Quebec+Culture

Quebec Culture Québec has developed a culture that is vibrant, definitely contemporary and open to the world, a culture at the crossroads of European and American trends. It has an extensive network of creative talent that is increasingly making its mark on the international scene in all disciplines. Québec’s festivals draw hundreds of thousands of visitors every year from all over the world. An ideal meeting place for all types of audiences, the festivals are held in every season and in every part of Québec. Fans of cultural events and movie buffs can take advantage of an impressive network of performance halls and cinema complexes that present original productions from Québec and elsewhere. Québec also has a vast network of museums, art galleries and exhibition centres. Literature is another medium of cultural expression and affirmation in Québec. Several publishing houses publish thousands of books that are distributed through major book fairs and a large network of public libraries.
 * History || Economics || Politics || Geography || Culture || Activities ||

Education The Québec education system is comprised of a public education program that ranges from kindergarten to university. Education is free of charge for all Québec residents from kindergarten to college (cégep) inclusively. The Québec public school system is language-based (anglophone or francophone), depending on the language of instruction used in the school. Since French is the official language of Québec, children of immigrants, regardless of their mother tongue, are usually required to attend a local establishment of the French school board until the end of secondary studies. In addition, mixed gender classes are the norm at all levels of education. A private network of schools is also recognized by the Ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport. These institutions also offer the official school program. To attend these schools, students must pay tuition fees and fulfill specific entrance requirements. School attendance is compulsory for all children from 6 to 16 years of age. The school year begins at the end of August or early September and usually finishes before June 24. It lasts at least 180 days.

Sports and Recreation Quebecers enjoy a wide and diverse range of recreational activities and the four distinct seasons offer a wealth of interesting activities. In winter, Quebecers can take advantage of many sports facilities which allow them to appreciate nature. There are 90 ski hills and about 40 cross-country skis centres with thousands of marked trails to choose from, as well as over 30,000 kilometers of snowmobile trails. In summer, golfers have hundreds of courses that are ranked among the best in Canada. Québec’s bicycle paths extend for thousands of kilometres. All Québec municipalities have neighbourhood sports facilities such as swimming pools, baseball fields, soccer fields and tennis courts. Water sports fans have hundreds of lakes and rivers in which to practice their activities. Québec has a network of parks and reserves where hunters, fishers and nature lovers can enjoy their favourite sports. There are many hiking trails for Quebecers to enjoy nature without going far from the large cities. These are perfect places to take long walks, have a picnic or go jogging.

Language Choosing Québec means you want to live in a francophone society. French is the common public language and is used by more than 80% of the population.

Religion The majority of Quebecers are descended from French and Irish Catholic colonists, as well as British Protestants. The arrival of a highly diversified group of immigrants in Québec, especially since the 1960s, has significantly changed its traditional religious landscape. The architecture of Québec reflects the prominent role of religion at the time of colonization. For example, each town and village in Québec is said to have its own church. Montréal, which is also called the “city of 100 steeples,” is renowned for its some 500 churches, synagogues, temples and mosques. The city has a rich heritage of religious architecture.
 * Catholicism is still predominant in Québec.
 * The number of non-Christians is rapidly growing.
 * Surprisingly, the second largest group has no religious affiliation at all.
 * Ethnic, cultural and religious diversity are now an integral part of everyday life.

Societal Expectations Quebecers are known for their friendliness. Cordiality, simplicity and an open mind characterize social relationships in the street, in the workplace or at the bank, for example. Quebecers place great importance on maintaining an atmosphere that promotes: These common values and the laws of Québec society enjoy a consensus and guarantee everyone the right to freely choose their lifestyle, values, opinions and religion. All of the above information is from Immingration in Quebec
 * freedom of expression,
 * equal rights, and
 * respect for differences.

Food **Chien Chaud, All Dress (Steamie)**: A steamed hot dog with the works. The tastiest is found on Rue St. Jacques in Quebec City's St. Roch district - a bargain at 39 cents! Soupe aux Pois: Pea soup, thick and hearty made with a ham hock broth is a winter favorite. **Tourtiere:** A traditional Quebec meat pie **Pate Chinois**: A typical shepherd's pie made with ground beef, corn and onions topped with mashed potatoes. **Cretons**: A tasty pate of ground pork, onions and lard. **Feves au Lard:** Pork and and baked beans The above information was found at Quebec Food

Tradition

The visual arts include the following fields : multimedia art, video art, the textile arts, drawing, etching, holography, installation, painting, performance, photography and others. Québec numbers about 75 self-managed arts centres, 75 centres devoted to contemporary art, and close to 180 professional art galleries. Québec is very open to cultural exchanges in the visual arts field. It produces a great number of events that attract visitors from everywhere and foreign artists. To cite a few examples, these include the Mois de la Photo à Montréal, Québec's international festivals of the performing arts, and missions related to the visual arts.

The first film that was shot in Québec was “Danse indienne”, in 1896, by the Lumière Brothers. It was not before the 1950's, however, that Québec's film industry took off. Productions from that period dealt with everyday life in Québec. In 1956, the French section of the National Film Board, the Office national du film (ONF), was moved from Ottawa to Montréal, which contributed to heighten the enthusiasm of Québec's film makers. Today, film making in Québec has matured. The presence of many productions in internationally reputed festivals clearly demonstrates this. Films by producers such as Denys Arcand, Manon Briand, Gilles Carle, François Girard, Carole Laure or Denis Villeneuve have contributed to give Québec wider visibility.

In the circus arts, Québec today is displaying a rare vitality. Its creative people are producing amazement everywhere and developing world-famous artists. Since the early 1980's, the circus in Québec truly took off with Le Cirque du Soleil and the circus school in Montréal, which has now become National Circus School. Since then, the Cirque Éos, the Cirque Eloize as well as several independent workers have also emerged to take part in further widening Québec's scope of influence.

Québec has certain customs and traditions that are difficult to ignore. Among these are the storytellers, who have always held an important place in the Québec tradition. Their legends and tales nourished the collective memory even while serving as a means of entertainment. Storytellers can still be found in certain regions of Québec, telling stories that are sometimes newly created and sometimes traditional, such as “La Corriveau” and “La chasse-galerie”, which are among the most popular. Festivals Quebecers feel attracted to a collective cultural life, a heritage from the first French settlers who, in the wintertime, would gather together to celebrate and hobnob among family and friends. This tradition is still carried on today with some 400 events and festivals, such as the Quebec Carnival and the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal, which enliven Québec's towns and regions all year round. Quebec Culture