Latest news with #Eastern Townships
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Was it a plane? Was it a UFO? Bright light over Quebec captivates stargazers
With eyes turned to the skies, stargazers taking in the Perseid meteor shower on Tuesday night witnessed something out of this world. In a publication on Facebook, the Astrolab du parc national du Mont-Mégantic in Quebec's Eastern Townships described it as "a magnificent and luminous spiral streaking across the sky at around 10:40 p.m." Several people in the Montreal area also witnessed the strange phenomenon and reached out to CBC News describing a bright light enveloped by a fuzzy halo and warning of a UFO sighting. While it was certainly unusual, it wasn't really an unidentified flying object, but more likely the result of a rocket launch, according to the Astrolab. "It was in all likelihood the second stage of an Ariane 6 rocket which was igniting its engine in order to de-orbit itself after having released the European satellite Metop-SGA1 in a polar orbit," the Facebook post explained. The European Space Agency confirmed on its website that a weather satellite was launched Tuesday evening at 9:37 p.m. local time, from the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana — an overseas department of France located in South America. The new satellite is meant to usher in "a new era of weather and climate monitoring from polar orbit." WATCH | What was that bright object flying in the sky over Quebec: According to astrophysicist Robert Lamontagne, the rocket's orbit is what allowed for the spectacle to be visible in Quebec. Most of the time rocket launches are on an equatorial orbit and so will be visible near the equator, he said. In a polar orbit, the rocket has to go around the earth circling each pole of the planet. "So the the trajectory of that the rocket made it so that from our latitude it could be seen in Montreal or the south of Quebec," he said. But to witness the phenomena, other factors also need to align, according to Lamontagne, including the time of launch and the altitude reached by the rocket. "From our point of view, we were in the dark, the sun was low below the horizon, but the rocket itself was so high that it was still lit by the by the sun," he said. And as the second stage of the rocket re-entered the earth's atmosphere, he said, "it was spinning a little bit, there was exhaust gases coming out from it and that's what people saw in the sky." A spokesperson for the Canadian Space Agency told CBC News that many observers captured video of the event, with the agency confirming it was the ESA's Ariane 6 rocket.
CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
Quebec orders restoration of farmland after ‘illegal' golf course construction in Eastern Townships
Quebec's agricultural land protection commission has ordered the restoration of farmland and a maple grove in Estrie after construction began on an illegal golf course on protected land. Quebec's agricultural land protection commission has ordered the restoration of farmland and a maple grove in the Eastern Townships that were allegedly destroyed by a millionaire to build a golf course. The Commission de protection du territoire agricole du Québec (CPTAQ) issued the order regarding land in Austin, Estrie, at the end of July, Noovo Info reported. However, a conservation group in the region has already come out to say the order, and any potential fines, do not go far enough. Johanne Lavoie, president of the Memphrémagog Conservation, told Noovo Info destruction in the area is significant as it damaged the 'lungs and kidneys' of a lake. 'There must be exemplary fines that reflect the damage caused by the destruction of wetlands and the impact on the Memphrémagog Lake drinking water reservoir, which supplies 185,000 people,' Lavoie said. She added that the fines must also be proportionate to the owner's financial means. 'The owner bought this property for $14 million. Do you think he has the means?' she said. An orchard or a golf course The land was bought by Glenn Chamandy and partner Amel Murad, who applied for a permit to develop an orchard on the property. The permit was granted, but an investigation by the CPTAQ revealed that backfilling, soil storage and construction of a stone wall were also done. 'The discussion has always been about clearing the land to create a vineyard and an orchard. That's what we've always understood from the file,' said Lisette Maillé, mayor of Austin, in an interview with Noovo Info. The mayor added that her teams are currently conducting checks. She noted that the town 'never issued a permit for a golf course.' 'We are currently verifying the extent of the non-compliance or offences that may have been committed,' Maillé said. 'The fines provided for in the Planning and Development Act are still very small. So, do they reflect the extent of the damage? That remains to be seen.' The owners' lawyer told the CPTAQ the work was indeed intended for the development of an orchard. But the Commission said it did not believe this version of events because the contractor who carried out the work, Design Panorama Vert Inc., is in the landscaping and golf club industry. Investigators for the commission said they also observed peat being laid and what appeared to be sand traps on the site. 'It's becoming increasingly obvious that people with money think they can get away with breaking the law,' the mayor said. 'It's as if they're saying, 'Yes, I'll get fined, but it'll be part of the cost of my multi-million-dollar construction project.'' The Memphremagog Conservation is asking Quebec's environment ministry to intervene in the matter. In an email to Noovo Info, Chamandy declined an interview request but said he acknowledged the concerns raised about the development work carried out on his property. 'In awareness of the importance of preserving the integrity of agricultural land and complying with environmental regulations, I took concrete steps as soon as the CPTAQ order was published. I am working closely with my qualified forestry engineer to formulate clear and rigorous recommendations that I can present to the CPTAQ,' he said. Chamandy emphasized that he is 'committed to doing things properly and sustainably' and indicated that he intends to highlight information about the work carried out 'in a timely manner.'
CTV News
06-08-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Raccoon rabies on the rise in Quebec
Raccoon rabies is making a comeback in Quebec, and provincial officials are taking action to prevent its spread. Raccoon rabies is making a comeback in Quebec, and provincial officials are taking action to prevent its spread. The Quebec Environment Ministry launched a large-scale aerial and ground operation to distribute vaccines in the Eastern Townships and the Montérégie regions, where cases have resurged. From Aug. 6 to Sept. 20, a total of 635,000 vaccine baits will be distributed. According to the ministry, the operation will cover 7,016 square kilometres of land. The vaccine baits are designed to appeal to wild animals with a strong vanilla-like smell. 'They're going to just really eat a chew on it and get the vaccine in their mouth and get immunized that way,' said Marianne Gagnier, rabies coordinator for the Quebec Environment Ministry. The first confirmed case of raccoon rabies in Quebec was in 2006. According to the province, between 2006 to 2009, there was a total of 104 cases. Then an isolated case in 2015. But this year, the ministry reported 42 confirmed cases of raccoon rabies. According to the ministry, raccoon rabies primarily affects raccoons and striped skunks. The vaccine targets those animals as well as foxes. Gagnier says the disease poses serious health risks and can be transmitted from animals to humans. Once symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal. 'So that's why we're doing this, to really protect human health,' said Gagnier. According to officials, the infected raccoons are believed to be coming from Vermont, with most of the confirmed cases occurring near the border. Gagnier says if someone is bitten or scratched by a potentially infected animal, they should immediately wash the area with soap and water for 10 to 15 minutes and call Info-Santé at 811 for further instructions. Pet owners are also being reminded to keep their animals vaccinated. The vaccine bait operation will be carried out in 116 municipalities, and Gagnier says results may take several months to appear. 'We ask people to stay away from the animal. Never get close or try to help animals, even if they seem harmless,' said Gagnier.
