Features

A prosperous, appealing, and friendly capital, Québec City is the cradle of the French presence in North America. The only fortified city north of Mexico, it has managed to retain its European flavor and develop its remarkable cultural heritage.

Beyond its beauty, Québec City is first and foremost a city that affords an unparalleled quality of life to any who settle here. In addition, a number of welcome and support services have been set up to help newcomers settle in smoothly.

A Friendly Community

Québec City has a population of about 500,000. French is the dominant language, with 97% of Quebecers speaking it at home and 83% at work.

However, Quebecers are open to diversity, and we hope to increase the number of new immigrants in the years to come.

Between 2001 and 2006, more than 7,000 persons immigrated to the area, the majority settling in Québec City. Among the main cultural communities who have put down roots here, new immigrants have come mainly from the following ten countries: France, Colombia, Morocco, Bosnia-Herzegovina, China, Algeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Romania, Tunisia, and Burundi.

A Climate That’s Never Dull

Québec City’s seasons are very distinct, and conversation about weather is a daily occurrence. In fact, people here plan their lives around the weather in order to get the most out of each season. A pre-eminently northern city, average annual snowfall is 337 cm. Although winter sports are generally enjoyed from December to March, more clement weather during the remainder of the year makes possible a wide variety of activities.

An Accessible Education System

Residents of the provincial capital benefit from an accessible education system at all levels of schooling.

Schools in all parts of the city offer quality training and instruction at the preschool, primary, and secondary levels. Education at these levels as well as at the collège level is free for those who attend public schools.

A diverse range of education options are available in the area, including Université du Québec, Télé-Université, École nationale d’administration publique, four general and vocational colleges (cégeps), plus a large number of private schools.

Lastly, Université Laval, the first French-speaking university in America, is recognized both for the quality of its teaching and its excellent sports programs. Some 4,000 programs of study attract about 38,000 students annually.

A Safe City

In Québec City, you don’t have to forego strolls in your neighborhood after nightfall. People feel safe everywhere and at all times. Tourists give Québec City a 99% rating for urban safety.

A Unique Quality of Life

Québec City affords its citizens an exceptional urban setting. It has all the advantages of a large city but on a more human scale.

Its features include

• 6 boroughs, each with its own distinctive appeal
• 17 museums and 6 interpretation centers
• 40 km of shoreline along the St. Lawrence River, which alone moves 20% of the world’s fresh water
• 271 kilometers of bike lanes
• 454 parks and green areas
• More than 1,000 restaurants reflecting the cuisines of 25 different nationalities
• A variety of municipal services available throughout the city

And the list goes on! Visit the Attractions section to get a better idea of the city’s charms.

In addition, 30 minutes from downtown, the great outdoors is yours for the asking! Summer or winter, Parc de la Chute-Montmorency and Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier or Station touristique Duchesnay are sure to please you.

Québec City’s cultural life is vibrant, diverse, and accessible to all pocketbooks. From Carnaval de Québec and Festival d'été de Québec to Festival de cinéma des 3 Amériques, Salon international du livre de Québec, and Carrefour international de théâtre, there are activities for every season and for all ages.

Québec City is also a green city concerned with environmental issues. In 2008, the Canadian magazine Corporate Knights named Québec City Canada’s Most Sustainable City among municipalities of 250,000 inhabitants or more thanks to its overall environmental quality, its economic security, the well-being of its population, its ecological approach to transportation, and its public awareness.

Weather permitting, bike paths are available both for exploring the area and for getting to work. The city also boasts an efficient road network including 300 km of freeways. The average time for getting to and from work is 57 minutes, less than in cities like Sherbrooke, Ottawa, Gatineau, and Montréal.

With so much going for it, it’s not surprising that in 2007, FDI Magazine ranked Québec City No. 1 for quality of life in North America among municipalities of similar size.