Communications and recreation

Radio, television and print media

Québec is served by over one hundred radio stations on both the AM and FM bands.

Four French television stations (Radio-Canada, Télé-Québec, TVA and V) and a few English stations broadcast across the territory. In addition, cable television offers a wide range of television content: American stations, programs from major French stations (TV5), specialized networks (sports, news, movies, weather, etc.), local, community and multilingual channels (Greater Montréal area). For access to cable television, you must pay a subscription fee.

Several daily and weekly newspapers are published in Québec’s various regions. Many magazines and periodicals, as well as most international newspapers and magazines, are generally sold at convenience stores (dépanneurs), bookstores, pharmacies and some grocery stores.

	PRACTICAL ADVICE
	Reading French publications, listening to the news and watching television in French are good ways to improve your knowledge of the language, while finding out about community resources and local events.

Postal service

Canada Post offices offer daily postal services (delivery of mail and packages and postal money orders). During the week, they deliver mail to you, at home or to a post office box assigned to you.

To send a letter or package:

• clearly indicate the postal code (six characters) to facilitate and accelerate the delivery of mailings to Canadian addresses
• affix the correct postage
• deposit the item in mail boxes prominently located in various places in all municipalities.

Canada Post offices offer a wide range of services: general delivery, priority or express mail, insurance for valuable mailings, registered mail, retention and reshipment of mail during moving, postal money orders, etc.

Postal outlets are set up in some stores, convenience stores (dépanneurs) and pharmacies authorized to offer the same postal services as those provided at Canada Post offices. There are also private courier services for fast delivery.

Recreation

Recreational activities are a fun way to get to know Québec society and to help you integrate.

Every season provides opportunities for Quebecers to come together. In the spring, for instance, Quebecers flock to the famous sugar shacks (cabanes à sucre). In the summertime, on June 24, they celebrate one of the most popular and anticipated holidays, their national holiday, known as Saint-Jean Baptiste day. Many festivities are organized across Québec to mark this official holiday.

Québec boasts vast and varied natural landscapes: maritime regions, forests, mountains and plains. Without having to travel great distances, you can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities: camping, hunting, fishing, water sports, hiking, excursions, and more. Moreover, a network of well-maintained national and provincial parks makes Québec’s natural beauty easily accessible. Distinct climates and the large number of quality sports and tourist facilities offer extremely varied activities.

People living outside the greater Montréal area have an exceptional quality of life since they can enjoy outdoor activities in their immediate surroundings.

In Québec, city life and community life go hand in hand. Citizens have access to a variety of public venues, including sports centres, playgrounds, public libraries and cultural centres, many of which offer activity programs for each season.

	PRACTICAL ADVICE
	Find out about the cultural and sports activities offered in your municipality.

Useful links

Information on tourist, recreational and outdoor activities:

• Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs
• Société des établissements de plein air du Québec
• Tourisme Québec