Quebec City

The Château Frontenac

The Parliament Building of the National Assembly of Quebec

Quebec City officially Québec (French: Ville de Québec, or simply Québec) is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec. As of 2011 the city has a population of 516,622, and the metropolitan area has a population of 765,706, making it the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal.

The narrowing of the Saint Lawrence River proximate to the city's promontory, Cap-Diamant (Cape Diamond), and Lévis, on the opposite bank, provided the name given to the city, Kébec, an Algonquin word meaning "where the river narrows". Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, Quebec City is one of the oldest cities in North America.

Quotes

• Of course, Quebec-bashing is nothing new for the anglophone press, but it is so widespread these days that one wonders if it hasn't become a natural and acceptable expression of Canadian patriotism.
  • Michel David, "Bashing Quebec fashionable in anglo media", The Gazette, April 21, 2000, retrieved September 20, 2006;

• Our English media really hurt us. It's very seldom that we hear about the good things rather than bashing us about the same 35-year history of 'when are we going to separate?' and 'when is the sky going to fall?' [...] We have a lot to offer if we only believed in ourselves and promoted ourselves better. [...] If our English media would take a more positive outlook on what happens in Quebec and Montreal, we'd do a lot better. The outside world does not view us the way we do ourselves.
  • Howard Silverman, cited in: Michel David, "Bashing Quebec fashionable in anglo media", The Gazette, April 21, 2000, retrieved September 20, 2006; Howard Silverman, president of Corporate Affairs International Inc., speaking at a lunch organized by the Jewish Business Network

• They (the English Canadian media) cover Quebec as exploiters, stirring up the prejudice of the population. It is not to shed light upon the question that Mordecai Richler makes his comments in Saturday Night, it is to fan the flames of hatred and prejudice. After the referendum, spirits hardened up in Canada, even in the newspaper in which I write. More space was reserved to complaints of Anglo-Quebecers concerning their so-called persecution. Anglo-Canadians believe more and more that they have the right to interfere in Quebec life. It is very embarassing.
  • Ray Conlogue in: "C'est la culture... stupid!" by Carole Beaulieu, L'actualité, March 15, 1997, retrieved September 20, 2006

• It's very important for folks to understand that when there's more trade, there's more commerce.
  • Quebec City, Canada, April 21, 2001