Did You Know?

  1. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has 17 icebreakers, including 4 based in Québec City:

    Type 1200 medium/river icebreaker

    • Des Groseilliers
    • Pierre Radisson
    • Amundsen

    Type 1100 light icebreaker / major buoy tender

    • Martha L. Black
  2. Before the Québec Bridge and the Pierre Laporte Bridge were built, an ice bridge linked the north and south shores of the Saint Lawrence River—in winter only, of course!
  3. From its earliest days, Québec City has been a military city. The Citadel, the fortifications and Valcartier Base still bear witness to this tradition.
  4. Québec City's winter carnival, the Carnaval de Québec, is one of the world's largest. In 2008, it will be held for the 54th time.
  5. Québec City has its own castle. The Château Frontenac, which opened its doors in 1893, was built by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. It is now owned by the Fairmont Hotel Group.
  6. During World War II, two Allied conferences were held in Québec City, in 1943 and 1944. Attending were U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King.
  7. The Québec Bridge twice collapsed while it was being built, in 1907 and 1916. Since it officially opened on August 22, 1919, it has held up well!
  8. According to legend, one of the bolts in the Québec Bridge structure is made of gold. This has never been confirmed!
  9. The Québec Bridge is a cantilever bridge since it is suspended from two large vertical structures. It is the longest cantilever bridge in the world.
  10. The oldest hospital in North America is the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec.
  11. Kébec is an Algonquin word meaning "where the river narrows."
  12. North America's oldest newspaper in any language is the Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph. It was founded in 1764.
  13. Canada's oldest university is Université Laval, established on December 8, 1852. It is the fifth-oldest university in America.
  14. The oldest symphony orchestra in Canada is the Orchestre symphonique de Québec, established in 1902.
  15. The highest waterfall in Québec is Montmorency Falls. It is 83 metres high, or 30 metres higher than Niagara Falls.
  16. With its 212 kilometres of trails and 135 kilometres reserved for skate skiing, Mont Sainte-Anne is the largest centre for cross-country skiing in Canada.
  17. Québec City has the oldest international theatre festival in Canada: the Carrefour international de théâtre de Québec.
  18. The first Anglican cathedral outside Great Britain was built in Québec City in 1804: Holy Trinity Cathedral.
  19. Snowshoes, moccasins and canoes produced by Huron-Wendat craftspeople are internationally renowned.
  20. The Huron-Wendat Nation is known for the hospitality of its people, their mediation talents and their eloquent, poetic way of speaking. The Nation marked its 300th anniversary in 1997.
  21. The Saint Lawrence Seaway is under federal jurisdiction, as are all Canadian rivers.
  22. Savignon was the earliest First Nations interpreter in North America. He guided Champlain on the explorer's expeditions and played an important role in diplomatic negotiations. As well, Savignon was one of the first people of First Nations origin to visit Europe.
  23. Québec City was the first Catholic diocese to be founded north of Mexico.
  24. The oldest business district in North America is Quartier Petit-Champlain, located in Québec City.
  25. Québec City is America's only walled city north of Mexico.
  26. The only French-language newspaper written by and for immigrants to Canada is based in Québec City. It is called Les Immigrants de la Capitale.