Quebec
is a predominately French-speaking province in eastern Canada with 2
vibrant cities in its south. The metropolis of Montreal is named
after Mount Royal, the triple-peaked hill at its heart. Dating to
1608, Quebec City retains its old colonial core. Place Royale, and
historic harbour, Vieux Port are now known for nightlife.
Quebec
founded: October 7, 1763
Capital:
Quebec City
Colleges
and Universities: Laval University (and more)
Quebec Facts
Canada's
largest province, 'Quebec'
came
from the Algonquin word 'Kepek'
meaning
“the place where the river narrows,”
(referring to the St. Lawrence River at Quebec City)
Ethnic
Groups of People
include French, Irish, Italian, English, Aboriginal, Scottish,
German.
Languages:
French 80%, English 7.8%, Italian 1.7%, Spanish 1.5%, Arabic 1.5%
(2006 census).
Aboriginal
People,total
over 108,430: Mohawk,
Wendat (Huron), Cree, Algonquin, Innu (Montagnais), Micmac,
Attikameks, Inuit and Metis
(2006 census).
People came from France, Britain, southern Europe, East and southeast
Asia.
The largest city is Montreal (metropolitan population over 3.7
million).
Most cities and towns are along the St. Lawrence River.
History
The
first people are the Aboriginals ~ in the southern part, growing
squash, beans and maize; some were hunters and gatherers who lived in
birchbark
covered wigwams; the
northern people hunted seals, whales and polar bears.
Explorer, Jacques Cartier arrived in 1534 and claimed the land for
France.
Samuel
de Champlain set up a colony called...New
France
in 1608.
Farmers
called, habitants
settled there. (Wonder
why the Montreal
Canadiens were
called 'Habs'?)
British and French fought the Seven Years' War...
ending when Quebec City was captured by the British in 1759.
Loyalists arrived from the U.S. (1781) and settled further up the
river.
The area was divided into Upper Canada (English-speaking) & Lower
Canada (French-speaking) 1791.
The Act of Union in 1840 united Upper and Lower Canada and
established the Province of Canada.
In 1867, the Province of Canada was divided into Ontario and Quebec.
Quebec became one of the four original provinces of the Dominion of
Canada, along with Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in 1867.
Water and Land
The land is divided into 3 regions ~ Canadian Shield, St. Lawrence
Lowlands and Appalachian Region.
About 90% of Quebec is in the Canadian Shield...being rocky with
forests, lakes and rivers.
Most people live in the St. Lawrence Lowlands...and agricultural
region.
The St. Lawrence River (over 1200 km long) links Quebec to the
Atlantic Ocean.
The Appalachian Region (south-eastern part of the province) consists
of weathered mountains.
Quebec has more fresh water than any other province.
There are more than one million lakes and thousands of waterways.
Resources and Industry
Gold, copper, iron ore, silver, zinc, nickel and asbestos are mined
in Quebec.
Hydroelectric power is produced and exported to the U.S.
One of the largest hydroelectric plants in the world is near James
Bay.
Quebec produces more than a third of Canada's pulp and paper
products.
Lumber is used to make furniture and build homes.
The province is Canada's main producer of maple syrup.
The dairy industry is the largest in Canada.
Raising hogs, cattle and poultry...and growing hay, corn and oats to
feed the animals are significant.
All kinds of fruit and vegetables are grown in southern Quebec.
Manufacturing: aerospace industries, aircraft and commuter trains,
computer and electronic products and pharmaceuticals.
Events:
The
Winter Carnival is held in Quebec City in February. Activities
include winter sports, dances, ice sculptures and dog sled races,
parades and concerts. 'Bonhomme'
is
the snowman mascot.
The Laurentian Mountains, north of Montreal, invite travellers to
visit and vacation in its scenically-scenic paradise. I spent a few
ski-weeks in late December and January ~ most exhilarating days
including Gray Rocks and Mont Tremblant. Although brief visits in
Quebec City, I never skied Mont Sainte-Anne nor any resorts in the
Eastern Township near the Vermont border.
Places:
Bonaventure Island Bird Sanctuary ~ largest colony of gannets in the
world.
Quebec City ~ the only walled city north of Mexico in North America,
has many historic buildings.
Old
Montreal ~ features cobblestone streets and has architecture from the
17th
and 18th
century.
Religious Shrines ~ Saint Joseph's Oratory in Montreal and
Ste-Anne-de-Beaupre Basilica attract millions of pilgrims yearly.
Significant
People: Celine
Dion, Oscar Peterson, William Shatner, J.A. Bombardier, Myriam
Bedard, Gaelon Boucher, Marc Gagnon, Gilles & Jacques Villeneuve,
Marc Garneau and Julie Payette.
Canadian
Prime Ministers from Quebec:
Jean Chretien, Brian Mulroney, Pierre Trudeau, Louis St. Laurent, Sir
Wilfred Laurier and Sir John Abbot.
Famous
NHL Hockey Players from Quebec:
Henri and Maurice Rocket Richard, Jean Beliveau, Guy LaFleur,
Patrick Roy, Bernie Boom Boom Geoffrion, Mario Lemieux.
Provincial Emblems:
Flower:
Fleur de lis (Blue Flag Iris)...Tree:
Yellow Birch (for making furniture)...Insect:
White Admiral Butterfly...Nickname:
La Belle Province (Beautiful)...Motto:
Je me souviens
(I remember).
Flag:
has a white cross on a blue background;
the
four white fleur
de lis
represent the early settlers.
It became the official flag in 1948.
Merle Baird-Kerr...written July 7, 2015
To comment: email to
No comments:
Post a Comment