| Port History Before Europeans arrived, the area was populated by Algonquian, Iroquoian, and Intuit people who traded fish and furs and made war on each other. French explorer Jacques Cartier first visited the area in 1535 when he found the Huron Indian village of Stadacona. In 1608, Samuel de Champlain established the first permanent settlement there. After the 1632 Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye between the French and British, the Port of Quebec began to grow quickly. The province was ceded to Britain in 1763 by the Treaty of Paris. In 1791, the Port of Quebec became the provincial capital. Also a major tourist destination, UNESCO designated the historic city center as a World Heritage site in 1985. Quebec is one of Canada's most important ports. Most residents of the Port of Quebec are French-speaking Roman Catholics, and its education system is divided between Catholics and Protestants, French and English. Canada's �uiet Revolution?was a period of social and political change. Anglo dominance in the Port of Quebec's economy declined, the Roman Catholic Church lost much of its influence, hydro-electric companies were nationalized, and a pro-sovereignty movement emerged. The 1960s and early 1970s saw bombings, attacks, and robberies directed at Anglo institutions. In 1970, the British trade commissioner was kidnapped, and a provincial minister was murdered. The group responsible for the violence, the Front de lib�ation du Qu�ec, soon lost its membership and public support. A 1980 referendum put the question of sovereignty to Quebec voters, and 60% rejected the proposal. In 1995, a second referendum was rejected by a very slim margin (51% against and 49% for sovereignty). In 2003, Quebec's National Assembly voted unanimously � that the Quebecers form a nation.?And while there is much debate over what it means, the House of Commons passed a motion in late 2006 recognizing that the Quebecois form a nation within Canada. Port Commerce The Quebec Port of Authority manages and promotes the Port of Quebec. The port offers modern facilities and deep water that makes year-round navigation possible for vessels up to 150 thousand tons. In 2007, the Port of Quebec handled almost 27 million tons of cargo including petroleum products, grain, raw and recycled steel industry materials, sugar, salt, fertilizer, cement, general cargo, and chemicals. The Port of Quebec's marine industry also includes the Davie Quebec shipyards, the Ultramar refinery, and the Canadian Coast Guard's St. Lawrence Base. The Anse-au-Foulon Sector, first operating in the 1920s, now covers over 130 acres. Products shipped through this sector include agricultural and industrial fertilizers, feed grain, deicing salt, raw sugar, and limestone. Pointe-a-Carcy is both port and urban park. This area of the Port of Quebec has been an integral part of the city's history. The almost 15-acre site is in heart of the city and provides tie-up for cruise, naval, and other service vessels. The Estuary sector is where both the Port of Quebec and the city were born. It was a trading site before the colonial era and a hub for European immigration after the Europeans arrived. Today, the Estuary sector offers about 185 acres for the port, including the Bunge of Canada Terminal and the Beton Provincial Terminal. Built in the 1960s, the Beauport Sector offers over a half-mile of wharves, and it's the biggest economic driver in the Port of Quebec. With over 200 developed acres, this sector is a superior access point for Great Lakes commerce for dry bulk and bulk liquids. Offering a depth of almost 50 feet at low tide, the Beauport Sector links shipping to rail and roads. Located in Quebec City, the Laurentian base provides infrastructure to serve the Canadian Coast Guard's icebreakers, assuring marine activity throughout the winter. Cruising and Travel |
