afortinmaltais@jhpartners.net or 581-446-7476.

This activity is made possible thanks to

Goblins & Grimoires: Tween Tales Book Club
2026-03-05 18:00 - 19:00 | Morrin Centre, 44 Chaussée des Écossais, Québec City, Quebec, G1R 4H3, Canada
Morrin Centre is hosting a Tween Tales Book Club for children ages 10-13 on February 19, March 5, March 19, and April 9 from 6-7pm. *Please note that there are only eight spots available and participants must be able to participate in the majority of the discussions.
To register, click HERE
More details to follow!

VEQ March 2026 Game Nights
2026-03-05 18:30 - 20:30 | 1270 chemin Ste-Foy, Québec, 1270 chemin Ste-Foy,, Québec, Canada
Looking for a relaxed way to meet people and have fun?
Join us for VEQ’s Game Night at the Jeffery Hale Pavilion from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
This event is open to all!
Whether you’re new to the English-speaking community or a longtime local, come connect over board games and light refreshments. Bring a game you love or try something new from our collection!
It is free to attend, but please register here so we know who to expect:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/veqs-march-2026-game-nights
Email info@veq.ca if you have any questions.
We can’t wait to play with you!

Out & About: Walk at Bois-de-Coulonge Park
2026-03-06 13:00 - 14:30, 2026-03-10 13:00 - 14:30 | Bois-de-Coulonge Park, 1215 Grande Allée O, Québec City, Quebec, G1S 1E7, Canada
Out & About offers English speakers (50+) free transportation to various community activities while providing the opportunity to get out, socialize, and bond with others.
This week, join us for a gentle wellness walk at Parc du Bois-de-Coulonge! Enjoy fresh air, beautiful scenery, and friendly company. Sign up today and come for a walk with us!
We can pick you up by bus at your place, or you can meet the bus at the Jeffery Hale Pavilion (1270 chemin Ste-Foy, free parking).
To register or get more information, please get in touch with Léa Bureau:
By phone: (418) 683-2366 ext. 229
By email: lea.bureau@veq.ca

Details
Arrival at Bois-de-Coulonge Park around 1 p.m.⏰ Bus departing around 2:30 p.m.
Pick-up time will vary depending on your location.

In the Ballroom: Children's Dances and their Origins
2026-03-08 14:00 - 15:00 | Morrin Centre, 44 Chaussée des Écossais, Québec City, Quebec, G1R 4H3, Canada
In the Ballroom:
Children’s Dances and their Origins

Dive into the lively practice of traditional québécois dances!

Join us for five exciting events celebrating québécois dance and music traditions, some of which are rooted in English-speaking communities that have long helped shape our province’s cultural landscape. If you are curious, love living heritage activities, or simply want to move and have fun, come experience the energy of traditional dances and the stories behind them with our Ès TRAD guests!

On March 8, young and old are invited to discover traditional dances and their origins to wrap up spring break with a bang with Hélène Fournier (call), Miriam Blair (violin), and Maxence Croteau (guitar).

Program:
-Dance workshop for all ages
-Live music throughout!

This activity is offered bilingually, in both French and English.
Please bring comfortable shoes with with good support and non-adherent soles, as well as a water bottle.

Book your tickets here!

Guests

Singer, caller, artisan, and cultural animator with no equal, Hélène Fournier is without a doubt an accomplished bearer of heritage, as highlighted by the prize she received from Ville de Québec in 2019. With education in Popular art and traditions (Ethnology) and in Education sciences from Université Laval, she specializes in connecting with a young public through her experiences at the Centre d’initiation au patrimoine–La Grande Ferme de Saint-Joachim, as well as through her punctual projects, notably the CD-book Le bal des animaux, Dansons sous les flocons and her call classes.
To learn more about Hélène Fournier, listen to the Ès TRAD podcast “Porter la tradition.”
—

Miriam Blair is a passionate artist. She loves playing the violin and put her talents to use for the benefit of Québécois traditional music. She has a wide enough repertoire to waltz easily between Celtic and Québécois styles (both ancient and modern).

—

Credit: Carbo Photo
Maxence Croteau was exposed to traditional music from a very young age, as he accompanied his parents to festivals such as Mémoires et Racines and Chants de Vielles, participated in evenings at the Domaine Maizerets and the Poulailler d’Inverness, and attended shows at the Maison Chevalier or the honey farm in St-Agapit, his birth village. As a teen, he started learning to play the guitar, his main instrument, but it took many years before trying his hand at accompanying reels, jigs, and waltz. It’s in 2014, at the Souches à Oreilles camp, that he was initiated into this art by Paul Marchand and met, at the same time, the “great trad family.” The following yeas were marked by jam sessions, shows, dances, and many other gatherings. Maxence mainly plays the guitar, but also some violin, concertina, banjo, piano, and harmonica. Today, he works as a contract musician, hosts trad shows on CKRL 89,1, and dedicates himself to various initiatives aiming to preserve trad culture and support those that make it live.

In the Ballroom—Traditional Music and Dance of a Community is presented in collaboration with the Centre de valorisation du patrimoine vivant Ès TRAD and made possible thanks to financial support from the Gouvernement du Québec and Ville de Québec through their cultural development agreement.
Check out the full programming here!

YES Business Coaching
2026-03-09 - 2026-03-10 | Quebec
Each month, VEQ hosts business coaches from YES Employment + Entrepreneurship, a non-profit organization based in Montreal and funded by the federal and provincial governments. Their primary goal is to support business owners across Québec in English. The business coaching sessions, offered once a month by two expert coaches, are completely FREE. You can book a 1-hour session to validate your idea, discuss your project, or receive other assistance. These sessions are open to everyone—from entrepreneurs just starting their business to established business owners looking to stay up to date with the latest trends or marketing insights. In addition to coaching, YES also organizes events to help entrepreneurs expand their networks and offers numerous online workshops.
Whether you’re launching a startup, scaling your business, or seeking expert guidance, you’re always welcome to join! Gain access to personalized business coaching, hands-on startup workshops, and a thriving entrepreneurial community—all designed to support your long-term success.
Reach out to Viktoria Poulin Gareau at newcomers@veq.ca if you’d like to book a spot!
