Laval QC ☕ The morning chat
Good morning!
It’s Sunday morning, and while some of you are still asleep, others already had their eyes glued to the Olympic final. Today was a big day for Canadian hockey. Between medals, local news, and some notable developments, there’s plenty to fuel your Sunday conversations. Let’s dive in.
🥈 Main Story
Canada loses Olympic final in overtime
It hurts. The Canadian men’s hockey team couldn’t maintain its dominance over the United States, losing 2-1 in overtime Sunday in the gold medal game at the Milan-Cortina Games. Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils scored 1:41 into overtime, left alone in the slot during 3-on-3 play as Canada scrambled after giving up a two-on-one rush just seconds earlier.
The Americans hadn’t won gold since 1980, when the “Miracle on Ice” team triumphed in Lake Placid. Sunday’s victory came exactly 46 years to the day after the United States defeated the five-time Olympic champion Soviet Union 4-3 in the semifinal.
Matt Boldy opened the scoring in the first period for the United States. Canadian defenseman Cale Makar tied it 1-1 with 1:44 left in the second period. Hughes finally scored the winning goal in 3-on-3 overtime. American goalie Connor Hellebuyck was solid throughout the game, stopping 41 of 42 shots.
The silver medal is Canada’s sixth in Olympic history. Canada played the final without captain Sidney Crosby, sidelined by a lower-body injury suffered in the quarterfinal against Czechia. Connor McDavid served as captain in his absence.
Canada had previously beaten the United States for Olympic gold in 2002 and 2010. The silver leaves Canada with 21 medals at the Games, eighth overall. Finland won bronze on Saturday with a 6-1 victory over Slovakia.
A tough Sunday for Canadian hockey. But what a final.
⚡ Highlights
📺 Montreal woke up early for the final
By 7:30 a.m., a line had already formed in front of La Cage at Centre Bell, as bundled-up fans braved the cold for a chance to watch the game.
Inside, large screens and breakfast plates were ready, along with chants of “Go Canada Go.”
The United States took the lead in the first period with a goal from Matt Boldy. Canada tied it late in the second period with a goal by Cale Makar.
🎉 Olympic FanFest in the Quartier des Spectacles
Montrealers gathered in the Quartier des Spectacles on February 21 and 22 to participate in Team Canada FanFest, a two-day public celebration of the Olympic Games.
The festival featured live broadcasts of competitions, interactive winter sports activities, and appearances by Canadian athletes like Mélodie Daoust, Joannie Rochette, Andrew Poje, and Alex Bilodeau.
Activities included public skating, curling demonstrations, speed skating, and hockey. Sunday featured the men’s gold medal game and the festival’s closing ceremony.
🇺🇦 Events across the country mark four years of war in Ukraine
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress is holding an event on Parliament Hill today to mark the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It’s one of 60 gatherings planned across the country.
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched an unprovoked attack on Ukraine. Four years later, more than a million people have been killed and millions more displaced.
Candlelight vigils, rallies, and roundtables are planned in cities across Canada, from Victoria to Whitehorse to St. John’s.
🎬 Raymond Bouchard has passed away
Quebec actor Raymond Bouchard has died at the age of 80. Among other roles, he played Germain Lesage, the main character in the Quebec film “La grande séduction.”
🏠 Local Stories
🚔 Laval man arrested for forgery
A Laval man is among three people arrested for alleged forgery of identity documents and credit cards.
🗳️ Québec solidaire makes exception for Gouin
Members of Québec solidaire voted Saturday in favor of an exception to the party’s rules in the Gouin riding, allowing a man to seek the nomination. The party said that 74% of members gathered at the closed national council supported the proposal.
The Journal de Montréal reported Tuesday that Alexandre Boulerice, NDP MP for Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, is interested in running for the left-wing party in the seat currently held by former co-spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois.
QS decided that female or non-binary candidates will be required in seats currently held by the party. Co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal said this would be the only exception.
💻 Artificial intelligence accelerates in Quebec’s public service
The number of AI initiatives in Quebec’s public administration jumped by 54% in less than a year. Last June, there were 258 AI initiatives in Quebec’s public service, compared to 168 in October 2024.
A little over half of these projects were fully operational, while 45% were in development. The health and social services network accounts for about a third of all reported initiatives.
Higher education follows with 58 projects. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests ranks third with 26 initiatives. Last spring, 83 organizations reported having initiatives in this area, compared to 65 eight months earlier.
🍁 $10,000 fine for “maplewashing”
A Loblaw-owned store allegedly used maple leaf-shaped stickers to promote an imported product. A fine of $10,000 was imposed.
🎥 Geneviève Dulude-De Celles awarded in Berlin
The Quebec director won the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay.
👮 Challenges for the RCMP reserve program
A report identifies problems with recruitment, training, resources, and overall management of the RCMP reserve program.
💼 Young workers turn away from management positions
Building a pool of potential managers is becoming more difficult as young people are less and less interested in leading a team.
A Robert Half survey conducted in March 2025 among 835 Canadian professionals found that about 50% of Gen Z workers would prefer a promotion to a role where they don’t manage others.
One of the main reasons is an emphasis on work-life balance. There is a “huge shortage” of candidates for management.
🇬🇧 British passport required for dual nationals
The 460,000 Canadians born in the United Kingdom will need a valid British passport to enter the country starting February 25.
🚀 Artemis launch in jeopardy
The Artemis launch scheduled for March is in jeopardy due to a new problem. This issue was announced a day after the date was set for the crewed flight to the Moon.
👋 Before We Go
Silver hurts, but what an Olympic run. Enjoy your Sunday, whether you’re celebrating Canadian athletes or spending time with family. We’ll see you tomorrow morning for a new week. Have a great Sunday, Laval. 💙