Travel guide
Quebec

The 12 keywords Quebec

1. #Accent

Beware, this is a highly sensitive subject! Quebecers, who are at home here, consider that it is the French who have an accent. We can only agree with them on this point. So to discover the local kindness, the rule is simple: leave your prejudices about the Quebecois language when you get your suitcase at the airport.

2. #Aboriginal people

They are divided into eleven distinct nations, established from the southern border to the borders of Quebec's Far North. Their culture and traditions are of incredible richness, intimately linked to Mother Earth, which they defend tooth and nail. To get to the heart of the matter first-hand, Aboriginal tourism is a memorable experience.

3. #Craft beer

Artisanal breweries and microbreweries are sprouting up like mushrooms all over the province. And Quebecers have become true beer geeks, as evidenced, for example, by the queues at the famous bottle releases (limited edition beer sales, directly at the brewery). A craze that continues.

4. #Snack time

They are everywhere, in the city and in the region. Adored by Quebecers, they are in a way part of the local heritage. All kinds of high-calorie specialities are eaten on the go, such as burgers, poutines, club sandwiches and the like. But what makes the reputation of a good snack first and foremost is its homemade fries.

5. #Troubleshooter

These small Quebec businesses open very late in the evening and every day of the week. Some operate even day and night. We buy the newspaper, cigarettes, beer, milk, canned food, some fresh products, confectionery, etc.. The prices are higher than in the supermarket but, as the name suggests, it helps.

6. #Squirrels

It's true they're cute. It is also true that they are omnipresent, especially in Montreal where their size can sometimes surprise. There is not a single tourist who is not tempted to take a picture of these little hairy animals. Can we prove them wrong? However, we recommend that you do not get too close to them, as a bite has quickly arrived.

7. #Hockey

It is the national sport par excellence. Would you like to see the Montreal Canadiens play? Make your reservations well in advance because some duels are highly coveted, especially against Toronto, Boston and Chicago. And if you value your life, we strongly advise you not to parade around in the streets wearing the Boston Bruins jersey, the sworn enemy.

8. #Humor

Quebecers are bon vivants and particularly appreciate humour. So much so that a National School of Humour was founded in Montreal in 1988. Since then, the school has graduated nearly 700 creators, authors and comedians, including many of the great contemporary names in Quebec humour. Some have even exported their talent to Europe.

9. #Secularism

It is on everyone's lips, especially since the adoption of the Law on State Secularism promulgated before the summer break of 2019. One can be for or against it, but it is nonetheless trying to bring closure to a societal debate that has been going on for too long. It remains to be seen what the medium-term impact of this law will be, particularly on immigration.

10. #Outfitters

Made up of lakes and rivers, it is a large forest estate owned by a company that offers lodging and recreational fishing, hunting and trapping. Over time, the outfitters have become true vacation destinations and now offer a multitude of other outdoor activities.

11. #SaintLaurent

A major river axis and a vital commercial link, the St. Lawrence is a river, estuary and gulf. It connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean over a few thousand kilometres. Most of the population is concentrated along its banks. It is also here, from May to October, that the many marine mammals come to feed.

12. #Honoring

It's not a lack of respect. On the contrary, it is one of the customs of Quebec. It is established according to age: people under 30 years of age are generally familiar with each other and those of the same generation are also familiar with each other. It is also not uncommon for a public service employee to be familiar with his interlocutor, as well as an employee with his employer.