🦫 Cold Nights, Good Ice, Familiar Places

Hey there, Townshippers

Hope you’re keeping warm out there.

This week in the Townships feels like winter settling into its rhythm: skates sharpening, snowbanks growing, and that familiar pull to get outside even when it’s cold. From the people quietly keeping our outdoor rinks alive, to live music, après-ski energy, and a few small wins around the region, this edition is all about the everyday moments that make winter here feel shared.

Let’s take a look. 👇

On a cold January evening in the Eastern Townships, the lights flick on before sunset, snowbanks glow faintly blue, and the scrape of skates cuts through the quiet. Long before the first puck drops, though, someone has already been there, shovelling, flooding, checking the boards, watching the weather.

Across communities like Sherbrooke and Magog, and dozens of smaller villages, outdoor rinks remain one of winter’s most democratic spaces. They’re free, open-air, and built almost entirely on commitment rather than convenience.

In larger centres, municipal crews maintain networks of rinks, juggling staff schedules, water access, and increasingly unpredictable freeze-thaw cycles. A single warm afternoon can undo hours of overnight flooding. “You’re always watching the forecast,” one rink supervisor in Sherbrooke has said publicly in past seasons. ”You learn patience very quickly.”

In smaller towns, the work is often even more personal. Volunteer rink attendants—retirees, parents, lifelong hockey players, step in with shovels and hoses, sometimes every day. In places like Eastman or North Hatley, it’s not unusual for one or two dedicated people to become synonymous with “the rink.” If the ice is smooth, it’s because they were there at dawn.

Climate variability has made the job harder. Shorter cold spells mean fewer reliable flooding windows, and heavier snowfalls demand quicker response times. Yet participation hasn’t faded. If anything, the rinks feel more essential—places where kids learn to skate under floodlights, where pickup games form without sign-ups, where winter feels shared instead of endured.

There’s also quiet pride in the work. Rink crews talk about “good ice” the way bakers talk about bread, texture, temperature, timing. When a night goes right, they’ll linger at the boards, watching families arrive, knowing most people won’t think about how the surface got there.

And that’s exactly the point. Outdoor rinks in the Townships aren’t just about hockey or skating. They’re about showing up, night after night, to make space for everyone else to do the same.

🎸 The Musical Box – Genesis Live! — Thu, Jan 22, 8 PM —Théâtre Granada, Sherbrooke: Experience an acclaimed tribute to Genesis as The Musical Box recreates the classic 1973 “Genesis Live” concert with dramatic stagecraft and vintage rock energy. This show is perfect whether you’re a longtime prog-rock fan or just curious about an immersive live music experience in a historic theatre. Tickets typically sell out, so plan ahead if you want to go with friends. Details 👉 visitezsherbrooke.ca

⛷️ Après-ski & Weekend Fun at Bromont — Fri, Jan 17 – Thu, Jan 22 — Bromont: Bromont’s winter season brings special Après-ski vibes with lively slope-side events, food, drinks, and outdoor winter fun. It’s a great way to enjoy skiing or snowboarding under lights with music and a warm atmosphere at one of North America’s largest night-ski resorts. Grab gear, bring friends, and extend the winter fun all week. Details 👉 tourismebrome-missisquoi.ca

🎤 Open Mic Thursdays at Bar Le Tucker — Thu, Jan 15, 4 PM – 7 PM — Mont Sutton: Drop by this cozy après-ski bar every Thursday for a free, festive open mic with a host, surprise guests, and plenty of good vibes to kick off the evening. Whether you’re a singer, poet, guitarist, or just there to enjoy others’ talents, it’s a great way to warm up after hitting the slopes or spending time outdoors. Details 👉 easterntownships.org

🎶 Les Trois Accords — Toujours les vacances — Fri, Jan 16, 8 PM — Théâtre Granada, Sherbrooke: The beloved Quebec pop-rock band Les Trois Accords brings their high-energy show Toujours les vacances to Sherbrooke for a night of catchy hooks, absurd humor, and sing-along hits. Known for turning concerts into full-on parties, the group mixes new material with fan favorites that span nearly two decades. Details 👉 vieuxclocher.com

🎸 Live Music Fridays at Mannix — Fri, Jan 16, evening — Mannix Pub, Bromont: Kick off the weekend with live local music at this lively Bromont pub known for its relaxed crowd and après-ski energy. Each Friday features a different artist or band, making it an easy, no-pressure way to discover regional talent while grabbing a drink or bite with friends. It’s casual, welcoming, and perfect if you’re looking for something social without committing to a big-ticket show.  Details 👉 easterntownships.org

🚌 Acti-Bus pulls into Waterville (more often!): Waterville just got a transit glow-up: as of January 5, 2026, the Acti-Bus interurban route now stops in town six times a day, Monday to Friday. The expanded loop runs through Coaticook, Compton, Waterville and Lennoxville, with easy links onward to key Sherbrooke spots like the Vieille Gare and Cégep de Sherbrooke (and even CHUS Fleurimont on certain days). Acti-Bus says the route is already popular, and they’re expecting more in 2026. Source 👉 Le Progrès

🧾 Bromont freezes the average home tax bill: In a week where everything else seems to cost more (hello, groceries), Bromont dropped a surprisingly friendly line in its 2026 budget: the average residential property’s tax bill stays the same as 2025. That’s despite a 29.3% average jump in assessed property values, the city says it adjusted tax rates during the roll revision to keep the “typical” bill flat. Source 👉 Ville de Bromont

🥉 Magog’s Miha Fontaine lands World Cup bronze: A Townships athlete just added a shiny line to his winter résumé: Miha Fontaine took third place at the FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup aerials event in Lake Placid, earning his first individual World Cup medal. Timing-wise, it’s pretty perfect, this came just days before official selections for the Milan–Cortina Olympics ramp up.  Source 👉 Le Reflet du Lac

🤝 APPAME becomes “Espace allié” (same mission, clearer name): Sherbrooke’s long-running support organization for loved ones of people living with mental-health challenges has officially reintroduced itself: APPAME is now Espace allié. The change is meant to better match today’s language around mental health, and they’ve paired it with a practical upgrade: a bigger space to meet rising demand. Source 👉 Radio Canada

🎬 A “film ecosystem” is taking shape in Lennoxville: Sherbrooke’s audiovisual scene is getting a little more “lights, camera, local!” Producer Yvan Pinard and collaborators are pushing to build a film-business ecosystem around Studio 13, a shared creation hub at 13 rue Connolly (Lennoxville) where multiple Estrie companies work under one roof (think production, post, animation, and more). Source 👉 The Sherbrooke Record

If you’re looking for something that feels fresh without the new-build vibe, this well-kept 3-bed, 1.5-bath home in Sherbrooke might be exactly the balance you’re after. Built with thoughtful updates and modern touches, it pairs light-filled interiors with the kind of everyday comfort that makes routines feel good.

Step inside and you’ll notice how the main living spaces flow, perfect for relaxed weeknights as well as weekend gatherings. The kitchen’s practical layout and generous storage make cooking feel easy, while the living room invites you to linger a little longer with friends or family. Upstairs, three bedrooms offer flexibility for a home office, guests, or a cozy retreat.

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🌲 The One Spot You Always Go Back To

Every Townshipper has that place.

The trail you’ve walked a hundred times and still notice something new. The café you end up in without checking the menu. The lookout you bring visitors to because it never fails.

Some spots just stick — no matter the season or the mood.

👉 What’s the one local place you never get tired of, and why?

That’s it for this week, thanks for spending a few minutes here with us.

Whether you’re lacing up at an outdoor rink, catching a show, planning a small getaway, or just sticking close to home, we hope this gave you a couple of good ideas (or reminders) for the days ahead.

And if you’ve got a local spot you always come back to, a trail, a café, a view, we’d genuinely love to hear about it. Hit reply, say hello, and tell us what keeps pulling you back. See you next week.

- The Eastern Townships Now team 🦫