Retrospective 2023 | The joy of a Medici, the misfortunes of the media

Sure values, disappearances, gossip and triumphs against a backdrop of media crisis

The Medici to Kevin Lambert

It was a hot autumn for Quebec literature in France, when Kevin Lambert and Éric Chacour found themselves on the lists of several prestigious awards for their novels May our joy remain And What I know about you. We were even treated to controversies when Kevin Lambert responded to Prime Minister François Legault, before French media questioned his defense of sensitive reading for writers. Which did not prevent him from receiving the coveted Décembre and Médicis prizes, which few Quebec authors can boast of having on their CV, while Éric Chacour has just received the Femina des lycéens. This exciting season for local literature culminated with a fantastic announcement: Quebec will be the guest of honor at the next Paris Book Festival in 2024!

National mourning for Karl Tremblay

A moment that no one will forget is when Karl Tremblay, singer of the Cowboys Fringants, sang On my shoulder at the Quebec Summer Festival, supported by a huge crowd, even though he was weakened by illness. Even more immense was the wave of love that overwhelmed Quebec after his death, at only 47 years old. Such collective emotion is only reserved for the greatest, and the public gathered spontaneously at various symbolic places to sing in his memory. It was beautiful and incredibly moving, right down to the national tribute in a crowded Bell Center, humble and in the image of the man whose voice and courage touched not only Quebec, but also the entire Francophonie.

Memories worth their weight in gold

Among the best-selling books of the year according to Apple Books, we find, at the top of the category non-fictionthe memoirs of Prince Harry (The substitute) and Britney Spears (The woman in me). Shows that unpacking dirty laundry in public attracts readers. In these stories, the families of the main people involved do not come out of it any better, to say the least. On a more local level, Ginette Reno’s memoirs caused a lot of talk, not so much for their content as for the sales strategy, since the book could only be purchased in Jean Coutu pharmacies, where the singer signed many dedications.

A year (almost) without Céline

After announcing last year that she had a very rare disease, Celine Dion was practically absent for an entire year until her unexpected visit to the locker room of the Montreal Canadiens during a match in Las Vegas . The Quebec diva is missed by many people, first and foremost her fans who were unable to see her last tour, which was of course canceled. More generally, a world without Céline is a somewhat boring world, because we loved following her in her crazy moments, her changes of look and, obviously, her shows. This absence is felt enough for Noovo to produce a documentary entitled Celine silence… We hope to see her in better shape in 2024!

Heavy metal and rainbows at the Olympic Park

Montreal experienced a rather unusual mix of genres last summer when two events were held at the same time at the Olympic Park and the Stadium: concerts by the metal group Metallica and the Montreal Pride festivities. At the venue, you could immediately see who was participating in what, between the colorful clothing of the LGBTQ+ community and the much darker look of metal fans. But there was no clash between these two audiences who enjoyed themselves each in their own way, proving in a way how cool a city Montreal can be. Let’s also admit that, despite the legendary bad sound of the Stadium, reliving a show in this place brought back a lot of memories for many spectators.

Annus horribilis for the media

The abrupt end of the show The world upside down, hosted by Stéphan Bureau, shortly before its return to the air, surprised everyone but foreshadowed something more serious. The announcement by Pierre Karl Péladeau of the elimination of 547 positions at the TVA Group created a real commotion in the world of media. Then, it was the turn of CBC/Radio-Canada, which plans to eliminate 800 positions across the country. In the spring, the Information Coops representing six regional dailies cut a third of their workforce. And, icing on the cake, Meta put his threat into action by banning the news from its platform. For those who doubted it, the media crisis is very real, as is that of television made here. Which is worrying for the future of Quebec culture, which is expressed in this ecosystem. This subject will continue to be talked about in the coming year, that’s for sure.

The year Michel Tremblay

Rarely have we seen a work as celebrated as that of Michel Tremblay, and more particularly this year. In 2023, Sisters-in-law was performed at the Stratford Festival, Mado Lamotte played Hosanna at the Trident in Quebec and the operas Solemn mass for a summer full moon And Albertine in five steps have been successful. But without a doubt, the most beautiful offering will have been The crossing of the century by Alice Ronfard, a 12-hour play on the world of Michel Tremblay presented in seven Montreal theaters until 2024. You had to be there to experience what was a true communion of the public with Tremblay’s immortal characters. And it’s far from over, because we’re waiting for the release of the musical adaptation of Sisters-in-law in the cinema by René Richard Cyr and the TV series by Serge Boucher inspired by Chronicles of the Plateau Mont-Royal.