Relationship established:
August 27, 1973

Brief city description:
Quebec City or Québec (French: Ville de Québec, or simply Québec) is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec. It is the second largest city in the province, after Montreal. Quebec's Old Town (Vieux-Québec), the only North American fortified city north of Mexico whose walls still exist, was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1985 as the "Historic District of Old Quebec". It is also one of the oldest cities in North America.

Quebec City is known for its Winter Carnival and the Château Frontenac, a historic hotel which dominates the city skyline. The National Assembly of Quebec (provincial parliament), the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec (National Museum of Fine Arts) and the Museum of Civilization are found within or near Vieux-Québec.

Quebec City is Calgary's longest standing twinning arrangement. What continues to drive this unique connection are the diverse and dynamic people that occupy each city, and a cultural dichotomy that exists between the two cities. Unique cultural experiences such as the Quebec Winter Carnivale and the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede are international events that set each city apart from the world, yet they are also what bring the two cities together each year.

Population:
528,595 (metropolitan area has a population of 717,600 as of 2005)

Language:
French/English

Key Industries/Areas of opportunity
Three sectors of excellence are driving economic development and growth in the Quebec City region: applied technologies; life sciences (including health and nutrition); and processed materials.

• Optics and photonics
• Defense and security
• Electronics
• Information technologies
• Geomatics Life sciences - Specialty areas: biopharmaceuticals; fine chemicals; organic, diagnostic and therapeutic products; medical equipment/supply manufacturing Health and nutrition
• Secondary wood processing
• Plastics and composite materials

Key links

• Québec International: Quebec's Economic Development Agency:
  http://www.quebecinternational.ca/industries-cles
• Official website of Quebec City: http://www.gouv.qc.ca/portail/quebec/pgs/commun/?lang=en 
• Quebec 2008 (400th Anniversary): http://www.quebec400.gc.ca/bienvenue-welcome-eng.cfm