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Québec At A Glance
Here are some general facts and important information to help your
group or escort get the most from your adventure in Québec.
| Québec > The Province of Québec |
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Population
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7,598,100 |
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Québec City - UNESCO World Heritage Site
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Québec's Old Town is the only North American walled city north of Mexico whose walls still surround the old city. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985 as the "Historic District of Old Québec". The program aims to conserve sites and landmarks of outstanding cultural or natural importance to the heritage of the world. History surrounds the old town with churches, museums and historic buildings. The city, founded in 1608 by a French explorer named Samuel de Champlain, is still predominantly European in spirit, as you will discover on the cobbled streets. |
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Area
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1,542,056 sq. km (595,391 sq. miles)
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Area Codes
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Area codes of Québec are 418, 438, 450, 514 and 819 |
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Capital City
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Québec City
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Climate
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The climate in Québec varies from place to place. The Northern regions experience a severe Arctic climate with a freezing winter that can last eight months and continuous permafrost. Around the St. Lawrence River and south, around the major population centers, it is a humid continental climate; here the seasons are more defined with warm summers and snowy winters. |
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Emergencies
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To access fire, police and ambulance in an emergency, dial 911. |
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Famous People
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Celine Dion, world famous singer
William Shatner, actor best known as Captain Kirk
Jacques Villeneuve, Formula One driver
Mario Lemieux, famous hockey player
Pierre Trudeau, former prime minister of Canada for sixteen years
Marc Garneau, the first Canadian in space
Calixa Lavallée, composer of the national anthem
Corey Hart, musician
Jean Chrétien, twentieth prime minister of Canada
Leonard Cohen, singer-songwriter, poet and novelist
Glenn Ford, legendary actor with over a 100 movies to his name |
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Highest Elevation
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Mount Jacques Cartier - 1,268 meters above sea level (4,160 ft) |
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Holidays
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New Year’s Day - January 1
Good Friday - April 10
Easter Monday - April 13
Victoria Day - May 18
St. Jean Baptiste Day - June 24
Canada Day - July 1
Civic Holiday - August 3
Labour Day - September 7
Thanksgiving Day - October 12
Remembrance Day - November 11
Christmas Day - December 25
Boxing Day - December 26 |
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Major Industries
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Agriculture, manufacturing, energy, mining, forestry, transportation |
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National & Provincial Parks
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Québec has 27 national & provincial parks, in addition to these parks, there are 15 wildlife reserves where hunting, logging and camping are permitted. The parks and reserves often offer a wide range of outdoor activities and the equipment for these activities. |
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Official Language
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In Québec the official language is French with 82% of the population speaking it as their first language. 35% speaks English either as a first language or in addition to French. |
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Premier
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Jean Charest |
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Provincial Icons & Emblems
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Motto - “Je me souviens” (“I remember”)
Bird - Snowy Owl
Insect - White Admiral Butterfly
Tree - Yellow Birch
Mineral - Asbestos |
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Sport Teams
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Celebrating Canada’s favourite sport, The Montréal Canadians make Québec proud as the host NHL teams at the Bell Centre, downtown Montréal.
Other main sport teams from Québec are located;
• Montréal Alouettes play in the Canadian Football League
• Montréal Impact represents Quebec in North American Universal Soccer League |
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Tax Information
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In Québec, a 7.5% provincial sales tax (QST) applies to most purchases, and most goods and services are subject to the federal 6% Goods and Services Tax (GST). If you reside outside Canada, you may be eligible to reclaim GST paid on purchases during your visit. Expenses must total at least $200 (Canadian), before taxes; each receipt must total at least $50 (Canadian) before taxes. It is imperative that your receipts get stamped before you leave Canada; no refund will be issued otherwise. Visitors can get their receipts stamped at participating duty-free shops for an immediate refund (up to $500 Canadian) or at Canada Customs Offices, for a mail-back refund. |
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Time Zone
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Most of Québec is in the Eastern Time zone, with a narrow portion of eastern Québec (east of the 63°W longitude) in the Atlantic Time Zone. The Atlantic Time Zone does not observe Daylight Saving Time. |
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Did you know?
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• It’s the largest province by area, 15% of Canada’s area.
• 85% of French Canadians live in Québec. It’s the only province in Canada where English speakers are a minority.
• One of Canada’s favorite snacks, Poutine (fries with cheese curds and brown gravy), originated in rural Québec.
• First people were the Inuit, Cree, Algonquin, Abenaki, Malecite, Micmac, and Innu.
• Explorer Jacques Cartier arrived in 1534 and claimed the land for France.
• Québec has more fresh water than any other province.
• Forest covers half of Québec.
• Québec is Canada’s main producer of maple syrup.
• Québec is a native word (Algonquin) meaning where the river narrows.
• First permanent French settlement in North America |
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Key Phrases in French
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Hello - Bonjour
Goodbye - Au Revoir
Do you speak English? - Parlez-vous anglais?
I don't understand - Je ne comprend pas
Where is the bathroom? - Où se trouve les toilettes?
Thank you (very much) - Merci (beaucoup)
Excuse me! - Pardonnez-moi!
Let's go! - Allons-y!
A street - une rue
To the left - a gauche
To the right - a droite
Straight ahead - tout droit
at the corner of - au coin de
At the traffic light - au feu rouge
Opposite - en face de
I am lost - Je me suis perdue. |
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Towns & Cities
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Montréal (3,635,571) is the largest city in Québec, with Québec City (715,515) second. Other large urban centers are Gatineau, Sherbrooke, Saguaney and Trois Riviéres.
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Tourism Associations
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Tourisme Centre-du-Québec
Tel: 1-888-816-4007
www.tourismecentreduQuébec.com
Tourisme Charlevoix
Tel: 418-665-4454, 1-800-667-2276
www.charlevoixtourism.com
Tourisme Montérégie
Tel: 1-866-469-0069
www.tourisme-monteregie.qc.ca
Montréal Infotouriste Centre
Tel: 1-877-266-5687
www.tourisme-Montréal.org
Tourisme Outaouais
Tel: 1-800-265-7822
www.tourismeoutaouais.com
Laurentides Regional Tourism Office
Tel: 1-800-561-6673
www.laurentides.com
Tourisme Chaudière-Appalaches
Tel: 1-888-831-4411
www.chaudiereappalaches.com
Tourism Eastern Townships
Tel: 1-800-355-5755
www.easterntownships.org
Tourisme Laval
Tel: 1-877-GO-LAVAL
www.tourismelaval.com
Tourisme Îles de la Madeleine
Tel: 1-877-624-4437
www.tourismeilesdelamadeleine.com
Regional Tourism Association Manicouagan
Tel: 1-888-463-5319
www.tourismecote-nord.com
Regional Tourism Association Duplessis
Tel: 1-888-463-0808
www.tourismecote-nord.com
Regional Tourism Association Mauricie
Tel: 1-800-567-7603
www.tourismemauricie.com
Nunavik Tourism Association
Tel: 1-888-594-3424
www.nunavik-tourism.com
Tourism Gaspésie
Tel: 1-800-463-0323
www.tourisme-gaspesie.com
Québec City Tourism
Tel: 1-877-QUE-1608
www.québecregion.com
Québec Aboriginal Tourism Corporation
Tel: 1-877-BONJOUR
www.stag.net
Tourisme Trois-Rivières
Tel: 1-877-374-4061
www.tourismetroisrivieres.com
Tourisme Lanaudière
Tel: 450 834-2535, 1 800 363-2788
www.lanaudiere.ca
Tourisme Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Tel: 1-819-762-8181, 1-800-808-0706
www.tourisme-abitibi-temiscamingue.org
Tourisme Saguenay Lac-Saint-Jean
Tel: 418 543-9778, 1 877 253-8387
www.saguenaylacsaintjean.ca |
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