Québec Culture and People

In the globalization era the borders are permeable, but the art and culture still represent a reference point for the people. Through cultural heritage people are expressing their sense of belonging to a society.

This fact is even more highlighted in Québec. French-speaking people are struggling to keep their cultural distinctiveness surrounded by a vast English-speaking neighbored communities of English Canada and United States. As a land of immigration added over its aboriginal history, by its both French and British influences, the Québec culture still benefits, more than any other culture on the continent, from the strong ties with the two great civilizations that influenced it: Europe and America. Being the only majority French-speaking society in North America, Québec maintains a deep connection to its own cultural heritage, the most important symbol of its identity. Québec’s culture is marked by its struggle to resist assimilation. The French language is the most important aspects of Québec’s cultural heritage and the principal factor in keeping it alive. To help preserve and promote the French language, the Québec government has even created an Office of the French language.

Through history, since the first settlement of French colonies, Québec culture was strongly influenced by Catholicism. The religion was present in all spheres of Québec society, in public administration, education and health. The emergence of the secularization movement in the 60s dramatically changed the social realities in the Province of Québec. The Cultural Revolution started in the 70s modernized all spheres of life and in the present days the cultural realities are keeping the pace with the rest of Canada and the Southern neighbor, the United States. From the cultural heritage of the past are left various places of pilgrimage, churches, religious statues and museums.