Steven Blaney, MP for Lévis–Bellechasse and Chairman of the Standing Committee on Official Languages, takes part with the artists in the launch of Francoforce in Ottawa, on behalf of the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women and Minister for La Francophonie.

OTTAWA, July 18, 2008

Francoforce shines a spotlight on the Canadian Francophonie and Québec City’s 400th Anniversary in Canada’s Capital Region

The Government of Canada is proud to contribute to Francoforce, a cross­‑Canada tour highlighting the vitality and contribution of the French language and culture in Canada as part of the 400th anniversary of Québec City. Francoforce is breaking new ground in many ways. It stands out not only through its original concept, but also because it is the result of unprecedented cooperation between provincial and territorial governments and Canada’s Francophone communities.

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For more information about Francoforce  (French only)

Minister Verner with Samuel de Champlain; Joe Ceci, Alderman of the City of Calgary; Lucie Latulippe, National and International Affairs Delegate for the Société du 400e anniversaire de Québec; George Brookman, President and Chairman of the Calgary Stampede; and Régis Labeaume, Mayor of Québec City.

CALGARY, July 11, 2008

Minister Verner takes part in the Calgary Stampede activities to mark the 400th anniversary of Québec City

Minister Josée Verner took part in festivities organized by the Calgary Stampede marking Québec City’s 400th anniversary. On July 11, 2008, under the theme "Parlez-vous Yahoo?", the Calgary Stampede celebrated Québec City’s 400th anniversary by offering a wide variety of activities commemorating the historic anniversary.

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To see more photos from July 11, click here

Prime Minister Stephen Harper attends July 3 celebrations in Québec City with a number of dignitaries invited to mark the occasion. 

QUÉBEC, July 3, 2008

PM attends Québec City’s 400th anniversary celebrations

Prime Minister Stephen Harper gave a speech in Québec City as a tribute to the 400-year history of this magnificent city, founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608. He attended the ceremony for this significant anniversary aimed at highlighting the rich historical and cultural heritage of Québec. 
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For more photos from July 3, click here

Mayor Régis Labeaume with (from left to right) Robert Dorais, Paul Bellemare, Marc Demonceaux and Steven Blaney, Member of Parliament for Lévis‑Bellechasse, at the launch of a commemorative map of the voyages and explorations of Samuel de Champlain.

QUÉBEC, May 30, 2008

Launch of a commemorative map of the voyages and explorations of Samuel de Champlain by Fisheries and Oceans Canada

A commemorative map of the voyages and explorations of Samuel de Champlain was unveiled as part of the 400th anniversary celebrations of Québec City. Based on the maps compiled by Champlain throughout his many voyages in New France from 1603 to 1615, the commemorative map incorporates images representing Champlain’s various talents as an explorer, hydrographer, cartographer, illustrator, ethnographer, author and navigator. 
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Minister Josée Verner with Robert Lepage and the Mayor of Québec City, Régis Labeaume, at the Image Mill premiere. 

QUÉBEC, June 20, 2008

The Image Mill comes to life!

The 81 Bunge grain silos have been transformed into a giant screen. It is by far, the world’s biggest architectural projection ever presented. The Image Mill presents 400 years of Québec City history. The show can be seen either on the Espace 400e site.
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Sylvie Boucher, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Status of Women, and MP for Beauport–Limoilou, attended the Solidarity Brunch at the Centre des congrès de Québec on behalf of the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women, and Official Languages and Minister for la Francophonie.

QUÉBEC, April 6, 2008

The Solidarity Brunch

The Solidarity Brunch showcases and recognizes individuals for their dedication and outstanding community involvement. Centraide Québec et Chaudière–Appalaches organized this event to present the Grands Prix de la solidarité to the four award recipients. Sylvie Boucher, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Status of Women, and MP for Beauport–Limoilou, attended the event, held as part of Québec City’s 400th anniversary celebrations, on behalf of the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women, and Official Languages and Minister for la Francophonie.  More (news release in French only)»

Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn attended the Bassin Brown inauguration ceremony. Bassin Brown is one of four Government of Canada legacies in commemoration of Québec City's 400th anniversary.

QUÉBEC, May 23, 2008

Bassin Brown has a new look

Bassin Brown, formerly known as l'Anse-des-Mères, has been redeveloped. It provides the public and river enthusiasts with walking paths and a footbridge that offers a superb view of the St. Lawrence.  More»

Minister Josée Verner takes part in the launch of the Francoforce Cross-Canada Tour.

QUÉBEC, March 20, 2008

Francoforce Cross-Canada Tour

The Government of Canada joins the provincial and territorial governments to produce Francoforce, a Canada-wide cultural project that highlights the wealth and vitality of French-Canadian culture. The Francoforce pan-Canadian tour helps expand the visibility of the 400th anniversary of the founding of Québec City across Canada.  More »

Sylvie Boucher, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Status of Women, on behalf of the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages, takes part in announcing the winners of the 15th Dictée des Amériques.

QUÉBEC, March 15, 2008

15th Dictée des Amériques

The dictation, crafted and read by writer-composer-performer Dan Bigras, was entitled “Faut-il punir les enfants qui font des fautes” [should children be punished for making mistakes]. Among the participants, who represented more than 60 countries, were three Canadians who received gold prizes. The international competition was part of the celebrations for Québec City's 400th anniversary. Sylvie Boucher, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Status of Women, represented the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages, during the award ceremony. More »

Minister Josée Verner takes part in the official launch of activities to mark the 100th anniversary of the National Battlefields Commission and Battlefields Park.

QUÉBEC, March 15, 2008

Plains of Abraham – 100 years of history

One hundred years ago, on March 17, 1908, the Government of Canada created Battlefields Park as a legacy to Québec City. This marked the creation of the National Battlefields Commission (NBC). The NBC was made responsible for organizing the major events for Québec City's 300th anniversary and for preserving, fostering, and promoting the Park's role in the country's history. To mark 100 years of the NBC and celebrate this magnificent gift to the people, a number of events will be held throughout the year. Minister Josée Verner took part in the official launch of the activities. More »

Other photos »

Radio-Canada feature report: 400 fois Québec (French only) »

On behalf of Minister Josée Verner, Sylvie Boucher, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Status of Women, and Member of Parliament (Beauport–Limoilou), attended the Québec City premiere of Symphony of a Thousand by composer Gustav Mahler.

QUÉBEC, March 15, 2008

Gustav Mahler's Symphony of a Thousand

Yoav Talmi, conductor of the Orchestre symphonique de Québec, along with 200 musicians and an 800-member choir, gave a brilliant performance of Mahler's Symphony of a Thousand as part of Québec City's 400th anniversary celebrations. Sylvie Boucher, MP for Beauport–Limoilou and Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Status of Women, attended the premiere on behalf of Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages. More »

Minister Josée Verner at the grand opening of the Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations in Wendake. This event was held as part of Québec City's 400th anniversary celebrations.

QUÉBEC, March 7, 2008

Grand opening of the Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations

Standing on the banks of the Akiawenrahk (Saint-Charles) River in Wendake, the Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations recalls the architecture of a traditional Iroquois longhouse. The Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations promotes the cultural and artistic wealth and history of the Huron-Wendat Nation. More »

Other pictures »

Minister Josée Verner accompanied by four of the five co-authors participates in the launch of Military History of Québec City, 1608-2008, a composite book that brings together the efforts and texts of five historians.  

QUÉBEC, February 19, 2008

Discover the words and images of Québec City's military history

Minister Josée Verner along with four of the five co-authors attended the launch of Military History of Quebec City, 1608-2008.

Minister Josée Verner attends the launch of the NFB's programming as part of Québec City's 400th anniversary activities.

QUEBEC, February 18, 2008

The National Film Board of Canada's (NFB) programming salutes Québec City's 400th anniversary

Minister Josée Verner attends the launch of the NFB's programming as part of Québec City's 400th anniversary. On the agenda, four films present different perspectives of Québec City and several other innovative projects with themes relating to Québec City's 400th anniversary. They include a three dimensional projection, documentaries, films from the Aboriginal collection, and a big-budget multimedia show. Through these activities, the NFB actively contributes to Pan-Canadian outreach across Canada to share Québec City's heritage throughout the country. More»

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Minister Josée Verner and the Bonhomme Carnaval at the Western breakfast offered by the delegation of the Calgary Stampede.  

QUÉBEC, February 9, 2008

The delegation of the Calgary Stampede courteously offered a Western breakfast to the citizens of Québec City

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages, together with the Bonhomme Carnaval, are participating to the free Western breakfast offered by the delegation of the Calgary Stampede. The Western breakfast is one of many activities on the Québec Winter Carnival's menu. Other pictures»

Minister Josée Verner and Mr. George Brookman, CEO of the Calgary Stampede.

QUÉBEC, February 8, 2008

The Calgary Stampede Barbecue in Valcartier

QUÉBEC, February 2, 2008

Opening celebrations of Québec Winter Carnival

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QUÉBEC, December 31, 2007

Launch of the celebrations for the 400^th anniversary of Québec City!

For close to 10 months, Québec City will be adorned with celebratory colors, and the city will be the scene of a number of activities of national and international interest. More » 

GATINEAU, December 14, 2007

Meeting with Jean-Pierre Raffarin regarding 400^th anniversary of Québec City

Meeting between Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former Prime Minister of France and Chair of the French organizing committee for the 400^th anniversary of Québec City; Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages and Louis Duvernois, Senator representing French citizens living abroad, met today in Ottawa to discuss Canada-France cooperation for the 400^th anniversary of Québec City.
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WENDAKE, October 19, 2007

Unveiling of the programming of the Aboriginal People's activities for the 400^th anniversary of Québec City

In 2008, members of the Huron-Wendat Nation will dress in full regalia for exciting performances that show the Wendake of yesterday and today, as well as its art, culture, and rich past.  More »

QUÉBEC, September 24, 2007

CALGARY, July 9, 2007

Presentation of the programming of the 400^th anniversary of Québec City at the Calgary Stampede

On behalf of the Government of Canada, The Honorable Josée Verner and the Honourable Jean Pierre Blackburn, enthusiastically welcomed the programming for the 400^th anniversary of Québec City's celebrations presented by the Société du 400^e anniversaire de Québec at the Calgary Stampede. More »