Celebrating Québec City in 2008!

Québec City is inviting the world to be part of “la rencontre” for its 400^th anniversary in 2008. Long a gathering place for peoples and cultures, “the encounter” has been aptly chosen as the theme for year-long celebrations that are slated to kick off on December 31, 2007, and conclude with the 12^th Sommet de la Francophonie in October 2008.

On July 3, 1608, Samuel de Champlain established a settlement in a place named “kebec,” an Algonquin word meaning “place where the river narrows.” Québec City has historically been a gateway for many immigrants, and as such this anniversary year celebrates not only the birth of a city but also 400 years of French presence in North America and the exploration of a continent.

The following is a list of some of the main events:

• 400^th anniversary opening event (December 31, 2007);
• 2008 IIHF World Hockey Championship (May 1–18, 2008);
• 49^th International Eucharistic Congress (June 15–22, 2008);
• 400^th anniversary celebrations of the founding of Québec City (July 3, 2008);
• 4^th World Youth Congress (August 10–21, 2008);
• 12^th Sommet de la Francophonie (October 17–19, 2008).

The governments of Quebec and Canada are each investing approximately $110 million in the 400^th anniversary celebrations. The mandate for planning, coordinating and producing the 2008 festivities was given to the Société du 400^e anniversaire de Québec, an autonomous, non-profit organization.

For more information, visit the following Web sites:

Portal for all initiatives being organized by the federal government for the anniversary of Québec City;

Official site of the Société du 400^e anniversaire de Québec.