A BUSY WEEKEND...

A BUSY WEEKEND… - 
By Bernard Bujold - 
It’s going to be a busy weekend, especially Sunday. June 14 is indeed the birthday of Donald Trump, a character that all of you knows thant I am a great fan of. Donald will be turning 80 on Sunday. In hockey, in the evening, the Colorado Avalanche could win the Stanley Cup, as they lead the series 3-2 against the Vegas Golden Knights. 
Have a great weekend, and especially a great Sunday! 
www.lestudio1.com

THE BIG BOSSES' FEAR

THE BIG BOSSES' FEAR… 
By Bernard Bujold -
I’ve been shopping at the same SAQ location for several years. The staff is always polite and efficient, but without going overboard. I was quite surprised this Thursday, while I was picking out wines for the weekend, to notice the, shall we say, excessive zeal of all the store clerks. They kept saying hello to me and offering to help. After four clerks offered the same help, I was intrigued by so much attention. I understood the reason when I noticed that the SAQ president and his vice president were visiting the store… 

Clearly, the staff was afraid of the big boss and wanted to impress him… 
www.lestudio1.com

THE SEARCH FOR THE MAGIC STICK

THE SEARCH FOR THE MAGIC STICK - 
 By Bernard Bujold - 
 With less than four months to go before Quebec’s provincial elections on October 5, it must be acknowledged that none of the five leaders stands out from the pack of “racehorses” in the stable. It’s a race with no clear favorites… 
 To win an election, you have to be like a salesperson and give the impression that you’re offering more than the others. This impression doesn’t have to be based on reality, but voters need to be won over by a symbol, a style, and develop an attraction to one of the leaders. That’s not currently the case for any of the leaders in the running. 
 I remember Jack Layton’s election in Quebec during the federal election on May 2, 2011. Thanks to his charismatic personality and, above all, his walking cane, which he raised in the air to greet the crowd just as a rock singer would have done... He swept aside Gilles Duceppe, who was offering a much more serious platform. Layton won 59 of Quebec’s 75 seats, even though many of his candidates were “straw candidates.” Right now, all five Quebec party leaders could use Jack’s magic cane… 
 In my view, there are three possible scenarios for the 2026 election: 
 1. It will be a dead-heat election with a completely split result and a minority government (a sort of photo finish); 
 2. According to some political observers, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney could, discreetly, play the role of “kingmaker,” particularly regarding the Parti Québécois’s referendum platform. The question is whether he would support Charles Milliard, who shares his political allegiance, or Christine Fréchette of the CAQ, whose style he likes and with whom he gets along particularly well; 
 3. An unforeseen event (such as a scandal or the creation of a media crisis) could be revealed, drawing attention and disrupting the rhythm, which would allow one of the candidates to break away from the pack (the question of the ballot box). 
Officially, the elections on Monday, October 5, have not yet been called. The campaign will not officially begin until the National Assembly is dissolved by the Lieutenant Governor at the request of the Premier. In accordance with the Quebec Election Act, a campaign period lasts 33 to 39 days. The official call for the election will therefore take place between late August and early September 2026. A new poll was published this morning (June 10) in La Presse confirming this lack of a clear frontrunner. 
 To be continued!​ SEE POLL REPORT 
https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/2026-06-10/sondage-synopsis-la-presse/le-plq-chute-la-caq-remonte-encore.php

THE DANGERS OF THE JUNGLE

THE DANGERS OF THE JUNGLE -
By Bernard Bujold - 
It was announced this morning (Monday, June 8, 2026) that French singer-songwriter Patrick Bruel has been taken into custody… Another icon of our society, now a pariah. 
Personally, among all the people I’ve known throughout my life, as well as my neighbors, I’d say there are dozens, if not hundreds, who have suffered the same fate as Bruel and whose fraudulent story has been exposed! One can imagine there are thousands more whose secrets remain hidden... 
Society is a jungle, and even though many see it as a place of magnificent beauty, it is deceptive and merciless. In the end, what we see is a mirage hiding reality. Outcasts are ultimately like the lion of the jungle: often magnificent to behold for their beauty, but deeply predatory. 
That being said, I’ve always enjoyed Bruel’s songs. His lyrics contain everything needed to understand life... 
Have a great summer 2026 and stay safe! 
LISTEN TO PATRICK BRUEL’S SONG: “QUI A LE DROIT...” 
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=JNp3trPgdZE

2026 BELMONT STAKES

2026 BELMONT STAKES -
By Bernard Bujold - 
The horse Golden Tempo won the 158th running of the Belmont Stakes on June 6, 2026, ridden by jockey Jose Ortiz and trained by Cherie DeVaux. Godlen Tempo did as he did at the Kentucky Derby, and for the first half of the race, GOLDEN TEMPO was running at the back, surging from the pack at the last moment to finish first by more than one horse length (1 1/4). The Kentucky Derby champion secured the win over Commandment, with the morning-line favorite Renegade finishing in third. 
A sudden deluge of rain began falling right before the horses loaded into the starting gate, making it a rainy and muddy race. 
There was no Triple Crown on the line in 2026 because Kentucky Derby champion Golden Tempo skipped the Preakness Stakes as his Trainer Cherie DeVaux elected to sit out the second leg of the series on May 16 to keep the colt fresh, the Preakness being too close on the calendar between Kentucky and Belmont. 
I watched the race, and it was exceptional. One could say that Golden Tempo is a real champion! https://www.nyra.com/belmont-stakes/

THE CAMP BY THE LAKE

THE CAMP BY THE LAKE - 

By Bernard Bujold -

According to the meteorologists' calendar, summer began on June 1.... 

Of course, the actual start of summer on the calendar will be June 21. 

As for me, don’t try to reach me because I’m ​already gone fishing... 

Have a great weekend—the first one of June 2026! 

SEE VIDEO 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ed_sx4I--ej7Ukbf45i3UUm2Wfm_PmGH/view?usp=sharing

AN AUTHORITARIAN PRIME MINISTER

AN AUTHORITARIAN PRIME MINISTER... 
By Bernard Bujold- 
Just as the Canadian Prime Minister is at the peak of his popularity, some Liberal MPs are complaining that their leader, Carney, isn’t patient with them and that he tends to be rather authoritarian… In other words, he isn’t the type to “coddle” those around him. I’m not surprised by this observation, and in my view, that’s precisely what makes Mark Carney effective and popular with the public. A majority of Canadians want a serious and effective prime minister... And to be effective, you have to be authoritative! Mark Carney is like a guardian of the lake... 
To be continued. 
https://www.pm.gc.ca/fr/propos

STORIES OF POLITICIANS

STORIES OF POLITICIANS... 

By Bernard Bujold - 

If there is one conclusion to be drawn from Jean-François Lisée’s books on René Lévesque and Pierre Elliott Trudeau, it is that Quebec of yesteryear was a golden age for far-reaching political ideas... Personally, I really enjoyed the first volume of Lisée’s historical work on the origins of these two figures, as I wanted to get to know Lévesque’s personality up close—he, like me, comes from the Gaspé Peninsula, he from New Carlisle and I from Bonaventure. Lisée’s second volume, which has just been published, this time offers us a look at the political stances of these two great statesmen. The book will appeal to political observers, particularly as the October 5 elections in Quebec approach. 

Does the inspiration projected by Lévesque and Trudeau still exist in 2026? Political inspiration exists in every era in one way or another; you just have to discover it. Reading Lisée’s two books can help us better understand the vision of Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and, conversely, that of Mark Carney and his Quebec allies opposed to separation. 

See author Jean François Lisée’s website 

https://laboitealisee.com/

THE INSPIRATION...

THE INSPIRATION - 
By Bernard Bujold - 
When high-profile events occur, they often have a ripple effect. Thus, the suicide of former star hockey player Claude Lemieux seems, unfortunately, to have inspired my condo neighbor—a man who had faced his share of media scrutiny over the past year but who still had significant financial resources. He lived in the nicest condo in the building... Why did he commit suicide? Only he really knows, but I can’t help thinking he was inspired by the hockey player… A sad way to start the summer of 2026! 

www.lestudio1.com

THE SUMMER SEASON OF 2026

THE SUMMER SEASON OF 2026- 
By Bernard Bujold - 
For meteorologists, summer always begins on June 1 and ends on August 31. Scientists thus group these three full months based on average temperatures. June, July, and August are generally the hottest months of the year. This allows for fixed three-month periods, which makes it easier to calculate statistics and compare climate data from one year to the next. 
However, June 21 is the date of the astronomical summer, the official start of the season. This is the date found on calendars, and it corresponds to the summer solstice. This date is determined by the Earth’s position relative to the Sun. It is the precise moment of the year when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted most toward the Sun, giving us the longest day of the year. 
Have a great summer 2026... 
SEE VIDEO

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xeLgt-plaOBmfnVDvppDdAIffl5b4Ghf/view?usp=sharing