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Quebec City

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Quebec City
View of Vieux-Québec showing Upper and Lower Towns.
File:Drapeau.gif File:Armoiriesquebec.gif
Detail Detail
Motto: « Don de Dieu feray valoir »


Site in the province of Québec

Official logo
File:Logo vdq g.gif

Provincial statute

Province
Country

 Capitale-Nationale

Québec
Canada

Gentilé Québécois, Québécoise
Mayor

Mandate

Jean-Paul L'Allier

2002-2005

federal Members of Parliament

Louis-Hébert
Louis-Saint-Laurent
Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier
Québec
Montmorency
Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-C.
Beauport—Limoilou


Roger Clavet
Bernard Cleary
Guy Coté
Christiane Gagnon
Michel Guimond
Richard Marceau
Christian Simard

Members of the National Assembly of Quebec

Montmorency
Jean-Talon
Jean-Lesage
Louis-Hébert
La Peltrie
Vanier
Tashereau
Charlesbourg
Chauveau


Raymond Bernier
Margaret Delisle
Michel Després
Sam Hamad
France Hamel
Sylvain Légaré
Agnès Maltais
Éric R. Mercier
Sarah Perreault

Area 548 km²
Population

 - Quebec City (2004)
 - Metro area (2004)
 - Population density


528,595 inhab.
682,757 inhab.
963.8 inhab./km²

Population rank:

 - in Quebec
 - in Canada

2th
7th

Time zone UTC-5
Latitude

Longitude

46°48' N

71°23' W

Quebec City or Québec*

File:ChateauFrontenac.JPG
Château Frontenac by night

(French: Ville de Québec) is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec. Quebec's Old Town (Le Vieux-Québec), the only North American fortified city north of Mexico whose walls still exist, was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985. The city, following the 2002 merger with several former surrounding municipalities, has a population of 528,595, while the metropolitan area has a population of 682,757 (2004).

Quebec City is known for its Winter Carnival and the Château Frontenac, an historic hotel which dominates the city skyline. The Assemblée nationale du Québec (provincial parliament), the Musée national des beaux-arts du Quebec (Museum of Fine Arts) and the Museum of Civilization are found within or near Vieux-Québec.

Among the tourist attractions in the area are Montmorency Falls near the borough of Beauport and the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré in the town of Beaupré.

History

Quebec City is the second oldest existing European settlement in Canada (after St. John's). It was founded by Samuel de Champlain on 3 July 1608 at the site of a First Nations settlement called Stadacona. It was to this settlement that the name Canada refers (kanata is an Iroquoian word meaning "village").

Quebec City was captured by the British in 1759 and held until 1763. It was the site of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham during the Seven Years War, in which British troops under General James Wolfe defeated the French general Louis-Joseph de Montcalm and took the city. France later ceded New France to Britain.

During the American Revolution, the British garrison at Quebec City was assaulted by American troops in the Battle of Quebec. The defeat of the Americans put an end to their hopes that Canada would also rebel.

Major General Isaac Brock fortified Quebec City by strengthening the walls and building an elevated artillery battery prior to the War of 1812.

Quebec City was the capital of Canada from 1859 to 1865, the last before Ottawa. The Quebec Conference on Canadian Confederation was held here.

In World War II two conferences were held in Quebec City. The first one was held in 1943 with Franklin Delano Roosevelt (United States' president), Winston Churchill (United Kingdom's prime minister), Mackenzie King (Canada's prime minister) and T.V. Soong. (China's minister of foreign affairs). The second one was held in 1944 and was attended by Churchill and Roosevelt. They took place in the buildings of the Citadelle and of nearby Chateau Frontenac.

The city today

In April 2001, Quebec City hosted the Summit of the Americas to discuss the Free Trade Area of the Americas; it also hosted massive anti-globalization demonstrations, provoked both by the summit and by the decision to wall off a large portion of the historic city with a four metre high chain-link fence for the duration. Police forces were widely accused of excessive use of force during the demonstrations.

On 1 January 2002, Quebec City and 12 other municipalities of the Communauté urbaine de Québec were merged into to the new Quebec City "megacity," which is divided into 8 boroughs:

BoroughFormer Cities
La CitéQuebec City
Les RivièresQuebec City, Vanier
Sainte-Foy—SillerySainte-Foy, Sillery
CharlesbourgCharlesbourg
BeauportBeauport
LimoilouQuebec City
La Haute-Saint-CharlesLac-Saint-Charles, Loretteville, Saint-Émile, Quebec City
LaurentienVal-Bélair, Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Cap-Rouge, L'Ancienne-Lorette, Sainte-Foy

French and English names for Quebec City

The city is called Québec (with an acute accent) by both the provincial and federal governments in both languages. To differentiate between Quebec the city and Quebec the province in English, the city is commonly referred to as Quebec City while the province is referred to as Quebec (without the accent).

In French, Quebec City is generally referred to simply as Québec without the French equivalent of the word "city." French names of large geographical regions such as provinces and countries are typically preceded by articles whereas city names are not (unless it is part of the name, such as "La Malbaie"). As a result, the province is called le Québec ("in Quebec" = au Québec) while the city is simply Québec. "In Quebec City" is à Québec.

The official legal, corporate name of the city is Ville de Québec in both languages. Curiously, in the English section of Quebec City's official website, the city is referred to as "Québec City" (with the acute accent over the 'e').

In French, residents of Quebec City are called Québécois. To avoid confusion with Québécois meaning an inhabitant of the province, the term Québécois de Québec for residents of the city is sometimes used (as opposed to Québécois du Québec, resident of the province). As noted above, in French, the city is Québec (possessive form "de Québec") and the province, le Québec (possessive form "du Québec"). In English, the term Quebecer is generally (and variably) used.

Demographics

According to the last (2001) census, the population estimates there were 682,757 people residing in Quebec City, of whom 48.2 per cent were male and 51.8 per cent were female. Children under five accounted for approximately 4.7 per cent of the resident population of Quebec City. This compares with 5.2 per cent in the province of Quebec, and 5.6 per cent for Canada overall.

In mid-2001, 13.0 per cent of the resident population in Quebec City were of retirement age (65 and over for males and females) compared with 13.2 per cent in Canada, therefore, the average age is 39.5 years of age compared to 37.6 years of age for Canada as a whole.

In the five years between 1996 and 2001, the population of Quebec City grew by 1.6 per cent, compared with an increase of 1.4 per cent for the province of Quebec as a whole. Population density of Quebec City averaged 216.4 people per square kilometre, compared with an average of 5.3, for the province of Quebec altogether.

At the time of the census in May 2001, the resident population of the Quebec City authority had 682,757 people, but had 710,700 when encompassing the Greater Quebec City Area compared with a resident population in the province of Quebec of 7,237,479 people.

At the time of the May 2001 census, it showed that the city was homogenous (White) European, chiefly of French, Italian, British, and Irish origins. Smaller groups like Blacks, Arabs, and Asians make up a very small fraction. According to the census, over 90% of the population is Roman Catholic, along with sizable Jewish and Protestant populations.

Transportation

Quebec City is served by Jean Lesage International Airport, which is located in the eighth borough. Web site

The city also has a large major port on the St-Lawrence in the first, fifth and sixth boroughs. Web site

Two bridges, the Quebec Bridge and Pierre Laporte Bridge, connect the city with the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River, as does a ferry service to Lévis. The city is a major hub in the Québec provincial road network, fanning both sides of the river with an extensive autoroute system.

The city is served by VIA Rail (Gare du Palais), and is the eastern terminus of the railway's main Quebec City-Windsor Corridor.

The Réseau de transport de la Capitale is responsible for public transportation by bus. Web site in French only

Municipal politics

Independent

Political parties

Museums

Natural science sites

  • Jardin zoologique du Québec, re-opened in 2002 after two years of restorations, presenting to the public 750 specimens of 300 different species. The zoo specializes in winged fauna and garden themes, but also presents several species of mammals. While it emphasizes the indigenous fauna of Quebec, one of its principal attractions is the Indo-Australian greenhouse, featuring fauna and flora from these areas. Website : http://www.spsnq.qc.ca/z-AN_accueil.html
  • Parc-Aquarium du Québec, re-opened in 2002 on a site overlooking the St. Lawrence River, presents approximately 3500 specimens of mammals, reptiles, fish and other aquatic fauna of North America and the Arctic. Polar bears and various species of seals of the Arctic sector and the "Large Ocean", a large basin offering visitors a view from underneath, form part of the principal attractions. Website : http://www.spsnq.qc.ca/a-AN_accueil.html

Media

Radio

Notes: 1 CHOI is currently appealing a CRTC decision repealing the station's licence due to controversial programming. The station is currently still on the air, but may cease broadcasting in the near future pending the results of its appeal.

Television

Print

Quebec City's main daily newspapers are the broadsheet Le Soleil and the tabloid Le Journal de Quebec. The Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph, a weekly English community paper, is also published.

Personalities associated with Quebec City

Attractions

Many of the city's attractions are east of the fortification walls in Vieux-Québec. This area has a distinct European feel unique in North America with its stone buildings and winding streets lined with shops and restaurants. Porte St-Louis and Porte St-Jean are the main gates through the walls from the modern section of downtown. West of the walls are the Colline-Parlementaire (Parliament Hill) district and the Plains of Abraham.

Quebec City's skyline is dominated by the massive Château Frontenac Hotel, perched on top of Cap-Diamant. The hotel is beside the Terrasse Dufferin (Dufferin Terrace), a walkway along the edge of the cliff, offering beautiful views of the Saint Lawrence River.

Near the Château Frontenac is Notre-Dame de Québec Cathedral, see of the Archbishop of Quebec. It is the first cathedral and first basilica to have been built in the New World, and is the primate church of Canada.

The Terrasse Dufferin leads toward the nearby Plains of Abraham, site of the battle in which the British took Quebec from France, and the Citadel of Quebec, a Canadian Forces installation and the federal vice-regal secondary residence. The National Assembly, Quebec's provincial legislature, is also near the Citadelle.

The Haute-Ville (Upper Town) is linked by the Escalier «casse-cou» (literally "neck-breaker" steps) and a funicular to the Basse-Ville (Lower Town), which includes such sites as the ancient Notre Dame des Victoires church, the historic Petit Champlain district, the port, and the Musée de la Civilisation.

Laval University is located in the western end of the city, in the borough of Sainte-Foy. The central campus of the Université du Québec is also located in Quebec City.

Quebec City is known for its Winter Carnival and for its Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day celebrations.

Tourist attractions located near Quebec City include Montmorency Falls and the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré.

Sports

Sports teams

Former teams

Post-secondary education

University level

College level

  • Cégep François-Xavier-Garneau
  • Cégep O'Sullivan
  • Cégep Limoilou
    • Campus of 6th borough (Registered office)
    • Campus of 4th borough
    • Campus of the "Maison des métiers d'art de Québec"
  • Cégep de Sainte-Foy
  • Collège Notre-Dame-de-Foy
  • Collège Mérici
  • Collège Bart
  • Collège CDI
  • Collège Saint-Stanislas (Under the teaching of the model of France)
  • Champlain-St.Lawrence College (English-speaking Cégep)

Professional level

  • École du Barreau du Québec
  • Centre professionnel Samuel-De Champlain
  • Centre professionnel Fierbourg

Festivals and events

Contest
Autumn (September & October)
Winter (November to March)
Spring (April & May)
Summer (June to August)
  • Birthday Of Quebec City Web site give place to family festivals of district in the districts of the city on july 3 of each year. Major demonstrations will take place all the summer 2008 for the 400e birthday of foundation of the city.

First borough (La Cité)

  • Grand Rire (Le) Web site in french only is a festival of humour, who takes place over 10 days in june. Spectacles in sport and official receptions in room introduce humorists of Quebec city and elsewhere, beginners or confirmed.
  • Fête du Canada (La) Web site is celebrated to it June 30 and the 1 juillet on various

sites of the Old-Quebec, by spectacles and activities and visits for free in the national historic sites of the city.

  • Festival d'été de Québec (Le) Web site is a major event which annually presents during two weeks in July a great number of musical spectacles (popular, French-speaking person and english-speaking, music of the world, classical music) for the majority in sport and of many services in arts of the street at various places in the old capital as well as interior spectacles in various rooms of the capital.
  • Fête du Faubourg (La) is a fair of street which takes place in the Saint-Jean-Baptist district in the first borough (La Cité) on a weekend beginning July, annually.
  • Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France (Les) Web site is a major event which presents during one week in august various activities allowing of replonger the XVIIe century, the time of Nouvelle-France, in the Old-Quebec and the Royal Place (processions, spectacles, animations, demonstrations of the everyday life of the time, market in sport of Nouvelle-France, dressed up observers and citizens, etc.).
  • Plein Art Web site in french only present, during two weeks in august of each year, an exposuresale external of works of trades of art: of ceramics, of glass, textiles, jewels and others, Quebecers craftsmen and international guests. It is the most important event of the kind in Canada.

Fifth borough (Beauport)

Sixth borough (Limoilou)

  • Expo Québec Web site is an agricultural fair, commercial and the greatest fun fair of the east of Canada which takesplace in the month of August on the site of Expo Cité. One finds there inter alia musical spectacles, provincial finales of the contests of animals of farm of Quebec, commercial and institutional exhibitors, horse-gears and various family activities.

Seventh borough (La Haute-St-Charles)

  • Fêtes de la famille du quartier Saint-Émile Festival of the families of the St-Emile district of the seventh district and, of course, the Capital, with spectacles musical, works of art, plays for children, pullings, race of jalopies, tournament of soccer, etc. A beautiful small family fair.

Eighth borough (Laurentien)

  • Quebec Internatonal Airshow (Le) Web site is presented the even years during one weekend on the grounds of the Aéroport international Jean-Lesage of Quebec city. One presents spectacles of aerobaticss to it, of parachuting and flights of special apparatuses, in more among 10 and 20 apparatuses on the ground, civil and military, who can be visited or observed. In 2006, the event is presented June the 10 and 11. In 2008, June 7 and 8.
  • Fête de quartier Val-Bélair (Les) present to it annually June 24 a spectacle in sport of Quebecers artists of reputation followed of a fireworks and a bonfire in the district Val-Bélair, in more of family activities all the day.

Upcoming events

2007

  • Baseball Canada National Championships Website From the 9 to August 19, 2007, Quebec city will host the Canadian Championships of baseball all categories, who will bring on our premises nearly 1800 players and trainers coming from the 10 Canadian provinces.

2008

Quebec City celebrates its 400th year in 2008. Several major events are planned to commemorate the event.

  • Critérium international de Course Cycliste organised by the ASO (Team of the "Tour de France") ...To confirm.
  • Many major festivals celebrating the 400th anniversary Website
  • Hosting for the second time in its history, the "Sommet de la Francophonie" Website
  • Eucharistic Congress with the pope Temporary website
  • Transat Québec – Saint-Malo Website

International networks and twinning

Quebec City is a pivotal player:

  • of the Organization of the cities of the world inheritance whose registered office is in Quebec city;
  • of the League of the historical cities;
  • of the International network for the improvement of the local governments, sponsored by the Bertelsmann foundation;
  • of the International association of the educational cities;
  • of the Plain cities and local governments;
  • of the International association of the French-speaking mayors (AIMF);
  • of the International association of the mayors of the Great Lakes and the St.-Lawrence.

Quebec City is twinned with the following cities:

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