Make way for the XII^e Sommet de la Francophonie

Practical information

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•  Climate

  Québec City has a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are hot and humid (25 to 30^oC), while winters are characterized by heavy snowfall and temperatures often falling below -20^oC. Spring and autumn are more moderate, with temperatures varying between 5 and 20^oC, and there is frequent precipitation. The city is windy year-round, creating a wind chill effect.

  The month of october is one of the most spectacular times of the year in Québec, when the bright fall colours of the deciduous trees are at their peak. Because temperatures generally vary between 5 and 15^oC during this period, you should bring warm and water-resistant clothing with you, since it is often rainy at this time of year.

•  Currency and banking institutions

  The Canadian dollar ($) is the official currency in Canada. The basic unit, the dollar, is divided into 100 cents.

  The main denominations are:

  Banknotes 5 dollars 10 dollars 20 dollars 50 dollars 100 dollars

  Coins 1 cent 5 cents 10 cents 25 cents 1 dollar 2 dollars

   
  Bank of Canada exchange rates: www.bankofcanada.ca/en/rates/exchform.html

  Internationally recognized foreign currencies and traveller's cheques can be exchanged or cashed at bank branches, exchange offices and certain hotels. The majority of banking institutions are open Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

  Major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard and American Express) and bank cards are accepted at most hotels, restaurants, department stores and shops.

  Automatic teller machines connected to the Cirrus, Plus or Interac systems operate round the clock for withdrawals and other banking. Your banking institution can provide more information regarding the use of your card abroad and the associated fees.

•  Drinking water

  Tap water is treated and drinkable anywhere in the city. For the sake of the environment, it is strongly recommended to use tap water instead of buying bottled water.

•  Electricity

  North American electric current is 110 volts and the frequency is 60 hertz. The power plugs and type B adapters must be used, as well as transformers for appliances designed for 220 volts.

•  Business hours

  With the exception of tourist areas where businesses may have different business hours, retail shops are usually open:

  Weekdays	Monday to Wednesday	From 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
  	Thursday and Friday	From 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  Weekends	Saturday	From 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  	Sunday	From 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

   
  Business hours for public services and offices are generally from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

•  Hospitals and health care services

  Visitors to Canada are fully responsible for the cost of health care services. Therefore, it is essential that all delegates have personal health insurance.

  In case of emergency call 9-1-1 to reach an emergency service dispatcher free of charge, or go directly to a hospital emergency room.

  To obtain an opinion from a health care professional, to find out where to go or whom to consult in case of physical discomfort or a minor accident, you can reach the Info-Santé service by telephone, free of charge and at any time, by calling 8-1-1.

•  Places of worship and prayer

  In Québec City there are a variety of places of worship for various religions.

•  Stores and shopping centres

  The main commercial areas are full of shops where real treasures can be found. The Vieux-Québec, near Saint-Jean, Saint-Louis, Sainte-Anne and Du Trésor Streets, is full of tourist shops. In the Petit-Champlain area, close to the river below Château Frontenac, there are art galleries and shops selling local crafts. The Old Port with its antique dealers, the Saint-Roch area around the recently revitalized and highly fashionable Saint-Joseph Street are also pleasant areas full of great finds. Cartier Street, near the Plains of Abraham, has a lot of boutiques and restaurants for your enjoyment.

  There are also many shopping centres near the downtown area:

  • Galeries de la Capitale
  • Laurier Québec
  • Place de la Cité [French only]
  • Place Fleur-de-Lys [French only]
  • Place Ste-Foy

•  Dry cleaning and laundromat services

  Most hotels offer on-site laundromat services or a dry cleaning clothing pick-up service with same-day or next-morning delivery. Hotels can provide information on hours of operation, conditions and costs for these services.

•  Pharmacies and other corner stores

  In order to buy prescription medications, you must have a copy of the physician's prescription or the prescription label attached to the medication package. However, Québec pharmacies sell more than just medications and personal care products. They often have a postal outlet, video rentals, tickets and passes for the Réseau de transport de la Capitale (mass transit) and sometimes even food and miscellaneous products.

  You can also find consumer products in dépanneurs, which are corner stores that sell food, alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks and personal care products.

•  Postal service

  The Canada Post Corporation (Canada Post) is responsible for postal service all over Canada. Stamps can be purchased in post offices and postal outlets. Certain hotels and businesses (pharmacies, grocery stores) also sell postage stamps.

  The cost of sending a regular letter (up to 30 grams) is $0.52 for Canada, $0.96 for the United States and $1.60 for any other international destination.

•  French-language press and television

  Main French-language dailies

  • Le Journal de Québec (Québec City) [French only]
  • Le Soleil (Québec City) [French only]
  • Le Devoir (Montréal) [French only]
  • Le Journal de Montréal (Montréal) [French only]
  • La Presse (Montréal) [French only]

  Press agency

  • The Canadian Press

  General audience French-language television channels

  • Radio-Canada Télévision [French only]
  • Télé-Québec [French only]
  • TQS [French only]
  • TVA [French only]
  • TV5 [French only]

•  Restaurants

  To find out more, consult the directory of restaurants in the Québec City area in the website of Québec City Tourism.

•  Taxes and tips

  Taxes
  Two taxes are added to the displayed sale price for the majority of products and services: the federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 5% and the Québec Sales Tax (QST) of 7.5%. The GST is calculated based on the sale price and QST is based on the price including GST.

  Example: for a purchase of C$100, the taxes are calculated as follows:

  Sale price	$100.00
  GST ($100 x 5 %)	$5.00
  QST ([$100 + 5 $] x 7.5%)	$7.88
  Total price	112,88 $

   
  Tips
  Please note that the tip is almost never included in the bill.

  In restaurants, bars, taxis and hair salons, it is customary to leave a tip totalling 15% of the bill amount before tax.

•  Telephony and time zone

  Telephony
  Emergency services (9-1-1), Info-Santé service (8-1-1), telephone directory assistance (4-1-1) as well as the telephone operator for collect calls or calling card calls (0) are accessible free of charge from public and private telephones.

  Telephone booths are located throughout the city. The cost of making a local call is $0.50 and up to $1 for calls billed to a credit card. Calls charged to calling cards available in tobacco shops, pharmacies and some grocery stores cost less than collect calls or calls charged to a third-party number.

  Time zone
  Québec is on Eastern Standard Time (EST), which is GMT-5 hours. However, from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November, Québec is on daylight saving time, and clocks move ahead one hour. During this period, Québec time is GMT-4 hours.

•  Public transport and taxis

  Bus
  Québec City has an efficient mass transit network for easy travel within the city. The cost of a trip paid in cash is $2.60. It is possible to buy tickets at $2.45 each or daily passes for $6.45. Bus service is available seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to midnight.

  Non-polluting electric buses (Ecolobus) also serve the tourist area of Vieux-Québec, giving you free access to the main attractions and at the same time helping preserve a healthy environment. Ecolobus stops are located in the city's hotel district, at place D'Youville, in front of the Centre des congrès de Québec, in the Parc de la Francophonie area and in front of the Musée de la civilisation.

  To find out more about the routes and schedules, consult the Réseau de transport de la Capitale's website. [French only]

  Taxis
  Taxis can be found in front or major hotels and at large public squares. Restaurant and hotel staff can call a taxi for you.

  The departure price is $3.30 and each kilometre costs $1.60. Fees are charged for waiting time. For example, if the taxi has to wait while you are running errands, you will be charged $0.60 a minute. The cost of a taxi trip includes applicable taxes. The suggested tip is between 10 and 15% of the total amount.

  For example, a trip from downtown Québec City to the airport will cost approximately $32.50, while a trip from the Château Frontenac to the Centre des congrès de Québec will cost between $5 and $6.

  Ferry
  Visitors to Québec City can cross the St. Lawrence River between Québec City and Lévis by ferry. The ferry trip, which takes approximately 10 minutes, gives you a panoramic view of the city, its mountains, architecture and river for only $2.70 one way. The ferry, located in the heart of Vieux-Québec, near Place Royale, operates 7 days a week with regular departures every 30 minutes.

  To find out more about the schedule information, consult the Société des traversiers' website.

•  Smoking

  Smoking is prohibited and punishable by fine in all public buildings in Québec City, including cafes, bars and restaurants, common areas in hotels, airports, shopping centres, the Centre des congrès de Québec, as well as on public transportation, including airplanes. However, smoking is permitted outside, as long as you are more than 9 metres from a school, daycare or a health care institution. Ashtrays are usually provided for smokers in smoking areas.

  By law, stores are not permitted to display tobacco products. Such products are available upon request at the counter.