History History

Sent by King François I in search of a new passage to Asia, Jacques Cartier found himself on the banks of the present-day Saint-Charles River. The winter was harsh, and the explorer and his men, who had survived scurvy, returned to France.

Born in Brouage, Saintonge, this explorer and colonizer was sent by Louis XIII in 1603 on a reconnaissance mission to Canada where he explored the St. Lawrence as far as the Lachine Rapids. On a second voyage, he explored the Atlantic coast of Canada (1604-1607), before establishing a French colony in Quebec City in 1608, allying himself with the Algonquins and Hurons against the Iroquois.

In order to organize the French hide trade, Samuel de Champlain landed in Quebec City on July 3, 1608, and founded the first permanent trading post.

Champlain, appointed Lieutenant of New France, had Fort Saint-Louis built at the top of Cap Diamant, as well as the Convent of the Harvesters. The Récollets, religious missionaries, worked for two centuries.

The English take possession of New France. The Kirke brothers lay siege to Quebec City, forcing Champlain to surrender and leave the colony. They will occupy Québec for three years until the signing of the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye between the kings of France and England, which returns the territory to the French Crown.

The first regular college is created: the Jesuit College, a primary school for young boys.

The Ursulines settle in Lower Town and open a "girls' seminary". The same year, the Augustinian nuns, hospital nuns, founded the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec.

Construction work begins on the Notre-Dame de Québec Cathedral Basilica. It will burn twice and will be rebuilt in its present form from 1923 to 1930.

As there were not enough women in the colony, Louis XIV sent the Daughters of the King, young bachelors who would marry the colonists to start families. Hundreds of them left for New France during this decade.

Jean Talon, Intendant of New France, founded the first brewery to curb the importation of alcohol. Excavations have led to the discovery of the remains of the brewery in Lower Town near the present Old Port.

The Lower Town of Quebec City is set on fire. Major construction sites followed. This will be the beginning of the first construction contractors.

When a war broke out in Europe in 1688, pitting France against almost all its neighbours, a first inter-colonial war broke out in America. The city of Québec was besieged by the fleet of Admiral William Phips, but Frontenac, the governor at the time, miraculously defeated them.

In order to facilitate travel, the "Chemin du Roy", the country's first roadway, was inaugurated on the north shore of the St. Lawrence, stretching from Montreal to Quebec City. Thirteen bridges will be built.

During the War of the Conquest, the French, led by General Montcalm, were defeated in front of Quebec City by General Wolfe's British troops during the Battle of the Plains of Abraham (1759), which led to the surrender of Quebec City and, in 1760, the surrender of Montreal. Three years later, the Treaty of Paris ceded New France to Great Britain.

The period of major timber, fur and shipbuilding exports begins. The Port of Québec City comes in^3rd place after the ports of New York and New Orleans in America.

This was the beginning of Irish immigration to Canada, a useful labour force with economic development. Québec City remains the major port of entry for immigrants.

The city's fortifications are reinforced by fear of American invasion (the Anglo-American war having just ended, the fear persists). Work began on the Martello Tower and the Citadel, giving Québec City the status of a fortified city.

Quebec obtains its first municipal incorporation act at the request of merchants and landowners. From then on, it is recognized as a political entity.

Elzéar Bédard becomes the first mayor of Quebec City.

Quebec City experienced an economic slowdown in its port and therefore tried to diversify its economy. The St. Roch district saw shoe factories flourish and other businesses develop, such as Simons' store (1840), Brunet's pharmacy (1855) and J. B. Laliberté's fur store (1867), the first two of which are still in operation today.

Université Laval was created thanks to the Séminaire de Québec. The first faculties were located in Old Quebec City, near the present Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral.

The self-governing British colonies - of which Quebec was a part - decided to unite to form a dominion. The British North America Act thus created Canadian Confederation and Quebec became the provincial capital.

It was the beginning of the construction of the Quebec City Parliament according to plans by Eugène-Étienne Taché. It is also the inauguration of the funicular built in wood by William Griffith to link the Upper and Lower Towns of Old Québec.

Eugène-Étienne Taché was mandated by the president of the Canadian Pacific Railway to carry out the plans for the Château Frontenac, which was inaugurated the following year.

Québec City becomes one of Canada's major industrial cities. Between the footwear sector, corsets factories, the tobacco industry, munitions factories during the two world wars and tourism, it enjoys a certain renown.

Construction begins on the Price Building for Price Brothers. It is the only skyscraper in Old Quebec and is now the official residence of the Premier of Quebec.

The Citadel of Québec City is home to Churchill and Roosevelt meeting to develop their war strategy.

This is the last year of tramway traffic, replaced by buses and cars.

Queen Elizabeth II visits Quebec City. Not being welcome as the nationalist movement was gaining momentum in the province, all opponents were severely repressed, giving name to "Baton Saturday".

Old Quebec becomes the first North American urban center to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Summit of the Americas (discussion on the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas) takes place in Quebec City. The conference gives rise to clashes between the police and anti-globalization groups.

Québec City is celebrating its 400th anniversary. The Simons family, owners of the stores of the same name, donate the Tourny fountain erected in front of the National Assembly. France offers the Centre de la francophonie des Amériques.

The G7 summit is held in La Malbaie, in the Charlevoix region. Tensions between Donald Trump and his six counterparts are high, with muscular exchanges between him and Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau and the signing of the final communiqué withdrawn by the American president at the last moment.

Quebec City Mayor Régis Labeaume has announced that he is retiring from politics and will not seek re-election in the November municipal elections. First elected mayor in 2007 and known for his outspokenness, he was truly in love with his city. From the 400th anniversary festivities to the implementation of a streetcar in the city, not to mention the new amphitheatre, the Centre Vidéotron, built with a view to welcoming back an NHL field hockey team, his legacy is impressive