“La Belle Province” has many interesting, beautiful places to visit all year long. The four climatic zones and bicultural environment offer people the most varied amount of activities to enjoy. Quebec is great to taste the traditional poutine, do some whale watching, fishing, skiing, sailing, climbing, and visiting waterfalls, rivers and lakes. You can see and walk through the old streets of Vieux Québec and La Ville du Quebec, attend the many festivals throughout the year (like Montreal International Jazz Festival, Québec Winter Festival, Quebec City Summer Festival, etc.) and see some amazing show by the Cirque du Soleil. People can also relax and spend time in the different museums and parks all over the region.
Some interesting Quick Facts about Quebec
· French is the official language since 1974, as declared in the Official Language Act.
· Quebec is the largest producer of electricity in Canada. Its hydroelectric stations are responsible for 95% of the electricity in the province.
· The emissions of Greenhouse gases are the lowest in the country, below than average.
· The world famous Cirque du Soleil has its headquarters there.
· Apart from singer Céline Dion, other worldwide known celebrities from La Belle Province are Jean-Marc Vallée, Xavier Dolan, Dennis Villeneuve and Jason Reitman (filmmakers) and William Shatner (actor).
· Its population, as of 2020, is 8,433,302 people.
· Quebec’s total area measures 1. 667. 712 million km². It also has the largest reserve of fresh waters in the world.
· The main river is Saint Laurent River, a very important part of the history and life of the province.
Main Cities
Quebec City
It’s Quebec’s capital (in French, La Ville du Quebec) and one of Canada’s biggest cities, as well as the second most populated in the region. The Historic District walls are the only one of their kind still standing not only in Canada but in North America, thus making them part of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. Since it’s the seat of the province, the main source of employment comes from government facilities, and the economy comes mostly from tourism and the service and transportation sectors. Most of the population speak French.
Montreal
The most populated city in the province and second in Canada is formed by several small islands, and the city itself is on the Island of Montreal. In 2017 it was the 12th best city to live in the world. Montreal is a vibrant, multicultural city in which Quebeckers, Montrealers and immigrants from all over the world live harmoniously. There are many cafés, theaters, bars and clubs, along with important sites to visit, like the Vieux Montreal, in which the cathedral of Notre-Dame is located. The economic base of the city is formed by the service sector (mainly higher education, engineering, finance) and manufacture, and it is also the center of trade, commerce and many types of industries like aerospace, drug research and computer programs in the province. Technology, culture and world affairs, together with tobacco, telecommunications, food and beverage are important sectors of the economy as well. Many jobs in Montreal also come from culture. Other important cities are Gatineau, Saguenay, and Sherbrooke.