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General information
Welcome to Québec City
Video - Four Seasons in Québec City
Currency
Spoken and Official Languages
Conference Language
Visa
Letter of Invitation
Getting to the Conference
Weather
Safety
Taxes
Health and Personal Insurance
Gratuities
Units of Measure
Voltage
Welcome to Québec City
Québec City is the birthplace of French civilization in North America. It guards access to the entire region from its perch on the Cape Diamond promontory, high above the mighty St. Lawrence River.
Québec City is the only city in North America still surrounded by ancient stone fortifications. As the only walled city on the continent north of Mexico, it has a unique personality. UNESCO recognized this uniqueness by including Old Québec in the prestigious family of world heritage treasures monuments of exceptional universal value worthy of special protection.
There are many ways to discover Old Québec. A walk through the narrow streets is obviously among the most enjoyable. Contemplate the beauty of an ancient stone house while standing in the shade of a centuries-old tree. With every cobblestone street you take, the city’s history and European flavour are very much in evidence.
Visit the Québec City Tourism web site at www.quebecregion.com to learn more about Québec City.
Currency
Legal tender here is the Canadian dollar, which divides into 100 cents. Bills come in the following denominations: 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars. The coins in use come in the following denominations: 1, 5, 10, 25 cents, as well as one and two dollars. Canadian and American dollars are not at par. American currency is accepted in most establishments at a variable exchange rate.
Major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express) are accepted most everywhere. Traveler’s cheques can be cashed at major hotels, some restaurants, and large stores; otherwise, they should be cashed at foreign exchange offices or banks.
Click here for current exchange rates.
Spoken and Official Languages
French is the main language spoken in Québec, although it is common for people to answer English speakers in their own language.
Conference Language
The scientific communications on the Conference program will be presented in English, the science language of use. As it is the case for most International and specialized events presented in Québec and elsewhere, simultaneous translation will not be provided except for the presentations for the greenhouse industry (Wednesday and Thursday morning only).
Visa
Check with a Canadian embassy, consulate, or high commission to see if citizens of your country need a temporary resident visa to enter Canada.
Visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada web site for more information.
Letter of Invitation
To expedite your visa application, we would be delighted to provide you with an official letter of invitation. This procedure is designed to assist participants who need to obtain a visa or permission to attend the Conference, but does not cover registration fees or other expenses. The invitation does not imply provision of financial or other support.
To obtain a letter, simply complete the form (PDF) and fax it to 1-418-658-8850. This information will help us write your letter of invitation. Click here to download the form (PDF).
Getting to the Conference
Québec City is easy to travel to from anywhere in the world. Major airlines across the globe fly to Québec City, sometimes via Montréal or Toronto. Travelers from the American Northeast may want to consider traveling by plane, train, bus, or car. Plane
Québec City is a one-and-a-half hour flight from New York, Boston and Toronto, and only 40 minutes from Montréal. The Jean-Lesage International Airport is located 16 km (10 miles) from downtown. Taxis (CAD $27), limousines (sedan or limo-van ranging CAD $60 to CAD $100). There is no shuttle service between Jean-Lesage International Airport and the major downtown hotels.
Train
Alternatively, there are several daily train connections between Montréal and Québec City. Whether travelling by bus or by train, you can get off at the Sainte-Foy or Québec stations.
Bus
If you wish to travel by bus from Montréal to Québec City, you can take regularly scheduled buses from Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau International Airport to downtown Montréal. Orléans Express offers hourly service to/from Québec City and Montréal. The bus trip takes approximately two and a half hours. Whether travelling by bus or by train, you can get off at the Sainte-Foy or Québec stations.
Car
Two main highways link Québec City to Montréal. If you wish to rent a car, you may do so at the airport or in downtown Montréal or Québec City. In Québec, speed limits are indicated in kilometres (100 km/h equals about 62 mph). Gas is sold by the litre (3,785 litres equals 1 U.S. gallon).
Weather
Québec has a humid continental climate type. June is a beautiful month in Québec City; average daytime temperatures range from 10° to 22º Celsius during the day. As the temperature this time of year is changing, we suggest you bring a light sweater, a raincoat or an umbrella.
Mostly known for its cold and snowy winters, Québec City will surprise you in the summertime. Between May and August, the weather is very comfortable.
Weather information and forecasts:
Environment Canada
The Weather Network
Safety
Québec City is a small North American city that is welcoming, clean, safe, and beautiful. Quebecers have built social harmony through their open and tolerant culture, the result of 400 years of settlement by immigrants from France and England, and all over Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Africa. As in all big cities, caution is nonetheless recommended to avoid being the victim of petty crime. To avoid problems, it is recommended that visitors obtain Canadian currency at the official exchange rate at a bank or travel agency on arrival. You may click here to obtain the current exchange rate.
Taxes
The 5% Federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) and 7.5% Provincial Sales Tax (PST) are added to all purchases. For more information, visit the Canada Revenue Agency web page and the Ministère du Revenu du Québec web page.
Health and Personal Insurance
The conference organizers cannot accept liability for injuries or losses arising from accidents or other situations during or as a consequence of the Conference. Access to Canada’s health care services is very costly for non-residents, so attendees are advised to arrange health and accident insurance prior to travelling to the Conference. Lost luggage or travel disruption insurance is also recommended.
Gratuities
In Canada, gratuities are not included in restaurant bills, but are left to the discretion of the customer. It is customary to leave a gratuity of 15% of the total cost before taxes are added to the bill. This same policy applies to taxi fares. Porters expect CAD $1 per suitcase.
Units of Measure
Canada uses the metric system.
Voltage
Electricity in Canada, as in the rest of North America, is 110-volt direct or alternating current. All non-North American appliances require an adapter for both the voltage and the plug.
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