The surrounding nature
Quebec City does not have as many large green spaces as cities like Montreal or Toronto, but it does have some nice sites in its outskirts. Outdoor and nature-related activities are part of the daily life of its residents. In the heart of the St. Lawrence Valley, the region, with a total area of 9,000 km², enjoys a grandiose setting marked by the relief of the Laurentians and the presence of the majestic St. Lawrence River, nearly 1,200 km long. On the river, Île d'Orléans offers interesting views of the natural wonders of the city and the Côte-de-Beaupré. Other lakes and rivers complete the city's irrigation system, including the Cap Rouge River, the Saint-Charles River (and the Berger River), the Beauport River and the Montmorency River. The latter forms the Montmorency Falls
, the highest waterfall in Quebec, just before its mouth in the river. It should be noted that the city is working on a development plan for these rivers in order to "integrate them as structuring elements of the city's development and to give back to the rivers their place in our living environment A vast natural and inhabited park of 30 km² will also be created: the Grandes-Rivières-de-Québec Park.Another must-see for nature lovers is the Jacques-Cartier National Park. Only 30 minutes from downtown, it is home to one of the most beautiful glacial valleys in Quebec. This valley has an incision of more than 550 meters where a river meanders, sometimes calm, sometimes agitated, ideal for rafting or canyoning. Another interesting site is the Marais du Nord
nature park, a paradise for birdwatching (160 species listed) and discovering Lake Saint-Charles. In the hinterland of Quebec City, but also in the neighboring regions, such as Mauricie or Charlevoix, there are dozens of outfitters: places that have all the infrastructure to welcome hunters and fishermen, but also simple nature lovers.A fauna and flora to discover
Like the climatic conditions, Québec City's fauna and flora are part of the mixed forest ecosystem. There are several species of hardwoods: sugar maple, American beech, basswood, yellow birch, butternut, white oak and coniferous trees (such as eastern hemlock), eastern white cedar, white pine and red pine. For the past few years, Quebec City has been facing an invasion of ash tree pests. These are small green insects, native to Asia and introduced into America in the late 1990s, that kill trees. As a result, the city has been forced to cut down thousands of ash trees in an attempt to control the spread of these insects. Other trees are being planted to compensate. In 2015, Quebec City unveiled a plan to increase the proportion of its territory covered by trees by 35% by 2025. However, it was not very ambitious in terms of increasing the number of protected areas. However, it is supporting citizens who want to green the city by offering free trees to volunteers.
Among the most common animal species in the capital are the striped skunk, woodchuck, white-tailed rabbit, whip-poor-will, blue jay, red-headed woodpecker and northern oriole. We should not forget the important commensal fauna. In addition to cats, dogs and other domestic animals, pigeons, grey and black squirrels, gulls, raccoons and rats live in urban areas. The Conseil régional de l'environnement - Région de la Capitale-Nationale (CRE - National Capital Region) regularly organises activities to raise awareness and discover the city's animal and plant species.A structuring public transit network
Expected for many years, the project for a modern transportation network is becoming a reality. The famous structural network will include a tramway line from Cap-Rouge to D'Estimauville (inauguration in 2028) as well as reserved lanes for buses on the capital's arteries and highways. Quebec City is one of the top 10 most congested cities in Canada, and improvements to public transportation will therefore be welcome to limit air pollution. In the meantime, it is possible to get around by bike, especially since the city now has its own self-service network since 2021. Even though, according to a survey conducted in 2017, the modal share of cycling was 1.4% in the Quebec City agglomeration, compared to 2.5% in Montreal, the cycling network is developing. New paths are inaugurated every year. The greater Quebec City area has nearly 400 km of bicycle paths and corridors that link it to the Route Verte (www.routeverte.com).
One project, however, is the subject of debate in terms of transportation: a new tunnel to link Quebec City and Lévis, known as the "third link". Associations and opposition parties believe that it is a waste of public money, which will increase road traffic. Another contested project: the expansion of the Port of Quebec in Beauport Bay (Laurentia project). Despite years of lobbying by the port authority, an unfavourable opinion was issued by the Canadian Impact Assessment Agency in 2021, forcing the Canadian government to refuse the project.Initiatives to fight against waste
Quebec City has committed to recovering 82% of the waste generated on its territory, i.e. recycling it or using it to create energy, by 2028. This is an ambitious goal because currently only 55% is recycled or used to create energy, as most of the waste is burned by the incinerator located in the Limoilou district. In the meantime, it is possible for citizens to limit their waste through various initiatives. The directory of businesses that are willing to help you reduce waste at the source can be found on the circuitzerodechet.com website. Let's mention the cooperative grocery store Le Haricot magique, in the Saint-Roch district, created by a young couple, which offers bulk food and products from local producers. No reason to miss out!
