Québec City, A Taste of Old Europe in North America by Clint Leung
Québec City, A Taste of Old Europe in North America by Clint Leung





One can get a taste of old Europe right in North America when visiting Québec City in Canada. Québec City is the capital of the province of Québec. It can be easily reached by a short flight from points in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. It is a three hour drive from Montreal. The high season is the summer when visitors from all over the world visit. Recently, the number of tourists from the United States and Europe has increased dramatically. This may be partly due to the fact that even some cruise ships originating from eastern US ports are now including Québec City as a port of call.



Back in 1608, explorer Samuel de Champlain saw the potential of the natural citadel here and founded a fur trading post. With the fortifications of the Upper Town of Québec City became the area where government and religious institutions set up. Meanwhile, merchants and craftsmen settled in the Lower Town along the St. Lawrence River. Québec City was fought over by the English and the French many times during wars in the 17th and 18th centuries. The English finally took the city over in 1759 resulting with New France becoming a British colony. Québec City is still considered as the cradle of French civilization in North America. The old quarter of the city was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1985 and is the only fortified city in North America.



Today, the winding streets and alleys of the old quarter of Québec City is filled with elegant restaurants, bistros, cafes, museums, art galleries and retail shops. There are artists selling their artwork in some of the alleys. Most of the restaurants in the old quarter are smaller, independent business rather than large chains and they fill up quickly during busy periods so advance reservations are recommended. One of the landmarks of Québec City is the huge medieval looking hotel, the Château Frontenac which along with the adjacent Terrasse Dufferin, overlooks the St. Lawrence River. A one of a kind funicular connects the Upper Town with the Lower Town. There are also several smaller hotels right in the old quarter. The old quarter can be visited by car and there are parking areas strategically located.



Just outside the walls of the old quarter is the rest of downtown Québec City where newer high rise hotels such as the Hilton and Loews are located. Along the main street of Grand Allée is another section of restaurants and cafes, many of them priced a bit lower than the ones within the old quarter which gives visitors more dining choices. It is a very easy walk from Grand Allée to the old quarter.



Still another alternative for both accommodation and dining is in the Sainte Foy area which is a 10 minute drive west of downtown Québec City. In fact, Sainte Foy is actually closer to the airport and is well represented by lower priced hotels such as Best Western, Travelodge, Comfort Inn and Days Inn. During the high season, some of the hotels in Sainte Foy offer free shuttle bus service to the old quarter of Québec City. Sainte Foy also has two shopping malls side by side along the main street of Laurier Boulevard.



Visitors may also want to drive 30 minutes east of Québec City to the small village of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré which has one of the most famous churches in North America, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Basilica. This site was built in the mid 17th century and receives 1.5 million visitors per year. Along the way is a 272 foot high water falls visible from the highway called the Chute Montmorency.



Although the summer is the high season, Québec City gets a fair number of visitors to its Carnaval festival in February and the major ski resort Mont Sainte-Anne is busy with the ski and snowboard crowds all winter. Most skiers and snowboarders going to Mont Sainte-Anne use Québec City as the base for accommodations and dining. An added winter attraction during the last few years has been the Ice Hotel near Lac Sainte-Joseph which was modeled after the one in Europe.



Québec City has become one of Canada's top tourist destinations with attractions all year round catering to both summer and winter visitors. With the added old European charm, it is the closest thing to being in Europe without actually leaving North America.





About the Author



Clint Leung is owner of Free Spirit Gallery http://www.FreeSpiritGallery.ca , an online gallery specializing in Inuit Eskimo and Northwest Native American art including carvings, sculpture and prints. Free Spirit Gallery has numerous information resource articles with photos of authentic Inuit and Native Indian art as well as free eCards.

Skilled Worker
Wanted: One skilled worker (Times one million)

An estimated shortfall of one million skilled workers is expected if Canadians do not see the writing on the wall and check out the skilled trades.



Submitted by Tim Paetkau

Wednesday April 06, 2005



Cooking student Myka Dahl is among the 37 students from L.P. Miller School taking part in the SKILLS CANADA event at Palliser Campus in Moose Jaw, April 7 to 9.



Nipawin Journal — Wanted: One skilled worker (Times one million)

Submitted by Tim Paetkau

SKILLS CANADA wants to change the way Canadians think about jobs! Most parents (myself included) seem to think that a university training for our sons and daughters will give them the "best" chance at a rewarding and good paying career. While no one could argue that this type of education is important, we must realize that there is an increasing need for skilled trades people. An estimated shortfall of one million skilled workers is expected if Canadians do not see the writing on the wall and check out the skilled trades.

An old saying states: "If you think the price of an education is high - just try ignorance."

SKILLS Nipawin would like to add: "If you think that finding a plumber is tough today -- just wait for tomorrow."

Since 1998 SKILLS Saskatchewan has been promoting trades and technology for the students of our province. SKILLS CANADA is a Trades Olympics where our students can compete in a skill that might later lead to a great job.

L.P. Students Are Ready To Work!

Months of preparation will be put to the test on April 7 to 9 at Palliser Campus in Moose Jaw. Over three hundred students will gather there for Saskatchewan's eighth annual SKILLS CANADA event. Skills ranging from Welding to Prepared Speeches about how our youth is training for the workforce will be showcased. A huge Career Fair will exhibit over fifty trades, technologies and careers at the same location. L.P. Miller hopes to send up to 37 students this year! ...

continuation

source: http://www.nipawinjournal.com/story.php?id=153420



read more about Skilled Worker

Why people immigrate?
Why people immigrate



People immigrate for the following reasons:

professional,

political,

economic

persecution

sentimental (i.e., the desire to settle in a country due personal preference; family reunification).



Much immigration occurs for economic reasons. Wage rates vary greatly between different countries; individuals of third world countries in particular can have far higher standards of living in developed countries than in their originating countries. The economic pressure to migrate can be so high that when legal means are restricted, people may immigrate regardless of their legal status. In general, people are considered as an immigrant if they keep staying in the new country for more than one year.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration



read more on Canada Immigration at CanadaOne.org

Immigration
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.



Immigration is the act of moving to or settling in another country or region, temporarily or permanently. An immigrant is someone who intends to reside permanently, and not a casual visitor or traveler. Immigration means "in-migration" into a country, and is the reverse of emigration, or "out-migration." The long term and/or permanent movement of human population in general, whether into, out of, or within countries (or before the existence of recognised countries) is regarded as migration.



source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration

Canada Economy

As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, Canada today closely resembles the United States in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and high living standards. Since World War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban. Energy self-sufficient, Canada has vast deposits of natural gas on the east coast and in the three western provinces, and a plethora of other natural resources. The 1989 Canada-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which included Mexico) touched off a dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with the US. As a result of the close cross-border relationship, the economic downturn in the United States in 2001 had an a negative impact on the Canadian economy, but less than expected. Real growth averaged nearly 3% from 1993 to 2000, but declined in 2001. As of 2003, unemployment was up, with contraction in the manufacturing and natural resource sectors. Yet, Canada has successfully avoided economic recession after 2001 and has maintained the best economic growth rates in the G7 group of nations. With its great natural resources, skilled labour force, and modern capital plant, Canada enjoys solid economic prospects.
Canada Immigration.How to imigrate to Canada.