Nov 23, 2011

Presentation of Quebec

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Full of history, the only french-speaking province of Canada has a lot to tell and to show

Quebec is the only Canadian province that has a predominantly French speaking population. The aurora of Quebec is further enhanced by the fact that it occupies an area that is only smaller than 19 countries. According to the census in 2006, 97.4% of the population was able to communicate in French. The official language is French but English is widely understood.

Since the 1970s, a centre-left political party, Parti Québécois has become a dominant force in Canadian Parliament demanding complete sovereignty from Canada. Such demands for sovereignty have resulted in Parti Québécois winning 45 parliament seats out of a total of 125 seats. Unlike some other countries, the struggle for autonomy of the province has been passive and without any large-scale protests.

History of quebec

Since the 15th century, Quebec has been under the control of several imperial powers including France, England, and Dutch. In 1522, Giovanni da Verrazzano was the first explorer who officially persuaded the French King Francis I to explore a passage to the West of the Atlantic Ocean. Sailing with 50 men, Giovanni da Verrazzano was also the first person to reach present day New York. His voyage set the tempo for subsequent expeditions to New France.

At the time of early expeditions, Quebec was inhabited by three major tribes including Algonquian, Iroquois, and Inuit. Initially, small expeditions found it very difficult to establish a permanent settlement. The arrival of British and other adversaries made it necessary for French governments to negotiate deals with intruding parties.

Ongoing efforts by British traders to secure lands across Quebec led to seven years war with Britain in 1756. The war ended with the capitulation of New France at the Treaty of Paris. Since that fateful day, the boundaries of Quebec province were consistently changed until 1927 when the border between Quebec and Newfoundland & Labrador was established.

Economy of quebec

After Ontario, Quebec is the second most prosperous province in Canada. The GDP of the province is $32,408 which puts it on par with developed countries such as Japan, Italy, and Spain.

During the last decade, Quebec has been influential in developing a knowledge based economy that now accounts for more than 30 percent of the GDP. Improvements in health and technology sectors have helped Quebec become the province with the fastest GDP growth rate in Canada.

Activities in quebec

Due to its diverse climate, Quebec has been an active holiday destination for international travelers. Contrary to popular belief, summer season can get hot and humid. Likewise, winter provides ample opportunities for ski lovers looking for world-class winter resorts.

Quebec City is the only fortified city in North America. With over 400 museums and 130 prominent cathedrals, the city attracts hordes of artists and religious groups.

Geography of quebec

The landscape of Quebec is dominated by low lying mountain ranges and vast winter grasslands. Such topography is ideal for arctic wildlife that includes various species native only to Canada. Some of the popular animals include White-tailed Deer, Moose, Musk ox, Caribou, American black bear, Polar Bear, Cougar, Coyote, Bobcat, and Arctic Fox.

Fun & Festivals in quebec

The arrival of summer in June opens numerous tourist routes and bicycle tracks. A 4,000 km bicycle track, Route Verte, is famous for providing excellent facilities throughout the seemingly endless trial. Hot air balloons, sand castle competitions, music festivals and art exhibitions are some of the favorite pastimes of locals. A candlelight dinner on Saint Lawrence cruise is a must for couples.

By Wolverine Quebec 4 Comments Tags: presentation, Quebec, state