After Legault: why the CAQ reset may come too late

After Legault: why the CAQ reset may come too late

In this interview, Bishop’s University associate professor of politics Jacob Robbins-Kanter offers detailed analysis following Quebec Premier François Legault’s announcement that he will resign and remain in office until a successor is chosen. Speaking shortly after the news broke, Robbins-Kanter situates the decision within the broader context of late-stage governments, declining public trust, and the strategic limits facing long-governing parties. Robbins-Kanter argues that Legault waited until the final possible moment […]

January 15, 2026 41

Featured

Snow, salt and small-town limits in Ayer’s Cliff

This interview features Ayer’s Cliff Mayor Alec Van Zuiden responding to public concerns after sandy, salty snow was pushed toward the lake during recent winter road-clearing operations along Route 141. The issue gained attention following photos shared by residents on social media, raising questions about environmental impact, accountability, and jurisdiction. In the conversation, Van Zuiden explains that the stretch of road in question falls under the responsibility of the Ministère […]

January 13, 2026 38

Featured

New details emerge in Eastern Townships police pursuit

This audio report examines new developments following a multi-kilometre police pursuit that moved through several Eastern Townships communities and ended with an arrest on Sherbrooke municipal territory. The report brings together verified information from the Sûreté du Québec and Quebec court administration officials to clarify what is currently known about the incident, which initially unfolded with limited public details and no named suspect. Court officials have since identified the accused […]

January 12, 2026 65

Featured

Securing the trail: Tomifobia’s next chapter

One of the Eastern Townships’ most beloved outdoor corridors is entering a new era. In this episode of The Pulse of the Eastern Townships on CJMQ 88.9 FM, host William Crooks speaks with Hélène Hamel, executive director of the Massawippi Conservation Trust, about the recent transfer of the Tomifobia Nature Trail and what it means for the public. Stretching 19 kilometres from Ayer’s Cliff to Stanstead, the Tomifobia Nature Trail […]

January 4, 2026 27

Featured

Who gets to oppose? Sherbrooke’s democracy test

In this segment of The Pulse of the Eastern Townships, journalist William Crooks speaks with Sherbrooke Citoyen leader Raïs Kibonge about an ongoing court case that could reshape how official opposition status is determined at the municipal level in Quebec. Following the Nov. municipal election, changes in council representation left Sherbrooke Citoyen as the only organized political party besides the governing party with elected councillors at city hall. Despite this, […]

January 4, 2026 26

Featured

Used books, real impact: a Beebe bookstore giving it all back

In this segment of The Pulse of the Eastern Townships, host William Crooks travels to Beebe to spotlight the Centre du livre déjà lu, a modest second-hand bookstore with a long-standing commitment to giving back to the local community. Operating for 23 years and staffed entirely by volunteers, the bookstore sells donated books at low prices and returns all proceeds directly to community organizations across the southern Eastern Townships. Recorded […]

January 4, 2026 27

Featured

Russian cyberattack shuts down ETSB network, chair explains response

In this segment of The Pulse of the Eastern Townships, journalist William Crooks speaks with Eastern Townships School Board (ETSB) chair Michael Murray about a cyberattack that disrupted the board’s computer network on Dec. 18, 2025. The attack prompted ETSB officials to shut down the entire network as a precautionary measure after unauthorized access was detected. During the interview, Murray explains how the intrusion was identified, why the decision was […]

December 23, 2025 172

Featured

“Shot the messenger”: Cookshire-Eaton turmoil and the Bellemare account

This radio segment for The Pulse of the Eastern Townships provides an in-depth look at the political and administrative turmoil that has gripped the Town of Cookshire-Eaton in recent weeks, before presenting a full interview with the former interim director general at the centre of the controversy. The first portion of the segment establishes the broader context, outlining the integrity report issued by the Commission municipale du Québec, which identified […]

December 15, 2025 54

Featured

Five arrested in Faubourg Mena’Sen fraud case in Sherbrooke

Five former administrators of Sherbrooke’s Faubourg Mena’Sen housing complex were arrested on Dec. 10 following a major anti-corruption operation led by Quebec’s Commissaire à la lutte contre la corruption (CLCC) and the Unité permanente anticorruption (UPAC). Those arrested — Serge Dubois, Michel Fortin, Patrick Fortin, Jocelyn Morissette and René St-Amant — face charges of fraud over $5,000 in connection with what investigators allege was a scheme involving more than $19 […]

December 12, 2025 158