My country, it's not a country, it's winter!
Thanks to exceptional snow conditions, the winter sports craze is palpable in La Belle Province. The season generally runs from December to the end of March, and even longer in certain mountainous regions such as Charlevoix, Gaspésie and the Saguenay.
Snow sports top the list, with over 70 ski resorts spread across the province (maneige.ski), including the renowned Tremblant (Laurentians) and Le Massif (Charlevoix), the two areas with the highest vertical drop in Quebec (645 m and 770 m respectively). More experienced skiers can opt for off-piste skiing in the magical setting of the Chic-Chocs mountains in Gaspésie, a must. Cross-country skiing is also very popular, as is snowshoeing, both of which are easily and inexpensively accessible in the province's regional and national parks. Then there's ice skating, which comes as no surprise when you consider how much of a field hockey fan Quebecers are. They skate from an early age, and it's even said that they learn to skate before they can walk! For those who'd like to try their hand at ice skating, there are plenty of indoor and outdoor rinks in Quebec. And let's not forget the two most popular activities for visitors: snowmobiling and dogsledding. Many outfitters and tour operators offer these unique experiences on an all-inclusive basis, with cold-weather equipment available on request. But, of course, a host of other winter activities are also on the program, including ice climbing, snowkiting, ice canoeing (yes, it exists!), telemark skiing and tubing.
There's no shortage of places to enjoy Quebec winters (and summers too). We recommend outfitters (pourvoiries.com), Sépaq's national parks, wildlife reserves and tourist centers (sepaq.com) and Canada's national parks (parcs.canada.ca). For regional parks, outdoor, ecotourism and adventure tourism, visit the Québec Aventure Plein Air website (aventurequebec.ca).
In summer too, there are many possibilities
The wide-open spaces, countless lakes and rivers, the majestic St. Lawrence and the parks and reserves are ideal for a wide range of outdoor activities. You can also hop on your bike and set off on the Route verte, which crosses plains and mountains, skirts various rivers and meanders through charming villages. With the exception of Eeyou Istchee Baie-James and Nunavik, there are more than 5,300 km of cycling paths linking most regions of Quebec. Hiking trails abound in every corner of the province, satisfying both the contemplative and the sporty, and multi-day treks are offered in unspoiled wilderness. Water is also an omnipresent element in Quebec. Whitewater kayaking/canoeing and rafting are widely practised, and some agencies even organize multi-day expeditions. You can also try your hand at canoe-camping, a popular activity in summer, especially in La Mauricie National Park, which is a Mecca for this activity. For those tempted to take to the open sea, the St. Lawrence Water Trail (mapped but not marked) offers a network of boat launches, safe shelters, rest areas, accommodation (including camping) and food services. This waterway is designed for small craft such as sea kayaks.
Of course, a host of other activities are available in Quebec, including kitesurfing, surfing, sailing, scuba diving, rock climbing, aerial and via ferrata courses, canyoning, caving, parachuting and hang-gliding, mountain biking, horseback riding, golf... And if you want to recover from all the excitement, take a moment to relax in the thermal baths of one of the province's many Nordic spas.
Teasing fish or game
Hunting and fishing are other popular activities, both for locals and visitors. The most famous regions are Abitibi-Témiscamingue, James Bay, Côte-Nord, Gaspésie, Anticosti Island, Mauricie, Nunavik, Outaouais and Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean. The famous outfitters exploit a territory while offering their services. They offer packages for expensive expeditions that must be booked well in advance, but they take care of everything: transportation, lodging, meals, equipment and accompaniment with qualified guides. The directory of outfitters is available at many retailers or on the Pourvoiries Québec website (pourvoiries.com). Hunting is prohibited in the parks, but is permitted in the reserves, provided you have a permit. Fishing is allowed in many parks, provided you have a permit. The price varies according to the season, the territory, the type of game or fish.
Ice hockey, more than a sport
Here, ice hockey is not only THE national sport, it's a veritable religion! In fact, it is said to have been invented in Canada in the 19th century. Since then, rinks across the province have been a hotbed of activity, and as soon as the NHL (National Hockey League) championship resumes, which brings together franchises from Canada and the United States, few Quebecers are not in front of their TV sets with family or friends, a cold beer in hand.
From the opening game in early October to the final in June, Quebec lives to the rhythm of North American games. In fact, it's in Montreal that the names of the winners are engraved on the mythical Stanley Cup, the world's most prestigious award. The process takes several weeks and, since 1892, only four people have been involved; Montrealer Louise St-Jacques has been in charge for over two decades.
If there's one iconic team in the League, it's the Montreal Canadiens. A venerable resident of the NHL, they are quite simply the oldest team in the world. Founded on December 4, 1909, it is also the most successful, with 24 Stanley Cups won. Having cut its teeth in the National Hockey Association of Canada, by 1910 the Montreal team, still known as the Club Athlétique Canadien, was already the most famous franchise on the country's ice rinks. After a meeting on November 26, 1917, at Montreal's Windsor Hotel, the owners of the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Quebec Bulldogs, Ottawa Senators and Toronto Arenas decided to create a new league, the NHL, and to open it up to our American neighbors. For 25 years, up to 10 teams would compete in the new league. But after the Great Depression of 1929, the number of franchises dwindled, and from 1942 to 1967 there were only 6 competing for the trophy (Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks). Since then, their number has grown steadily, reaching 32 franchises today.
But throughout this century, it has been the Montreal Canadiens who have left their mark on the history of the competition. In fact, they are the only team to have lifted the trophy 5 times in a row (from 1956 to 1960), a feat still unmatched today. And with his name engraved 11 times on the trophy, former Canadiens center Henri Richard is the most successful player in League history. A family affair, since his brother Maurice Richard was also a Canadiens (and field hockey in general) legend, becoming the first player to score over 500 goals in 1957.
After playing between 1924 and 1996 (and winning 22 of their 24 Stanley Cups) in the old Montreal Forum, the Montreal franchise now plays on the Centre Bell rink (info and tickets: centrebell.ca). With just over 21,000 seats in field hockey configuration, it's quite simply the biggest arena in the League. It's in this veritable temple of field hockey that fans the world over dream of attending an NHL game. And it's here that Montrealers are waiting to see their team lift its first Stanley Cup since... 1993 and the 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. More than 30 years is a long time to wait, especially since the team came so close to winning it in 2021, reaching the final for the first time since 1993 and plunging Quebec into total euphoria. For those who'd like to see the NHL's future stars in action, the Canadiens' club school games (rocketlaval.com) and those of the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League (chl.ca/lhjmq) are highly recommended.
Other professional sports to see
Very similar to American soccer, apart from a few rules, Canadian soccer also shares many affinities with rugby. A member of the Canadian Football League (CFL), the Montreal Alouettes (montrealalouettes.com) were founded in 1946. After changing its name to Concordes in 1983 and ceasing operations in 1987, the team returned to Montreal in 1996. Its home, Stade Percival-Molson, is always packed to the rafters, and a thunderous atmosphere reigns at every game. The regular season runs from early July to early November, followed by the semi-finals and finals for the championship. The Alouettes have won 8 Grey Cups, most recently in 2023. University soccer is also very popular, with 6 teams in Quebec members of the U Sports network (usports.ca). The Rouge et Or of Université Laval in Quebec City is the most successful team in the league, having won 11 Vanier Cups.
The Quebec metropolis also boasts a professional soccer team (soccer in North America), CF Montréal (cfmontreal.com), the only one in Quebec. It won the USL-1 league title in October 2009, a feat also achieved in 1994 in the American Professional Soccer League and in 2004 in the A-League. In 2012, the team entered the Major League Soccer (MLS), the highest level in North America, but has never won the MLS Cup. If you'd like to attend a match, head to Stade Saputo in the Parc Olympique in the east of the city.
