Quebec is the largest Canadian Province in size and second to Ontario in population with largely a French-speaking culture which is reflective of past Canadian history. Quebec is located in the east of Canada - east of Ontario, west of Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and south of the territory of Nunavut.
The capital of Quebec is Quebec City - it being largest city Montreal. Québec is unique among tourist destinations. Its French heritage does set the province apart, and it is one of the only areas in North America to have preserved its French historical links and culture. Its European feel and its history, culture and warmth have made Québec a favourite tourist destination both nationally and internationally.
Québec was a French colony for more than two centuries, between the arrival of Jacques Cartier in 1534 and Governor Vaudreuil’s capitulation to the English in 1760. It is the only province in Canada where French is the official language - the remaining provinces speaking English as the primary tonque.
Québec is Canada’s second most populous province.
7 million inhabitants
5.6 million (approx. 80%) whose mother tongue is French
English is spoken by 10% of the population with 8% divided between 30 other languages such as Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and Greek. However, it is very easy to t
Travel in Québec speaking only English is relatively straigntforward especially main centres such as Montreal and Quebec City as over 40% of the population is bilingual with major centres having a much higher level of dual languages spoken. Much of the Qubec population along or near the St. Lawrence Rive which is located towards the southern portion of the province. The population is largely urbanized; close to 50% of Quebecers live in the metropolitan area of Montréal.
Canada
Canada is located directly above the United States of America, sharing land borders with the country, and comprises most of North America. The country extends from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean (east to west) and north into the Arctic Ocean.
A parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy, Canada is a federation that comprises ten provinces and three territories. It is officially bilingual and multicultural with English and French represented at federal level.
Geography:
Canada shares a land border with the United States of America to the South and to the Northwest. Being the second largest country in the world, it stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and to the North until the Arctic Ocean.
Canada's climate varies based on geography - in the north the temperature is almost permanently at freezing level, however towards the equator there are generally four distinct seasons. In this region the temperature can climb up to 35 degrees Celsius in the Summer and descend to a chilly -25 degrees Celsius during Winter. This means that most Canadian cities are within 300 km of the southern border - it is here that mild springs, hot summers and crisp autumns reign.
Winters are harsh in many areas of the country and in non-coastal areas snow can cover the ground for almost six months of the year. Interior and Prairie provinces experience a continental climate.
Did You Know?
© Written by E.J.Clarke.
Canada
