Québec was forged by the courage and ardour of the first settlers. Without knowing exactly what awaited them, they agreed to cross an ocean in a wooden boat, in extremely difficult conditions. No sooner had they arrived, weakened by the months-long crossing, than they had to adapt to face a capricious climate with the widest range of seasonal temperatures in the world.
They survived the first winter, cleared the land, built their homes, and, through their tenacity and, of course, with the precious help of the Amerindians who knew the country and its resources, they founded a brand new nation. At the time, it was called New France.
These intrepid French immigrants succeeded in being both flexible and tenacious thanks to their great adaptive capacity. Hence the warm, welcoming, and understanding nature of the people who comprise this young nation.
The Québécois are Francophones who are proud of their origins, and have their own way of speaking the language of their ancestors. The accent has changed, the vocabulary has evolved, sometimes differently from that of the mother country, but French is spoken here.
Québecois culture is rich and vibrant, and just as vigorous and bursting with life as the people themselves; it is an expression of their hopes and accomplishments, their seeking and yearnings, and their joys and aspirations.
From the very beginning, the Québécois have been accustomed to negotiating with other peoples, and trading goods, techniques, and ideas. They are adept at recognizing and respecting other people’s customs, and thus fostering sharing and communication.
Like all proud peoples, they do not allow change to be forced upon them, preferring to initiate change on their own. They welcome others, but do not submit to them.
The Québécois people are fond of parties1, and value justice, and integrity. They are generous and magnanimous people, and, like all people of good conscience, they assume that everyone is the same.
They are very hesitant to say no. They give other people a chance, but that does not mean their generosity is boundless. If anyone takes advantage of them, they feel betrayed, and shut the door.
When we go to their homes, they welcome us with a wide-open door: they share their soup, bread, wine, warmth, and offer us hospitality. In return, they expect us to show our gratitude by respecting their home, language, culture, and codes of conduct.
The Québécois make loyal and unwavering friends, and are proud to be so.
Voice of the People
What does Québec represent for you?
Louise: It is the country of my ancestors, a country where French is spoken in North America, a country that is outstanding for its welcome, tolerance, and tenacity. A country where, despite the cold winters, we have managed to maintain traditions of warm humanity.
Anne: Québec represents a European soul in a North American incarnation, speaking a poetic language in cowboy vernacular. The Québécois people have an independent spirit, imbued with the passion of their forebears: the coureurs des bois, who left France barely 400 years ago, and with their gnarled arms, harnessed this once wild and hostile territory of vast dimensions.
Félix: For me, Québec is my home and my identity, a blend of the Amerindians who were already here, and the French who colonized the land.
What does Québec represent for newcomers?
Louise: A welcoming land, new landscapes, people with diverse ideas. But this requires adapting to a demanding environment, and to people who are open and closed.
Yvan: A place of freedom and respect where the French language is used, a way of life that is unique in its own way.
Anne: Today it is a Francophone island in an Anglophone sea, inhabited by people who are creative, frank, deep thinkers, rebels, and audacious builders.
Félix: For an outsider, Québec is peaceful and welcoming.
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