trip to Québec

[BlkBearSuz]

I'm planning a genealogy trip to the province of Québec next month. I was just wondering if anyone had any advice for me. I've never been at all. A fellow genealogist told me that I should not expect people to be speaking english. I took French in high school, but now of course I remember next to none. I won't have a chance to visit Montreal, that will have to be another trip. I will be mostly going to some small towns, places where my grandmother's family lived. I'm hoping these places will be easy enough to navigate with a map.

St. Gedeon
Beauceviile
St. Benjamin
Ste. Germaine du lac Etchemin
Ste. Justine
Ste. Sabine
St. Fabien de Panet

It'll be fun even if I don't know what I'm doing.

Sue

 

[cabmom]

BUMP!
I've never personally been to Quebec, however I believe we have some people on the boards who either live there or have visited.
I can't say for sure, but I believe you find a lot of billingual people in Quebec. I wouldn't worry too much about not speaking the language.
Good luck!
Marilynn

 

[diz karen]

I grew up English in a small town of Quebec. Sometimes it is hard to find anyone that will understand English. Did your Grandmother come from an English family? Often for geneology searches, especially if it is an English family you are researching, it is helpful to contact the local English churches. Often there are English United and Anglican churches in Quebec. I know that my grandmother has been contacted many times from people doing geneological reasearch. People got her name from her church secretary.

 

[BlkBearSuz]

I'm hoping to have a good time regardless even if I can't understand the people who live there. I'm sure I'll do okay.

My grandmother comes from a French Catholic family. She lived in Quebec until she was 7 years old and then most of the family moved to Maine. I have one great-aunt still living who lives in Quebec. Out of 14 children, she is one of 2 siblings still alive. I'd like to go visit of course, but how do you go about visiting someone you've never met and has no idea who you are? I will also have to check into the Catholic churches when I go there. Maybe there will be some good information to be found.

Thanks for your help.

Sue

 

[ChisJo]

I had the opportunity to visit Quebec last year. I never went to any small communities, just pretty much stayed in Quebec city and Montreal. I am very fortunate in that I am bi-lingual, but sometimes, I had an incredible time understanding the locals. They spoke incredibly fast and alot of jargon that I am unfamiliar with coming from Western Canada. Fortunately, as soon as you talk, they will be able to tell that you do not speak the same language and will start talking in English. Not all people from Quebec are French, but not all can speak English.
As for the towns you mentioned, I have never heard of them. The more north they are though, the more likely the town will be mostly French speaking. I met a great couple who came from a more northern area, and they couldn't speak one work of English, said they never really needed to. Fortunately for me, I could understand the wife - the husband, not so much. SHe kept translating it into French I could understand.
Anyways, good luck. I really did enjoy Quebec a lot. If you get the opportunity and the weather is nice, visit Parc Jacque Cartier and take a canoe ride down the river. Not only was it absolutely breath taking, the guide was phenomenal and incredibly educational.
Take care,
J

 

[SandraC]

Hi ~ I am from Montreal. We moved in 1979 with most of the other English speaking folk. If you are a tourist, I'm sure you will be treated beautifully and with respect. Even with a language barrier, it's amazing how much you can communicate. Good Lcuk and enjoy! S

 

[BlkBearSuz]

Thank you all. I'm excited to go and I know that I'll have a fun time.

 

[faithinkarma]

Originally posted by SandraC
Hi ~ I am from Montreal. We moved in 1979 with most of the other English speaking folk. If you are a tourist, I'm sure you will be treated beautifully and with respect. Even with a language barrier, it's amazing how much you can communicate. Good Lcuk and enjoy! S

This is so true it is funny. My American husband used to come visit me in Quebec often before we were maried. He would get rough treatment from people when he was unable to speak French, until he explained he was American. Then they could not have been nicer. He once left his car with me for a couple of weeks. It was astonishing to see the service I got at gas stations when they saw the American plates. The tourist industry is alive and well, and Quebec is doing everything possible to make guests feel welcome.


diz karen,

Another small town Quebec girl here. I grew up in the Eastern Townships and raised my own family in the lower Laurentians.

 

[diz karen]

faithinkarma


Where in the Eastern Townships are you from? I am from just outside of Granby.

diz Karen

 

[dsneygirl]

I've been living in Quebec for almost 2 months for work. I'm in a small town about 40 minutes outside Montreal. Many people do speak English to varying degrees. In Montreal almost everything is bilingual. The tourist areas are used to English speakers so you should have no problem.