This largest province in Canada shares borders with Ontario,
New Brunswick and Newfoundland ... as well as being neighbours with four
American states: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York.
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| Canada showing Quebec Province |
Its name Québec was inspired by the Algonquian word meaning
"where the (St Lawrence) river
narrows". The French in New
France (1534 - 1763) used it solely to refer to the city of Québec; leaving the British to use it in its
now more common accepted usage.
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| Canada (the Province of Quebec) 1774 |
Québec feels like a country within a country ... France
within Canada ... it is the only predominantly French speaking Province ...
with French as the sole provincial official language.
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| Quebec City montage |
It's a stunning part of the world ... with lots going for it
- in the way of history, tourism, natural resources and innovative economic
sectors ...
Québec city is the province's capital ... while Montreal is
considerably the larger city ...
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| Rue du Cul de Sac in the heritage part of Old Quebec city |
Yet Québec gives Canada that extra French zip to life ...
the historic neighbourhood of Old Québec ... now a UNESCO World Heritage Site
... confirms this area as a unique cultural iconic region ...
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| Old Quebec |
Québécois ... the French Canadian spoken is not like the Parisienne French, even a Frenchman had trouble trying to understand it ... this is from Jo - thank you!
That is Q for Québec the ubiquitous French section of Canada
.... from Aspects by a British 'girl'
in Canada ...
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
40 comments:
Thank you so much for my continuing education.
Hari Om
"Q" is a stretch for many in this challenge - but this one fitted right in here!!! I was reminded of meeting a Quebecois couple many decades past upon whom I was trying out my schoolgirl French. We were talking at odds... The same is true of the Scots Gaelic spoken in NS and Cape Breton compared to that of the Hebrides. YAM xx
Quebec sounds like a wondrous place. Good use of your letter Q!
I've always loved the idea of Quebec. Why wouldn't I, with it being so French, but my love affair with the idea has increased since I discovered Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series which is set in Quebec, and through the stories you are taken on a tour to intriguing places. Luckily, she's written heaps and except for the climate which seems soooo cold, it is a place many of her readers travel to now just to see the setting.
Thanks for increasing my knowledge of Quebec, Hilary.
Denise
You're welcome Hilary. I have only been to Montreal myself and have always wanted to go to Québec city especially since I lived quite close to the village in Kent where General Wolfe was born, he who climbed the Heights of Abraham and captured Québec City. Montreal is a very vigorous town and I enjoyed my stay there. First time I came across Montreal Meats. Have you come across them yet Hilary?
I would love to go and see Quebec and the rest of Canada - so beautiful.
I'd imagine their French is as different as my English is to British English. Separated by a common language...
You know, I’ve been to Ontario many times (used to live close by) and I’ve been to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland but never to Quebec:(
And I haven’t been around much lately and see what I’m missing with the A—Z challenge this year.
I have decided to consolidate my two blogs (one is more professional) as I can’t see any reason to keep working on them both. In a strange way this feels like I’m coming out of the closet as I haven’t written about my livelihood. Most of my posts from now on will be at www.thepulpitandthepen.com
You’re welcome to stop by.
Regional dialects often totally stump the original native speakers. True for Francophone Africa also, i think. Canada makes Q a breeze for you :)
We had a wonderful few days in Montreal once, but I haven’t yet been to Quebec City, a,though John has for work. It’s on my very long list!
Looks wonderful. Everything I've seen about Canada impresses me, from the grand outdoors to elegant cities.
I have family in Quebec but I've never been there. My mother hasn't been back since she was a child!Thanks for teaching me things I should have known but didn't!
A-Z of My Friend Rosey!
I loved the entire Quebec province and although I understood the Quebec movement for independence, the 1995 vote struck outsiders as a terrible shame. The Czechs said the same thing when the Slovaks left home, but Quebec would be 100% surrounded by an ocean of foreign-ness.
I have always wanted to visit Quebec but have never gotten the opportunity.
If you can't visit France, just go to Québec then.
This post is just one of the many reasons why I'm returning to blogging: edifying, entertaining conversation that eases cultural, temporal, geographic, and generational boundaries.
I need to catch up on previous posts. Was visiting my Dad in PA. I loved Quebec - would go back in a heart beat. Nice folks, love the French influence, so much history....and food....aaahhhhh...........yum! Bien sur
I used to work with a French Canadian - she was a lovely lady, but I know next to nothing about the province.
Tasha
Tasha's Thinkings - Movie Monsters
Wonderful post. I love this series. Your posts are exactly the right length and I always come away more knowledgeable on a topic I really should understand.
We crossed the wide St. Lawrence at Night seeing the city and the magnificent fortress/Hotel all lit up. Then on the opposite shore where Wolfe's soldiers looked up to the heights and victory. A perfect outing for an American history teacher....:)
Hi Hilary. My parents went to Canada on holiday in 1983 and stayed with a cousin in Ottawa, but they did go to Montreal for a few days. I remember my dad saying that it was one of the most beautiful cities he has ever visited but also one of the most expensive! Great post.
@ EC - delighted ... mind you I'm learning too ...
@ Yamini - I can believe the language muddle ... and yes English can be muddled here - Canadian English is not the same!!
@ Sandra - it does sound rather excellent doesn't it ...
@ Denise - your love of France ... I can imagine being somewhat satiated here - giving you a different flavour of that wonderful French life. I'll obviously have to check out Louise Penney's books ...
@ Jo - obviously Montreal is a place to go to as well. I don't know much about General Wolfe ... but he keeps popping up - so perhaps I should see what I can find out ... I saw something to him in St Alfege Church, Greenwich that I wrote up about.
Montreal Meats - no I hadn't heard about them ... but I'll check them out at some stage ... asking the family here etc ... difficult when they have a dairy farm - and we eat excellent fresh beef!
@ Sandie - it does look a lovely city doesn't it ...
@ Liz - you're so right ...separated by a common language ...
@ Sage - lovely to see you ... and I know I've missed seeing you around - yet realise other things have been happening. Good to know about the two blogs - I'll be over ...
@ Nila - so true isn't it ... I struggle with Canadian and they struggle with my English! Francophone Africa I can quite believe ...
@ Anabel - it must be lovely over there ... Montreal sounds a very vibrant city ... yes long bucket lists are the things aren't they - and they just get longer!
@ Mike - there's obviously so much to see - I have yet to get to Vancouver ... and I haven't really made an impression on Victoria ...
@ Keith - I wouldn't be here except for a cousin of my mother's ... but it's a pity that your mother hasn't made it back ... nor you that you haven't visited Quebec - a visit is due perhaps ...
@ Hels - I'm sure it must be an amazing area to visit and to spend some time in ... it'll be interesting to see how these quests for independence pan out ...
@ Arleen - I hope perhaps that might arise ... but perhaps the Louise Penney books might give you that insight ...
@ Alex - yes probably a good alternative ...
@ W2W - great to see you again ... and thanks so much for your compliment - really appreciate this ...
@ Joanne - these posts won't be going anywhere ... so glad you can get up and see your father, and see him relatively often. Quebec obviously stirred your heart - sounds amazing from this brief note!!
@ Tasha - it's funny how we can connect, yet not learn much, while at other times we get really engrossed in others' world and then visit them later on ...
@ Jacqui - thanks so much ... I'm just glad I'm offering up enough entertaining info on various subjects ... you're a star - thanks!
@ Troutbirder - another referencing Wolfe - obviously I need to find something out about him ... that St Lawrence tour must have been magnificent ... as you say a perfect outing for you ...
@ Kim - I think we all have horrors of how expensive overseas visits to cities can be ... but so glad your parents were able to tell you a few things about this part of the world - just sorry you never made it over.
Thanks so much everyone - so pleased to see you and to get the interesting comments - cheers Hilary
While I've been to many parts of Canada, I haven't yet been to Quebec. I hope to change that someday.
Another educating post, well done Take care Diane
The pictures of Old Quebec look so quaint and inviting.
I would absolutely love to go one day to this country within a country. Looks beautiful. Have always found the little I knew of their history fascinating. Thanks for adding to that, Hilary.
I hadn't thought of the name as actually meaning something, but now I am thinking on those lines, I'm starting to wonder if all place names actually have a meaning. That does seem possible.
The first time I heard them talking I was unaware of what language it might be.I have been in the extreme northern part during the winter.
Quebec City has been on my bucket list for a while - I'm hoping it's one I get to cross off!
Old Quebec city is a place I think I'd like, but Montreal and Toronto have bigger jazz venues, I think. Haven't been to any of the eastern provinces as I appeared in Canada on the west side and have only visited BC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan in my adopted country.
I like hearing your British point of view, Hilary. I think a lot of the British settled in British Columbia initially, as I kept meeting a lot of British and Scottish when I moved here years ago. We also get a lot of prairie people coming out here for the better weather. Many of the women I met came over as nannies.
Good for you doing the A to Z and the WEP challenge!
The only place in Canada I've been is Ontario because Niagara Falls is only a handful of hours from where I live. It's beautiful, though, and I keep telling myself I need to explore there more.
Strange to think of a country with two major cultures and languages spoken, but it clearly works!
Aussie Children’s Writers: R Is For Gillian Rubinstein
https://suebursztynski.blogspot.com.au/2018/04/a-to-z-blogging-challenge-2018-r-is-for.html
@ Deborah - it does sound like one amazing province and city ...
@ Diane - thank so much ...
@ Sandra - I had to include those pictures of old Quebec ... they attract!
@ Silvia - yes you're right it does seem to be exactly that - country within a country ... so glad you're finding the posts interesting ...
@ Patsy - yes ... I'd say every name in England has a meaning ... surnames and place names - they always entrance me - so yes to answer your question ...
@ Steve - I'm struggling with the language sometimes ... and they struggle with mine! Funny as we're all speaking English ...
@ Jz - it sounds like you should make a plan to get there and you'll be able to cross it off your list ...
@ DG - it sounds like Vancouver is pretty big on music too - but interesting to think about the jazz venues. I hope I can get over to the east side ... as too other provinces here on this west side ...
I hope it's not too obviously British - I guess I just write that way ... so there's always an undertone. There are lots of immigrants from early days ... but many certainly come in from the Prairies ... teachers I seem to come across. I'll have to check what brought people out ...
Thanks - I flunked the WEP this month ... but will return - but I've got a #WAWTB for month end ...
@ Lynda - ok ... I might miss Niagara - but I've seen Victoria Falls. I'd be visiting Canada if I lived over that border. It is stunning - but I know there's wonderful places to see in the States ...
@ Sue - the French aspect of Canada is interesting ... it does at least get many Canadians speaking another language - so many English speaking people fail to do easily! Certainly it works ... but another aspect I need to find out about ... thanks for that prompt ...
Cheers to you all - and for your encouraging comments - Hilary
I'm enjoying these posts on Canada Hilary. You've done a wonderful job showcasing our country. :)
I am once again behind on my reading and catching up now, Hilary. I have heard before about Quebec seeming like a country within Canada. About an hour north of me, there is a gated community of primarily Québec Canadians. A friend from BC stayed there for a few days and they told me people are more likely to speak French than Spanish or English there. So we have a small Québec enclave here on the coast of Ecuador, too.
Emily In Ecuador
@ Debby - thanks so much ... I'm just glad it's a satisfactory 'overview' in a few posts ... something different ...
@ Emily - no worries ... I hope I can get over to Quebec, while I'm here. So interesting to read about your gated community near you in Ecuador ... French is definitely prevalent in Canada ... and down with you ...
Cheers to the two of you ... Hilary
Now I see how close Quebec is to Anne of Green Gables country (Prince Edward Island), & I understand why the French feature in those books. Thanks Hilary, good stuff.
Amazing really - that there is a French speaking country, smack in the middle of the English speaking countries.
Québec is of course my favorite Canadian province. There, I find the perfect mix of North American and French cultures. Really a beautiful region.
@ Juliet - I'm surprised how far they all travelled; yet Quebec is a large province ... and the early settlers would have set routes up for travel towards the west ...
@ Lynn - I know - it's interesting they've been able to keep their culture - thankfully they have today - as we enjoy different cultural areas ... and as you say they are smack bang in the middle of a continent full of English/American speakers!
@ Evelyne - yes that would definitely make sense - for a French woman to love Quebec ... and excellent to know you approve the North American and French cultures ... I'm sure it is a beautiful area ...
Thanks so much for your visits ... nostalgia of things French! Cheers Hilary
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