Québec is Canada's
2nd largest administrative area (nearly 3 times the size of France);
only the territory of Nunavut is bigger.
It is the 2nd most populated province,
behind Ontario.
Most of Québec's inhabitants live
along the banks of the St.Lawrence River.
The rest of the province is sparsely populated and
inhabited primarily by Aboriginal people.
The name "Québec" comes from the Algonquian language
and means "Where the river narrows".
Jacques Cartier took possession of this land on behalf of the
King of France,
40 years after Christopher Columbus discovered America.
At that time, the region was inhabited by Algonquian, Iroquoian and
Inuit groups.
Five centuries rich with history followed, from the colonial regime
to the modern age.
Québec is the only Canadian
province with a predominantly (over 75%) French~speaking population,
and the only province with French as the sole official language.
It is the largest French~speaking community in all the Americas.
French traditions, such as the system of civil law,
also remain strong in Québec.
The Canadian House of Commons
passed a symbolic motion
recognizing the "Québécois people as a nation within Canada".
There is, however, a significant English~speaking minority,
concentrated in Montreal.
Québec is bordered to the west by Ontario,
James Bay and Hudson Bay, to the north by Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay,
to the east by the Gulf of Saint Lawrence,
New Brunswick,
Newfoundland and
Labrador.
It shares maritime borders with Nunavut,
Prince Edward Island and
Nova Scotia.
Along the southern border with the USA,
lie the states of Maine,
New Hampshire,
Vermont,
and New York.
For detailed information please contact the Québec Provincial Government.
WEATHER
Québec boasts a multifaceted geography, and its topography,
vegetation and climate are varied.
Four very distinct seasons put their stamp on this immense land,
Canada’s largest province.
Southern and western areas of Québec
have a humid continental climate with hot, muggy summers and
long, cold winters.
Precipitation is plenty throughout the year,
with most areas receiving more than 1000 mm (40 inches)
of precipitation,
including over 300 cm (120 inches) of snow.
During the summer, severe weather patterns
(tornadoes and thunderstorms)
occasionally occur.
Central Québec has a subarctic climate.
Winters are long and among the coldest in eastern Canada.
Summers are warm but very short.
Precipitation is less than farther south,
except at higher elevations.
The northern regions of Québec have an arctic climate,
with extreme cold winters and short, much cooler summers.
The primary influences in this region are the Arctic Ocean currents
and continental air masses from the High Arctic.
ECONOMY
Québec is the world's #1 producer of maple syrup.
The St.Lawrence River Valley is a fertile agricultural region,
producing dairy, fruit, vegetables, foie gras, and livestock.
Northern Québec has significant resources in its
coniferous forests, lakes, and rivers.
Pulp & paper, lumber, and hydro~electricity are some of the
province's most important industries.
There is a significant concentration of high~tech industries
around Montreal, including international aerospace corporations.
These companies and other major sub~contractors have made
Québec the 4th largest producer of aviation related products in the world.
SCHOOLS
The Québec school system is governed by the
Ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport
(Ministry of Education, Recreation and Sports).
The system is administered at the local level by publicly elected
French and English school boards.
Teachers are represented by provincial unions that
negotiate province~wide working conditions with
local school boards and the provincial government.
There are publicly funded French and English schools.
English is taught as a 2nd language in French schools from Grade 1 upwards.
Some schools offer English immersion programs.
All students must attend French~language public schools except:
• Children who have already done most of their studies in English.
• Children whose father/mother/sibling did most of their studies in English.
• Temporary residents of Québec.
• First Nation children.
Québec has the highest proportion of
children going to private schools in North America.
This practice is not restricted to the rich.
Many middle~class and even low~income families
make it a priority to send their children to private schools.
Most students continue to 
Collège d'Enseignement Général et Professionel (CEGEP),
meaning "College of General and Vocational Education".
At these state~run, tuition~free, post~secondary schools,
students can specialize in a number of different vocational
or pre~university fields.
Primary school, secondary school, and CEGEP
add up to 13 years of study, one more year than other provinces.
University degrees in Québec
are only 3 years in length for Québec students
with a CEGEP diploma.
As a result, students from outside Québec
must add a freshman year at the beginning of their university career.
The Université du Québec is a system of 10 provincially~run
public universities, providing more than 300 programs to over 76 thousand students,
making it the largest university in the province and the country.
Québec subsidises post~secondary education and controls tuition fees,
resulting in low student costs in university education.
Montreal has the highest percentage of
university students per capita than any other
major North American city.
For more details please contact the
Quebec Ministry of Education.
HOSPITALITY
Québec is truly a unique land in North America.
Unique for its history and its culture,
which together have forged its bold and exuberant identity.
Simply put, Québec is warmth, absolute authenticity and intensity,
all within easy reach!
Spend some time in Québec and enjoy an
emotional experience in a unique destination.
Get to know Québecers—genuine, down~to~earth people with hearts as
big as the land’s wide, open spaces!
Exuding enthusiasm and determination,
Québecers ensure the endurance and vitality
of their culture within the borders of North America,
with creativity and passion!
Québec has 22 tourist regions,
each of which presents a unique facet of the province.
New settlements or ancient fiefs, seaports or forest estates,
these regions welcome you with open arms and
unflagging heartiness and enthusiasm!
No matter what regions you choose to visit, you can’t go wrong!
Savour life in harmony with nature amidst lakes, glens and forests.
In this vast territory, bears, deer and caribou are often
the only inhabitants. Explore the province’s length and breadth by canoe,
snowmobile or seaplane, with nature as your travel companion.
The historic St.Lawrence River is an access route to the heart of
the continent. Its rural and rugged coastline is home to
old coastal villages, islands,
bird sanctuaries, marine mammals and lighthouses.
A whole world to explore from the shore or while riding the waves!
In contrast, Québec cities are dynamic cultural melting pots,
rich in architectural heritage.
Urban Québec is historic, yet modern, vibrant, and festive.
Québec offers a comprehensive and
varied range of accommodation formats.
In all cases, the utmost attention is paid to comfort
and hospitality. All establishments are classified according
to strict criteria so as to guarantee visitors quality services
and to help them choose their accommodations.
Québec has almost 6000 accommodation
establishments that hold official classification certificates
issued by the Corporation de l’Industrie Touristique du Québec,
plus 800 campgrounds classified by the 
Conseil du Développement du Camping au Québec.
For more details please contact
Quebec Tourism.
NEWS
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