Editor’s picks: The top-10 stories in Quebec this year

MONTREAL (CityNews) – At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic dominated headlines at home and around the world, there was hardly a shortage of big news stories over the past 12 months. These are the top-10 stories in Quebec in 2020 as chosen by CityNews Montreal’s associate producer.

1. The COVID-19 pandemic comes to Quebec

Quebec’s first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in late February. Lockdowns soon followed, which meant closing down non-essential businesses and schools. On Mar. 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.

The virus battered Quebec’s long-term care homes in March and April. Restrictions were lifted in May and a relatively calm summer followed. But a second wave hit the province and with it came more restrictions.

Roughly nine months after the start of the pandemic, 89-year-old Quebecer Gisele Levesque became the first Canadian senior to receive a coronavirus vaccine on Dec. 14.

2. Canadians killed in plane shot down by Iranian missile

On Jan. 8, Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 was shot down shortly after takeoff in Tehran, killing all 176 people on board, among them 55 Canadian citizens and 30 Canadian permanent residents. Many others on the flight had ties to Canadian universities and were travelling to Canada. Six Montrealers were among the dead.

Iran initially denied responsibility for the incident but was forced to admit its role after video footage on social media appeared to show at least one missile striking the jet.

3. Anti-racism protests sweep across North America and the world

Video captured four Minneapolis police officer pressing a knee on the neck of George Floyd – an unarmed Black man – in May. Floyd’s death would eventually set off mass demonstrations against systemic racism and police brutality across the United States, Canada and the world.

Several thousand people took to the streets of Montreal on numerous occasions throughout the summer to march for marginalized communities. Demonstrators repeatedly called out Quebec Premier Francois Legault for his belief the province doesn’t have a systemic racism problem.

WATCH: Quebec sets up anti-racism action group 

Those protests extended into calls to defund Montreal’s police service (SPVM) and end the use of discriminatory street checks. The SPVM introduced a new police street check policy in July to reduce racial profiling.

In the fall, Quebecers became embroiled in a debate over the use of the N-word after a University of Ottawa used it in a class setting. A Montreal history teacher was subsequently fired after being caught on video using the N-word in class.

4. Death of Joyce Echaquan in Joliette hospital

Joyce Echaquan, an Atikamekw mother of seven, died in hospital in Joliette, Que., in September after filming staff using derogatory slurs against her. Video of her ordeal circulated widely on social media and prompted widespread indignation across the country.

In the wake of her death, thousands of Montrealers marched in “Justice For Joyce” rallies downtown. Echaquan’s family and the community called for a series of measures to assure that Indigenous people have equitable access to health services without discrimination.

READ MORE: Atikamekw leaders taken aback by Quebec government refusal to adopt Joyce’s Principle

In November, Quebec pledged to invest $15 million into the province’s health-care system to increase cultural security among First Nations and Inuit communities. A report with 25 actions to end racism in the province was unveiled in December.

5. Rail disruptions by Indigenous and anti-pipeline protesters

A pipeline dispute in British Columbia prompted solidarity protests and transport disruptions across Canada at the beginning of 2020. The movement arose after the RCMP moved into Wet’suwet’en territory on Feb. 6 to enforce an injunction against a blockade erected by pipeline opponents. Blockades went up on rail lines across the country in support of Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs.

In Quebec, Kahnawake Mohawk community members south of Montreal erected a blockade on a CP rail line in early February. Later that month, Premier Francois Legault suggested provincial police not dismantle it because those on the reserve were armed, potentially with assault rifles. The secretary of the Mohawk Nation at Kahnawake called the accusation “highly irresponsible and ludicrous.”

WATCH: How rail blockades impacted Canada’s economy

On Mar. 5, the Kahnawake blockade, which halted rail traffic south of Montreal for more than three weeks, came to a peaceful end as activists voluntarily dismantled their camp next to Canadian Pacific Railway tracks. This came after a deal was reached in B.C. between Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs and senior government ministers.

6. Manhunt for Martin Carpentier ends in tragedy

The entire province of Quebec was shaken by an Amber Alert-turned-manhunt in the summer of 2020 that eventually ended in tragedy.

On July 9, Quebec provincial police issued an Amber Alert to locate 44-year-old suspect Martin Carpentier and his two missing daughters: Norah Carpentier, 11, and Romy Carpentier, 6

Two days later, the two girls were found dead in a wooded area of St-Apollinaire, Que. The Amber Alert was lifted. That turned into a manhunt for Martin Carpentier that lasted 11 days.

On July 20, police found the body of Martin Carpentier, who took his own life after murdering the two young girls. Police determined all three deaths occurred within a 12-hour period following a July 8 car crash.

7. Halloween night sword attack in Quebec City

A man dressed in a medieval costume and wielding a Japanese-style sword went on a rampage Oct. 31 in Quebec City’s historic district. Two people were killed – Suzanne Clermont, 61, and Francois Duchesne, 56 – while five others were injured.

READ MORE: Quebec sword attack victim records video from hospital in which he forgives suspect

A 24-year-old suspect from Ste-Therese, Que., was arrested that night. Carl Girouard was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and five of attempted murder. The case will return to court Jan. 26. Girouard will remain detained until then and is expected to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

8. Sentence reduced for Quebec City mosque shooter

On Nov. 26 the Quebec Court of Appeal reduced the sentence given to Alexandre Bissonnette, the man who killed six people in a Quebec City mosque in 2017.

Bissonnette pleaded guilty in March 2018 to six counts of first-degree murder and six of attempted murder. He was sentenced in February 2019 to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 40 years.

But the Quebec Court of Appeal declared a provision of the Criminal Code that allows for life sentences to be served consecutively was unconstitutional.

Bissonnette will be eligible to apply for parole after serving 25 years.

9. Court challenge to Quebec’s secularism law (Bill 21)

Several groups challenged the Quebec government’s Bill 21 in a trial that began in early November. Bill 21 is the law banning public sector workers in positions of authority – including teachers, police officers and judges – from wearing religious symbols on the job.

The presiding judge, Marc-Andre Blanchard of Quebec Superior Court, scheduled 14 days to hear arguments from both sides.

WATCH: Protestors gather to continue fighting against Bill 21

Teachers opened the court challenge, testifying that the legislation forces them to choose between their deeply held religious beliefs and their vocations. A psychology expert said Bill 21 may lead people to feeling increasingly stigmatized and could ultimately hurt social cohesion.

Those defending Bill 21 began delivering final arguments on Dec. 9. Lawyers representing the Quebec government argued the ban on religious symbols is very specific and doesn’t infringe on people’s right to practise their religion outside the workplace.

10. Senator Kamala Harris elected vice-president of the United States

The city of Montreal shares a special connection with Kamala Harris, who made history in November as the first woman and first person of colour to ascend to the vice-president’s office. Harris briefly lived in Montreal during her youth, graduating from Westmount High School in 1981.

Harris received congratulations from former classmates, local politicians and her former high school. Premier Francois Legault said Harris would always be welcome in Quebec. Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante congratulated the vice-president elect for breaking a glass ceiling.