Quebec is a Canadian province east of Ontario, referred to as “La Belle Province” (“The Beautiful Province”). It adjoins the Gulf of St. Lawrence River, with numerous rivers and lakes forming the northern border. The two main seaports are Montreal and Quebec City. The capital Quebec City is situated on Saint-Laurent (St. Lawrence River). Quebec is the largest province in Canada in landmass. It ranks second in population to Ontario, with an estimated 8.4 million people.
1. Quebec’s largest city is Montreal, the second largest is Quebec City, and the third is Laval.
2. In 2016, Quebec’s gross domestic product was at $288 billion; between 2005 and 2011, the economy grew by an average of 3.7% per year. For the same period, its GDP per capita rose from $22,300 to $27,500.
3. Quebec is one of Canada’s wealthiest provinces in terms of GDP per capita. That is because it has low tax rates compared to Ontario’s, which are comparatively higher than Quebec’s, and has enabled it to attract more companies to set up their head offices in Montreal or Quebec City or Laval from all over Canada and from overseas locations.
4. The best universities in Quebec are McGill University and Université de Montréal, the two top universities in Canada in Medical Research.
5. The second largest city of Quebec, Laval, has over 400,000 people and is a popular tourist destination with an average yearly temperature of 18 degrees Celsius. It is also a favourite location for young families because of its excellent public schools and affordable housing costs.
6. Regarding legal holidays allotted to its employees, Quebec is the narrow leader at ten days per year. Ontario is at nine days per year, with the national average being eight days per year of legal holidays but not including statutory holidays such as New Year’s Day, Boxing Day (December 26), Good Friday and Victoria Day (the last Monday before May 25).
7. Quebec’s primary exports are aluminium, forestry, agricultural, and transportation equipment. Its major imports comprise consumer goods and capital goods.
8. Quebec has the lowest percentage of jobless (5.6%) as compared to Canada (7.3%) and Ontario (6%).
9. The most popular dishes in Quebec are poutine, tourtière, and pea soup.
10. The province of Quebec is made up of regions, namely Bas-Saint-Laurent, Laurentides, Estrie, Montérégie (Greater Montreal), Mauricie (Greater Trois Rivières) and Outaouais.
11. The official languages in Quebec are French and English, with many other languages spoken in some areas of the province, like Italian and Spanish. The most widely spoken language in Quebec is French, with 81% of the population using it as their first language; the second most commonly spoken language in Quebec is English, with 18% of the people using it as their first language.
12. Quebec’s most popular pro sports team is the Montreal Canadiens on ice hockey (of the National Hockey League). Other popular sports played in Quebec are basketball, curling, horse racing, baseball and soccer.
13. Quebec is one of the most religious provinces in Canada, with over 70% of its population practising some form of religion, and about 90% of those are Catholics, with less than 10% practising other forms of religions like Judaism and Islam; the rest practice no faith at all. The province has three dioceses: Archdiocese of Quebec, Diocese of Chicoutimi, and Diocese of Saguenay, as well as many suffragan dioceses in Bas-Saint-Laurent-Gaspésie, Joliette and Rimouski.
14. The most famous tourist attractions in the province of Quebec are Mont-Sainte-Anne, Mont Orford, Mont Royal and Terrasse Dufferin.
15. The provincial flag is known as the Fleurdelisé and was founded on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation in 1948. It was officially adopted on February 15, 1948, by the then Premier of Quebec, Maurice Duplessis.
16. Québec’s main political parties are Parti Québécois (PQ) and Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ).
17. Quebec has 850 distinct waterfalls throughout the province and its highest waterfall is located in Montmorency Falls Park, which is 100 meters high and 20 meters wide at its base.
