Shopping in Quebec
It is not known exactly how trade and commerce originated in the province of Quebec but Jacques Cartier wrote in his journal that when he made his first contact with the Iroquois First Nations people of the St. Lawrence River they offered him furs. By the beginning of the 1600s French entrepreneurs began setting up trading posts along the St. Lawrence River and farther north.
Today humble trading posts have given way to stores of varying sizes throughout the province, concentrated in the major cities. Quebec now has a thriving economy and patrons can buy just about anything, from provincial specialities to imported goods from around the world.
HAUTE COUTURE IN MONTREAL
A full day of shopping can be easily spent in one of Montreal's many shopping areas and shopping malls. A cold winter day can be enjoyed indoors at Complexe Desjardins, Faubourg Sainte-Catherine and Le Centre Eaton. All of these are modern, multi-level mazes of glass and metal connected by Montreal's Underground City—13 km (8 mi) of subterranean tunnels. Each of these sprawling shopping centres has hundreds of retail outlets, department stores, eateries and a movie theatre.
Haute couture can be found all over Montreal, especially outdoors on Sainte-Catherine Street (rue Sainte-Catherine) and indoors in Les Cours Mont-Royal, which hosts prestigious European designer brands, including Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci and Prada, as well as boutiques featuring the work of talented Canadian designers.
OLD-WORLD CHARM IN QUEBEC CITY
Quebec City has a beautiful blend of modern amenities and old-world charm. Like Montreal, this city has a number of shopping malls, but perhaps retail therapy is best enjoyed outdoors in this picturesque city. Colourful flower beds and old-fashioned paved sidewalks greet summer visitors while gently falling flakes of snow blanket the streets in winter.
Quebec City's quintessential shopping district is the Quartier Petit Champlain, North America's oldest commercial district. In addition to the designer boutiques, posh jewellers and eclectic galleries located here, there are plenty of opportunities to refuel at restaurants, cafes and bakeries.
TREASURE HUNTING IN SMALL TOWNS
Quebec has hundreds of small communities and endless shopping experiences for those who enjoy treasure hunting. Many of the province's small towns have regular markets, auctions and fairs. Also common are antique shops, art galleries and stores selling collectibles. The art of negotiation is still alive in shops selling vintage merchandise; locals and visitors will enjoy haggling over a good price for a curio, trinket or antique from Le Grenier de mon Pere in Chicoutimi.
Quebec has a rich artistic and historical culture and many travellers choose a fine piece of furniture or a unique decorative piece as a souvenir from a vacation in this beautiful province. Sculptor Gaeton Hovington creates handmade wooden sculptures in his workshop in Tadoussac. Local culture and history is also reflected in works found at small independent galleries that explore cultural, historical and environmental themes in painting, sculpture and more unusual mediums.
Crafts and textiles are often easier items to transport, and leather goods, ceramics and glassware are all popular keepsakes. Purchase a delicate piece of pottery, earthenware or fine porcelain at Poterie de Port-au-Persil in Port-au-Persil or paint an individual piece at the Crackpot Café in Ste. Foy. Both La Méduse Verrerie in Ile du Havre-Aux-Maisons and La Maison du Vitrail de Charlevoix in La Malbaie have a wide variety of stained-glass items, including lamps, vases and objets d'arte. Natural themes are widely featured in glass arts; brightly coloured shapes and glistening facets freeze a moment in time—a delicate spring flower, a hungry polar bear cub in summer, falling autumn leaves or cool winter icebergs.
TRADITIONS OF RURAL QUEBEC
Quebec is a large and diverse province and every community has a unique character drawn from the cultures of the First Nations people, early French explorers and subsequent immigrants from around the world. Each town produces specialty goods such as crafts, food and textiles.
Quebec's small communities produce most of the world's maple syrup. This sugary amber liquid is a key ingredient in making local delicacies, including candies, cookies and pastries. Sweet maple treats can also be found in cafes and small-town candy shops like Zigazou in Grand Mere and Chez Bon Bons in La Prairie.
In rural communities, specialty farms and dairy stores offer fresh goods for sale. Organic farming is becoming a popular practice and foodies will revel in the variety of fresh meats, pungent cheeses and pure produce available throughout the province. Le veau de Charlevoix in Clermont, a family-run business, specializes in lean and tender grain-fed veal while Les Finesses de Charlevoix in Les Eboulements sells homemade preserves, jams, sauces and honey. Beautifully packaged specialties make delightful souvenirs or thoughtful gifts for friends and relatives back home.
SHOPPING LOGISTICS
Indoor shopping centres are typically open year round but outdoor shopping can be chilly in winter so it is advisable to check the day's forecast and dress for the weather. Stores are typically open to 5pm or 6pm in the evening and shopping centres are often open later on weekdays.
Almost all stores offer multiple payment methods; cash of course is accepted everywhere and ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines) are easily found, even in small communities. Larger stores, especially those in the southern area of the province close to the United States border, will accept American currency. Virtually all stores take Visa, MasterCard or American Express and many also accept debit (often referred to as Interac). Travellers' cheques, personal cheques and money orders are only accepted at the largest retail establishments, such as the historic Hudson's Bay Company, so it is advisable to cash travellers' cheques and money orders at banks.
Today humble trading posts have given way to stores of varying sizes throughout the province, concentrated in the major cities. Quebec now has a thriving economy and patrons can buy just about anything, from provincial specialities to imported goods from around the world.
HAUTE COUTURE IN MONTREAL
A full day of shopping can be easily spent in one of Montreal's many shopping areas and shopping malls. A cold winter day can be enjoyed indoors at Complexe Desjardins, Faubourg Sainte-Catherine and Le Centre Eaton. All of these are modern, multi-level mazes of glass and metal connected by Montreal's Underground City—13 km (8 mi) of subterranean tunnels. Each of these sprawling shopping centres has hundreds of retail outlets, department stores, eateries and a movie theatre.
Haute couture can be found all over Montreal, especially outdoors on Sainte-Catherine Street (rue Sainte-Catherine) and indoors in Les Cours Mont-Royal, which hosts prestigious European designer brands, including Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci and Prada, as well as boutiques featuring the work of talented Canadian designers.
OLD-WORLD CHARM IN QUEBEC CITY
Quebec City has a beautiful blend of modern amenities and old-world charm. Like Montreal, this city has a number of shopping malls, but perhaps retail therapy is best enjoyed outdoors in this picturesque city. Colourful flower beds and old-fashioned paved sidewalks greet summer visitors while gently falling flakes of snow blanket the streets in winter.
Quebec City's quintessential shopping district is the Quartier Petit Champlain, North America's oldest commercial district. In addition to the designer boutiques, posh jewellers and eclectic galleries located here, there are plenty of opportunities to refuel at restaurants, cafes and bakeries.
TREASURE HUNTING IN SMALL TOWNS
Quebec has hundreds of small communities and endless shopping experiences for those who enjoy treasure hunting. Many of the province's small towns have regular markets, auctions and fairs. Also common are antique shops, art galleries and stores selling collectibles. The art of negotiation is still alive in shops selling vintage merchandise; locals and visitors will enjoy haggling over a good price for a curio, trinket or antique from Le Grenier de mon Pere in Chicoutimi.
Quebec has a rich artistic and historical culture and many travellers choose a fine piece of furniture or a unique decorative piece as a souvenir from a vacation in this beautiful province. Sculptor Gaeton Hovington creates handmade wooden sculptures in his workshop in Tadoussac. Local culture and history is also reflected in works found at small independent galleries that explore cultural, historical and environmental themes in painting, sculpture and more unusual mediums.
Crafts and textiles are often easier items to transport, and leather goods, ceramics and glassware are all popular keepsakes. Purchase a delicate piece of pottery, earthenware or fine porcelain at Poterie de Port-au-Persil in Port-au-Persil or paint an individual piece at the Crackpot Café in Ste. Foy. Both La Méduse Verrerie in Ile du Havre-Aux-Maisons and La Maison du Vitrail de Charlevoix in La Malbaie have a wide variety of stained-glass items, including lamps, vases and objets d'arte. Natural themes are widely featured in glass arts; brightly coloured shapes and glistening facets freeze a moment in time—a delicate spring flower, a hungry polar bear cub in summer, falling autumn leaves or cool winter icebergs.
TRADITIONS OF RURAL QUEBEC
Quebec is a large and diverse province and every community has a unique character drawn from the cultures of the First Nations people, early French explorers and subsequent immigrants from around the world. Each town produces specialty goods such as crafts, food and textiles.
Quebec's small communities produce most of the world's maple syrup. This sugary amber liquid is a key ingredient in making local delicacies, including candies, cookies and pastries. Sweet maple treats can also be found in cafes and small-town candy shops like Zigazou in Grand Mere and Chez Bon Bons in La Prairie.
In rural communities, specialty farms and dairy stores offer fresh goods for sale. Organic farming is becoming a popular practice and foodies will revel in the variety of fresh meats, pungent cheeses and pure produce available throughout the province. Le veau de Charlevoix in Clermont, a family-run business, specializes in lean and tender grain-fed veal while Les Finesses de Charlevoix in Les Eboulements sells homemade preserves, jams, sauces and honey. Beautifully packaged specialties make delightful souvenirs or thoughtful gifts for friends and relatives back home.
SHOPPING LOGISTICS
Indoor shopping centres are typically open year round but outdoor shopping can be chilly in winter so it is advisable to check the day's forecast and dress for the weather. Stores are typically open to 5pm or 6pm in the evening and shopping centres are often open later on weekdays.
Almost all stores offer multiple payment methods; cash of course is accepted everywhere and ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines) are easily found, even in small communities. Larger stores, especially those in the southern area of the province close to the United States border, will accept American currency. Virtually all stores take Visa, MasterCard or American Express and many also accept debit (often referred to as Interac). Travellers' cheques, personal cheques and money orders are only accepted at the largest retail establishments, such as the historic Hudson's Bay Company, so it is advisable to cash travellers' cheques and money orders at banks.
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