<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>News - Quebec City Tourism</title><link>http://www.quebecregion.com/en/media/news-pressrelease/Rss/News</link><description>Nouvelles et communiqués</description><copyright>(c) 2013, Office du tourisme de Qu&amp;eacute;bec</copyright><ttl>5</ttl><item><title>ABA names the Québec City International Festival of Military Bands the Best Canadian Event for 2014</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ABA names the Québec City International Festival of Military Bands the Best Canadian Event for 2014&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Québec, September 9th &lt;/strong&gt;- The American Bus Association (ABA) announced lately that the Québec City International Festival of Military Bands, to be held on August 19 to 24, has been designated as the best Canadian event for 2014 by an experienced expert tourism industry selection committee. This nomination also place the Festival as one of the Top 100 Events in North America, for a third time in a row. Inclusion in the Top 100 list, published as a supplement to the September/October issue of Destinations magazine, indicates that Québec City International Festival of Military Bands offers excellent entertainment value to both tour groups and individual travelers from around the world, according to ABA.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;“The Festival is proud to be named Top Canadian Event for 2014. This is a proof that the event has established its reputation amongst the tourism industry professionals, as well as the tour operators in North America”, said Mr. Yvan Lachance, CEO of the Festival. “By this nomination, ABA recognizes the Festival positive impact regarding economic benefits. It also gives the event an important boost in visibility among professional tour planners”, explained Mr. Lachance. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;With the release of the American Bus Association's 2014 Top 100 Events in North America, ABA celebrates 32 years of the program. What began as a way for motorcoach operators to incorporate new product into their itineraries has grown to one of the most sought-after lists by travel professionals, motorcoach operators and the general public.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;In recent years, the Top Canadian Event has been the Calgary Stampede (Calgary, 2013), the Niagara 1812 Bicentennial (Thurold, 2012), the Magic of Lanterns (Montreal, 2011), the Canadian Naval Centennial International Fleet Review (Halifax, 2010), the Tall Ships Nova Scotia Festival (Halifax, 2009) and the Quebec City 400th anniversary (Québec, 2008).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;"Motorcoach groups spend more and stay longer,” said Peter J. Pantuso, CTIS, ABA's president and CEO. “That's why the Québec City International Festival of Military Bands is truly a local economic asset. There is no better way to jump-start tourism than to attract motorcoach groups to a great event and convince them to extend their stay."&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The American Bus Association (ABA) is the trade organization of the intercity bus industry with more than 1,000 motorcoach and tour company members in the United States and Canada. Its members operate charter, tour, regular route, airport express, special operations and contract services. Another 2,800 members are travel and tourism organizations and suppliers of bus products and services who work in partnership with the North American motorcoach industry.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;- 30 -&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Information : Mélissa Roux-Laforest, Québec City international Festival of Military Bands  &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;mlaforest@fimmq.com | 888.693.1577 # 226 | www.fimmq.com&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2013/09/09</pubDate></item><item><title>Colorful activities during 4 weekends at Mont-Sainte-Anne</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://0d4fe3583a405b6b52c2-fca8214ebb3578328d8dbca8d8f7e484.r72.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/colorful-activities-on-4-weekends-at-mont-sainte-anne.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2013/09/09</pubDate></item><item><title>Froome, Contador, Sagan, Evans, Hesjedal and Schleck to compete in the Québec City and Montréal Grands Prix Cyclistes</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://0d4fe3583a405b6b52c2-fca8214ebb3578328d8dbca8d8f7e484.r72.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/release-riders-at-the-2013-gpcqm.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2013/08/27</pubDate></item><item><title>The 17th Annual SAQ New France Festival : Five days of exhilarating and diversified experiences!</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://0d4fe3583a405b6b52c2-fca8214ebb3578328d8dbca8d8f7e484.r72.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/bilan-press-statement-2013eng.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2013/08/12</pubDate></item><item><title>UCI Mountain Bike World Cup… and so much more!</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://0d4fe3583a405b6b52c2-fca8214ebb3578328d8dbca8d8f7e484.r72.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/commactivitiesen.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2013/08/07</pubDate></item><item><title>Perseid's Night with Benoit Reeves at the Summit of Mont-Sainte-Anne</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://0d4fe3583a405b6b52c2-fca8214ebb3578328d8dbca8d8f7e484.r72.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/perseid-s-night-with-benoit-reeves-at-the-summit-of-mont-sainte-anne.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2013/07/31</pubDate></item><item><title>Quebec Celtic Festival 2013 Program Announcement</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://0d4fe3583a405b6b52c2-fca8214ebb3578328d8dbca8d8f7e484.r72.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/communiquefestivalceltiquelancementprog2013eng.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2013/07/24</pubDate></item><item><title>Québec City Convention Centre: One step closer to carbon neutrality</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div&gt;July 23, 2013&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"&gt;	&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"&gt;	&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Québec City Convention Centre: One step closer to carbon neutrality&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;True to its sustainable development commitment, the Québec City Convention Centre is one step closer to carbon neutrality. The Convention Centre compensated the 101,101 km traveled by its team between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Like its customers who choose the Convention Centre’s eco-friendly event program to organize their events and compensate their carbon footprint, the Convention Centre decided to join Carbone boréal’s Program to compensate greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions related to business travel by the Convention Centre team, representing 26 tons of CO2, were offset by planting 186 trees audited by the BNQ according to ISO 14064-3.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Furthermore, the Québec City Convention Centre renewed its 2009 partnership with Carbone boréal. The program, launched by Claude Villeneuve, Biologist, Professor and Director of the Eco-Council Chair of the University of Québec in Chicoutimi, combines compensation and scientific research to fight climate change by planting trees in boreal zones. Carbone boréal, Planétair and Fondation de la faune du Québec are the three options offered by the Convention Centre’s eco-friendly event program to compensate environmental or carbon footprint.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Between 2009 and 2013, Carbone boréal received more than $40,000 in donations from the Québec City Convention Centre’s customers to compensate the 1,400 tons of greenhouse gas emissions generated by their events.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;About the Québec City Convention Centre&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Québec City Convention Centre’s attracts close to 150 major conventions and events yearly, positioning Québec City and area as a premiere Canadian meeting destination. Every year, the Québec City Convention Centre welcomes over 200,000 visitors from around the world and hosts major national and international conventions. It is an important driver of economic activity, generating an average of $80 million per year in economic benefits for the region. The Convention Centre is proud to be certified LEED-EB (existing building, silver level) and BOMA BESt (level 3).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;About Carbone Boréal&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Carbone boréal is both a greenhouse gas offset program, through tree planting, and a research project led by researchers at the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (Qc, Canada). Any organization or individual can participate in this innovative project. Each and every contributor helps to finance tree planting to offset the greenhouse gases emitted by their organization, family, activities, etc. The boreal forest in Québec includes natural open woodlands that do not self-regenerate. The project aims at establishing research forests within these open woodlands, in collaboration with Québec’s Ministry of Natural Resources, while respecting forest ecosystems and boreal biodiversity.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"&gt;	&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Contact: &lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"&gt;	&lt;/span&gt;Emilie Belisle, Information Officer&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Québec City Convention Centre&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;1 888-679-4000&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;ebelisle@convention.qc.ca&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;  &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2013/07/23</pubDate></item><item><title>The 17th annual SAQ New France Festival: To our heroines!</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://0d4fe3583a405b6b52c2-fca8214ebb3578328d8dbca8d8f7e484.r72.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/communique-de-presse-fnf-eng.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2013/07/17</pubDate></item><item><title>Spectacular exhibition PARIS ON STAGE</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Paris on Stage. 1889-1914, a Spectacular Exhibition&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Ah, Belle Époque Paris, the effervescent city of boulevards, Les Halles, the circus, cinema, theater, salons d’artistes, gardens, and world fair! With its incomparable art and entertainment, thanks to Le Chat noir, the Moulin rouge, the Lumière brothers, Sarah Bernhardt, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Rodin, there’s nothing like the City of Lights! Explore this rich and exciting world through Paris on Stage: 1889–1914, a spectacular exhibition on display June 19, 2013, to February 2014, at Québec City’s Musée de la civilisation. Come find out how Paris became the European cultural capital of the day, as you discover the iconic people, events, and places that epitomized that remarkable era. This wondrous journey to another era, with its enthralling ambiance and evocative décor, has been brought to life under the artistic direction of Cirque Éloize’s Jeannot Painchaud.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;“Paris on Stage: 1889–1914 is one of the major events marking the 25th anniversary of Musée de la civilisation,” said Musées de la civilisation executive director Michel Côté. “The Museum maintains ties with many countries around the world but has always had a special, ongoing relationship with France, working closely with its major museums. This extraordinary project is also part of a series of exhibitions examining the cultural fabric of Québec society, which we launched in 2011 with Rome: From the Origins to Italy’s Capital. The Belle Époque paved the way for a new culture—a culture of the masses—whose interest in leisure, popular entertainment, and consumerism can still be seen in our society today,” concluded Côté.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PARIS IMMERSION&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Paris on Stage is an immersive exhibition plunging visitors into the bustle, effervescence, and energy of Belle Époque Paris. Staged to conjure up the Paris of our dreams, it uses space, sound, and light to involve virtually all the senses. Equipped with audioguides, visitors become strollers promenading the wide boulevards where there’s so much to see.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;They enter the skin of a Belle Époque Parisian, marveling at the newness and creativity, and delighted by the many expressions of popular culture and new leisure opportunities. Along the way, they’ll hear a chanson from a café or sidewalk orchestra, breathe in the fresh air of Bois de Boulogne, marvel at the view through a peephole, experience the moving sidewalk from the 1900 Universal Exhibition, or soak up the view from the Eiffel Tower’s first level. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;“I imagined the exhibition’s itinerary as a show, with the intention of a strong entrance, where the visitor is propelled in the heart of Les Halles, followed by a series of pauses and strong moments. The climax is the wonderful panorama of the 1900 Universal Exhibition with Paris in the background. Between these elements, visitors can wander through the exhibition as they would a Parisian boulevard. With the fabulous scene of Paris during la Belle Époque, sometimes a simple projector is all that is required to shed the light on a masterpiece!” explained Cirque Éloize’s Jeannot Painchaud, the exhibition’s artistic director.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;UNDER THE ROOFS OF PARIS: AMAZING COLLECTIONS&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Paris on Stage: 1889–1914 also showcases outstanding artistic, technical, and historical pieces from the collections of leading Paris museums. In all, close to 250 artifacts and works of art attesting to the creativity of the period are on display, including paintings by Jean Béraud, Abel Truchet, posters—some extremely rare—by Toulouse-Lautrec and Alphonse Mucha, sculptures by Auguste Rodin and Camille Claudel, items that belonged to the divine Sarah Bernhardt, theater costumes, photos, period film clips, automata, and objects illustrating technical advances, such as a “voiturette” from the first series of automobiles made by the Renault brothers, a model of a tramway, bicycles, a cinematograph, a telegraph, and more.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;One star attraction will be Léon Lhermitte’s Les Halles, a monumental 4 m by 6.3 m painting that has not been removed from the vaults of the Petit Palais since 1930. The painting has now been restored, thanks to the patronage of Rungis Marché International, and the Québec public will have the chance to see it first before it returns to Paris.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Musée de la civilisation has also drawn on its own national collections to illustrate scientific advances of the day, as well as the presence of Québec artists in Paris, including Alfred Laliberté, Charles Huot, and Marc-Aurèle de Foy Suzor-Coté. It also enlisted its Québec and Canadian museum network partners to round out the display. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;IN PARIS STREETS&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Paris on Stage is built around a street scene evoking the City of Light’s celebrated boulevards, which reflect a society in transition. A symbol of a new mass culture blending leisure, entertainment, and consumerism, the grands boulevards of Paris provide a wealth of insight into this golden age. The various exhibition themes will be highlighted in special, partially enclosed spaces that provide a unique visitor experience. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;At the entrance, a gigantic fresco depicting Les Halles transports visitors to this iconic bustling market that Zola dubbed the “belly of Paris.” Then, as they amble along the Paris streets, visitors can explore the many exhibition themes and spaces. The carnivalesque Fête Foraine, which was at its peak in the Belle Époque, will let Musée visitors relive the fun, thrills, and sounds of this typical Parisian carnival, which thrilled audiences of all ages and social classes. Cinema was a huge hit too, found at café-concerts, music halls, department stores, and even the circus before the emergence of dedicated movie theaters. In this period, café-concerts, cabarets, and music halls were a mainstay of modern sociability, contributing to the legendary image of “gay Paris.” Parks and gardens, with their walkways and footpaths, ponds, streams, and waterfalls, were meant to provide ideal locales for strolling and unwinding. The theater—the most popular form of entertainment in the 19th century—moved Parisian audiences to laughter and tears. A wealth of repertoire existed, from traditional pieces with the great Sarah Bernhardt to vaudeville and avant-garde works. Salons d’artistes were devoted to promoting academic art, providing artists seeking to make names for themselves with opportunities to show—and be paid for—their work. August Rodin, the iconic father of modern sculpture, presented a selection of his works at the Alma pavilion, a refuge of quietude and beauty specially built for the occasion. Paris also hosted five world’s fairs in the 19th century. These huge celebrations of modernity marked an essential step in the evolution of mass leisure, culminating in the 1900 World Exhibition and the construction of a massive amusement park. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;BEYOND THE EXHIBITION &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;As a complement to the Paris on Stage exhibition, the Museum will treat visitors to guided tours, including a fascinating iPod tour for children, as well as a wide variety of cultural activities such as the captivating “Paris découvertes” series of talks. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Museum, in collaboration with Beaux Arts magazine, will publish a book featuring contributions by numerous well-known experts. The work is being distributed nationally and internationally, in both French and English.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Paris on Stage: 1889–1914, a spectacular exhibition presented at Québec City’s Musée de la civilisation, June 19, 2013, to February 23, 2014. Visit www.mcq.org/paris for details.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;A Musée de la civilisation production under the artistic direction of Cirque Éloize’s Jeannot Painchaud, with the generous support of the City of Paris Museums and the collaboration of Secrétariat à la Capitale-Nationale, Tourisme Québec, Québec City Tourism, Château Laurier (official hotel), the Le Soleil daily newspaper, and Radio-Canada. With the special contribution of the major exhibition patronage fund established by the Québec City Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Companies contributing to this fund include Auberge Saint-Antoine, the Château Laurier hotel, Les Tours du Vieux-Québec, Pain Béni restaurant, and the Québec City Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Alcoa is a partner in all Musée de la civilisation programming.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Media relations&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Québec City - Serge Poulin, 418-528-2072; email: spoulin@mcq.org&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Montréal – Rosemonde Gingras, 514-458-8355; email: rosemonde@rosemondecommunications.com&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2013/06/19</pubDate></item><item><title>Delta Air Lines to fly to JFK from YQB</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div&gt; PRESS RELEASE&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For immediate release&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Delta Air Lines to fly to JFK from YQB&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;MORE FLIGHTS TO THE BIG APPLE!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;May 27th, 2013– On June 8th, Delta Air Lines will begin a daily service to New York’s JFK airport.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Travellers will now have access to two flights a day to the airport with the most international passengers in the United States. “The addition of JFK to our flight offering is excellent news. Not only will there be more ways to get directly to New York, but our passengers will also benefit from another major hub for world travel. This new flight will also open our region to international tourists and business people,” said Mr. Gaëtan Gagné, President and CEO of Aéroport de Québec inc. Delta Air Lines is a member of SkyTeam with access to 187 countries around the world. With the four existing daily flights to Newark, six daily flights to the Big Apple are now available from Québec City.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Delta Air Lines also announced the return of its flights to Detroit from Québec City. A daily flight will be available between June 9th and September 3rd. Embraer 145 aircraft with 50 seats will be used for the flights to JFK and Detroit.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Since November 1, 2000, the Aéroport de Québec inc. has been responsible for the management, operation, maintenance and development of the Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport. Approximately a dozen carriers offer multiple connections to various destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean, Mexico and Europe, over 50 direct flights a day to major cities in Eastern Canada and the United States, such as Montréal, Toronto, New York, Chicago, Detroit and Philadelphia and, in winter, over 45 chartered flights a week to sun destinations as well as Paris and Marseille in the summer.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;PASSENGER FIRST ®&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Twitter : QuebecYQB&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Facebook : facebook.com/aeroportdequebec&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;http://www.aeroportdequebec.com/en/flights/destinations-from-quebec-city/&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;- 30 -&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;SOURCE :&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Jonathan Trudeau&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Director, Communication&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Aéroport de Québec&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Tel. : 418-640-2700 ext. 2625&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2013/05/27</pubDate></item><item><title>The Illustrated History of Tourism at Musée de la civilisation</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div&gt;Destination Québec: An Illustrated History of Tourism&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Tourism posters are creative works and artifacts from our graphic design and advertising heritage&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;There is nothing new about efforts to entice travelers to visit a region or attraction! Here in Quebec, we have been using inspiring images and illustrations to extol the virtues of our most beautiful attractions since 1825! That’s one of the things visitors will learn as they admire the 40 posters featured in the exhibition Destination Québec: An Illustrated History of Tourism presented May 22 to August 18, 2013, at Musée de la civilisation, in partnership with Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ), and next year from August 2014 to January 2015 at Centre d’archives de Montréal. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Taken from the collections of both partner institutions, the works on display were selected for both their artistic and documentary value. As Musées de la civilisation executive director Michel Côté noted, “These posters are creative works of art covering a period that is crucial to understanding the growing importance of leisure in our society. They must be recognized as precious and fragile indicators of the evolution of artistic and advertising techniques of the time. It’s vital that we preserve them so they can be shared with future generations.”&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;“Imagine visiting the Kahnawake reserve in 1880 in the company of Sarah Bernhardt, staying at the original Manoir Richelieu in 1900, or spending a winter evening at the Saint-Adèle Lodge during the Second World War. The same attractions have been drawing tourists for over a century, and these ads from the history of tourism will convince everyone of the importance of recording and preserving this aspect of our cultural heritage,” added Guy Berthiaume, chair and CEO of BAnQ.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Learning to draw a crowd&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Born in Britain in the Industrial Age, tourism soon spread to North America, fostering new land and river routes as it grew. Steamships, trains, and ocean liners soon gave way to cars and planes as travel became faster, easier, and more comfortable. Quebec jumped on the bandwagon, eagerly attempting to draw visitors with a multitude of images showcasing its foremost attractions, major cultural events and celebrations, beautiful resorts, expansive forests, and numerous lakes, rivers, and mountains. The province was sold as a paradise for hunters, anglers, and nature lovers. Snow became white gold—and there was plenty of it!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;These images were created to attract American visitors and were displayed in train stations, travel agencies, or in the street and used for trade shows and promotional activities. Many of them were created anonymously. Others bear the signatures of Quebec poster artists like Ernest Senécal and Roger Couillard or artists from Europe, mainly England. Starting in the late 1950s, the names of graphic design firms begin to appear on certain ads.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Roger Couillard archival fonds&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;In 2009, the estate of Roger Couillard (1911–1999) made a magnificent donation to Musée de la civilization, providing insight into the craft of poster art and graphic design in the 20th century. Notable items in the fonds include 33 sketches and 27 original posters as well as tools like pens, pencils, and compasses. This gift is an eloquent homage to the legacy of Roger Couillard, a prolific artist who influenced the history of graphic arts in Quebec and whose work captures the evolution of holiday resorts in the 1940s.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;See the exhibition, own the book!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;To explore the exhibition in greater detail, Éditions de l’Homme has created a wonderful book of the same name providing a closer look at the history of these illustrated representations of Quebec society through some 350 works from various museums and cultural institutions across Quebec.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Take a voyage through time with a visit to the Destination Québec: An Illustrated History of Tourism exhibition presented May 22 to August 18, 2013, at Musée de la civilisation, in partnership with Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Information : 418 643-2158/1 866 710-8031&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Media Relations : Agnès Dufour, 418-528-2358, adufour@mcq.org&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2013/05/22</pubDate></item><item><title>Grand knights and princesses parades on Dufferin Terrace!</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div&gt;Grand knights and princesses parades on Dufferin Terrace!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;As part of the “Knights and Princesses at Château Saint-Louis” event&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Québec, Quebec, May 22, 2013 – On May 24 and 25, come admire the grandest knights and&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;princesses parades ever held! Parks Canada and Disney Junior, together with Rouge FM,&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, and the Children’s Wish Foundation, are inviting the public to&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;attend one of three parades at the “Knights and Princesses at Château Saint-Louis” event.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Following a contest that ran from April 15 to May 13, a draw was held to randomly pick 225&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;children who will dress up in their finest knight or princess costume and join one of three Lords&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;`n' Ladies parades held on Parks Canada’s Dufferin Terrace, with the majestic Château Frontenac&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;as a backdrop.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The winners’ royal treatment will include a stroll down the red carpet, entertainment by Rouge&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;FM, musicians, photographers, journalists, and rounds of applause. They will also have the&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;chance to attend a private screening of a special episode of the new Disney Junior series Sofia the&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;First at Saint-Louis Forts and Châteaux National Historic Site—a real castle! And to help make&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;the experience one they will never forget, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac will hand out candy&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;bars and popcorn!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;What: “Knights and Princesses at Château Saint-Louis” parades&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;When: Friday, May 24, at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 25, at 10:00 a.m. and&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;1:00 p.m.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Where: Parks Canada’s Dufferin Terrace, in front of the Château Frontenac,&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;in Old Québec&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Information for the public: 418 648-7016&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Children’s Wish Foundation&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;As the partners strive to give these children an unforgettable experience, they will also be doing&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;the same for sick kids by partnering with the Children’s Wish Foundation. Some of the wish&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;children will also have the chance to take part in the parades. And volunteers with the&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;organization will be on hand at Dufferin Terrace to collect donations.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Parks Canada is proud to work with such prestigious partners on a project that will surely light up&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;the eyes of hundreds of kids while supporting a great cause—the Children’s Wish Foundation.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Don’t miss this rare occasion to see scores of little knights and princesses proudly&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;take part in a parade—and take the opportunity to support the Children’s Wish&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Foundation!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;-30-&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Julie Royer&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Officer, Public Relations and Communication&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Québec Field Unit, Parks Canada&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;418-648-7601&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;julie.royer@pc.gc.ca&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;parkscanada.gc.ca/saintlouis&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2013/05/22</pubDate></item><item><title>The rediscovered colony: a section of our history revealed!</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Rediscovered Colony: a Section of Our History Revealed!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The discovery of a sherd of Renaissance Italian porcelain on the Cap Rouge promontory in 2005 created a wave of excitement. Archaeological excavations quickly confirmed beyond a shadow of a doubt that we had rediscovered the mid-16th century French colony that was the first in the Americas. The Rediscovered Colony, presented at Musée de l’Amérique francophone, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see this artifact together with some one hundred of the most important findings from the dig. A Commission de la capitale nationale/Musée de la civilisation coproduction. In partnership with Hôtel Château Laurier, official hotel of Musée de l’Amérique française.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The artifacts come to life in a radical new staging that turns conventional archaeological display on its ear to redraw the boundaries of our shared history. This first European colony north of Mexico was long considered an abject failure, but new research reveals it in a new light—as a first step in the establishment of a permanent French settlement in North America, 60 years before Champlain. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Executive director of Les Musées de la civilisation Michel Côté noted that “a fundamental aspect of Les Musées de la civilisation’s pursuit of its cultural calling for 25 years has been our constant concern with enhancing our understanding and reaching out to as many people as possible. This coproduction fits our focus perfectly because it sheds new light on a critical yet forgotten part of our history, as well as upsetting certain received historical notions. We owe this new perspective,” he added, “to the patience and perseverance of archaeologists and researchers supported by experts from Centre de conservation du Québec.” &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Commission de la capitale nationale du Québec executive director Françoise Mercure pronounced herself thrilled by “this magnificent exhibition, a fitting conclusion to the thousands of hours spent bringing this little-known episode of our history to light, following three seasons of intensive excavations and six years of research by experts from more than 20 different scientific disciplines. For the Commission, it was critical that the huge advances in our understanding of the Cap Rouge archaeological site be shared with the general public.” &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Tell me a NEW story&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Visitors entering the exhibition are confronted with the story that history textbooks and teachers have always told: Jacques Cartier—a national hero! In his two voyages in 1534 and 1535, he claimed this land for the King of France and thus became THE MAN WHO DISCOVERED CANADA! &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Historians have however been less forthcoming about the 1541 expedition to build a permanent settlement in Canada. Yet a settlement was duly built on the Cap Rouge promontory—the land shows signs of it, and its existence was confirmed in 2005 with the discovery of a tiny sherd of Italian porcelain. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;To get into the spirit of it all, we go back to the height of the Renaissance in all its splendor—and its territorial wars. Like Spain and Portugal, France sought to expand and grow wealthy off the “New World” while perhaps, with luck, finding the fabled passage to India. Doing so however would mean securing a permanent foothold in the Americas—a major colonial undertaking. Thus in the fall of 1540 King Francis I officially commissioned Jean-François de La Rocque de Roberval, a military officer of noble birth and fortifications expert, to take charge of the effort. Jacques Cartier too would go along—a skilled navigator would be needed. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;As you enter the exhibition, a sound shower plunges you into the tumult of embarkation in Saint Malo. Cartier’s ships set sail in the spring of 1541, with Roberval’s ships following a year later. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;A big surprise awaited Roberval on arriving in Newfoundland in mid-June: Cartier’s fleet was heading back to Europe. Cartier hastened to inform him of deteriorating relations with the Stadaconans and showed off his holds packed with precious stones and metals found near the fort. On examining them, Roberval accepted the story but still ordered Cartier to turn round. However, under cover of night, Cartier fled with his five ships back to Brittany. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Undaunted, Roberval pursued his mission with the 200-odd people he had. He set up shop on the Cap Rouge promontory where Cartier had started building. The adventure would last just over a year before war with Spain—now allied with England—was rekindled in 1543 and Francis I called off the colonial experiment in Canada. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Artifacts attesting to life on the Cap Rouge promontory&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Men, women, nobles, commoners, soldiers, tradespeople, and prisoners were part of a microcosm of French society with its characteristic social divisions—in the heart of the woods. Artifacts found on the site bear eloquent witness to their lives. There are sherds of glass, tool handles, silver-plated buttons, and beadwork on clothing showing the wearer’s rank, while the surprising discovery of fragments of a chain-mail coat remind us of the military side of the colony and its soldiers. A playing piece for checkers or tricktrack (an ancestor of backgammon) show that the colonists found time to play games among their many pursuits. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;There are signs that the colonists bartered with the locals, relations having improved significantly under Roberval. The French offered small items such as rings and fishhooks, probably in exchange for the Stadaconans’ food, as attested by sherds of vases with Iroquoian motifs and kernels of corn found in European-built buildings. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Arson or accidental fire?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The thick fire layer found at the archaeological site proves that the colonial buildings were destroyed by fire. The cause of the fire, whether arson or an accident, remains a mystery. Although it destroyed the settlement, the fire also helped preserve—sometimes miraculously—many vestiges of the Cap Rouge colony. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Over 6,000 artifacts&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The archaeological work at the Cartier-Roberval site has uncovered over 6,000 artifacts. However, the original purpose of hundreds of them remains unknown—they are so fragmentary that we can’t reconstruct their original shape. Also, many objects are conspicuous by their absence, including all the material culture associated with everyday people. All in all, although this research has provided better documentation than ever before of what life in the colony was like, it has also raised questions about objects that are fragmented, unexplained, or, mysteriously, not there at all.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;An accompanying book, La Rumeur dorée&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;La rumeur dorée. Roberval et l’Amérique, by historian Bernard Allaire, paints a detailed portrait of Jean-François de la Rocque de Roberval and the background against which this little-known but key figure presided over the fate of the first French colony in the Americas. The book, copublished by Commission de la capitale nationale du Québec and Les Éditions La Presse, is available at the bookshops of Musée de l’Amérique française and Musée de la civilisation for $34.95. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Cartier-Roberval site tours in August&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;To make your experience of the exhibition complete, guided tours of the Cap Rouge site with an archaeologist are available all through the month of August, which has been officially declared Québec Archaeo Month. To find out what’s beneath the archaeological adventure, how artifacts are restored, and the passion that has driven the project for 8 years, visit www.mcq.org/lacolonie.com &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Rediscovered Colony at Musée de l’Amérique francophone, a fascinating piece of history finally revealed. Don’t miss it!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Information: 418-643-2158/1-866-710-8031&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Media relations:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;National: Agnès Dufour, 418-528-2358, adufour@mcq.org&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2013/05/01</pubDate></item><item><title>Festival d'opéra 2013 Opera everywhere and for everyone</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Festival d'opéra 2013&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Opera everywhere and for everyone&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Québec, Tuesday April 30, 2013 – &lt;/strong&gt;This morning at the Grand Théâtre de Québec, Gaston Déry, President of the Opéra de Québec and Vice-President, Sustainable Development at Roche Ltd. Consulting Group, along with Grégoire Legendre, General and Artistic Director of the Opéra de Québec, unveiled the line-up for the third edition of the Festival d'opéra de Québec which will take place from July 24 to August 5.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The 2013 program further demonstrates the desire of the Opéra de Québec to celebrate every possible expression of opera for all types of audiences by presenting both more traditional and not so traditional activities.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;A spectacular presentation: La Damnation de Faust&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Having already demonstrated the ability to attract major international productions in the past, the Festival d'opéra will present La Damnation de Faust, which was a success in New York, Paris and Tokyo. This collaboration with Ex Machina, staged by Robert Lepage and directed by Giuseppe Grazioli, will be performed on July 25 (8:00 p.m.), 27 (2:00 p.m.), 29 and 31 (8:00 p.m.) in the Louis-Fréchette Hall at the Grand Théâtre de Québec. An all-Canadian cast will be featured with the magnificent mezzo-soprano Julie Boulianne (Marguerite), the tenor Gordon Gietz (Faust), the bass-baritone Alexandre Sylvestre (Brander) and the bass John Relyea (Mephistopheles) who reprises the role he played successfully at the MET.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;With the Choeur de l'Opéra de Québec and the Orchestre symphonique de Québec&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Original French Version&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Powder Her Face : A biting, funny and touching fantaisie&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The second major summer production is the first opera by Thomas Adès, who bowled us over last year with The Tempest. Presented at the Capitole de Québec on August 1, 3 and 5 at 8:00 p.m., Powder Her Face is the fascinating story about the decadent antics of the woman who became known as the "Dirty Duchess", a half-comic, half-tragic character who caused a scandal during the 1960s in England. In Jay Scheib's almost irreverent staging and directed by Jonathan Stockhammer, the opera comes to us directly from the New York City Opera where it was staged last winter with the same cast, including the mezzo-soprano Allison Cook in the lead role, the soprano Nili Riemer, the tenor William Ferguson and the bass Matt Boehler. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Original English Version with English Surtitles&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Opera in non-traditional formats &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Since the Festival d'opéra is an ideal opportunity to reinvent the opera genre, the 2013 edition will stand out for an association with the Grands Feux Loto-Québec whose opening festivities will combine excerpts of well-known operas with a display of fireworks. The activity is free on top of being visible from both shores of the Saint Lawrence and will take place at the Vieux-port of Québec on Saturday August 3, at 10:30 p.m. La Brigade lyrique will welcome people to the Vieux-port of Québec beginning at 10:00 p.m.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The next day, August 4 at 8:00 p.m., a trio composed of the Ensemble Quartango, the soprano Marie-Josée Lord and the Argentine dancers Roxana and Fabian Belmonte will meet at the Capitole de Québec to present an impressive performance combining the heat and sensuality of the tango with the depth of the opera.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;As well, also new this year, Vincent Karche from France will import his European concept that combines outdoor hikes and vocal performances: the Randolyriques. A university professor, forest engineer, naturalised Huron and tenor who has performed on the most prestigious stages in Europe, the fascinating Vincent Karche was able to combine his passion for singing and for nature. The Randolyriques will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on July 24, 25, 27 and 28 on the Plains of Abraham, as well as on July 30, 31 and August 2, 3 at the Huron site of Tsonontwan.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Festival-goers are invited to the Apéro-concert: Paris en scène, as part of the Musée de la civilisation's exhibition entitled "Paris en scène 1889-1914" at the Chapelle at the Musée de l'Amérique francophone, July 28, 29 and 30 at 4:00 p.m.  It will be the perfect opportunity to have a drink while the soprano  Sylvie Malenfant and the tenor Marc Duguay entertain with songs from the Belle Epoque repertoire. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;La Brigade lyrique and Music Al Fresco &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For the third consecutive year, outdoor concerts throughout Québec City will be on the agenda this summer. Coproduced with the Société du Palais Montcalm and in collaboration with the Mesure Première Ovation, the Brigade lyrique will visit the main public spaces and parks in Québec City to give special performances at no cost from July 24 to 28 and from July 31 to August 4 at 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. The brigade will include Judith Bouchard, Marie-Michèle Roberge, Keven Geddes and Dominique Veilleux.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;And last but not least, the Music Al Fresco series will take place in the municipalities of Sainte-Foy and Beauport on Tuesday July 30, first at 12:00 p.m. at the Maison Hamel-Bruneau, and then at 7:30 p.m. at the Saint-Louis-de-Courville church.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;All of the program details and the schedule of events are available at www.festivaloperaquebec.com. Tickets are available at the Opéra de Québec ticket office at 418 529-0688 or 1 877 643-8131.&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2013/04/30</pubDate></item><item><title>Paul McCartney is coming back to Québec City!</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div&gt;Press release &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For immediate release &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PAUL MCCARTNEY IS COMING BACK TO QUEBEC CITY! &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Quebec City, April 25, 2013 –&lt;/strong&gt; Five years almost to the day from his historic first concert here, &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Paul McCartney is back! He'll be playing the Plains of Abraham on July 23. Touched by the &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;reception he got in 2008, in what was 'a night to remember' for everyone who had the chance to &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;be there, Paul quickly got behind the idea of bringing Québec audiences his new production, "Out &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;There". &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;"We can say that Paul McCartney was thrilled to accept our invitation. With so many surveys &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;showing that his 2008 concert was the high point of the celebrations marking the 400years of &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Québec, what better way to mark it's fifth anniversary?" said Daniel Gélinas, General Manager of &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;3E event-experience-emotion, which is putting on this new show. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Paul McCartney's "Out There" tour is an all-new production featuring close to three hours of &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;songs spanning his entire career–as a solo artist, member of Wings and, of course, The Beatles. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The McCartney live experience is a once in a lifetime opportunity to share many of the greatest &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;moments of the last 50 years of musical history with material from the most beloved catalog in &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;popular music. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;2013 another landmark year! &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Paul has thrown himself into 2013 with full force following a landmark year in 2012, which saw &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;him conclude his record-breaking “On The Run” tour, release his Grammy-winning Kisses On The &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Bottom album, play at both the Diamond Jubilee and Olympics Opening Ceremony, headline The &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Concert For Sandy Relief and accept a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;2013 also marks the 50th anniversary of Beatlemania, an expression coined in 1963 by the Daily &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Mirror to describe the Beatles phenomenon. And it was in 1963 that the band played their last gig &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;at The Cavern in Liverpool before setting out to conquer the world. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Festival fans first &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;An exclusive ticket sale reserved for those having Festival passes and Front-Stage Zone tickets &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;for the 46th Festival d’été de Québec will take place from May 4 to 10. All ticket holders will &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;receive a box office access code by e-mail or by phone, on Wednesday May 1st, so they can buy &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;their wristbands for this show (maximum of 4 wristbands per code). Regular ticket sales start the following day, May 11, and continue while wristband supplies last. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;There are two categories of wristbands: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;• General Admission: &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;o $99.50, taxes and service fees included, plus shipping &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;• Front-Stage Zone: &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;o $199.50, taxes and service fees included, plus shipping &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Wristbands sales: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;• Online : www.3e-evenement.com/outthere&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;• By phone : &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;o Quebec City Area and international (outside North America) : 418 380-8290&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;o Toll-free (Canada and US) : 1 888 514-2894&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For more details, go to www.3e-evenement.com/outthere&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;-30- &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Information : Mélissa Brisson &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; International Media Relations Coordinator &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; 3 E event-experience-emotion &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;(418) 523-4540 &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;mbrisson@infofestival.com&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2013/04/25</pubDate></item><item><title>Quality, diversity and balance mark the 46th Festival d'été de Québec</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Press release&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For immediate release&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;QUALITY, DIVERSITY AND BALANCE MARK THE 46TH FESTIVAL D’ÉTÉ DE QUÉBEC&lt;/strong&gt;! &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Quebec City, April 23, 2013 –&lt;/strong&gt; The waiting is over! The Festival d’été de Québec has released this &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;year's outdoor shows in a program covering a broad range of musical genres. Pop artists and &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;living legends, names to discover and rising stars - for festival fans, choice is the operative word. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Black Keys, Bruno Mars, Tiësto, Wu-Tang Clan, Def Leppard, Weezer , Rush, Wiz &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Khalifa, MGMT, Foreigner, Bad Religion, Bassnectar, Belle &amp;amp; Sebastien, Emmylou Harris &amp;amp; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Rodney Crowell, Passion Pit and Ellie Goulding are just some of the big names on this year's &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;lineup. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;"Again this year, we're proud to say that the Festival d’été de Québec is in the vanguard. The &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;depth of talent on our program clearly puts us right up there with the biggest and the best," said &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;General Manager Daniel Gélinas. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;As Program Director Louis Bellavance explained, "This depth can be seen in the number of &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;shows that have a slate of big names from start to finish, and this goes for international and &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;francophone artists, whatever the style or the venue. It's one of the biggest plusses in this year's &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;programming." &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ElectroFEQ &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The 2012 ElectroFEQ show was a surprise hit that drew crowds of electro fans and more than a &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;few curious festivalgoers to the largest venue, the Plains of Abraham. ElectroFEQ is back this &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;year even bigger and better than ever, with shows at four different venues on four consecutive &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;nights, starting at the Impérial and reaching a crescendo on the Plains! &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Kicking off at the Impérial on July 8 with Le Matos, Keys N Krates and Austra, the ElectroFEQ &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;moves to the Hydro-Québec Stage at Place d’Youville the next day, with the world beat grooves &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;of the Mexican Institute of Sound, 3Ball MTY and A Tribe Called Red. On Wednesday, July &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;10, dubstep takes over the Loto-Québec Stage at Parc de la Francophonie with Zeds Dead and &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Bassnectar headlining the show. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;And to top off ElectroFEQ on Thursday, July 11, the Plains will be plugged into Madeon, Martin &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Solveig and Wolfgang Gartner, with superstar Tiësto the highlight of the show. This evening of &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;electro house music will call for one of biggest technical deployments in the history of the &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Festival. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Bell Stage on the Plains of Abraham &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;July 4: As was announced a few weeks ago, the Festival will open in French on a grand scale &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;with Quand le Québec chante. Five solid names in Québec song, Paul Piché, Daniel Lavoie, &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Richard Séguin, Michel Rivard and Laurence Jalbert, accompanied by a chorus of 400 voices, &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;will be playing their most popular hits along with some of Québec's best-loved standards. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;July 5: Hip-hop could make history this night with the legendary Wu-Tang Clan playing here for &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;the first time! Big name rapper Wiz Khalifa is up just before the American group, along with &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Classified, known for the hit single Inner Ninja. Anodajay, Dramatik, Koriass, Manu Militari&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;and Samian, in a hip-hop celebration of the 10th anniversary of Disques 7e Ciel, will be opening &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;the show. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;July 6: Since The Black Keys' wildly popular Festival appearance in 2011, they've racked up &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Grammy awards and hit the international scene big-time with their new album. Now on top of their &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;game, it's an honour to have them back on the Plains. Eagles of Death Metal and Father John &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Misty will be up first.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;July 7: With their latest album J’aime ta grand-mère, and their concept show Les Trois Accords &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;with a bunch of chicks, a big brass band and balls of fire, the Trois Accords embrace the absurd.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;And they have more than one guest artist and surprise in store for the audience! They'll be &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;preceded onstage by French star M, whose incredible personality and energy really shine in a live &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;show. Caféïne will be opening in what promises to be an evening Festival fans won't want to &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;miss.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;July 8: The announcement that pop superstar Bruno Mars was coming to the Festival really got &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;things rolling. His fans should also go for Ellie Goulding's world-popular electro pop, and for &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Toronto's own Diamond Rings. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;July 9: Passion Pit, MGMT, Weezer - the Festival has pulled out all the stops with this hardhitting lineup. This will be the first time MGMT plays here in Québec City. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;July 10: Rush is back with a new, highly-acclaimed super production, the Clockwork Angel Tour. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Packed with impressive projections and special effects, this will be the tour's only stop in Québec. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;July 11: ElectroFEQ &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;July 13: The legendary Def Leppard needs no introduction, and it goes without saying that this &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;show will bring hardcore rockers out in droves. Talented US rock band Foreigner is up first. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Loto-Québec Stage at Parc de la Francophonie &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Loto-Québec Stage has always held a special place in the heart of Festival fans as a venue &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;where new talent is revealed and musical memories are made. With the spotlight on French &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;music, some of Québec's most popular artists are slated to play here this year. Cœur de pirate&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;will be putting on her only band-style show of the summer in an evening that starts with talented &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;young singer-songwriter Chloé Lacasse followed by promising artist Karim Ouellet, from &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Québec City. Lisa Leblanc, whose debut album went gold, will be onstage right after &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;performances by none other than Bernard Adamus and Keith Kouna. And in a night to &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;remember, look for Richard Desjardins and Ingrid St-Pierre, accompanied by a string quartet, as well as Gaële. To close the Festival, Robert Charlebois will sing hits from a career spanning &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;fifty years, with David Giguère and Hôtel Morphée up first. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Big name indie band Belle &amp;amp; Sebastian is sure to draw crowds for their first ever Quebec City &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;appearance. Here We Go Magic and Born Ruffians will set the tone for an evening of indie pop. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Then punk rock takes over with Bad Religion, whose new album is making records sales. First &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;up will be The Hunter, The Balconies and the winner of the Clic ton band contest. So get there &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;early! &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For metal fans, Parc de la Francophonie is the place to be! In their only canadian appearance &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;and their first in Quebec City, the 15 musicians of the German band Avantasia, known for their &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;symphonic metal sound, are here with a grandiose rock opera. Voivod will be celebrating its 30th &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;year, up right after Never More than Less. The Festival is also welcoming folk legend Emmylou &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Harris and her guitarist Rodney Crowell, with songs from their country-folk duo album Yellow &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Moon. Bears of Legend will be opening. Look for big crowds for Canadian pop rock band &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Marianas Trench, who just won the Juno Award for Group of the Year. Down with Webster will &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;get things rolling along with Quebec City's own Final State.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Hydro-Québec Stage at Place Metro in Place d’Youville &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;A lively program of world beat, blues, soul, reggae, pop and electro music will have the HydroQuébec stage hopping every evening this year! &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;World music fans, get ready to dance to the music of Amadou et Mariam, Kassav’, Fatoumata &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Diawara, Locos for Juana and the inimitable Balkan Beat Box. Afrobeat is out in full force with &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Femi Kuti &amp;amp; The Positive Force, a big name in afrofunk, and The Souljazz Orchestra. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Danakil, Reggae Meta and The Cornerstones will fill Place d’Youville with the laid-back sound &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;of reggae, with some help from French reggae masters Alpha Blondy &amp;amp; The Solar System. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Soul fans will be happy to see soul funk legend Booker T. Jones in a lineup that includes The &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Dynamite featuring Charles Walker and Sharon Jones &amp;amp; the Dap-Kings, who lights a fire &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;everywhere she goes. Gospel soul is also on tap with The Relatives and Naomi Shelton &amp;amp; The &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Gospel. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Blues lovers won't want to miss James Hunter, The Slide Brothers, and Dr. John, the Night &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Tripper, here directly from New Orleans. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;There will also be plenty of music in French at Place d’Youville, with Loco Locass&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;playing songs from their latest album, Le Québec est mort, vive le Québec! Noir Silence&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;and Canailles will be playing at Place d’Youville that same evening. Festival favourite &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Daran will also be back, with Zaz headlining.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The beating heart of the Festival, the Hydro-Québec Stage will also host Socalled, Nomadic &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Massive, Nick Waterhouse, Charly Yapo, Sagapool, Coyote Bill, Kodiak, Gotta Logo &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Project, William Sevigny, Jeanphilip and Ampli de Québec artists Julielle, Maude, Équinoxe &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;and The Seasons."Year after year, the FEQ is a driving force for the local economy that helps keep the financial &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;outlook sound. But in addition to the millions of dollars the Festival brings in, it also builds a level &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;of technical expertise that can't be beat," Board Chairman Mario Girard pointed out. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Geneviève Borne, President of the 25th Prix Miroir &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Prix Miroir, sponsored by SODEC and awarded at the end of the Festival d’été de Québec, &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;recognizes the talent of local and guest artists. Geneviève Borne will preside over the jury in this &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;25th anniversary year. Active in the cultural milieu for over 20 years, and co-host of Belle &amp;amp; Bum &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;(a Quebec tv show), she has always been a music lover above all. And this Quebec City native &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;has never been shy about saying that the Festival d’été de Québec is her pick! Organizers are &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;pleased to have this outstanding communicator as the spokesperson for the 25th Prix Miroir &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;awards. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Again this year, the Festival is looking for an avid music lover from the public to sit on the Prix &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Miroir jury! Interested candidates will find details on the Festival website. Go for it! &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The 46th Festival d’été de Québec takes place from July 4 to 14, 2013.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Festival d’été de Québec is presented by Bell in collaboration with Molson Dry. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;-30- &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Information: Rachel Dupuis &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Public Relations Officer &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Festival d’été de Québec &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;(418) 523-4540 &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;T : (418) 523-4540&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;rdupuis@infofestival.com&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2013/04/23</pubDate></item><item><title>‘Céline… une seule fois’ on the Plains of Abraham Saturday, July 27, 2013 at 8:00PM</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div&gt;PRESS RELEASE&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For Immediate release&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;‘CÉLINE… UNE SEULE FOIS’ ON THE PLAINS OF ABRAHAM SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2013 AT 8:00PM&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;TICKETS ON SALE SATURDAY, APRIL 6&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Québec City, Canada (Tuesday, April 2, 2013) – Céline Dion is preparing a one-time special event for Québec City—her only show outside Las Vegas. The most famous Quebec artist in the world will perform her greatest hits. A world exclusive show, Céline… une seule fois, is created specifically for fans who will join her on the Plains of Abraham Saturday July 27, 2013. Tickets will go on sale through the Billetech network on Saturday April 6, at 10:00 AM. In order to ensure comfort and safety, only 60,000 tickets will be available. QuébéComm is presenting the show. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;  &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Show: ‘Céline… une seule fois’&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Céline, in her home province, will perform a one time, world exclusive show comprised of 80% French and 20 % English hits.  During the next few months, the team will be working on a made-to-measure concept adapted for the mythic Plains of Abraham, site of many great events. Fans not only from across Québec and Canada, but from the rest of the world as well are expected to attend this very unique event. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The artistic team of "Céline… une seule fois’&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Musical Director: Claude "Mego" Lemay&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Lighting Designer / Artistic Director: Yves Aucoin&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Sound: Denis Savage, François Desjardins&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The staging will be done collectively by René Angelil, Celine Dion, Yves Aucoin, Claude Lemay, Denis Savage.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Pre-sale (limited number of tickets) – from 10:00AM Thursday, April 4 to 6:00PM Friday April 5&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Members of TeamCeline (Celine’s official Fan Club), QuébéComm newsletter subscribers and members of J’ai ma place will have priority access to tickets as of Thursday April 4 at 10:00 AM. Registration to the QuébéComm infolettre and to TeamCeline is free of charge and those registered will receive information by email. There are a limited number of tickets in each section.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Registration for the QuébéComm newsletter can be done on www.celineuneseulefois.com .&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;General Admission Ticket Sales – Saturday April 6- 10:00AM &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Tickets will go on sale to the general public Saturday April 6, at 10:00AM. Tickets will be available from $69 to $149, including taxes and service charges. They will be available on the Billetech network, at www.billetech.com , at different ticket outlets and by telephone at 1-877-643-8131 or at 1-800-900-SHOW.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;A special section "Section A-OR VIP Package" for a maximum of 5,000 people is also available as a package deal. Buyers of this package will have a ticket in Section A-OR in front of the stage, a VIP entrance with no waiting, one free refreshment to celebrate the event, added bar and restaurant services, extra sanitary services, an official ‘Celine... une seule fois’ souvenir plus an accreditation and an official VIP ribbon.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;QuébéComm has developed affordable pricing. Outdoor major events on the Plains of Abraham have been divided into five sections providing a good partition of the crowd and easier access to the site:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;SECTION A - OR, VIP PACKAGE (including several benefits):&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;$ 299 including taxes and service charges&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;SECTION B-SILVER&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;$ 149 including taxes and service charges&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;SECTION C:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;$ 99 including tax and service charges&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;SECTION D:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;$ 99 including tax and service charges&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;SECTION E:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;$ 69 including tax and service charges&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;All places are general admission. No chairs will be accepted on site.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;This spectacular event will be exclusive to Québec City. QuébéComm and its artistic team will do everything to bring a one of a kind experience to the audience—a unifying and memorable experience. It is important to note that each ticket holder will be guaranteed a place on the site. Ticket sales will be limited to 60,000 to ensure comfort and safety. QuébéComm is very sensitive to the recommendations received following the Madonna show on the plains and will make every effort to improve the experience, including among other things: additional giant screens, more food and beverage services and sufficient sanitary services.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;All information on logistics for hosting and site access will be announced later by QuébéComm, working in collaboration with the competent authorities, namely Quebec City, the  Québec City bureau of major events, the Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC), Québec City tourism (Office du tourisme de Québec) the Québec City Police Department and the National Battlefields Commission (special NBC). &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;QuébéComm would like to thank the National Battlefields Commission (NBC) for their collaboration.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Keep up to date and follow all the news on the CÉLINE…UNE SEULE FOIS EVENT ON THE PLAINS OF ABRAHAM, visit www.celineuneseulefois.com , subscribe to the QuébéComm infolettre and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/quebecomm.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;QUÉBÉCOMM&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For 15 years, QuébéComm has been constantly expanding. Renown for creativity in entertainment, Québécomm is the cultural force behind such memorable musical events as the recent Madonna show on the Plains of Abraham, September 1, 2012, PARIS-QUÉBEC on the Plains of Abraham during Québec City’s 400th anniversary, and now, this July 27, the Céline Dion show. In the field of comedy, Québecomm produces the Festival Grand Rire, as well as the series lol :-) which has been sold in over 100 countries around the world, the Grand Rire Gala, the Grand Rire in Paris and Marrakech, the Comédie Club series, and several documentaries. It has also produced stage performances for charity and entertainment tours such as Anthony Kavanagh, Daniel Lemire and Olivier Martineau. Other projects are in development, including films. QuébéComm continues its mission to entertain the world by creating and producing entertainment in all its forms.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;-30 -&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Coordinates:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For Céline Dion:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Francine Chaloult&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;514-487-6547&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;info@francinechaloult.com&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For QuébéComm:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Audrey Laroche&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;alaroche@quebecomm.com&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;418-647-2525, poste 126&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2013/04/02</pubDate></item><item><title>Vélirium promises to be INTENSE!</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div&gt;PRESS RELEASE&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For immediate release&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;International Mountain Bike Festival and UCI World Cup&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Vélirium promises to be INTENSE!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Beaupré, Tuesday March 26, 2013 –&lt;/strong&gt; The 11th edition of Vélirium will be presented in a new fashion, over a long weekend at Mont-Sainte-Anne and in downtown Quebec City. Now condensed into four days, the ultimate mountain bike festival will be packed with intensity and adrenaline from Thursday, August 8 to Sunday, August 11!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Program schedule preview&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;In order to make mountain bike lovers mouths water, the Organizing Committee is now releasing an overview of the program schedule:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Downtown Quebec City&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;• Thursday, August 8 – Urban Delirium &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mont-Sainte-Anne&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;• Friday, August 9 – Dirt, BMX and Trial demo ?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;• Saturday, August 10 – Cross-Country World Cup, Véli-Kidz children’s race, extreme sports show in the Exhibitors Village and rock party in the Lounge area *The schedule is subject to change.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;• Sunday, August 11 – Downhill World Cup, Raid Vélo Mag, extreme sports show in the Exhibitors Village and electro party in the Lounge area&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;In addition to its wide sports programming, Vélirium will continue to offer a fun-filled family area, an Exhibitors Village with the greatest names of the mountain bike industry, and a Lounge area which will be the host of many unforgettable parties!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;More information to come on our website: www.velirium.com&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;About Gestev&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;GESTEV produces the Vélirium event for Corporation Coupe du monde de vélo de montagne Mont Ste-Anne. Established in 1992, GESTEV is a dynamic event management company which specializes in sports and cultural events in the Québec City area. Snowboard Jamboree and Vélirium are only a few examples of major events produced by the company. GESTEV also manages Baie de Beauport, and it is a certified responsible event management company (BNQ 9700-253).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;-30-&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Follow us :&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;facebook.com/Velirium flickr.com/photos/gestev/collections/&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;twitter.com/Velirium vimeo.com/Velirium&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Source: Marie-Michelle Gagné&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Project manager – Media Relations&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;mmgagne@gestev.com 418-561-6762&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2013/03/25</pubDate></item><item><title>magiNation 2013 Jian Ghomeshi and Emma Donoghue at the Morrin Centre’s writers’ festival</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div&gt;For immediate release&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;PRESS RELEASE&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ImagiNation 2013 Jian Ghomeshi and Emma Donoghue at the Morrin Centre’s writers’ festival&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Quebec City, March 25, 2013 – &lt;/strong&gt;The Morrin Centre’s fourth annual writers’ festival is happy to announce that award-winning broadcaster, musician, producer, best-selling author and host of Q on CBC Radio One and CBC TV, Jian Ghomeshi, will tell us about his best-selling memoir 1982 and his show. The line-up this year also includes Governor General’s Award-winner Guy Vanderhaeghe, celebrated Canadian science fiction author Robert J. Sawyer, and Irish-Canadian novelist Emma Donoghue whose novel Room was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2010. Other visiting authors include Commonwealth Writer’s Prize-winner Deni Y. Béchard and influential publisher Douglas Gibson. In his unique one-man stage-show, the latter will discuss the relationships he developed with some of Canada’s most memorable public figures and writers over his 40 years as publisher and editor.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Sponsored in part by Le Soleil and La Maison Anglaise et Internationale, the Morrin Centre’s fourth annual English-language writers’ festival is from April 6 to 16, 2013. ImagiNation contributes year after year to helping the general public get better acquainted with Canadian authors through public discussions, readings and performances.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Morrin Centre would like to thank its partners, including the Entente de développement culturel (a partnership between the City of Quebec and the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications), Canada Council for the Arts and the Bureau de la Capitale-Nationale.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The complete program is available at imagination.morrin.org.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Please contact Elizabeth Perreault for any requests for interviews with the authors or organisers of the festival.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;About the Morrin Centre&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Morrin Centre is an English-language cultural centre that promotes the heritage of the English-speaking community of Quebec City, fosters cultural exchange and offers a wide range of activities including library services, guided tours, readings by prominent authors, writing workshops, a writers’ festival and much more. This 200 year-old building, listed as a National Historic Site, is managed by the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;– 30 – &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Press contact: Elizabeth Perreault Program and Communications Director elizabethperreault@morrin.org&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2013/03/24</pubDate></item><item><title>Hôtel de Glace extends its season to April 1st!</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div&gt;Press release&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For immediate release&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;THE HÔTEL DE GLACE EXTENDS ITS SEASON TO APRIL 1ST!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Quebec City, March 21, 2013 –&lt;/strong&gt; This year, the weather has cooperated to let the Hôtel de Glace stay open until Monday, April 1, instead of closing on March 24 as planned. This means that it will remain open for the long Easter weekend - giving people one last chance to visit the Hôtel de Glace in 2013! This is only the second time in 13 years that the Hôtel de Glace has extended its season beyond the scheduled closing date.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Special activities&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Hôtel de Glace team has put together a special program for Easter weekend. Along with the traditional sugar shack, a barbecue will be set up on the terrace and kids can take part in an Easter egg hunt. The prize is a giant chocolate treat from Chocolats Favoris!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Exceptionally, the hot tubs will be open to the public, so bring your bathing suit, towel, tuque and sandals! The lively Club Spas team will be on hand to warm up the atmosphere.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Good news for families, free admission for kids 12 and under from March 29  to April 1!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;New hours&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;From now until it closes, the Hôtel de Glace will be open to the public from 10 am to 8 pm Sunday to Thursday, and from 10 am to midnight Friday and Saturday. Although there will be no guided tours from March 24 to 28, they will be offered during Easter weekend from Friday, March 29 to Monday, April 1.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;With its scintillating chandelier and cocktails served in sparkling glasses made of ice, its ever-popular Super Slide and 44 theme rooms and suites, the Hotel de Glace is a one of a kind experience in a spellbinding decor. The Hotel de Glace, where frozen natural beauty meets hot urban style - a must since 2001.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;- 30 -&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Source: Québec Hotel de Glace&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Information and interviews:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Rachel Dupuis&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Communications Adviser&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;rdupuis@hoteldeglace-canada.com&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Tel.: 418 623-2888, ext.: 101&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2013/03/20</pubDate></item><item><title>Chef Stéphane Modat honored at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div&gt;Chef Stéphane Modat honored&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;His book Papilles pour tous! in collaboration with François Chartier&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;is awarded the "Best food and wine pairing book" in the world&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;(Québec) March 1, 2013 – Last February 23, at the prestigious Gourmand World Cookbook Awards gala held in Paris, the collection of four cookbooks Papilles pour tous! by Chef Stéphane Modat and his collaborator François Chartier, took top honors by receiving the coveted "Best food and wine pairing book" in the world.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Collaboration between Stéphane and François Chartier Modat began in 2009, when they formed the duo Mc2 and co-sign the bestselling books Les Recettes de Papilles et Molécules as well as the collection Papilles pour tous! (fall, winter, spring and summer). Then, alongside François Chartier, Stéphane Modat was the Chef of the television series Papilles, which aired in 2012 on Télé-Québec.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Recently, Stéphane Modat joined the kitchen brigade of the Château Frontenac as Restaurant Chef. Modat currently acts as Restaurant Chef of the existing Le Champlain restaurant, bringing until its temporary closure for renovations in June 2013. During this time, he will work at the elaboration and development of the new restaurant concepts and take the reins as Restaurant Chef for the reopening scheduled for late 2013.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Papilles pour tous! collection is available at Les Éditions La Presse.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;####&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Contact:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Geneviève Parent&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Public Relation Director&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Fairmont Le Château Frontenac&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;1, rue des Carrières&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Québec, Québec&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Canada G1R 4P5&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Téléphone: (418) 691-2157&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2013/03/01</pubDate></item><item><title>Québec's St. Patrick's Parade announces the program for its 4th edition</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div&gt;Press release&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For immediate release &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;LE DÉFILÉ DE LA SAINT-PATRICK DE QUÉBEC &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ANNOUNCES THE PROGRAM FOR ITS 4TH EDITION!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Québec, February 28, 2013 -&lt;/strong&gt; The Défilé de la Saint-Patrick de Québec is proud to announce the program for its 4th edition, that will, for the first time in a same parade, welcome a “dream team” of three renowned police pipes and drums bands from New York, Boston, and Chicago on Saturday, March 23, starting at 1:30 p.m.!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Mr. James Donovan, Vice-President of the Corporation pour la mise en valeur de Grosse-Île and our 2013 Grand Marshall will have the honour of leading the parade. Musician members of an all-new Service de police de la Ville de Québec pipes and drums band will join us, along with the Éclairs de Québec, the Titans de Québec, the Montréal Pipes &amp;amp; Drums, the RCMP Pipes and Drums Band, horses, Irish Wolfhounds, St. Patrick’s High School’s Fighting Irish, giant leprechauns, costumed street entertainers, and more!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;A total of over 1,500 participants – including more than 120 professional pipes and drums bands musicians – will take part in the festivities!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;“It is always a pleasure to be able to celebrate this traditional Irish holiday in the streets of Québec,” said Mayor Régis Labeaume. “On March 23, I invite all citizens to dress in their best green to demonstrate their attachment to Quebeckers of Irish origin!”&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Not to be missed is the official Défilé party that will begin at 9:00 p.m. at Le St-Patrick Irish pub – a unique opportunity to hear a performance by the three internationally-renowned police pipes and drums bands from New York, Boston, and Chicago!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, the public is also invited to have their picture taken with Bono, the Défilé’s Irish Wolfhound Official Mascot, at the Salon Info canin at Laurier Québec on Sunday, March 17, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Défilé de la Saint-Patrick de Québec would like to thank its major partners, without whom our event would not be possible: la Ville de Québec, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Pub Saint-Patrick, Carlsberg, la Maison Simons Inc., H Grégoire de Québec, Frank M. O’Dowd Inc., WestJet, Pub Nelligan’s, as well as all our media partners.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Come celebrate our common Irish heritage on March 23 decked out in your finest green at this great parade guaranteed to entertain and delight young and old!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Starts at 1:30 p.m. at St. Patrick’s High School, turns down avenue Cartier, continues along rue St-Jean, and ends at l’Hôtel de ville de Québec.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For further information : www.qcpatrick.com&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;–30–&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Source :&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Geneviève Ouellet-Fortin&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Le Défilé de la Saint-Patrick de Québec&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;gouelletfortin@projety.com &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;www.qcpatrick.com&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For information :&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Marie-Josée Tremblay&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Media Relations Coordinator&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Mercure Communication&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;418 681-5559 #21 | mjtremblay@mercurecommunication.com&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2013/02/28</pubDate></item><item><title>Paris on stage. 1889-1914: A spectacular exhibition at Québec City's  Musée de la Civilisation </title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PARIS ON STAGE: 1889–1914&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;With its unmistakable European je-ne-sais-quoi and vibrant culture, Québec City—North America’s French stronghold—is the perfect choice to host this world-class exhibition on Paris in the Belle Époque. Paris on Stage: 1889–1914 will run at Musée de la civilisation from June 19, 2013, to February 23, 2014. Come and find out how Paris became the European cultural capital of its time, as you discover the iconic people, events, and places that epitomize those remarkable days. A wondrous journey through time and space in an enthralling ambiance and evocative Belle Époque décor. Paris on Stage: 1889–1914 is a Musée de la civilisation production under the artistic direction of Cirque Éloize’s Jeannot Painchaud.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Paris Immersion&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Paris on Stage: 1889–1914 is an immersive exhibition that plunges visitors head first into the bustle, effervescence, and energy of Belle Époque Paris. Staged to conjure up the Paris of our dreams using space, sound, and light, it calls virtually all the senses into play. With the help of an audioguide, visitors become flâneurs, strolling along the great boulevards—and there’s so much to see! They enter the skin of a Belle Époque Parisian, marveling at the newness and creativity and delighted by the many manifestations of popular culture and new leisure opportunities. Along the way, a chanson is heard in a café or from a sidewalk orchestra, while feelings are stirred in Bois de Boulogne or at the view through a peephole. Experience the moving sidewalk from the 1900 Universal Exhibition or the view from the Eiffel Tower’s first level.  &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Under the Roofs of Paris: Amazing Collections&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Paris on Stage: 1889–1914 is also an opportunity to showcase outstanding artistic, technical, and historical pieces from the collections of the great Parisian museums. In all, close to 250 artifacts and works of art testifying to the creative ferment of the period are on display, including paintings by Jean Béraud, Abel Truchet, posters—some extremely rare—by Toulouse-Lautrec and Mucha, sculptures by Auguste Rodin and Camille Claudel, items once belonging to the divine Sarah Bernhardt, circus costumes, photographs, period film excerpts, automata, objects illustrating technical advances such as automobiles, velocipedes, and cinematographs, works and objects relating to the Eiffel Tower and its construction, and much more. One star attraction will be Léon Lhermitte’s Les Halles, a monumental 4 m X 6.3 m painting. It has not been removed from the vaults since 1930 and has been restored for the occasion, making the exhibition a kind of world premiere.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Musée de la civilisation has also drawn on its own national collections to illustrate scientific advances of the day, as well as the presence of Québec artists in Paris, including Alfred Laliberté, Charles Huot, and Marc-Aurèle de Foy Suzor-Coté.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;In Paris Streets&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Paris on Stage: 1889–1914 is built around a street scene evoking the celebrated boulevards of the City of Light. This space is overflowing with information on this golden age. Here and there are partially enclosed spaces, each with its own theme: the Paris Market (Les Halles), circus and carnival, cinema, café-concerts and music halls, parks and gardens, theater, Salons d’artistes, Bourdelle’s art studio, the Alma pavilion, and the world’s fairs. Each of these theme spaces has its own special atmosphere and unique visitor experience.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Beyond the Exhibition&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;A variety of cultural activities will be presented as a complement to Paris on Stage throughout the year. A fascinating iPod tour for children is also available.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Museum, in collaboration with Beaux Arts magazine, will also release a book featuring contributions by numerous well-known experts. The work will be distributed nationally and internationally in both French and in English.  &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Celebrating an Anniversary&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Paris on Stage: 1889–1914 is one of the major events to mark the 25th anniversary of Musée de la civilisation, which opened in 1988. The Museum also wishes to pay tribute to the special ties it has always had with France and the great Parisian museums. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Paris on Stage: 1889–1914, an unforgettable voyage, June 19, 2013, to February 23, 2014, at Québec City’s Musée de la civilisation. Alcoa is a partner in all Musée de la civilisation programming.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;INFORMATION&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Serge Poulin, Press Relations&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Telephone: 418-528-2072&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Email: spoulin@mcq.org&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Francine Desbiens, Tourism Promotion&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Telephone: 418-644-8887&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Email: fdesbiens@mcq.org&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2013/02/28</pubDate></item><item><title>Spotlight on the River!</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div&gt;PRESS RELEASE&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;SPOTLIGHT ON THE RIVER!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;From August 3 to 21 - 2013&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Quebec City, Thursday February 26, 2013 -&lt;/strong&gt; Last year the change initiated by the revival of Les Grands Feux Loto-Québec marked the turning point for the organization. The decision to present the fireworks on the river between Quebec City and Lévis was greatly appreciated by thousands of spectators on both sides of the river.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;New in 2013&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;It is with enthusiasm and pride that the organization of Les Grands Feux Loto-Québec announces the return of the event this summer. The 2013 presentation of Les Grands Feux Loto-Québec will further liven up Quebec City and Lévis during the summer season. Innovative concept with original themes, the organization will offer six distinctive pyromusical performances in collaboration with six different successful tourism organizations present in Quebec City during the programming of the Grands Feux Loto-Québec: &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;August 3 Festival d’Opéra de Québec &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;August 7 Les Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;August 10 Festival Jazz etcetera de Lévis &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;August 14 Paris en scène (in collaboration with le Musée de la civilisation de Québec)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;August 17 Wendake à l’honneur !&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;August 21 Festival International de Musiques militaires&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Les Grands Feux Loto-Québec 2013, a grandiose production in a unique maritime setting!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;- Presented on Saturdays and Wednesdays from August 3 to 21, 2013 at 22:30;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;- Six performances lasting approximately 20 minutes;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;- Six distinct and original themes reflecting the colors of Quebec City and Lévis;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;- The river : a spectacular amphitheatre conducive to gatherings;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;- A firing platform in the heart of the St. Lawrence River;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;- Simultaneous broadcasting;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;- General admission free on both sides of the river.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;« With a renewed formula in 2012, the organization of Les Grands Feux Loto-Québec has proven that the event had its place in the festival’s summer calendar, said the Mayor of Quebec City, Régis Labeaume. This year, the new concept will be very interesting and will highlight the vitality of the events that animate Quebec City. »&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;« We are very pleased to announce the return of Les Grands Feux Loto-Québec in 2013. It was important for the organization to present a new edition with exciting new features and attractions, but most of all, to present Les Grands Feux Loto-Québec as an event connected to the river, conducive to gatherings, inviting and integrated to the event organization of the two sides of the river. The location on the St. Lawrence River is a magnificent natural amphitheatre that will dazzle spectators in Quebec City and Levis» said Lynda Germain, Executive Director of the Grands Feux Loto-Québec.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Moreover, it is a great pleasure to announce the return of several key partners. Thanks to them, the organization can present this event: Loto-Québec, Groupe Océan, Croisières AML, l’Office du tourisme de Québec, le Port de Québec, Groupe Qualinet, Croisières Lachance, Croisières Coudrier et several others to be confirmed shortly. In addition, this year we are proud to have the excellent cooperation of Quebec City and Levis.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Further details on the programming and logistics of the event as well as other information will be announced in the coming months.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;We invite you to visit our website: www.lesgrandsfeux.com&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;- 30 -&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Relations avec les médias&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Jean Brouillard Communication et relations publiques&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;418 682-6111&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;1 888 682-6112&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2013/02/26</pubDate></item><item><title>Québec City Convention Centre Free High-Speed Wireless Internet</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div&gt;February 14, 2013&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"&gt;	&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"&gt;	&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Québec City Convention Centre&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Free High-Speed Wireless Interne&lt;/strong&gt;t&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Québec City Convention Centre is now the first Canadian convention centre to offer free high-speed wireless Internet to all its delegates and this, throughout the entire facility.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;An exclusive partnership with Vidéotron Business Solutions, one of Québec’s most important telecommunication companies, enables the Québec City Convention Centre to offer full, high-speed wireless Internet coverage up to the maximum capacity of each individual room, at no charge to clients. For example, a meeting room with a 500-attendee capacity offers the possibility for every attendee to access high-speed wireless Internet complimentary for their personal use.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;“In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, Internet is essential. Many hotels, restaurants and public spaces offer free Internet access. We wanted to limit charges paid by our valued customers for something that is often free. Attendees now have access to free high-speed wireless Internet for their personal use, no matter where they are in the Convention Centre,” explained the Convention Centre’s CEO, P.-Michel Bouchard.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;About the Québec City Convention Centre&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Québec City Convention Centre’s mission is to attract major conventions and events, positioning Québec City as the premiere destination for business events. Every year, the Québec City Convention Centre welcomes over 200,000 visitors from around the world and hosts major national and international conventions. It is an important driver of economic activity, generating an average of $80 million per year in economic benefits for the region.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"&gt;	&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Contact: &lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"&gt;	&lt;/span&gt;Emilie Belisle, Information Officer&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Québec City Convention Centre&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;1 888 679-4000&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"&gt;	&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2013/02/14</pubDate></item><item><title>Festival d'été de Québec Passes Go on Sale Saturday!</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;FESTIVAL D’ÉTÉ DE QUÉBEC PASSES GO ON SALE SATURDAY! &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Press release &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For immediate release &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Québec City, February 14, 2013 -&lt;/strong&gt; Look for 75,000 passes for the 46th&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Festival d'été de Québec to go on sale starting at noon on Saturday, February 16. This early-bird sale will be held exclusively online and by phone, ending Friday, March 15 or when passes are sold out. The price is &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;$66, taxes and service fee included. Starting March 16, 2013, an additional 75,000 passes will go &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;on sale at the regular price of $76, taxes and service fee included. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;• 2 dates: February 16, 2013 and March 16, 2013 &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;• 2 prices: $66 and $76   &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;• 2 ways to buy: Internet and telephone &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Online: www.infofestival.com  &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;By phone: &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;o 418-800-FEIQ (3347) Quebec City area and international (outside North America) &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;o 1-855-800-FEIQ (3347) Canada and US (toll-free) &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Festival pass includes a Bell RFID wristband and a flashing pin, and is good for all 11 days of &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Festival shows, at all the outdoor and indoor venues. As in past years, you can buy up to 4 &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;passes per transaction. Postal delivery is recommended even though passes can be picked-up in &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;person at the Colisée Pepsi box office from May 1 through June 1.  &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For full details on this special sale go to www.infofestival.com. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Everyone who purchases a pass before Friday February 28 could win VIP passes for the next &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Festival! Open to all Festival Facebook page fans who fill out the entry form on this page. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The 46th edition of the Festival d’été de Québec will be held from July 4 to 14, 2013. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Festival d’été de Québec is presented by Bell in collaboration with Molson Dry. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;-30- &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Information: Luci Tremblay &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Communications Director &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Festival d’été de Québec &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;(418) 523-4540 &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;ltremblay@infofestival.com&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2013/02/14</pubDate></item><item><title>Hôtel de Glace Welcomes Its One-Millionth Visitor!</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;HÔTEL DE GLACE WELCOMES ITS ONE-MILLIONTH VISITOR!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Quebec City, February 12, 2013 –&lt;/strong&gt; Today, the one-millionth guest visited the Hôtel de Glace! It is Marlène Noël and his husband Michel Aubert, from the Quebec area. To mark this special occasion, the lucky visitor received a gift package including a one-night stay at the Hôtel de Glace in 2014.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;More Behind the Scene tours added&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;This year's new Behind the Scene tour is so popular that additional tours have been scheduled for Saturday, February 16 and 23! These Behind the Scene tours are by reservation only. To check the schedule and book a tour go to www.hoteldeglace-canada.com.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Occupancy more than satisfactory&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;So far this season, the Hôtel de Glace has registered a very high occupancy rate, currently 78%.  The hotel also has more rooms this year, up from 36 rooms in 2012 to 44 in 2013.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;With its scintillating chandelier and cocktails served in sparkling glasses made of ice, its ever-popular Super Slide and 44 theme rooms and suites, the Hotel de Glace is a one of a kind experience in a spellbinding decor. The Hotel de Glace, where frozen natural beauty meets hot urban style - a must since 2001.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;- 30 -&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Source: Québec Hotel de Glace&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Information and interviews :&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Rachel Dupuis&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Communications Adviser&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;rdupuis@hoteldeglace-canada.com&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Tel.: 418 623-2888, ext.: 101&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;T&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2013/02/12</pubDate></item><item><title>Mont-Sainte-Anne welcomes world junior skiers</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div&gt;Press release&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For immediate release&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;MONT-SAINTE-ANNE WELCOMES WORLD JUNIOR SKIERS&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Beaupré, February 6, 2013 – Mont-Sainte-Anne is proud to host 2 of the FIS World Junior Alpine Ski&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Championships events from February 18 to 28, 2013. Come and watch the thrilling performance of the best&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;young skiers in the world in slalom [SL] and Giant Slalom [GS]! Adds to this professional event, a friendly and&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;festive race called NATIONS’ CUP, which will take place on Saturday, February 23. In addition, all medals&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;ceremonies of the whole Championships event will be hold on Mont-Sainte-Anne’s scene, located at the base&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;of the mountain.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;“LA CRETE” AND “LA BEAUREGARD” HOSTING THE EVENT&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;All races will take place in “La Crête” and “La Beauregard”, both signatures trails&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;of the mountain. Located completely at the western point of the South Side,&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;these black-diamond slopes offer a breathtaking panorama on the St.Lawrence&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;River and are very pleased by the locals. Daniel Rochon, VP and General Director&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;for Mont-Sainte-Anne and Stoneham, mentions: “It is an honor for our team to&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;receive such an important event on our slopes and we wish that that it will&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;mobilize citizens of the Quebec region to take part in the festivities and watching&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;this show. These young athletes are an inspiration to all of us."&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;NATIONS’ CUP, A REAL SKI CELEBRATION!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;On February 23, this not-FIS-approved competition is more a touristic and&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;spectacular event! The NATIONS’ CUP is exclusively reserved for the top 16&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;national teams among the 50 or so countries participating in the World&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Championships and will showcase the best of the best in a team parallel race.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;[Team are composed of 2 women and 2 men.] The arrival is located at the base&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;of the mountain, with music, bar and food service, to make sure of a great&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;atmosphere!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;DO YOU KNOW SLALOM AND GIANT SLALOM?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;While some disciplines are sometimes difficult to distinguish for the general&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;public eye, here are some details to know about SL and GS, which will be&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;presented at Mont-Sainte-Anne in the coming weeks:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;gt;SL: Each athlete completes 2 runs and the total of the 2 courses determines order of finish. The course is the&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;shortest of the competition and usually takes about one minute per run to complete, which makes the pace&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;very quick and adds to the entertainment! The athletes push the gates with their arms to put them out of their&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;way. At the junior level, there are between 40 to 65 gates for the women and 55 to 75 gates for the men.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;gt;GS: This discipline combines technique and speed and is considered by many as the premier alpine skiing&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;discipline. The athletes also have to complete 2 runs. What make it different to other disciplines are especially&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;the greater speeds and the much longer turns.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;-30-&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Please contact us for more information or to plan an interview.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Source Lisa Marie Lacasse Amélie Leclerc&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Communication Manager Communications Coordinator&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;1.888.827.4579 # 323 1.800.463.6888 # 566&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;lisa-marie.lacasse@mont-sainte-anne.com amelie.leclerc@mont-sainte-anne.com&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2013/02/06</pubDate></item><item><title>Station Blü – Nordic Spa Ranks 33rd 100 Most Amazing Spas in the World</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div&gt;STATION BLÜ – NORDIC SPA RANKS 33rd 100 MOST AMAZING SPAS IN THE WORLD&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Saint-Tite-des-Caps,Thursday, February 1st, 2013 - In 2011, less than six months after its opening, Station Blü - Nordic spa deserved the GRAND PRIX DU DESIGN. In 2012, the CONDÉ  NAST TRAVELLER UK, a world reference regarding luxury tourism, had identified Station Blü - Nordic spa (with two photos) as being possibly a new standard for the industry of spas. Today, Station Blü - Nordic spa is in 33rd rank (equally with a spa of Dubai in United Arab Emirates) of 100 MOST AMAZING SPAS IN THE WOLD.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;" Is it time to celebrate? " jokes Martin Gladu, president and general manager. " We do not work for that but it always pleases and moreover, it's like they are saying " you are in the right direction " ", he said.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;" It is certain that we appreciate these recognitions but what pleases us more, it is to see the satisfaction of our clientele. To dare to make things differently always represents a risk and it was that risk which made us the most nervous " admits Mister Gladu.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The mention of Station Blü - Nordic spa in this Top 100 is a step furthermore towards a growing international recognition. Since the opening, Station Blü - Nordic spa was the subject of more than 200 articles in more than 18 countries.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Station Blü – Nordic spa is located less than 60km from Québec city, and half-way in between Mont Sainte-Anne and Le Massif de Charlevoix.  Its unique concept is distinguished by its architecture, the extravagance of its facilities, exceptional natural environment, and musical atmosphere but especially by the fact that visitors can socialize. Everything is designed accordingly.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Over 5 million dollars in private investments were needed to ensure that the philosophy of the concept is reflected in all facilities. Station Blü – Nordic spa is a place that offers a relaxation and socialisation environment, an exceptional natural scenery highlighted by contemporary buildings in Charlevoix flavor (wood paneling reminding old barns of farmers in the region) and with high quality facilities. In which you will find, a wood- heated sauna, a steam bath with a freshness fountain and a giant whirlpool on two levels offering an amazing natural panorama.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The site benefits from the presence of a winding river, with clear water. Surrounding the center, where the access is easy from the sauna. There is also a 40-foot cliff that frames the whole and creates an exceptional staging to live a unique experience for athletes, nature lovers, epicureans and groups of all kinds. Covering an area of no less than 3,250,000 square feet, the equivalent of 190 NHL rinks, Station Blü can accommodate up to 140 guests at a time!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;www.stationblu.ca&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;www.facebook.com/stationblu&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2013/02/01</pubDate></item><item><title>Québec Winter Carnival solidifies its international position in Asia</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div&gt;PRESS RELEASE&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For immediate release&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Québec Winter Carnival solidifies its international position in Asia&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Québec City, Monday, January 28— A delegation from the Québec Winter Carnival and Québec City&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Tourism recently visited South Korea and China on a development mission to consolidate the city&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;and the Carnival’s position as a premium international winter destination. Québec City Tourism&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;general manager Gabriel Savard and Carnival executive director Jean Pelletier led the mission.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The latest step in an ongoing strategy&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;In April 2010, the Québec Winter Carnival teamed up with two other world-renowned events,&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;China’s Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival and the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Winter Festival in&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;South Korea, to become a founding member of the Winter Festivals Development Coalition. The&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;goal of the coalition is to foster cultural and promotional exchanges for the purpose of developing&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;tourism and enhancing event visibility. The partnership was quick to generate tangible results, with&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;South Korea participating as the guest country at the 57th edition of the Québec Winter Carnival in&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;2011.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;A place at the table at the International Winter Festival Symposium in South Korea&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;To position itself as the world’s premium winter tourism event, the Carnival has to maintain a&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;strong international presence, build an extensive contact network, and develop in-depth&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;knowledge of its target markets: “Our mission to Asia gave us an opportunity to promote&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Québec winter tourism to over a million visitors at the Hwacheon Festival. Our South Korean&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;counterparts were unanimous: what really sets the Carnival apart is its emphasis on&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;participation and the active role city residents play in organizing Carnival activities”, explained&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Carnival executive director Jean Pelletier.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Other developments in store&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;In addition to attending the symposium in South Korea, the Québec City delegation also met with organizers of the Harbin Festival in China. Carnival representatives took advantage of the opportunity to present their hosts with a letter officially inviting China as guest country for the Carnival’s 60th anniversary. Moreover, the Carnival team is already hard at work organizing the next edition of the Winter Festival Symposium, which will be held in Québec City during the 2014 Carnival. During the mission’s China leg, delegates also met with officials from Destination Québec and the Canadian Tourism Commission in Beijing to secure their support and seek out their expertise in developing the Chinese and South Korean markets.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Québec City: Winter Capital of the World by 2020&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Québec City has set an ambitious goal is to position itself as the world’s winter capital by 2020. Showcasing winter tourism activities like the iconic Winter Carnival is a key part of this strategy. “The Carnival is a one-of-a-kind event renowned around the globe. By the very nature of its activities and its geographic location, it’s the perfect match for the development priorities the City has set to boost our destination’s reputation,” noted Québec City Tourism General Manager Gabriel Savard.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;From February 1 to 17, the Québec Carnival is winter’s star!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;- 30 -&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Source: Pascale Grenier, Press Officer&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;T: 418-626-3716 #220 / C: 418 803-5754&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;pascale.grenier@carnaval.qc.ca&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2013/01/28</pubDate></item><item><title>2013 Québec Winter Carnival: A Prominent Program</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://0d4fe3583a405b6b52c2-fca8214ebb3578328d8dbca8d8f7e484.r72.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/communique-lancementcarnaval2013eng.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2013/01/09</pubDate></item><item><title>Stoneham hosts first World Snowboard Championships in Québec!</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://0d4fe3583a405b6b52c2-fca8214ebb3578328d8dbca8d8f7e484.r72.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/stoneham-hosts-first-fis-world-snowboard-championships-in-quebec.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2013/01/08</pubDate></item><item><title>Québec's Hôtel de Glace is now open!</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://0d4fe3583a405b6b52c2-fca8214ebb3578328d8dbca8d8f7e484.r72.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/communiqueanghdg.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2013/01/04</pubDate></item><item><title>Discover the network of the bird feeding stations at the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://0d4fe3583a405b6b52c2-fca8214ebb3578328d8dbca8d8f7e484.r72.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/network-bird-feeding-cap-tourmente.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2013/01/04</pubDate></item><item><title>Travel + Leisure’s 500 Awards Rank Auberge Saint-Antoine as Number One in Canada</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://0d4fe3583a405b6b52c2-fca8214ebb3578328d8dbca8d8f7e484.r72.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/travel-leisure-tl-500-world-s-best-hotels-2013-dec-182012.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2012/12/19</pubDate></item><item><title>Aquarium du Québec, A Brilliant Outing for the 5th Edition of Festi Lumière</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://0d4fe3583a405b6b52c2-fca8214ebb3578328d8dbca8d8f7e484.r72.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/festi-lumiere-2012en.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2012/12/12</pubDate></item><item><title>Hotel de Glace 2013 A Journey to the Center of Winte</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://0d4fe3583a405b6b52c2-fca8214ebb3578328d8dbca8d8f7e484.r72.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/communiquelancement2013ang.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2012/12/11</pubDate></item><item><title>Québec City inaugurates la Nuit Blanche</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://0d4fe3583a405b6b52c2-fca8214ebb3578328d8dbca8d8f7e484.r72.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/press-la-nuit-blanche.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2012/12/05</pubDate></item><item><title>Le Massif de Charlevoix open December 8 - 9 Weekend  </title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://0d4fe3583a405b6b52c2-fca8214ebb3578328d8dbca8d8f7e484.r72.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/massifen.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2012/11/30</pubDate></item><item><title>Club Med Expresses Interest in Le Massif de Charlevoix Project</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://0d4fe3583a405b6b52c2-fca8214ebb3578328d8dbca8d8f7e484.r72.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/massif.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2012/11/27</pubDate></item><item><title>New early-bird sale date for the 46th Festival d'été de Québec: February 16, 2013</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://0d4fe3583a405b6b52c2-fca8214ebb3578328d8dbca8d8f7e484.r72.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/feqnew.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2012/11/27</pubDate></item><item><title>No expense spared in remodeling and renovating Château Mont-Sainte-Anne</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://0d4fe3583a405b6b52c2-fca8214ebb3578328d8dbca8d8f7e484.r72.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/msaang.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2012/11/26</pubDate></item><item><title>Fairmont Le Château Frontenac wins the 2012 Fodor's 100 Hotel Award</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://0d4fe3583a405b6b52c2-fca8214ebb3578328d8dbca8d8f7e484.r72.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/engfrontenac.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2012/11/16</pubDate></item><item><title>It's a GO! Snowmaking starts in Québec City's two biggest resorts </title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://0d4fe3583a405b6b52c2-fca8214ebb3578328d8dbca8d8f7e484.r72.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/snowmaking-starts-in-quebec-city-s-two-biggest-resorts.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2012/11/06</pubDate></item><item><title>Le Massif de Charlevoix: What’s New in 2012-13</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://0d4fe3583a405b6b52c2-fca8214ebb3578328d8dbca8d8f7e484.r72.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/whatsnew.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2012/11/05</pubDate></item><item><title>New challenges for everyone at Stoneham this winter</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://0d4fe3583a405b6b52c2-fca8214ebb3578328d8dbca8d8f7e484.r72.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/new-challenges-for-everyone-at-stoneham-this-winter.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2012/11/01</pubDate></item><item><title>The Festival d'été de Québec and 3 E: Driving the local economy</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://0d4fe3583a405b6b52c2-fca8214ebb3578328d8dbca8d8f7e484.r72.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/festival-eteang.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2012/10/30</pubDate></item><item><title>Auberge Saint-Antoine marks their 20th anniversary with recognition from Condé Nast Traveler for the tenth consecutive year</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://0d4fe3583a405b6b52c2-fca8214ebb3578328d8dbca8d8f7e484.r72.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/conde-nast-traveler-top-30-hotels-in-canada.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2012/10/23</pubDate></item><item><title>Alain Dufour named Director of Sales and Marketing Of Loews Hotel Le Concorde</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://0d4fe3583a405b6b52c2-fca8214ebb3578328d8dbca8d8f7e484.r72.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/press-release-director-of-sales-and-marketing.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2012/10/15</pubDate></item><item><title>Opening Celebrations at Hôtel La Ferme</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://c14412660.r60.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/le-massif-de-charlevoix-inaugurates-final-tourism-recreation-environment.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2012/09/20</pubDate></item><item><title>The 16th Annual SAQ New France Festival: Turn back time!</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://c14412660.r60.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/communiquefnfremontezletempsenglish.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2012/07/11</pubDate></item><item><title>Major transformation of the Château Frontenac</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://c14412660.r60.cf2.rackcdn.com/documents/pdf/communique-enchateau-29-03-2012.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2012/06/28</pubDate></item><item><title>Two more reasons to visit Québec City and Montréal in September</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://www.quebecregion.com/documents/pdf/2012GPCQMLaunchReleaseFinal.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2012/05/29</pubDate></item><item><title>The Train of Le Massif de Charlevoix Rides the Rails Again</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be read in this file: &lt;a href="http://www.quebecregion.com/documents/pdf/TrainANG.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;Details (PDF)&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2012/05/17</pubDate></item><item><title>Québec City Tourism goes mobile</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="NewsContent"&gt;&lt;h2&gt;New mobile app for visitors&lt;/h2&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Québec City, April 3, 2012&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; – Québec City Tourism (QCT) today launches its new mobile app for iPhone in French and English as phase one of a comprehensive strategy.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Impressive content&lt;/strong&gt;“You now have everything you need in the palm of your hand! Once you arrive in Québec City, you’ll be able to choose from over 100 restaurants, shops, tourist attractions, activities, and events,” explained QCT director Gabriel Savard. “The app even helps you plan your trip by giving you access to over 300 hotel establishments.” It is packed with information covering Québec City, as well as Côte-de-Beaupré, Île d’Orléans, Jacques-Cartier, Portneuf, and Wendake.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“As project partner, CLD de Québec feels that the launch of the mobile tourist app is in keeping with the objectives set by regional partners, particularly with regard to revitalizing and developing our tourism offer,” asserted CLD de Québec president Françoise Mercure. “On top of helping with content, CLD de Québec provided financial support that directly contributed to furthering local technological expertise, which is one of our top strategic goals.” &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This wealth of content is updated continuously based on information in the QTC database. Some of the app’s main features include&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul class="list"&gt;	&lt;li&gt;Detailed information on local attractions, accommodations, restaurants, and stores&lt;/li&gt;	&lt;li&gt;A complete schedule of events&lt;/li&gt;	&lt;li&gt;A description of the region, its neighborhoods, and must-see attractions&lt;/li&gt;	&lt;li&gt;A host of handy tips once visitors have arrived&lt;/li&gt;	&lt;li&gt;Locations of tourist information offices and public washrooms&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;Thanks to GPS technology, visitors will even be able to use the app to view and easily locate the points of interest around them.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“Say you’re on a trip to Québec City and you have your smartphone with you. With the QCT app you can navigate in either online mode, an option available throughout most of the area, or offline mode to avoid roaming fees—the bane of many foreign travelers,” added Gabriel Savard. “But regardless of whether you use the online or offline mode, you’ll enjoy the same quality of graphics, maps, and information.” &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Unlike many other travel guides for mobile devices, the QCT mobile app is free. You can download it in the App Store or find the direct link at &lt;a href="http://www.quebecregion.com/app"&gt;www.quebecregion.com/app&lt;/a&gt; (English version) or &lt;a href="http://www.regiondequebec.com/mobile"&gt;www.regiondequebec.com/mobile&lt;/a&gt; (French version). The websites also feature a short video describing the app. The app will be adapted for Android devices in May, and an enhanced version for iPad is slated for fall. A mobile website will also go online in 2012.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;To spread the word about the mobile app, a QR (Quick Response) code will appear on QCT publications and ads in Québec City and abroad. This code will allow people to download the app before they come to Québec City.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Our partners&lt;/strong&gt;The official app of the Québec City area is brought to you by Québec City Tourism, in partnership with CLD de Québec and with the support of Tourisme Québec, Bureau de la Capitale-Nationale, and 	Ville de Québec, as well as Tourisme Côte-de-Beaupré	, CLD de l’Île d’ Orléans, Tourisme Jacques-Cartier	, CLD de Portneuf,	and Tourisme Wendake. The app was produced by Nebbio and coordinated by Amalgame.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;-30-&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Source :&lt;br /&gt;Daniel Gagnon&lt;br /&gt;Director of Marketing &lt;br /&gt;418-933-2986&lt;br /&gt;418-641-6654, ext. 5480&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:daniel.gagnon@quebecregion.com"&gt;daniel.gagnon@quebecregion.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Information:&lt;br /&gt;Eric Bilodeau&lt;br /&gt;Director of Communications&lt;br /&gt;418-930-2142&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:Eric.bilodeau@quebecregion.com"&gt;Eric.bilodeau@quebecregion.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2012/04/03</pubDate></item><item><title>Hpw to Plan Your Best Spring Break Ever</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be found in this &lt;a href="/documents/pdf/HowtoplanyourbestSpringBreaksever.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;PDF&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2012/02/21</pubDate></item><item><title>World Cup Steps, Jams for all and Legendary Parties  Await You</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be found in this &lt;a href="/documents/pdf/WorldCupsteps,jamsforallandlegendaryparties.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;PDF&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2012/02/14</pubDate></item><item><title>2012 Québec City Saint Patrick's Parade Grand Marshall Announced</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be found in this &lt;a href="/documents/pdf/StPatEnglishversion.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;PDF&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2012/02/06</pubDate></item><item><title>Our Hotel Establishments Honoured!</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The details of this release can be found in this &lt;a href="/documents/pdf/TripAdvisorEnglish.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;PDF&lt;/a&gt;.</description><pubDate>2012/02/02</pubDate></item><item><title>Snow Destinations: Mont-Sainte-Anne and Stoneham</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description /><pubDate>2012/01/18</pubDate></item><item><title>Bird-watching Outings at the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="NewsContent"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;QUÉBEC, Que. – January 5, 2012 –&lt;/strong&gt; Every weekend from January 7 to March 11, and during the spring break from March 5 to 9, you can discover Environment Canada’s Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area, a site dedicated to biodiversity conservation. This wildlife area is the place to be for anyone wanting to get involved in, and learn a little more about the conservation of migratory birds, species at risk, and their habitats.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“The Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area is an ideal spot for all Canadians to enjoy the outdoors in winter, and particularly to discover the biodiversity of this unique Quebec ecosystem,” said the Honourable Peter Kent, Minister of the Environment.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;There are 6 km of groomed trails; follow any one of these at your leisure and take pleasure in observing over 30 species of birds. The Petit-Sault trail, which runs along a creek on the plain, leads you to the forest. Look for adventure along the Érablière, Aulnaie and Prucheraie trails, all equally fascinating.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Need to warm up? Stop at the Érablière shelter and chat with nature lovers who are passionate about conserving migratory birds. This wildlife area is about so much more than birds though: it offers countless natural attractions and beauties, including a spectacular view of the St. Lawrence River.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Visiting hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is $4 per person. Children 12 and under, accompanied by a parent, are admitted free. Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area, located 45 minutes from downtown Québec, is part of a network of 146 protected areas aimed at protecting the critical habitats of wildlife species, some of which are at risk.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;-30-&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Source :&lt;br /&gt;Adam Sweet&lt;br /&gt;Press Secretary&lt;br /&gt;Office of the Minister of the Environment&lt;br /&gt;819-997-1441&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Media Relations &lt;br /&gt;Environment Canada&lt;br /&gt;819-934-8008&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2012/01/10</pubDate></item><item><title>The 12th edition of the Hôtel de Glace is now launched! </title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="NewsContent"&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Québec, January 6th, 2012 –&lt;/strong&gt; Today, the Hôtel de Glace opens to the public. For the 2012 season, this masterful structure entirely made of ice and snow will be accessible from January 6th until March 25th, 2012. The Hôtel de Glace offers two distinctive adventures whether you come to visit during the day or in the evening. With its brand new design and fascinating program of activities, the Hôtel de Glace will amaze you this winter!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Novelties&lt;br /&gt;
The 2012 design of the Hôtel de Glace will be dedicated to the Northern Québec and the First Nations of this huge territory. Through the art, culture, knowledge and values of the First Nations of Northern Québec, visitors will enter a journey between folklore and modernity.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This season, new outdoor activities for families will be available on site. Two major projects will be launched this winter: the realization of an ice skating rink of 40-ft in diameter and the creation of the longest covered slide completely made of ice and snow. A great addition for the upcoming winter that will surely please visitors of all ages!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Program of activities&lt;br /&gt;
This season, the Hôtel de Glace will be more vibrant than ever! Thematic weekends around the First Nations of Northern Québec, festive evenings at the Ice Bar, Folkloric Sundays at the Sugar Shack, Spring Break “Family Winter Pleasures”, Grand Opening Night; the activities will delight you this winter. To fully enjoy these activities, please note that the parking is free at all times.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For more information about the 2012 program of activities, please consult the &lt;a href="http://www.hoteldeglace-canada.com/"&gt;Website&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Since 2001, the Hôtel de Glace impresses by its unique character and its magical design. Enjoy one of the famous cocktails served in an ice glass, follow a guided tour, feel like a child again by going down the Grand Ice Slide or spend the night in one of our 36 rooms or thematic suites giving access to the outer spas and sauna. The Hôtel de Glace, a must see attraction to be discovered this winter!&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;-30-&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Source :&lt;br /&gt;
Sarah M. Matthews, Communications Adviser&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a href="mailto:smatthews@hoteldeglace-canada.com"&gt;smatthews@hoteldeglace-canada.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Phone: 418 623-2888, ext.101&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
</description><pubDate>2012/01/06</pubDate></item><item><title>Programming for the 58th Québec winter carnival, showing its colours!</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="NewsContent"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Québec City, January 5, 2012 –&lt;/strong&gt; In 2012, the Québec Winter Carnival in cooperation with Loto-Québec, unveils a very colourful program indeed. With a new layout specifically designed to intensify the winter Celebration experience, the Carnival offers a vast array of entertaining activities and shows tinged with colourful surprises.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;From the opening of the 58&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt;Carnival, the thrills will colour your cheeks. From January 27 to February 12, take part in numerous family activities, witness captivating sporting competitions, and come and experience the reinvigorated format of the Carnival’s nightlife, an experience that you will see in all its colours.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; “Our vision is to remain the number one winter destination for tourists in North America and with the success of last year’s Carnival we have shown that we are on the right track. The Québec Winter Carnival is now known worldwide as an unforgettable event and we are very proud of that”, said Executive Director of the Québec Winter Carnival, Jean Pelletier.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;PLACE LOTO-QUÉBEC&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;For the first time ever, Place Loto-Québec, located within the Bonhomme’s Palace, will be located in the middle of the Plains of  Abraham. More than ever,  the Palace of the Carnival’s King, Bonhomme, will capture the imagination! Entering it will grant you access to the new igloo-shaped discotheque, a large dome where the DJs will get you dancing in the open air.  The proposed lighting will create sensational lighting effects and the celebration’s ambiance will turn your evenings into enchanting memories. Everything will be in place to ensure that you have an unforgettable experience  and that you are near everything:  the ice  bar,  heated terrace, outdoor stoves, hot tubs, etc. This will be the favourite place to gather during your evening festivities!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“This year, everything is in place to attract evening crowds and continue the traditions of Québec City’s biggest winter party which has now been going for 58 years. Come and rediscover the Carnival, visitors will be surprised and enchanted to see the changes that we have made”, declared Alain Winter, president of the 58th Carnival&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;LES SOIRÉES LOTO-QUÉBEC: THE PLACE TO ROCK OUT!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Québec Winter Carnival’s nightlife programming has the best DJs in the region to bring music to your ears. A place to rendezvous for those who wish to celebrate,  every Friday and Saturday from 7 p.m., at the Bonhomme’s Palace! Circle this date on your calendar: January 28. This will be THE winter party, with shows specifically designed for this evening, which will vibrate to the beat of a star DJ!  A one-off evening, not to be missed.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;THE LOTO-QUÉBEC FERRIS WHEEL: A FRONT ROW SEAT&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Come and enjoy a unique experience  by taking a ride on an outdoor Ferris wheel in the middle of winter! Located in Place Loto-Québec, the Ferris wheel has 15 baskets which can seat up to 60 people. When night falls, it lights up in all its splendour and floods the site with its colours.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;PLACE DESJARDINS&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;Place Desjardins is the  centre par excellence for Carnival  activities! Slides,  a sugar shack, snow sculptures, rafting and sleigh rides, everything is there! When night comes, carnival-goers can once more take advantage of numerous fun-filled activities and the magical ambiance of the site lit up in all its colours.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ESPACE HYDRO-QUÉBEC: A NOVELTY TO WARM UP YOUR SPIRITS&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;New this year, Espace Hydro-Québec is the rest area par excellence where you can get together and raise your glass to the winter. Sitting in warmth,  carnival-goers will find a fantastic heated terrace, outside and inside, while amusing shows bring the colour back to your cheeks!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;WINTER CAMPING … WHY NOT?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Camping in the middle of winter? An unforgettable Carnival experience! Horizon 5 Plein Air offers you a unique experience, inside its tents which will be set up right on the Plains of Abraham! Registration can be made on line at  &lt;a href="http://nuits2012.eventbrite.com/"&gt;http://nuits2012.eventbrite.com/&lt;/a&gt; (French only) or by email at &lt;a href="mailto:fcantin@horizon5.ca"&gt;fcantin@horizon5.ca&lt;/a&gt; or by telephone at 418-704-5036 or toll-free at 1-877-40-0705 ext. 401.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;UNIPRIX’S ICE SLIDE: GUARANTEED THRILLS&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Come and rocket down Unprix’s Ice Slide which is 120 metres long, located at the entrance to Place Desjardins. You will see all the colours!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ARTIC SPAS VILLAGE: A CONTRAST OF RELAXING TEMPERATURES&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Hot tubs at the Carnival? Mais oui! Amidst the trees of Village Arctic Spas, carnival-goers will find three hot tubs along with a sauna where they can enjoy a winter rest. Don’t forget your bathing suit, tuque (hat) and towel (all three are mandatory).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;TELUS INTERNATIONAL SNOW SCULPTURE CONTEST&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Place Desjardins will gradually transform, before the eyes of visitors,  into a giant open-air museum. Coming from  Québec, Canada  and around the world,  the sculptors create figurative or abstract works of art from individual themes.  The Québec and Canadian competitions will be held from January 27  to 29 while the international competition will be held from January 31 to February 5.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;SCULPT THE NIGHT AWAY WITH THE TELUS INTERNATIONAL SNOW SCULPTURE CONTEST&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;To get the most from the impressive sights of sculptors creating their masterpieces, don’t miss the all night sculpting that is part of the TELUS International Snow Sculpture Contest, on Saturdays January 28 and February 4. You can also admire the masterpieces of our artists in the light of the day, from January 27 to 29, for the Québec and Canadian competitions and for the international competition, from January 31 to February 5.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;TELUS TECHNOLOGIQUE ZONE&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A made to measure souvenir thanks to TELUS: experience marvellous moments with our apprentice sculptors and watch the snow come to life. Pose for photos amongst the sculptures and leave with a souvenir to share. Come and see us on Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;THE SNOW PENTATHLON SKATING RINK OPEN TO ALL&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;During  Carnival,  the fantastic Snow  Pentathlon rink is open to all.  Bring your skates and come and enjoy yourself on the most beautiful skating rink in Québec City! There’s more, a &lt;strong&gt;Snowshoeing Challenge&lt;/strong&gt; (January 28) and a &lt;strong&gt;Skating Challenge&lt;/strong&gt; (January 29) will be presented to the public. The GV snowshoeing challenge – Snow Pentathlon is a 10km course starting at Fairmont le Château Frontenac and finishing at the Snow Pentathlon site on the Plains of Abraham. The Skating Challenge, meanwhile, has three races; two of the races (7.5 km and 25 km)  require long blades while a 2km race  is open to children 16 and under (all types  of skates are acceptable).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Not to be missed!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Whether it is the &lt;strong&gt;Carnival Slides&lt;/strong&gt;, the &lt;strong&gt;sleigh rides&lt;/strong&gt;, the &lt;strong&gt;dog sledding rides&lt;/strong&gt;, the &lt;strong&gt;KRAFT snow rafting&lt;/strong&gt;, the &lt;strong&gt;beaver tails&lt;/strong&gt; or the &lt;strong&gt;sugar shack&lt;/strong&gt;, these classics are back this year with even more colour and bite!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;VILLAGE M. CHRISTIE/KRAFT&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;At the M. Christie/KRAFT Village, you can find new games, each as amusing as the last. The outdoor stage will have a non-stop variety of shows during each of the 3 weekends between noon and 4 p.m.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;SHOWS&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This year, &lt;strong&gt;Ketchup the Clown&lt;/strong&gt; will present his hilarious contest “Star Transformation”, in addition to hosting a variety of participation games for the family.  The &lt;strong&gt;famille Muse en folie&lt;/strong&gt; invites you to a huge collective creativity session. &lt;strong&gt;TrampoMur,&lt;/strong&gt; a bouncing acrobatic show will dazzle you. &lt;strong&gt;Rose and Guy-Mauve&lt;/strong&gt; are waiting for you with a vast array of colourful games. Thanks to their contagious energy, these extravagant characters will get you moving!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;ONE-OFF ACTIVITIE&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;MAGICAL NIGHT PARADES&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Celebrating winter takes to the streets watched by nearly 200,000 spectators. Marching bands, clowns and all kinds of spectacles will be part of the show. Incredible acrobatics on trampolines performed by our audacious artists will take place on our new float, a giant swimming pool! And this year, Bonhomme has decided to make his own float reflect his own image, flooded with colours! It is a golden opportunity to come and experience the magic of Carnival and feel its magical ambiance at its best. Don’t miss Saturday February 4 (Charlesbourg) and Saturday February 11 (Haute-Ville). The February 11 evening parade is broadcast on TVA.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;THE CARNIVAL’S DOG SLEDDING RACE: NEW FORMAT&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Nobody should miss this exciting race, sponsored by the Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport and the Fairmont le Château Frontenac Hotel, where the length of the course has been extended from four kilometres to six kilometres. There are now six dogs per team, for extra speed and to increase the thrills for the thousands of spectators who line the race course on its main axes, the length of St-Louis Street, Grande Allée, or on the Plains of Abraham. The Québec Winter Carnival is now part of the circuit for the Québec Dog Sledding Club (CACQ) which has a total of 10 races per year. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;CMQ CANOE RACE: QUALIFYING ROUND ON GRANDE ALLÉE&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The ice canoe was once an essential part of the lives of the islanders and coastal dwellers of the St. Lawrence Seaway during winter. Today, we have turned this ancient way of life into a competitive activity, an extreme sport. The &lt;strong&gt;qualification stages&lt;/strong&gt;, for the Elite class Men and Women, of the popular Canoe Race, presented by the Québec Metropolitan Community, will be held, for the first time ever, on &lt;strong&gt;Grande Allée&lt;/strong&gt;, snow-covered for this event, Friday February 3 from 7 p.m. The &lt;strong&gt;Final&lt;/strong&gt; will take place in the icy waters of the mighty &lt;strong&gt;St. Lawrence River&lt;/strong&gt; from 1:30 p.m. on Sunday February 5. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;A TOTALLY JUMPING SKI JORING COMPETITION&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Ski Joring is a team discipline made up of a horse and rider and a skier. The skier is pulled by the horse using a wire and they must perform jumps, ski around cones and grab rings as quickly as possible, over a race course of 250 metres. A very colourful sport, full of excitement!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ST-HUBERT DERBY: SEVEN COUNTRIES COMPETING IN THE 9&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; EDITION&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On February 11 and 12, about forty drivers will take part in this championship with single and double driving that will surely make for an exciting competition.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;THE COLD-FX SNOW BATH&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Eighty courageous men and women will show their bathing suit colours when the take 3 dips, interspersed with short breaks out of the cold, on Saturday February 11.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;REGIONAL INVITEE: LOUISIANA&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;To ensure that Québec’s winter culture shines far beyond its borders, a network of international cultural and social exchanges has been set up and each year it welcomes a delegation from abroad. In 2012, Louisiana will have pride of place in the  Zone Loto-Québec and their representatives  encourage us to see their artists’ masterpieces of dance and music on Saturday February 4 and Sunday February 5. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;BONHOMME EFFIGY: WEAR IT PROUDLY&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Carnival once again has a 3D Effigy this year. On sale for $13, the Effigy gives access to more than 250 activities, shows,  thrilling evening events,  sporting competitions and amazing entertainment.  Take advantage of the family deal, four  Effigies for only $40, taxes included,  a $52 value. Buy your Effigy or get the family deal at participating Uniprix drugstores, Metro grocery stores and Couche-Tard stores,  also available at most large hotels in the region and the majority of business in the greater Québec City area. They are even available from the SAQ from January 20.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;INTERACTIVE PLATFORMS FOR GREATER ENJOYMENT&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;Become a fan on the Carnival’s official &lt;strong&gt;Facebook page&lt;/strong&gt; at &lt;a href="http://www.facebook.com/carnavaldequebec"&gt;www.facebook.com/carnavaldequebec&lt;/a&gt; and follow Bonhomme Carnaval thanks to messages, photos and exclusive interactive content that will be made available. Also follow the Québec Winter Carnival on Twitter (@CarnavalQc) and download our all new mobile site to make sure that you are always up-to-date with news from the Carnival!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Youngsters are invited to visit “&lt;strong&gt;the Fun Zone!&lt;/strong&gt;” at the Québec Winter Carnival’s website. On these pages, they will find interactive games, craft and recipes for hours of fun and amusement! Go to &lt;a href="http://www.carnaval.qc.ca/en/"&gt;www.carnaval.qc.ca/en&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Carnival’s &lt;strong&gt;online boutique&lt;/strong&gt; will allow carnival-goers to purchase clothes, stuffed toys and other exclusive souvenirs! Accessible, secure and simple payment methods facilitate purchases.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;SHOW YOUR COLOURS FOR THE 58th EDITION OF CARNIVAL&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;The detailed program is available from most of the region’s Uniprix drugstores, METRO  grocery stores,  and Couche-Tard convenience stores, as well as from the large hotels in the greater Québec City area. It should be noted that SAQ branches will also distribute the Québec Winter Carnival program from January 20. Additionally, the official program will be available on Friday January 27 in a special supplement in the Journal de Québec, as well as in the January edition of Québec Scope Magazine. For more information, please check out the website at &lt;a href="http://www.carnaval.qc.ca/en/"&gt;www.carnaval.qc.ca/en&lt;/a&gt; or phone 418-621-5555 or toll-free 1-866-4-carnaval (1-866-422-7628). &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The organization would also like to thank Canada Economic Development (CED) as well as Canadian Heritage, the Government of Québec for the support of the Bureau de la Capitale Nationale and the Ministry of Tourism, the Ville de Québec and Quebec City Tourism. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;From January 27 to February 12 2012, the Québec Winter Carnival, in cooperation with Loto-Québec, shows off its colours!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;-30-&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Source :&lt;br /&gt;Patrick Lemaire, Media and Press Relations Office&lt;br /&gt;T: 418-626-3716 #221&lt;br /&gt;C: 418 704-6722&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:patrick.lemaire@carnaval.qc.ca"&gt;patrick.lemaire@carnaval.qc.ca&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2012/01/05</pubDate></item><item><title>2012 starts with snow at Mont-Sainte-Anne  </title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="NewsContent"&gt;&lt;p&gt;Beaupré, January 4, 2012 – 2012 starts buried in snow at Mont-Sainte-Anne! With 50 cm of fresh snow received in the last 7 days, the resort expanded its skiable terrain to 53 opened trails, which is more than 80% of the entire terrain! No need to mention that skiing and snowboarding fanatics rushed to the mountain to get - according to many - the best snow conditions in the province! There is not doubt that the Quebec City area and surrounding ranks first this season regarding the natural snowfall.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;BOOK YOUR POWDER ESCAPE&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;With the White Sale Package:&lt;/strong&gt; This Signature Package is a versatile formula inviting you to a great escape at the mountain! In addition to a famous and memorable skiing or snowboarding experience, also enjoy one of our other products, between a sweet selection specially tailored to your interests. Include 3 nights and a 3-day lift ticket for the price of 2, plus various bonus! Starting at $76 per person, per night. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Please do not hesitate to contact us for more info or high resolution pictures.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;-30-&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Source :&lt;br /&gt;Lisa Marie Lacasse&lt;br /&gt;Communications Manage&lt;br /&gt;1.888.827.4579 # 323 &lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:lisa-marie.lacasse@mont-sainte-anne.com"&gt;lisa-marie.lacasse@mont-sainte-anne.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2012/01/04</pubDate></item><item><title>The 2012 Hôtel de Glace of Québec. A must-see attraction this winter!</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="NewsContent"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Québec, December 7h, 2011 -&lt;/em&gt; The Hôtel de Glace is proud to announce the new thematic of its 2012 program of activities. This educational and entertaining program combines art, culture and history. The 2012 season of the Hôtel de Glace promises you amazing discoveries and lots of fun. The Hôtel de Glace will be open from January 6th until March 25th' 2012.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;The 2012 theme: The Northern Québec&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;"The Northern Québec is far from being a vast desert region since it has been inhabited for centuries. The territory defines the culture and the identity through which men and women perceive their world. This year, the design of the Hôtel de Glace will communicate the art, culture, knowledge and values of the First Nations." says Serge Péloquin, Artistic Directorat the Hôtel de Glace.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;A rich and diversified program of activities&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;h3&gt;The First Nations of Northern Québec&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;"We can define the Northern Québec by its territories and its biodiversity but also by the people who have been living there for millennia. So it is with enthusiasm that the Hôtel de Glace is teaming up with the Québec region and the Huron-wendat Nation, as an official partner, to welcome the First Nations of Northern Québec. This year, the Hôtel de Glace will be a meeting point between the visitors and the First Nations." explains Jacques Desbois, CEO of the Hôtel de Glace since its beginning in 2001.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This season, three weekends of discoveries around the First Nations of Northern Québec are planned. lnuits, Cris, lnnus and Wendats as the host Nation, will promote their communities through various activities and demonstrations. Game tasting, artistic performances, traditional Native camps and local initiative of durable development are a few activities that will be offered during these cultural and enlightening rendez-vous.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;New "Winter Pleasures" Family Program&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;This season, new outdoor activities for families will be available on site. Two major projects will be launched this winter: the realization of an ice rink of 40-ft in diameter and the creation of the longest covered slide completely made of ice and snow. A great addition for the winter that will surely please visitors of ali ages!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;At Spring Break, we will honor resident families of Québec City! ln fact, children will benefit from a free access wh ile adults will be given a special rate of $10 (taxes included). Children will be invited to play in our various outdoor activities made of ice (igloos, beanbag game, maze, etc.). Also, there will be outdoor shows, make up for kids and much more. Children will definitely be in the spotlight!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Every Sundays, indulge your sweet tooth at the sugar shack! Learn more about the various techniques, the history and the evolution of these ancient recipes. Be charmed by the knowledge of the Godin Family and enjoy folk music played by a duo of outstanding musicians!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Festive Evenings at the lee Bar&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;This season, the lee Bar will be more vibrant than ever with DJs, various promotions, games, dance and much more. To learn more about the complete programming of the lee Bar, please check the Website of the Hôtel de Glace.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Grand Opening Night&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;Come celebrate with us the completion of the different production stages of the Hôtel de Glace as well as the launch of the new program of activities, on January 20th, for the Grand Opening Night. During this special event, you will enjoy a magnificent fireworks display, musical performances, entertainment for ali ages and surprises. A masterful and magical event!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;The new season is already breaking records ...&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;The season is just starting and the Hôtel de Glace is already breaking records. Record number of visitors on the Website, number of overnight stays and number of weddings sold above last year at the same period ... ln short, the Hôtel de Glace is now weil established in Québec City, the team has new wind beneath its wings and everybody is optimistic about the upcoming season!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Since 2001, the Hôtel de Glace impresses by its unique character and its magical design. Admire the majestic ice chandelier dominating the hall, go through the exhibition hall or try the popular ice slide. Amongst others, you will have the chance to drink one of our famous cocktails served in an ice glass and spend the night in one of our 36 rooms or theme suites giving access to the outer spas and sauna. Between nature and urbanity, the Hôtel de Glace is a must-see attraction to be discovered in family, in couple or between friends this winter!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;-30-&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Source :&lt;br /&gt;Sarah M. Matthews, Communications Adviser&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="smatthews@hoteldeglace-canada.com"&gt;smatthews@hoteldeglace-canada.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Phone: 418 623-2888, ext.: 101&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2011/12/09</pubDate></item><item><title>There is never been a better time to come to Hotel Stoneham</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="NewsContent"&gt;&lt;p&gt;Stoneham, November 30, 2011 – Only 20 minutes away from downtown Québec City, this ski-in ski-out establishment is constantly improving the customer  experience and offers this season half of its 59 units entirely renovated. The re-opening day is set for this Friday, December 2!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;MAJOR RENOVATION PLAN, PHASE 2… CHECKED !  &lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;Renovations include new mattresses and decorations, sofa beds replaced by conventional beds, new carpets, the addition of 32-inch flat-screen TVs and the addition and improvement of the furniture. Last season, the exterior of the Hotel had been entirely renovated and a lot of the room’s furniture has been renewed. It is the better time to plan your escape at the mountain!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Did you know that Stoneham Mountain Resort opens for good this Friday, December 2 at 4pm, 7 days and 7 nights a week? The skiing and snowboarding season is officially launched! &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;STILL AVAILABILITY FOR CHRISTMAS TIME&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;It’s still time to plan your Holidays at the mountain! Check out our Christmas Special Offer. &lt;br /&gt;Call us now 1.800.463.6888 x710&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;-30-&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Source :&lt;br /&gt;Lisa Marie Lacasse&lt;br /&gt;Communications Manage&lt;br /&gt;1.888.827.4579 x323 &lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:lisa-marie.lacasse@ski-stoneham.com"&gt;lisa-marie.lacasse@ski-stoneham.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Amélie Leclerc&lt;br /&gt;Communications Coordinator&lt;br /&gt;1.800.463.6888 x566&lt;br /&gt;amelie.leclerc@ski-stoneham.com&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2011/12/09</pubDate></item><item><title>Quebec winter carnival wins event of the year award at the canadian tourism awards </title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="NewsContent"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Québec, November 25, 2011 &lt;/strong&gt;- The resounding success of the 57th annual Quebec Winter Carnival, in collaboration with Loto-Quebec, has allowed the organization to take the prestigious &lt;em&gt;2011 Event of the Year&lt;/em&gt;, awarded annually with the goal of recognizing excellence in the Canadian Tourism Industry. The Carnival team received the prize during the Canadian Tourism Awards on Thursday in Ottawa.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For Jean Pelletier, General Director of Quebec Winter Carnival, “This proof of recognition is the result of strategic choices over the last few years. Every year, we strive to offer things that have never been seen before and to create the most innovative and audacious programming. Carnival continues to prove its popularity with international visitors, tourists, and overseas media.”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Over the course of the last few years, we have made a huge effort to improve our product and to meet the expectations of our visitors who are seeking a truly unique Quebec experience. The addition of new sites and shows, adding exciting sports, an amazing nightlife, and family-friendly activities have allowed us to improve the quality of our tourism services and highlight the spirit of the celebrations. By creating strong attractions and reinforcing traditional and classic activities, Carnival has been innovating and positioning itself as the benchmark for winter festivals offering a complete tourist experience in a unique atmosphere to Canadians and Quebecers.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;NUMBERS THAT SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES…&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;· GDP added value to Quebec : &lt;strong&gt;$30.8 M&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;· Incidental tax revenues to both Provincial and Federal Governments: &lt;strong&gt;$10.1 M&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;· Jobs created or supported: &lt;strong&gt;629&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;CARNIVAL SHOWS ITS COLOURS!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;From January 27 to February 12, Carnival continues the momentum by offering a more colourful and variety-filled program. The official program will be available online at carnival.qc.ca, from January 5, 2012.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;-30-&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Source :&lt;br /&gt;Patrick Lemaire&lt;br /&gt;Media Relations Officer&lt;br /&gt;Québec Winter Carnival&lt;br /&gt;Telephone: 418-626-3716, ext 260&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:patrick.lemaire@carnaval.qc.ca"&gt;patrick.lemaire@carnaval.qc.ca&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2011/11/25</pubDate></item><item><title>Hotbeds of Hockey bookend&lt;br/&gt;2012 Ice Cross Downhillworld Championship</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="contentNews"&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;-On March 17, 2012, Quebec City will host the season finale of the Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship -&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;QUEBEC CITY, QC – October 19, 2011&lt;/strong&gt; – After twelve years of ice cross downhill competitions around the world, Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship returns in 2012 with its most exciting calendar to date. Starting with St. Paul, Minnesota on Jan. 14, the Championship makes a much anticipated return to the United States. Capitalizing on the growing popularity of the sport in Europe, the next two stops are in Valkenburg, Netherlands on Feb. 4 and Aare, Sweden on Feb. 18. Keeping with tradition, the Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship culminates once again in Quebec City on March 17, 2012. Throughout, all eyes will be on Kyle Croxall (Comox, BC), and 2011 world champion Arttu Pihlainen (FIN), as they continue to push their rivalry, the sport and gravity.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;2012 Race Calendar&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;January 14 : St. Paul (USA)&lt;br /&gt;
February 4 : Valkenburg (NED)&lt;br /&gt;
February 18 : Aare (SWE)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;March 17 : Quebec City (CAN)&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;Crashing the Airwaves&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Sports fans and thrill seekers: hang on to those remote controls because the 2012 Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship will crash onto airwaves throughout the season with &lt;strong&gt;Rogers Sportsnet&lt;/strong&gt; and the &lt;strong&gt;TVA Network&lt;/strong&gt; broadcasting the four stops of the series. Witness all the action from the comfort of your own living room, as skaters hurtle down a twisting, jumping ice track at speeds of more than 60km/hr.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;A Decade of Breath-Taking Action&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In 2000, a new sport was born, “a sport of the century” as a renowned English newspaper described the breath-taking new competition. Athletes from around the world flocked to the Swedish capital Stockholm for the inaugural race – wearing hockey skates in a man vs. man battle down a 300-metre long ice track filled with gap jumps, ice steps, and razor-sharp hairpin turns. The first race in Stockholm was a pilot project both from a sporting and technical perspective, because the construction work involved was so extensive there was no chance to test the event out in an advance and see what the athletes would be up against.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Since then, there have been 20 races in 11 cities, 10 countries and 6 competitions in Quebec City since 2006. Hundreds of thousands of spectators have watched the races on the ever-more advanced tracks – on ski slopes in the mountains and through urban valleys in city centres. While in the past the races were staged as individual events, it is now a formal world championship since 2010.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;About Red Bull Crashed Ice&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The electrifying clink of heavy metal to ice and the deafening roars of 110,000 fans herald the Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship. Ice cross downhill aces storm down an urban ice track showcasing their strength, speed, and technique on an urban ice track filed with turns, jumps, and drops.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;World championship points are up for grabs at each of the four stops of the Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship: the winner collects 1,000 points and competitors all the way down to 100th (0.5 point) can collect valuable points. Whoever finishes the season with the most points after the four races will be crowned the 2012 Red Bull Crashed Ice World Champion.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;Registration &amp;amp; Qualifiers&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Red Bull Crashed World Championship 2012 is once again an open event with national qualifiers taking place ahead of each of the four stops. The fastest skaters from each qualifying event will then be invited to compete against the best in the world at the main event. Keep your blades sharp, as registration details for Canada will be posted very soon to &lt;a href="http://www.redbullcrashedice.com" target="_blank"&gt;www.redbullcrashedice.com&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Red Bull Crashed Ice Game&lt;/strong&gt;: Test your control power, speed, stamina, and acceleration at the touch of a button at &lt;a href="http://www.redbull.ca/crashedicegame" target="_blank"&gt;www.redbull.ca/crashedicegame&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;2011 Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship Standings&lt;/strong&gt;: 1. Arttu Pihlainen (FIN/3800 points), 2. Kyle Croxall (CAN/3200 points), 3. Scott Croxall (CAN/2030), 4. Louis-Philippe Dumoulin, (CAN/1610), 5. Kilian Braun (SUI/1600).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style="text-align: center;"&gt;- 30 -&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Red Bull Content: Free for Editorial Usage&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Through the Red Bull network, hi-res video and still images are captured and made immediately available for editorial use for all media channels including television, film, print, mobile, and digital. The content is centrally located in the Red Bull Content Pool for media partners at &lt;a href="http://www.redbullcontentpool.com" target="_blank"&gt;www.redbullcontentpool.com&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Find us on Facebook: &lt;a href="http://www.facebook.com/redbull" target="_blank"&gt;www.facebook.com/redbull&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Follow us on Twitter: &lt;a href="http://www.twitter.com/redbullcanada" target="_blank"&gt;@redbullcanada&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href="http://www.twitter.com/redbullMTL" target="_blank"&gt;@redbullMTL&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href="http://www.twitter.com/CrashedIce" target="_blank"&gt;@CrashedIce&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
For more information about the world championship, visit: &lt;a href="http://www.redbullcrashedice.com" target="_blank"&gt;www.redbullcrashedice.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For all media inquiries, please contact:&lt;br /&gt;
Josée Laperrière&lt;br /&gt;
Red Bull Canada&lt;br /&gt;
647-680-2855&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a href="mailto:Josee.Laperriere@ca.redbull.com"&gt;Josee.Laperriere@ca.redbull.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
</description><pubDate>2011/10/20</pubDate></item><item><title>Québec City voted best destination in Canada</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="contentNews"&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Québec, October 11&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt;, 2011&lt;/strong&gt; – According to the Condé Nast Traveler, a prestigious American magazine whose November 2011 edition was published today, Québec City was named the sixth best destination in the world, while holding the third rank in North America and the top spot in Canada!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Québec City’s main competition hails, in order, from Sydney (Australia) in first place, followed by Florence (Italy), Charleston (United States), Cape Town (South Africa) and San Francisco (United States). Québec, who tied Santa Fe (United States), edged out Vancouver, Victoria, Barcelona, Venice and Rome. “Outstanding! This is truly encouraging, and a tap on the back from the exacting and experienced travelers that comprise Condé Nast’s readership. In its strategic plan for 2011-2013, Québec City Tourism had targeted the American market as a priority. These readers, by and large Americans, have confirmed that our strategy worked!” exclaimed Alain April, Chairman of the board for Québec City Tourism. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“This is our best performance yet! Since the magazine started ranking destinations, Québec City has never more impressed readers! We are quite proud!” said Gabriel Savard, the organization’s director. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The list is based on the opinions of over 28,800 Condé Nast Traveler readers. This year, Québec City outranked all destinations in Asia, South America as well as Central America (&lt;a href="http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/504129" target="_blank"&gt;click here for details&lt;/a&gt;).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“I would also like to draw attention to the performance of the region’s hotel operators, notably the Auberge Saint-Antoine, the Germain-Dominion de Québec and the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac”, added Alain April.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style="text-align: center;"&gt;- 30 -&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Source : &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Sylvie Walter&lt;br /&gt;
Communication consultant / Webmaster&lt;br /&gt;
418-641-6654, poste 5482&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a href="mailto:Sylvie.walter@quebecregion.com"&gt;Sylvie.walter@quebecregion.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
</description><pubDate>2011/10/12</pubDate></item><item><title>ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating® Final 2011</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="contentNews"&gt;
&lt;p&gt;December 8-11, 2011&lt;br /&gt;
Pavillon de la Jeunesse – Québec City&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What is the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating® Final 2011?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating® Final 2011 is coming to Québec City, Qué. December 8-11, 2011. This world-class event features the top scoring athletes competing in the Senior and Junior ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This competition is the pinnacle event of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. The series hosts six stops: United States (Skate America), Canada (Skate Canada International), China (Cup of China), France (Trophée Eric Bompard), Russia (Rostelecom Cup) and Japan (NHK Trophy). Skaters are awarded points based on their placements at their assigned events and the top six in each of the four disciplines advance to the Final. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This event also includes the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final, 2011. The world’s top junior skaters also collect points in order to qualify, through seven events. The top six in men’s, ladies, pair and ice dance, based on the results of the Junior Grand Prix series, advance to the Junior Final.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;GET INVOLVED!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Become a local supplier!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Skate Canada is inviting Québec City businesses to take part in this event by becoming a local supplier. Our supplier program offers great return on investment by providing your company with access and brand visibility to over 15,000 spectators and guests from around the world! For more information, email &lt;a href="mailto:2011gpf@skatecanada.ca"&gt;2011gpf@skatecanada.ca&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Become a volunteer!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Ever wondered what it was like behind the scenes at an international figure skating event? Here is your chance! Skate Canada is looking for friendly, energetic people to fill many different important roles to make this event a success! Volunteers are needed for all areas of the event including registration, hotel and venue operations, social functions and transportation, among others. Visit &lt;a href="http://members.skatecanada.ca/memberreg/logonVol_moNew.cfm"&gt;http://members.skatecanada.ca/memberreg/logonVol_moNew.cfm&lt;/a&gt; to learn more about the various positions available!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Update on Ticket Sales!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
A special presale held in May offered a limited amount of 500 advance all-event tickets to the public for sale. The presale tickets sold out in one day! The remaining all-event tickets for the event went on sale Friday, September 16, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. through Billetech. The package includes admission to all competitions, official practice sessions and the closing Gala Exhibition. Spectators will be arriving from all over the world and the Organizing Committee expects a sold-out crowd to cheer on the athletes as they compete for the title!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Planning is well underway!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
In June 2011, members of the event Organizing Committee, along with delegates from the International Skating Union, Host Broadcast Partner and other television rights holders, were in town to conduct the event Protocol Meetings. They visited the competition venue, official hotel as well as other potential host sites to plan for this prestigious event.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Meet the Local Organizing Committee Chair&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Sylvie Simard has taken on the role of Local Organizing Chair and Volunteer Recruitment Director for this event. In this key role, she will oversee the local aspects of the event planning and recruit volunteers to fill roles in all areas for the event. Sylvie has been involved in skating for 37 years and sits on the Skate Canada Board of Directors. Sylvie also manages a local skate shop.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
</description><pubDate>2011/09/23</pubDate></item><item><title>Québec City and Bordeaux celebrate their birthday! </title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="contentNews"&gt;
&lt;h2 style="color: #4f99d6;"&gt;The 2012 Bordeaux Wine Festival in Québec City&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Québec,  September 9, 2011 – From September 6 to 9, 2012, Québec City will celebrate the wines of Bordeaux! This festive occasion will mark the 50th anniversary of the fruitful relationship between these sister cities.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;“To celebrate the 50&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; anniversary of this most beneficial partnership, we are preparing a truly remarkable gathering,” stated the Honourable Mr. Régis Labeaume, mayor of Québec City. “During my 2010 visit to the Bordeaux Wine Festival, I immediately recognized that we had to repeat this event on this momentous occasion. I am looking forward to seeing local and visiting wine lovers strolling through our beautiful quays at Espace 400&lt;sup&gt;e&lt;/sup&gt; and the Old Port, a glass of exquisite Bordeaux wine in hand!”&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;A celebration to bring people together&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In 2010, Québec City was fêted as the guest of honour at the seventh Bordeaux Wine Festival, an international public event dedicated to the wines of Bordeaux and Aquitaine. Following this highly successful experience, Mr. Labeaume expressed his willingness to import and adapt this concept in his own city, specifically during the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Open to all residents of the Capitale-Nationale, the 2012 Bordeaux Wine Festival in Québec City will be the focal event during the sister cities' 50&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; Anniversary celebrations. This festival will imaginatively pair the wines of Bordeaux with Québec City's regional gastronomic delights. Representatives of the City of Bordeaux will volunteer their experience and expertise to local organizers to ensure the success of this project.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h3&gt;A spotlight on wine, food and cultural activities&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In September 2012, epicures will be invited to discover a variety of vintages from the Bordeaux region, including Médoc and Graves, sweet Bordeaux, Côtes de Bordeaux, Saint-Émilion, Pomerol-Fronsac, Bordeaux &amp; Bordeaux Supérieur, and dry rosé and white Bordeaux. Nearly fifty vineyards will take part onsite. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Activities will be centred in the Espace 400&lt;sup&gt;e&lt;/sup&gt; sector during this event. Pavilions featuring wine and gastronomic tastings will delight residents and visitors alike with new discoveries - the wines of Bordeaux and Aquitaine, as well as gourmet products and alcoholic beverages from the Québec City region. A festival tent decorated in the colours of Bordeaux will be devoted exclusively to our sister city. In addition, a wine school will offer a series of educational workshops to the public.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The dynamic and rich culture of the sister cities will be showcased at the Agora Port de Québec, where a number of live shows and large-scale happenings are planned. Master classes and exclusive activities round out the programming. Finally, restaurateurs across the city will introduce their patrons to the variety and uniqueness of the Bordeaux terroir. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Wine is to cycling what beer is to hockey. Given the overlapping dates of these two events, it made sense to work closely together to ensure that the 2012 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec will be the most dynamic, festive and colourful edition yet,” noted M. Serge Arsenault, president of the Grands Prix Cyclistes Québec – Montréal. “Over the coming months, we will take tremendous pleasure in working closely with the organizers of the 2012 Bordeaux Wine Festival in Québec City to develop a series of exciting activities and complementary initiatives during the 2012 Grand Prix.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“This festive event held in late summer will attract many epicures to Québec City,” noted Mr. Gabriel Savard, Director of Québec City Tourism (QCT). “QCT will launch an enticing promotional campaign spanning the province of Québec, the Ontario market, the northeastern United States and even in France. It will be a golden opportunity to educate these markets on Québec City's unrivalled gastronomic expertise and reputation.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;A touristic, economic and festive connection!&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Since 1962, the cities of Bordeaux and Québec have maintained close ties in numerous sectors of activity. Cooperation between the two cities has taken many forms, encompassing a wide range of areas such as economic development and tourism, culture, academia, etc.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Over the past 50 years, trade missions and exchanges have generated a variety of profitable and concrete projects benefitting both regions. The 2012 Bordeaux Wine Festival in Québec City will soon be added to this venerable list, a most appropriate way to mark the anniversary of such a prolific partnership!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style="text-align: center;"&gt;- 30 -&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Source: Claudia Caron&lt;br /&gt;	Communications Department&lt;br /&gt;	418 641-6210&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2011/09/09</pubDate></item><item><title>Train of Le Massif de Charlevoix launches operations</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="contentNews"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Quebec City, September 6 2011&lt;/strong&gt; – "From this moment, as the Train pulls out of the station, Le Massif de Charlevoix becomes more than a mountain. A destination is taking shape, sweeping across 140 kilometres between Quebec City and the Charlevoix, enriching the tourist offer in two exceptional regions."&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;It was along these terms that Daniel Gauthier, Chairman of the Board of Groupe Le Massif, spoke this morning to VIPs and media representatives assembled for a preview of the &lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.lemassif.com/en/presse/1149/the-train-general-presentation"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Train of Le Massif de Charlevoix&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt; whose inaugural voyage is set for Friday, September 9. On this occasion, Quebec’s Minister of Finance and Minister of Revenue Mr Raymond Bachand and numerous elected officials from the Charlevoix and Quebec City regions gathered at Parc de la Chute-Montmorency Station to experience the rail cruise, which this fall will be offering &lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.lemassif.com/en/train/ete/1395/septembre-2011"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;27 departures&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt; until October 16, with stopovers at the Mountain starting February 2012. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;The Experience: Panoramic, Gastronomic and Unique&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Train’s entirely refurbished railcars offer passengers rare exposure to the breathtaking vistas drifting by throughout the journey, and to a number of points of interest: Île d’Orléans, Cap Tourmente, Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, Baie-Saint-Paul, Isle-aux-Coudres, Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive, Les Éboulements and Saint-Irénée. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The rail cruise menu has been carefully devised by &lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.fairmont.com/EN_FA/Property/LMR/Index.htm"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Executive-Chef Jean-Michel Breton. Be it the &lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.lemassif.com/en/train/ete/1395/septembre-2011#_menus"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;three-course lunch&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt; served on the morning rail cruise or the &lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.lemassif.com/en/train/ete/1395/septembre-2011#_menus"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;four-course gastronomic dinner&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt; proposed on the return journey, both showcase the Charlevoix’s rich and bountiful terroir. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A multimedia iPad presentation created exclusively by &lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.realisations.net/"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Réalisation Inc.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt; featuring lively informational content also greatly enhances the passenger experience. On the two-way rail cruise, fresh video clip content is displayed by the Train’s built-in GPS-activated entertainment system.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;The Convoy, the Railway Line: New Beginnings &lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;At maximum capacity, the eight Pullman Standard railcars accommodating up to 68 passengers each convey 528 passengers. With a complete mechanical makeover performed by the team at &lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.croi.qc.ca/en/index.php"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Centre de réalisations d’outils innovateurs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt; (C.R.O.I.) and a new look designed by &lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.morellidesigners.com/"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Morelli Designers&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, the railcars’ minimalistic, timeless decor accentuates the clean, pure lines of its loft-style architecture and the views of the fleeing landscape. Each railcar is equipped with its own kitchen, while interior appointments offer all the comfort and flexibility required for appreciating the many pleasures of this adventure in gastronomy. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The track rehabilitation programme conducted by &lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.sema.ca/category/home/?lang=en&amp;amp;lang=en"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Services ferroviaires SEMA Inc.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt; over a 22-month period was carried out to optimize the line’s safety, comfort, speed and load capacity for passenger transportation. It included the replacement of 22 km of track, 28,500 railway ties, 90 culverts, upgrades on 25 bridges and embankment riprap along certain portions of the territory. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Beyond offering passage to the Train and the rail shuttle that will travel between &lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.lemassif.com/en/presse/1148/the-farm"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Hôtel La Ferme&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.lemassif.com/en/presse/1154/the-mountain"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Mountain&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt; in Spring 2012, the programme ensures lasting service on the Quebec City–Clermont corridor and guaranteed passage to freight trains in the years to come. It also presents a range of mid- and long-term regional rail transit alternatives. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Le Massif de Charlevoix&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.lemassif.com/en/developpement"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Le Massif de Charlevoix&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;is a tourism and recreation destination that unfurls over three environments in the Charlevoix: &lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.lemassif.com/en/montagne"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Mountain&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.lemassif.com/en/ferme"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Hôtel La Ferme&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.lemassif.com/en/train#_content_2"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Train&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;. Beyond the ski area, it is poised to offer a full range of experiences in tourism – from Québec City to La Malbaie, and Petite-Rivière-Saint-François to Baie-Saint-Paul – by way of a touring train and a diversified lodging offer both at the Mountain, and at its 150-room hotel complex in Baie-Saint-Paul. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;View and download &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="http://www.lemassif.com/en/planifier/galeries"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;high-resolution photos and videos&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;strong&gt; from our Image Gallery. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2011/09/06</pubDate></item><item><title>13th Québec City International Festival of Military Bands </title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="contentNews"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Indulge Yourself in Military Music&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;August 22, 2011- Québec City will vibrate to the Québec City International Festival of Military Bands from August 23 to 28. The Festival’s 13th edition, in all its diversity, promises to please the young and old, music lovers of all kinds, and the simply curious. Under the theme “Dare to Change the Beat” you are invited to indulge yourself in military music. The rich repertoire consists of film music, French and Quebec songs, jazz standards and great classics-- and, of course, marches, counter marches as well as traditional pieces for the whole family. The event is unique in Canada and welcomes six countries, 16 bands and close to 800 musicians who will offer 40 concerts, including the popular Red Army Choir and the Russian Troupe Alexandrov—and for the first time, the renown “Top Secret Drum Corps” from Switzerland.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“Anyone can be charmed by military music. Children, who are always numerous at the Festival with their parents, show an emotion and demonstrate that military music’s horizon is vast and accessible. I invite people to experience military music and the festival, dare to change the beat” said Mr. Yvan Lachance, General Director of the Québec City International Festival of Military Bands. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Foreign Music Ensembles&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Russian Red Army Choir and the Alexandrov Troupe&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Consisting of 125 artists, it is the most famous military ensemble in the world. In breathtaking precision and through the power and depth of its Slavic voices the choir will give life to a vast repertoire of the best known Russian folk tunes and opera arias. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Swiss Top Secret Drum Corps &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Certainly one of the most spectacular performances of the 2011 Festival, this band brings together the best of the best drummers of Switzerland—masters and passionate about their art. This is the first time in Québec City for one of the world’s best percussion bands. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Royal Band of the Belgian Air Force&lt;br /&gt;They offer a wide repertoire of classical and contemporary works, plus numerous adaptations of film music. This orchestra is a reference on the Belgian cultural and music scene and certainly brings the military and civilian world closer together. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The New York City Police Department Band&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;They are already on their fifth visit to Québec City and each time they are among the favourites for festival goers. Daring, lively and music for all tastes!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Central Band of the Royal Air Force, UK&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A powerful symbol of the legacy of the British Royal Air Force; they will treat us, for their first visit to the Festival, to a repertoire of music ranging from traditional British symphonic music to jazz. They recently participated in the wedding of William and Kate at Westminster Abbey.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;THE ESSENTIALS&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Grand Concert of the Russian Red Army Choir and the Alexandrov Troupe &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;August 22, 23 and 24, Grand Théâtre de Québec, 7:30 pm&lt;br /&gt;ONLY A FEW TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE / Between $62 and $92 (taxes and ticketing fees not included)&lt;br /&gt;418 643-8131 or 1 877 643-8131 or &lt;a href="http://www.billetech.com" target="_blank" title="billetech"&gt;www.billetech.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Grand European Concert, August 23, at the Palais Montcalm, 7:30 pm&lt;br /&gt;With the Central Band of the Royal Air Force from the United Kingdom , the Royal Band of the Belgian Air Force, and featuring Natalie Choquette and her daughters.&lt;br /&gt;A one of a kind evening when Natalie Choquette and her daughters Éléonore and Ariane bring alive the Andrew Sisters through a rendition of their music—don’t miss it!&lt;br /&gt;34 $ - 52 $ $ (taxes and ticketing fees not included)&lt;br /&gt;418 641-6040 or 1 877 641-6040 or &lt;a href="http://www.billetech.com" target="_blank" title="billetech"&gt;www.billetech.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Québec City Military Tattoo, August 25, 26 and 27, at the Pepsi Coliseum, 7:00 pm&lt;br /&gt;Back for a seventh year, the Québec City Military Tattoo is a much anticipated event and popular well beyond Québec City. It once again offers a grand finale where 800 musicians, dancers and singers unite on stage in a magical musical moment.&lt;br /&gt;$34, $54 - $61, $14 (taxes and ticketing fees not included)&lt;br /&gt;418 691-7211 or 1 800 900-7469 or &lt;a href="http://www.billetech.com" target="_blank" title="billetech"&gt;www.billetech.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The ticket includes same day free access to Expo Québec.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;OUTSIDE FREE CONCERTS&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Opening ceremony, August 24, 5:30 PM, Place George V&lt;br /&gt;Nearly 800 musicians kick-off the 13th Québec City International Festival of Military Bands. A dazzling ceremony!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Bands follow one another on stage to offer concerts under the stars to the tune of accessibility, enthusiasm and fun. The “Welcome Home” concert will close the Festival, Sunday, August 28.  This tribute to our soldiers returning from Afghanistan will be presented at 7:30 pm with the Royal 22nd Regiment Band and the participation of bagpipe musicians involved in the festival. This will be followed by an explosive closing ceremony! From 8:30 pm the musicians and other participants will give a final salute to Québec City in music. Two pyro musicals, “Sands of Kuwait” and “Ce n’est qu’un au-revoir”, will close the event.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Popular concerts, from August 24 to 28&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Short outdoor concerts offer people a taste of the culture of participating countries, all in the most beautiful surroundings of Old Quebec (Saint-Jean Street, Dufferin Terrace and Place Royale). &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;FAMILY DAYS, GIANTS AND PARADES&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The weekend of August 27 and 28 is devoted to family activities at Place George V. From 10 am, The Région de l’Est Cadet band first invites ages from 5 to 11 years old and then their parents to participate in Festival mini-parades. They will have the opportunity of being initiated to certain musical instruments as well as receiving training in the art of parading.  The very popular Festival Parade, a procession of 16 bands and nearly 800 musicians comes to life Saturday, August 27, at 2 pm on the Grande Allée.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The parade this year offers a “Giant” of Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire. With these military “Giants” the Festival honours the former military members of the Québec City region for the exemplary courage and heroic attitude they have shown during conflicts. “Giants” Captain Gilles Lamontagne and Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Forbes, honoured last year, come alive through the some 800 musicians and participants.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Festival is presented by the Capital Financial Group, in collaboration with the Land Force Quebec Area. The Festival also wished to thank its valued partners: the Government of Canada, the Government of Quebec, Québec City and its Tourist Board, ExpoCité and Hydro-Quebec. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center; ;"&gt;- 30 -&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Source : &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Marie-Eve Jacob&lt;br /&gt;Communication Coordinator&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Interview  :Jean-Sébastien Brousseau&lt;br /&gt;418 529-8270&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:jsb@pointcomm.info"&gt;jsb@pointcomm.info&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2011/08/22</pubDate></item><item><title>A New World-Class Bicycle Network Project </title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="contentNews"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Québec, August 16, 2011&lt;/strong&gt; – Taking advantage of the increase in bicycle tourism around the world, Québec City Tourism, Tourisme Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, the Véloroute des Bleuets and the Corporation des Cols du Fjord are banding together to create a new, world-class bicycle network. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The network, which will be established in one to two years, will offer sports enthusiasts a network of more than 1,000 kilometres covering the Québec and Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean areas.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This project is built on a vision shared by the four partners. It aims to offer a unique product in Canada by becoming the first and only "Brevet" network in North America (participants receive a road book and a stamp at every stage). "We want to develop a world-class cycle tourism offer in Quebec and generate new economic benefits for the regions touched by the network," declared Alain April, Québec City Tourism Chair. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Covering more than 1,000 kilometres with 6,000 metres of elevation gain, this bicycle route will help cyclists discover the St. Lawrence River, the Saguenay Fjord, the Lac Saint-Jean and the numerous tourist attractions along the way. Combined with the Québec international airport, land and marine shuttles to transport luggage, a network of cyclist-friendly certified inns and detailed maps, the project will provide a top-notch sports touring and cycle tourism experience. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Timeline&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Over the next few months, the committee will organize a corporation mandated to establish the route and the development criteria for this project, for an official launch in the next few years.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center; ;"&gt;- 30 -&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Source : &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Sylvie Walter&lt;br /&gt;Communication Advisor / Edimaster&lt;br /&gt;418-641-6654, poste 5482&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:sylvie.walter@quebecregion.com"&gt;Sylvie.walter@quebecregion.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2011/08/16</pubDate></item><item><title>International Pow Wow of Wendake</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="contentNews"&gt;&lt;p&gt;sponsored par Caisse Desjardins de Wendake in partnership with Loto-Qubec &lt;strong&gt;July 29th, 30th  and 31st 2011&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Wendake, June 6 2011 – Tourisme Wendake, Caisse Desjardins de Wendake and Loto-Quebec invite you to live, thanks to the 2011 International Pow Wow of Wendake, a unique experience through traditional songs and dances of many First Nations from Quebec and abroad.  During the three-day event, dancers and drummers will compete to earn 60 000$ in bursaries. For the third consecutive year, the International Pow Wow of Wendake is part of theprestigious Pow Wow Trail circuit.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;On Friday night, July 29th, the singers, Gilles Sioui and Claude Mckenzie, and, on Saturday night,  July 30th, the hiphop and reggae singers, Samian and Shauit, will entertain you with their modern Aboriginal songs and music.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Sports and cultural activities will please the whole family: competitions among Aboriginal firefighters, inflatable games, cross match between Wendat and Mohakw teams, etc.  Workshops and demonstrations of traditional know-how, youth reading center, make-ups for children,  sampling of meats cooked over a wood fire are all part of the festivities surrounding the 2011 International Pow Wow of Wendake.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Visit our Website &lt;a href="http://www.tourismewendake.ca/" target="_blank"&gt;www.tourismewendake.ca&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Welcome! Onen!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center; ;"&gt;- 30 -&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;For information:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Tourisme Wendake&lt;br /&gt;Jason Picard-Binet &lt;br /&gt;Phone: 418-847-1835&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:jasonpicard@tourismewendake.ca"&gt;jasonpicard@tourismewendake.ca &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2011/07/06</pubDate></item><item><title>The Québec City Convention Centre Latest Centre to Achieve&lt;br&gt;AIPC Quality Standards Certification</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="contentNews"&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Québec City Convention Centre has become the latest AIPC member centre to achieve AIPC Quality Standards certification with the successful completion of their audit this month by the designated external auditor. They join a group of 17 AIPC centres who have now successfully achieved this international certification, with a number of additional centres in various stages of the certification process.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;"The AIPC Quality Standards program was developed as an industry-specific certification for confirming and documenting a centre's accomplishments in key areas of convention centre performance, and is the only such specifically purposed form of certification in the industry", said AIPC President Edgar Hirt. Québec City Convention Centre is to be congratulated on having achieved the gold level in their audit as this demonstrates to owners, colleagues and clients that they are addressing international standards of performance in their management procedures".&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The program standards identified and audited address ten key areas, including Customer Service, Quality of Facilities and Operations, Employee Relations, Health, Safety, Security and Emergency Response, Financial Integrity, Community Relations, Environmental Responsibility, Industry Relations and Supplier Relations. Members who complete the audit process uniformly report that it not only serves to document their procedures but also enables them to clarify any shortcomings for corrective action. The process is also seen as being an excellent team-building exercise because it involves all management staff in a collaborative effort with a clear accomplishment at the end.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;"In times when competition amongst various centres and destinations is more intense that ever, the AIPC Quality Standards program is a valuable way for managers to ensure they are delivering quality – a form of documentation that serves many purposes, including the reassurance of clients" said Hirt. "As we are increasingly confronted with other standards developed by groups outside our industry and that do not necessarily reflect the realities or priorities we face as managers, it is important to have a program that entirely reflects our own needs".&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The External Auditor for the AIPC Quality Standards Certification program is Mr. Rick Knowlan, President, Knowlan Consulting Group Inc. of North Vancouver, Canada, which specializes in strategic management consulting. He holds a bachelors degree in Civil Engineering (1974) from the University of British Columbia (UBC) and an MBA (1985), also from UBC.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center; ;"&gt;- 30 -&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Source : &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;AIPC Secretariat Offrice&lt;br /&gt;55 Rue de l'Amazonne, B-1060 Brussels, Belhium&lt;br /&gt;32 496 235327&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:secretariat@aipc.org"&gt;secretariat@aipc.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2011/07/01</pubDate></item><item><title>Live Science! </title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="contentNews"&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Musée de la civilisation Reveals the Human Side of Sscience from June 8, 2011, to September 9, 2012&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;From F = ma and E = mc2 to DNA and GMO... from evolution and revolution to Galileo, Newton, Lavoisier, Edison, Darwin, Pasteur, Einstein, and Schrödinger... Live Science is all about making science interesting, fun, and—more than anything—human. This new exhibition spotlighting the work of passionate scientists opens today at Musée de la civilisation in Quebec City and continues until September 9, 2012, when it goes on tour throughout Canada. &lt;em&gt;Live Science&lt;/em&gt; is produced by Musée de la civilisation in partnership with the National Film Board of Canada and with the participation of MITACS (Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems) and Université Laval. Its presentation is made possible with funding from Canadian Heritage and the Musée de la civilisation Foundation. Alcoa is a partner in all the Museum’s programming. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;The Human Side of Science&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;The exhibition puts a human face on the men and women whose scientific endeavours have produced the studies and theories that are helping us understand our world—and sometimes even changing our lives! In addition to examining the specific contributions that these “leading lights” have made to scientific history, &lt;em&gt;Live Science&lt;/em&gt; also spotlights current science, looking closely at work being done by eight scientific teams identified across Canada expressly for this purpose.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;A Scientific Collection &lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;Live Science also gives Musée de la civilization the ideal opportunity to show off its scientific instrument collection, which is rarely displayed in public. It will include some 70 old and new artifacts (many used by the eight scientific teams whose initiatives are presented here), life-size wax figurines of Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, and Louis Pasteur, and interactive and audiovisual presentations, all of which will help bring this amazing journey to the centre of science to life. The exhibition will also display a Van de Graaff generator designed by Louis Rodrigue, winner of the Musée de la civilisation prize at the finals of the Super Expo-Sciences Hydro-Québec science fair, and &lt;em&gt;Sumo Extrême&lt;/em&gt; by the Paul-Hubert secondary school of Rimouski, the winning entry in the robot category of the 2011 senior level competition. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Science, a Pleasure and a Necessity!&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;“Most contemporary issues integrate science and society,” affirms Michel Côté, executive director of Musée de la civilization. “We can’t talk about greenhouse gases, sustainable development, or manipulation of living organisms without reading what the scientific and social literature says,” he notes. “Science is increasingly central for our contemporary societies, which view themselves as repositories of knowledge and understanding, but it can also be a source of amazement and pleasure that shapes our curiosity and our questioning,” Mr. Côté added. “With this exhibition, the museum is presenting a singular opportunity to get to know individuals who have helped further scientific knowledge by following their dreams, proving that passion is a necessary part of science,” he concluded. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In partnership with the National Film Board of Canada with the participation of MITACS (Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems) and Université Laval. Its presentation is made possible with funding from Canadian Heritage and the Musée de la civilisation Foundation. Alcoa is a partner in all the Museum’s programming. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2011/06/13</pubDate></item><item><title>Panache Mobile Brings Innovative Dining Experience To Orleans Island This Summer</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="contentNews"&gt;&lt;p&gt;June 8th, 2011&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; Auberge Saint-Antoine’s distinguished Panache restaurant is rolling out its Panache Mobile truck, with plenty of epicurean surprises awaiting culinary enthusiasts who visit the Sainte-Petronille Vineyard on Quebec’s Orleans Island this summer.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; Panache Mobile will be open daily at the vineyard from June 24th to September 5th, and on Saturdays and Sundays from mid-May to June 23rd and from September 6th to October 9th.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; “The idea behind Panache Mobile was to bring award-winning food to our patrons in a fun and engaging way,” says Jean-Louis Souman, hotel director of the Auberge Saint-Antoine. “We’ve incorporated a lot of fresh produce and local ingredients that bring food truck fare to a completely new level.” &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; Panache Mobile will serve up some inspired culinary creations that diners won’t be able to find anywhere else. Lobster hotdogs and a gourmet take on poutine are among the more unique items sharing space on the menu with seasonal and local favourites such as organic Charlevoix sausages, Angus beef tartare with truffle vinaigrette, Louis d’Or cheese, BLT bison hamburgers and more. Panche Mobile presents a unique twist by deviating from the standard food truck fare, making it a must-do for gastronomic enthusiasts this summer.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; Much of Panache’s organic and locally grown produce, cheese and maple syrup is supplied from a family farm located on Orleans Island to ensure that freshness, innovation and authenticity are hallmarks of each meal from Panache Mobile. The Sainte-Petronille Vineyard offers the perfect setting for diners, with an incredible view of the magnificent Montmorency waterfalls. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For more information, please phone Panache Restaurant at 418-692-1022.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;About Auberge Saint-Antoine&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;Built over one of Quebec City’s most significant architectural sites, Îlot Hunt, Auberge Saint-Antoine is located at the heart of the Old Port area, facing the majestic St. Lawrence River. It is a true boutique hotel offering 95 rooms and suites and is steps away from the fortifications, museums, and the lively Petit-Champlain Street. The property consists of four distinct structures dating from 1700 to present day that cleverly linked showcase its unique riches: solid 300-year old beams, stone walls, slate floors, glass and porcelain objects unearthed in the course of a restoration turned archeological dig. Panache, the hotel’s restaurant, is renowned for creative dishes of fine French Canadian Cuisine with a twist using local, seasonal produce. Auberge Saint-Antoine is a member of the respected Relais &amp;amp; Chateaux brand.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.saint-antoine.com"&gt;www.saint-antoine.com&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt; Media Contact: &lt;br /&gt;Kate Hillyar  &lt;br /&gt;Siren Communications&lt;br /&gt;416.351.0777  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:kate@sirencommunications.com "&gt; kate@sirencommunications.com  &lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2011/06/08</pubDate></item><item><title>Québec Continues Making a Place for Itself in the World </title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="contentNews"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Québec, June 7, 2011&lt;/strong&gt; – It was with great pleasure that Ville de Québec received the news about two World Cup cross-country ski events taking place in December 2012.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This news confirmed Québec's growing position as a host for international sports events.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;"The work done for years by Gestev to attract international events to our city has yielded considerable results," declared Quebec City mayor Régis Labeaume. "In addition to being an opportunity for participants and television viewers to discover Québec, this world cup will enable us to cheer on one of our own celebrated athletes, Alex Harvey."&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The World Cup events will highlight the beautiful landscapes of the Plains of Abraham as well as Vieux Québec's remarkable architecture. "This will be a golden opportunity to sell Québec to the world," concluded Mr. Labeaume.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Sports city &lt;em&gt;par excellence&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;By hosting numerous international sports events, Québec is carving an enviable place for itself on the world stage. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;With the Bell Challenge, presented in Québec since 1993, the Junior Alpine World Championships in 2000, 2006 and 2013, the World Police and Fire Games in 2005, the Trampoline and Tumbling World Championships in 2007, the World Hockey Championships in 2008, the UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships in 2010, one stage of the Beach Volleyball World Tour in July 2011, the Snowboarding World Championships in 2013 and the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec presented until 2014, Québec is more than ever positioning itself as a sports city &lt;em&gt;par excellence&lt;/em&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="text-align: center;"&gt;- 30 -&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Source: François Moisan &lt;br /&gt;Communications Department &lt;br /&gt;418 641-6210 &lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2011/06/07</pubDate></item><item><title>American Cities of the Future 2011/12 : Winners</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="contentNews"&gt;&lt;strong class="pressReleaseDate"&gt;In the first everfDi ranking of cities across the American continents, New York has beencrowned the leading American ‘City of the Future’ for 2011/12.Jacqueline Walls reports on the leading performers across the region.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;p&gt;NewYork been ranked as the top city in fDi Magazine’s first ‘AmericanCities of the Future’ ranking. The city also claimed top position in thesub-category ‘North American City of the Future’ for the second yearrunning, with Chilean capital Santiago being awarded the ‘Latin AmericanCity of the Future’.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Cities based in the US and Canada dominatedthe overall American Cities of the Future rankings, with New York,Chicago and Houston claiming the top three positions. The new rankingcombined fDi’s existing North American Cities of the Future ranking witha new Latin America ranking.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;New York shines again &lt;/h3&gt;Thetop three ‘North American Cities of the Future’ remained unchanged fromthe previous ranking, as New York, Chicago and Houston maintainedfirst, second and third positions, respectively. New York topped manysub-categories, including economic potential, infrastructure andbusiness friendliness. This success can be partly attributed to thelarge number of FDI projects into the city over the past decade.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;AlthoughCanadian cities Toronto and Montreal did not appear in the top 10 inthe North American Cities of the Future ranking in 2009, both citiesimproved in 2011 to claim fourth and sixth place, respectively.Atlantaand Boston also re-entered the top 10, ranking fifth and seventh,respectively. Santiago top in Latam Santiago was crowned fDi Magazine’sfirst ‘Latin American City of the Future’. According to the fDi Marketsdatabase, which tracks crossborder greenfield investment, Santiago hasattracted 84 FDI projects since 2003, with almost a fifth of theseprojects involving a capital investment of more than $100m. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lima(Peru), Monterrey (Mexico), Bogotá (Colombia) and San José (Costa Rica)completed the top five Latin American Cities of the Future. Mexicancities made up four of the top 10 cities in the Latin America category,while the Colombian cities of Bogotá and Barranquilla also featured,ranking fourth and eighth, respectively.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center; ;"&gt;-30-&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="pressReleaseInfo"&gt;&lt;div class="title"&gt;Information :&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="data"&gt;&lt;p&gt;François Paquet&lt;br /&gt;Directrice des communications&lt;br /&gt;Conseiller - Relations publiques&lt;br /&gt;Téléphone: 418-681-9700 poste 277&lt;br /&gt;Courriel : &lt;a href="mailto:fpaquet@quebecinternational.ca"&gt;fpaquet@quebecinternational.ca&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2011/05/18</pubDate></item><item><title>«Inuit Odyssey» one of the 50 Tours of a Lifetime of National Geographic Traveler</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="contentNews"&gt;&lt;strong class="pressReleaseDate"&gt;Quebec City, May 6 2011 -&lt;/strong&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The &lt;em&gt;National Geographic Traveler&lt;/em&gt; magazine selected a trip to Nunavik, from ecotourism specialist ENF Canada, to appear in its 2011 Tours of a Lifetime issue.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;On April 20&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; 2011, National Geographic Traveler announced its famous selection of &lt;strong&gt;50&lt;/strong&gt; Tours of a Lifetime to appear in its upcoming issue. It is with surprise that we at ENF Canada learned that the «Inuit Odyssey» tour was selected from a large number of applicants from around the world. This adventure is the result of a partnership with Inuit organisations from Nunavik, and we are very happy to be one of the two organisations selected from Canada.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;20 Years of Ecotourism&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This selection also marks an important anniversary for ENF Canada. 20 Years of development, leadership and involvement in the tourism industry. Since 1991 ENF Canada offers high quality experiences and outstanding service in Quebec. Even if recent years have been difficult for numerous organisations, ENF Canada remains a leader and is planning to increase its presence on international markets. This recognition by the National Geographic Traveler magazine also launches a series of new adventures to be released throughout the year. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;«Inuit Odyssey» is the result of a partnership with&lt;em&gt; Inuit Adventures&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;Aventures Kangiqsujuaq&lt;/em&gt;, two Inuit-owned organisations from Nunavik. Showcasing the strengths and unique features of each partner, it is based on a fair share of investments and especially results. Transparency is fundamental and maximizing the local benefits is a core principle. ENF Canada is involved in the Adventure Travel and Ecotourism industry for several years, is a certified member of AEQ &lt;em&gt;(Aventure Ecotourisme Quebec)&lt;/em&gt; and is in close contact with ATTA &lt;em&gt;(Adventure Travel Trade Association)&lt;/em&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;div class="pressReleaseSignature"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;a href="http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/tours/"&gt;http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/tours/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
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&lt;p&gt;Roch Anctil &lt;br /&gt;
(418) 931-4534&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a href="mailto:roch@enfcanada.com"&gt;roch@enfcanada.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a href="http://www.enfcanada.com"&gt;www.enfcanada.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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</description><pubDate>2011/05/06</pubDate></item><item><title>The 44th edition of the Festival d'été de Québec:  a musical planet!</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="contentNews"&gt;
&lt;strong class="pressReleaseDate"&gt;Quebec City, April 27, 2011 - &amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For the 44th consecutive year, the capital will be grooving to the beat of the Festival d’été de Québec this July. The two Festival weekends already promise to be hot, and the news that Elton John and Metallica are playing the Festival is making waves across Canada and the U.S. and even as far away as Sweden.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“We aimed to stand out, to be major players on the big events scene, to attract top names and to promote Quebec City. We did it and we’re proud,” said Nancy Savard, chair of the board for the Festival d’été de Québec. “A lot of Quebeckers now plan their vacation around the Festival and more and more people from outside Québec watch for our program and want to come.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;With the names that are added or confirmed today, the Festival promises once again to be a huge success!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;THE OPENING EVENING&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Is this becoming a tradition? Again this year, the Festival d’été de Québec will open in song and in French. Stars from Québec and France will join in tribute to the best-loved songs of generations of fans. This year, multi-talented Gregory Charles will co-host the show with French TV celebrity Daniela Lumbroso. The names of the artists lined up for this event will be released in May, but we can already confirm the presence of Francis Cabrel. Recorded for television and broadcast primetime in Québec on Télé-Québec, in France on the general interest channel France 3 and in 200 countries on TV5 Monde, this event is a priceless showcase for Québec.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“If the Festival d’été de Québec is known worldwide for its international stars, it is also hugely popular throughout the French-speaking world. No one has ever before produced a variety show as big as this, and with as many francophone artists, for television,” explained Daniel Gélinas, general manager of the Festival d’été de Québec. “Last year’s show was seen by over three million viewers. This show is great publicity for Québec as a whole.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;PLAINS OF ABRAHAM — BELL STAGE&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Rock on… is the expression making the rounds on social media about the programming for the Festival’s main stage.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;On July 8, &lt;strong&gt;Ben Harper&lt;/strong&gt; kicks off. Known for his happy blend of folk, blues, gospel, funk and reggae, the American guitarist and singer-songwriter has moved more toward rock in recent years. A new album, with two tracks produced with Ringo Starr, is coming out in May.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Sir Elton John&lt;/strong&gt;, as was announced, will play on July 9 in a concert that promises to make history! Accompanied by his five musicians, the British superstar will perform his greatest hits as well as songs from his latest album, The Union, composed with Leon Russell.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Black Keys&lt;/strong&gt;, with &lt;strong&gt;Girl Talk&lt;/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;Cage the Elephant&lt;/strong&gt; opening, will take over the stage on Sunday, July 10 for an evening of rock, electro and blues. The American duo won three Grammy Awards this year, including Best Alternative Music Album for Brothers, and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for Tighten Up.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Simple Plan&lt;/strong&gt;, who had the crowds on their feet on the Plains in 2005, are back on July 11. A fourth CD should be released in the next few weeks. An excerpt, recorded in duet with Rivers Cuomo, the singer for Weezer, is already out and the band has plans for a French song with Marie-Mai. Opening for &lt;strong&gt;Simple Plan &lt;/strong&gt;will be &lt;strong&gt;Dropkick Murphys&lt;/strong&gt; from Boston, whose sound shows influences from traditional musique irlandaise, punk hardcore, oi! and folk rock.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Marie-Mai&lt;/strong&gt;, Québec’s rising star, who has already a few record CD sales and several trophies to her name, will play on July 12. Sparkling, dynamic and bursting with energy, the young singer has got a supershow planned, with guest artists, special numbers and dancers. Her fans are going to love it! &lt;strong&gt;François Duchesne&lt;/strong&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;Philémon chante&lt;/strong&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;Agnès Beauregard&lt;/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;Midnight Romeo&lt;/strong&gt;, all from the Pro program at Ampli de Québec, a training and production space for young musicians, will be opening the show.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Québec will rock wall to wall on July 13 with &lt;strong&gt;Jonas &amp;amp; The Massive Attraction&lt;/strong&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;Michel Pagliaro&lt;/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;Éric Lapointe&lt;/strong&gt;, who hasn’t played the Festival since 2006, to top off the evening! These three rockers will be taking the Plains by storm with their own shows plus a few numbers together with Lapointe.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Jean-Pierre Ferland&lt;/strong&gt; is coming out of retirement for just three performances, including the Festival d’été de Québec on Friday, July 15. For the first part of the show, directed by Denis Bouchard, with scenery, chorists and guests, the “petit roi” will sing songs from Jaune, the legendary album that had such an impact 40 years ago in Québec. And for his and everyone’s pleasure, Ferland will wrap up the evening with his greatest hits. The perfect choice to warm up the crowd— &lt;strong&gt;Les Charbonniers de l’enfer&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;July 16, it’s a dream come true for many, with &lt;strong&gt;Metallica&lt;/strong&gt; coming to the Plains. Quebec fans have always been crazy about Metallica, and they won’t be disappointed because the American metal band will be playing their greatest hits. Celebrated guitarist &lt;strong&gt;Joe Satriani&lt;/strong&gt; and Quebec City’s own &lt;strong&gt;Dance Laury Dance&lt;/strong&gt; will be opening the show.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Finally for a rocking finale to these 11 days, none other than &lt;strong&gt;John Fogerty&lt;/strong&gt;, on July 17. First known as the leader of the rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR), he is also a longtime- singer, songwriter and solo guitarist.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;As programming director Dominique Goulet said, “With this program, a succession of legendary rock stars, socially active artists, new talent, and other lesser-known but always interesting performers share the same stage, not to mention the international names that will put Québec on the list of the world’s top festivals.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;PARC DE LA FRANCOPHONIE — MOLSON DRY STAGE&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Two favourites are back at the Parc de la Francophonie this year: &lt;strong&gt;Death From Above 1979&lt;/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;Champion et ses G-Strings&lt;/strong&gt;. The two musicians in the Canadian band, Death From Above 1979, who split up in 2006, have gotten back together for just a few shows. They played at Coachella in California two weeks ago and will be in Quebec City to close the Molson Dry stage on July 17, with the Québec band, &lt;strong&gt;Malajube&lt;/strong&gt;, up first. As for Champion, who says he’s no longer sick, he promises as great a show as ever! He’ll be playing July 13, after &lt;strong&gt;Gatineau&lt;/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;Random Recipe&lt;/strong&gt;, two Québec hip-hop and indie-rock bands open the evening.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“We are privileged, ” remarked Dominique Goulet, “because these artists, who will only be putting on a few shows this summer, wanted to come to the Festival d’été de Québec.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;There will be something for everyone during these 11 days of music: some good hard rock to start, with Bleeker Ridge, 10 Years and Hollywood Undead and Jimmy Hunt and Galaxie later in the week; poetry in many forms, first with the French slammer Grand Corps Malade and Douze Hommes Rapaillés, a moving tribute to Gaston Miron featuring 11 Québec singers. Habana Café will sweep us away with its Latin beat, and an entire evening is dedicated to the blues with Oli Brown, Matt Schofield and the phenomenal Buddy Guy. There’s also a hip-hop night with Manu Militari and Booba, who the rappers Alaclair Ensemble will open for.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Country fans will have a warm welcome for Patrick Norman, who will be preceded on stage by Lisa Leblanc, the winner of the Festival international de la chanson de Granby 2010. And finally, British singer and actress, Marianne Faithfull, is sure to charm spectators with this, her first appearance at the Festival.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;PLACE D’YOUVILLE — LOTO-QUÉBEC STAGE AT PLACE METRO&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This lively and colorful stage has the well-earned reputation for getting people up and dancing to world beat at its best!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Watch for Hollywood film star Tim Robbins, who won an Oscar and two Golden Globes for his roles in The Player and Mystic River and who now sings folk music with The Rogues Gallery Band and for rock’a’billy queen Wanda Jackson, whose latest album was produced by Jack White, formerly of the White Stripes.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The American bands The Klezmatics and Grupo Fantasma, both Grammy winners in recent years, will pull in the crowds, as will Omar Souleyman, a musical legend from Syria who gives traditional music a pop sound, and everyone loves Afrocubism and its Latin-American version of African beat.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Thomas Fersen will be closing the stage on the last evening, preceded by Ours, whose father’s last name is Souchon…a talent to discover.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In detail:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul class="list-blue"&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;From South Africa: Freshlyground&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;From Australia: Blue King Brown, Kim Churchill&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;From Cameroon: Manu Dibango&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;From Colombia: Folklore Urbano Orchestra&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;From Congo: Baloji&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;From Cuba: Afrocubism&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;From the United States: Red Baraat, The Campbell Brothers, The Klezmatics, Wanda Jackson, Tim Robbins &amp;amp; The Rogues Gallery Band, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Blitz The Ambassador (Ghana), Jamie McLean Band, Grupo Fantasma&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;From France: Gaëtan Roussel, Ours, Madjo, Thomas Fersen&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;From Guinea: Les Espoirs de Coronthie&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;From Mali: Afrocubism&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;From Mexico: Mexican Institute of Sound, Nortec Collective&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;From Niger: Bombino&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;From Nigeria: Asa&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;From Peru: Novalima&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;From Québec: Elage Diouf (Senegal), I.No, Afrodizz, Isabeau et les Chercheurs d’or, Marco Calliari, Karim Ouellet&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;From Sudan: Emmanuel Jal&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;From Syria: Omar Souleyman&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“When you add up all the Québec artists who will be playing on the Festival’s three outdoor stages, I think you can say without question that Québec’s biggest artists will be at the Festival one way or another this summer,” general manger Daniel Gélinas said in closing. “We have always aimed at creating events. Some years it’s possible, others not, and when we can do it in French like this year with the opening show, the tribute to Gaston Miron, and Ferland, we can say mission accomplished.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;INDOOR SHOWS presented by Groupe Voyages Québec&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;There will be more great indoor shows again this year at the Cercle, the Impérial de Québec and the Largo Resto-Club. To date, a few names have been confirmed for the Impérial, including Duchess Says, An Horse, Who Are You, Cut Copy, Emilie Clepper, The Low Anthem, Annihilator, Sword, Mark Bérubé and The Patriotic Few, Dawes, M. Ward, Kim Churchill, Karkwa, Gaëtan Roussel, Alejandra Ribera, Emilie-Claire Barlow and Buck 65.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The remaining names on the lineup for the indoor shows will be announced in the next few weeks.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The programming for the Arts de la rue Loto-Québec, the activities at Place de la famille le Lait and the remaining names on the program will be announced in early June.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For further details on programming, Festival fans can go to the Festival website at www.infofestival.com.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;div class="pressReleaseSignature"&gt;
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&lt;div class="title"&gt;Information :&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div class="data"&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Luci Tremblay&lt;br /&gt;
Directrice des communications&lt;br /&gt;
Festival d’été de Québec&lt;br /&gt;
(418) 523-4540&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a href="mailto:ltremblay@infofestival.com"&gt;ltremblay@infofestival.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
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</description><pubDate>2011/04/29</pubDate></item><item><title>MATERIA, La boutique: Selected fine craft art objects</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="contentNews"&gt;&lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; ;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Quebec City, April 5th 2011 &lt;/strong&gt; - From April 15 to May 22, 2011, in the framework of the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 12px; ;"&gt;&lt;em&gt;In April ... textile fibre art event,&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 12px; ;"&gt; &lt;em&gt;Centre MATERIA&lt;/em&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal; ;"&gt; will present the woven works of two artists recognized in their discipline. The exhibition "&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 12px; ;"&gt;&lt;em&gt;Vita Plume &amp;amp; Caitlin Erskine-Smith: a narration," &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; ;"&gt;which deals with communication, cultural identity and the importance of written language, combines traditional techniques with the latest technological developments.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt; Parallel to this event, &lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;MATERIA La Boutique&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;, the MATERIA shop adjacent to the gallery, will offer visitors the opportunity to acquire one or several objects from the vast selection available. This selection varies according to the disciplines of crafts and / or thematic of the exhibitions presented at Centre MATERIA, thus enlarging the possibilities of making interesting discoveries. Many of the discoveries that you can make are hard to find outside of craft fairs or in the area where we are located. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;From April 15 to May 22, the boutique will feature the unique pieces and small series items of over thirty fine craft artists coming almost exclusively from Quebec. These works which designs take up the textile theme were chosen for their aesthetic value, technical qualities and remarkable originality. While several items such as cushions, bags, or scarves are actually textiles, the other offered useful or ornamental objects are also inspired by the textile theme, although differently. Included are metal collars which threads seem to have been woven, bracelets featuring strips of stainless steel intertwined, copper jewelry so finely wrought that they evoke lace ... Even ceramic objects incorporate textile prints, thus revealing the extraordinary potential of interdisciplinarity in the renewal of the practice of fine crafts. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The creations offered at &lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;MATERIA, La Boutique&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; will suit the needs of everyone interested in fashion, interior decoration, original concepts and in the pleasure of wearing a garment, a jewel, an accessory or any other handmade ornament reflecting his or her personality while making the envy of all! These unique pieces or small series items, &lt;strong&gt;diversified and affordable&lt;/strong&gt;, are also an &lt;strong&gt;environmentally friendly choice respecting sustainable development and supporting our local economy&lt;/strong&gt;! Buying these woks encourages Quebec designers and young emerging artists. MATERIA La Boutique is also the perfect place for finding wonderful &lt;strong&gt;gift ideas combining novelty (and sometimes exclusivity!), quality and technical mastery. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Fine craft objects presented at &lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;MATERIA, La Boutique&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; vary with each exhibition, usually every 6 to 8 weeks, sometimes less. So come back often to make new findings!  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; Please note that MATERIA recently launched an online boutique. MATERIA e-boutique is a transactional portal that allows fine craft artists from the Québec City and the Chaudière-Appalaches regions to present and sell their works. For other fine craft objects that are not related to the exhibition, please visit the online boutique: &lt;a href="http://materiaeboutique.com"&gt;materiaeboutique.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="clear: left; text-align: center; ;"&gt;- 30 -&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Contact médias :&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Caroline Chabot, chargée de projets, Centre MATERIA | (418) 524-0354, poste 249 &lt;br /&gt;&lt;a target="mailto:cchabot@centremateria.com"&gt;cchabot@centremateria.com&lt;/a&gt; | &lt;a href="centremateria.com"&gt;centremateria.com&lt;/a&gt; &lt;br /&gt;galerie 395, boul. Charest Est, Québec (Qc) | bureaux 367, boul. Charest Est, 7e étage, &lt;br /&gt;Québec (Qc) G1K 3H3 CANADA  &lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2011/04/13</pubDate></item><item><title>An astounding trip back in time, high above Québec City</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="contentNews"&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;The new Observatoire de la Capitale opens its doors to 1965&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Québec City, Tuesday, April 12, 2011 &lt;/strong&gt;– Québec National Assembly President Jacques Chagnon, Member for Jean-Lesage André Drolet, Commission de la capitale nationale du Québec President and CEO Jacques Langlois, and DMR-Fujitsu Vice President, Consulting Services Jacques Dionne were in attendance tonight for the highly anticipated inauguration of the new Observatoire de la Capitale, one of Québec City’s most popular attractions.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;After a complete transformation, Observatoire de la Capitale is reopening its doors to take visitors on an authentic trip back in time. High above Québec City, it now offers a new interactive tour in a remarkable environment inspired by 1965, a year that profoundly marked the provincial capital. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The new ground floor boutique will offer a full range of unique products enabling the many visitors from abroad to continue exploring Québec City after they return home.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3 &gt;A complete overhaul&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A total of $500,000 was invested to renovate the Observatory and its ground floor reception area. Two key partners—the Québec National Assembly and DMR-Fujitsu—joined Commission de la capitale nationale du Québec in contributing $100,000 each to make the project a reality. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“In addition to enjoying the most spectacular panorama in Québec City from the 31st floor of the Marie-Guyart Building, visitors will have an opportunity to dive into the city’s rich past thanks to the wonders of today’s technology: touchscreen terminals, imaginative video clips, sound booths, and dazzling 3D imagery”, said André Drolet, Member for Jean-Lesage.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“With its spectacular views, the Observatory offers an exceptional perspective of the Parliament building. The interactive audiovisual presentations will provide visitors with a host of information on the National Assembly and its main attractions, and we hope this will entice them to visit us,” stated National Assembly President Jacques Chagnon.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“DMR-Fujitsu is delighted to contribute to the revamping of Observatoire de la Capitale by providing modern solutions to suit its needs. Tens of thousands of visitors can now discover the Québec of yesterday thanks to the technology of today,” said Jacques Dionne, Vice President, Consulting Services at DMR-Fujitsu.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;Hours and rates&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Observatoire de la Capitale is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors 65 and over, and will remain free for children age 12 and under accompanied by their parents. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;To enjoy the best views of Québec City all year long, the Panoramic Visa is also available for $19.95.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Observatory is also a breathtaking venue for special events of all kinds as well as a perennial favorite of school groups. For more information or a virtual visit, go to the Observatory website at www.observatoirecapitale.org.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Observatoire de la Capitale is run by Commission de la capitale nationale du Québec and has welcomed approximately 70,000 visitors a year since 1998. With its dazzling and groundbreaking makeover, the Observatory is now more than ever the city’s high point, an absolute must to see and share with others. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;To develop and implement the new concept, the Commission turned to the cultural heritage and museology experts at consulting firm Bergeron Gagnon. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;The Québec National Assembly&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Observatory’s east wing offers the best-known panorama featuring buildings and sites of great heritage significance. Some of them, like the Québec National Assembly, have special symbolic value. The east wing will therefore turn the spotlight on the National Assembly and the theme of democracy. For more information on the National Assembly: www.assnat.qc.ca&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;DMR-Fujitsu&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A member of the Fujitsu Canada family, DMR-Fujitsu is a business and information technology (IT) integration consulting firm that has been a leader in the Québec market since 1973. Combining business savvy with knowledge of the latest technologies, its multidisciplinary teams transform clients’ business objectives into tangible results. Its some 1,450 consultants are delivering success in business and IT, industry, product, and outsourcing solutions, and other fields of expertise. For more information: www.dmr.ca&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;La commission de la Capitale nationale du Québec &lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Commission de la capitale nationale du Québec pursues a threefold mission of helping develop and beautify Québec City, promoting the capital through a diverse program of discovery and commemoration activities, and advising the Québec government on how to enhance the city’s status. For more information: www.capitale.gouv.qc.ca&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;p style="clear: left; text-align: center;"&gt;- 30 -&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Source :&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
Denis Angers&lt;br /&gt;
Director of Promotions and Communications&lt;br /&gt;
Commission de la Capitale nationale du Québec&lt;br /&gt;
418 528-0773&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Information :&lt;br /&gt;
Jean Brouillard Communication&lt;br /&gt;
Phone : 418 682-6111&lt;br /&gt;
Courriel : &lt;a href="mailto:jbcom@videotron.ca"&gt;jbcom@videotron.ca&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a href="www.jeanbrouillard.com"&gt;www.jeanbrouillard.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a href="www.observatoirecapitale.org"&gt;www.observatoirecapitale.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
</description><pubDate>2011/04/13</pubDate></item><item><title>The RUSSIAN Alexandrov Red Army Choir and Ensemble</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="contentNews"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;For immediate release – Tuesday, April 5, 2011&lt;/strong&gt; – Whether you know them as the Red Army Choir, the Soviet Army Chorus, or the Alexandrov Choir, one thing rings true: The Russian Alexandrov Red Army Choir and Ensemble is the most renowned and prestigious military ensemble in the world.  With breathtaking precision, their pure, harmonically rich sound brings to life a wide range of repertoire from Russian folk tunes to church hymns, operatic arias and popular music.  This remarkable chorus, orchestra, and dance troupe have dazzled enthusiastic and appreciative audiences in over 40 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. This summer, The Russian Alexandrov Red Army Choir returns for a prestigious Canadian Tour that includes stops at Québec City’s Grand Théâtre de Québec, salle Louis-Fréchette on Tuesday, August 23rd and Wednesday, August 24th; at the National Arts Centre, Southam Hall in Ottawa on Tuesday, August 30th, followed by a four-night residency in Montreal at Place des Arts, Théâtre Maisonneuve from Thursday, September 1st through to Sunday, September 4th; the Ensemble will give a final performance at the newly refurbished Sony Centre For The Performing Arts in Toronto on Thursday, September 8th.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Tickets are on sale to the public Friday, April 8th, 2011.&lt;/strong&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Russian Alexandrov Red Army Choir and Ensemble is the official army choir of the Russian armed forces.  They are widely regarded as the foremost artistic ensemble of its kind, twice earning the Order of the Red Banner and Red Star, the highest military decoration recognizing civilian service.  Their Canadian tour will feature an astonishing 125 musicians and performers, consisting of soloists, a male choir, and dancers, together with a full orchestra performing with a mixed composition of Russian traditional and western instruments, including the balalaika, the domra, the bayan, the double bass, woodwinds, brass and percussion instruments. Their acclaimed performances offer a rousing selection of spirited dance presentations such as the classic and lushly colourful Zaparozhtsi Dance, Dance of the Cossacks, and Soldier's Dance. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The company bears the name of its founder and first director, Alexander V. Alexandrov, an esteemed composer, conductor, and professor of the Moscow Conservatory who notably composed the National Anthem of the Russian Federation. The first Ensemble, consisting of 12 people — a vocal octet, two dancers, and two musicians, first took to the stage on October 12, 1928, and by the mid-1930's, the Ensemble had already grown into a large performing group, becoming a large male choir with the orchestra and dance group. The first great success abroad came in 1937 at the Paris International Exhibition. The group became more widely known internationally in the 1950’s, in particular with a visit by the 200-member Ensemble to London in 1956 where they gave popular concerts that aroused immediate critical enthusiasm.  Following the founder’s death in 1946, the Ensemble was taken over by Alexander Alexandrov's son, Boris Alexandrov. During his forty-year tenure, the Ensemble gained fame outside the Soviet Union, making extensive tours worldwide. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Today the Russian Red Army Choir and Ensemble is at the top of its class and hailed as the military Band in the world. A full tour schedule follows below.  For tour information please visit &lt;a href="www.fimmq.com/choir"&gt;www.fimmq.com/choir&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center; ;"&gt;- 30 -&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; MEDIA CONTACT:   Victoria Lord,  &lt;a href="mailto:victoria@vlpr.com"&gt;victoria@vlpr.com&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2011/04/05</pubDate></item><item><title>The Black Keys coming to  the Festival d’été de Québec</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"&gt;
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&lt;h3&gt;July 7 to 17, 2011&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Québec City, February 22, 2011&lt;/strong&gt; - The American blues-rock group The Black Keys will play the Bell Stage on the Plains of Abraham on Sunday, July 10. With Dan Auerbach on vocals and guitar and Patrick Carney on drums, the duo won three Grammy Awards last week, including Best Alternative Music Album for &lt;em&gt;Brothers&lt;/em&gt;, released in May 2010, and Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals for &lt;em&gt;Tighten Up&lt;/em&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Black Keys brought out their debut album, &lt;em&gt;The Big Come Up&lt;/em&gt;, in 2002, but it was with &lt;em&gt;Thickfreakness&lt;/em&gt;, recorded just one year later, that they really burst onto the world scene.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For Dominique Goulet, programming director for the Festival d'été de Québec, "This group has a special aura and appeals as much to connoisseurs as to those who follow the latest trends."&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This will be their first time performing in Quebec City. Girl Talk, aka Gregg Michael Gillis, will open the show. This popular DJ excels in the art of mashup, a musical hybrid genre that consists essentially of combining several song excerpts to create a new song. The soundtrack of the Cirque du Soleil's Las Vegas show LOVE is a good example of this technique.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Girl Talk was a smash with electro fans at the Impérial de Québec during the 2009 Festival. A dynamic style of interaction with the audience sets Girl Talk apart from other DJs.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Hydro-Québec flashing passes&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The main attractions on the program for this 44th edition of the Festival d'été de Québec, which will take place this year from July 7 - 17, will be announced on April 27. Hydro-Québec flashing passes will go on pre-sale the next day, April 28.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;As was the case last year, 60,000 flashing passes and RFID bracelets will be sold at an advance sale price at METRO supermarkets in the greater Quebec City area.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Starting Saturday, April 30, festival fans will be able to purchase their passes online or by phone at the regular price. The price of this year's pass will also be announced on April 27.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The 44&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; edition of the Festival de Québec will be held from July 7 to 17, 2011.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Festival d'été de Québec is presented by Bell in collaboration with Molson Dry. &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p align="center"&gt;– 30 –&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Information:&lt;br /&gt;
Luci Tremblay&lt;br /&gt;
Communications Director&lt;br /&gt;
Festival d'été de Québec&lt;br /&gt;
(418) 523-4540&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a href="mailto:ltremblay@infofestival.com"&gt;ltremblay@infofestival.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;/html&gt;</description><pubDate>2011/02/22</pubDate></item><item><title>Official National Training Center, Stoneham welcomes the World Cup for the 7th edition</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"&gt;
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        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Stoneham, February 9th, 2011&lt;/strong&gt; - Stoneham Mountain Resort will be host of the LG/FIS World Snowboard Cup, on February 14&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; to the 20&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt;. The resort, which was officially pointed as a National Training Center in March 2010, offers the most incredible venue for the impressive competitions of the World Cup, located only 20&amp;nbsp;minutes away from the beautiful Old Capital. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;An international competition, right next door &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Thanks to the mountain's unequalled conditions, legendary atmosphere and incomparable installations, all the elements are in place to ensure that the athletes, visitors and locals enjoy a great show, which is accessible to all the population! The adjacency between the city and the World Cup activities is unique and allows people to participate and commute easily, while men and women of all ages are invited to the amateur competitions all week long, for the Snowboard Jamboree.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Training proximity for local &amp;amp; foreign athletes &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The Olympic Half-Pipe and all the other quality installations that Stoneham is offering, takes the resort onto a higher level when it comes to coveted international training destination. As a matter of fact, the Belarus Team decided to train there for a two months intensive stretch, while Snowboard Firm is bringing over their Quebec team five times throughout the winter. Three of their athletes will actually be part of the half-pipe competition, on February 18&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt;. Last season, China's athletes were at the mountain for an intensive training.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The status of Official National Training Center gives Stoneham the opportunity to welcome on its slopes several local athletes performing on the international circuit. They previously had to move out to the West of Canada or to United States to pursue their sport's career, what they can now do from home. Let's also point out that Stoneham is actually the only National Half-Pipe Training Center in the whole Quebec Province and on the east coast. "We are proud to welcome the snowboard world's elite, which is truly inspiring for our own succession." says Guy Desrosiers, VP and General Manager for Stoneham and Mont-Sainte-Anne. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Knowing that the mountain will be host of the &lt;strong&gt;2013 World Snowboard Championships&lt;/strong&gt;, it is in the pro athletes' best interest to train at the competition's site. The World Championships will also be the first Qualifier for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia. &lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The World Cup 24/7&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Get in on all of the action and make Stoneham home during the LG/FIS World Snowboard Cup, thanks to the exclusive offer from &lt;strong&gt;Condos &amp;amp; Hotel Stoneham&lt;/strong&gt;: including night skiing lift ticket and a night at the Hotel Stoneham (quadruple occupation) or in a studio, starting at $59! Valid from February 14&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; to the 20&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;1.800.463.6888 ext.&amp;nbsp;710. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p style="text-align: center;"&gt;– 30 –&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;For further information or high-resolution pictures, please do not hesitate to contact us.&lt;/p&gt;
        Lisa Marie Lacasse&lt;br /&gt;
        Chef de service aux communications&lt;br /&gt;
        1.888.827.4579 #323&lt;br /&gt;
        &lt;a href="mailto:lisa-marie.lacasse@ski-stoneham.com"&gt;lisa-marie.lacasse@ski-stoneham.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
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</description><pubDate>2011/02/10</pubDate></item><item><title>Bonjour, Quebec City!  US Airways increases Canadian presence with new service to Quebec</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"&gt;
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        &lt;h3&gt;&lt;em&gt;Flights connecting the capital of Quebec and US Airways' international gateway begin June&amp;nbsp;2&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
        &lt;br /&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 9, 2011&lt;/strong&gt; - US Airways (NYSE:LCC) today announced new, daily year-round service from its international gateway at Philadelphia International Airport to Quebec City, Quebec, one of the oldest and most picturesque cities in Canada. Beginning June 2, customers can travel to the Quebec capital three times per day with the new service.  Customers traveling from Quebec City will now have access to 108&amp;nbsp;domestic and international destinations through Philadelphia, where US Airways has expanded its service to 451&amp;nbsp;daily departures.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;"US Airways customers and members of the Philadelphia community will continue to benefit from our continued development of our northeast hub with the new Quebec City service," said US Airways' Vice President, Philadelphia Hub, Bob Ciminelli. "Each day, US Airways connects approximately 18,000 customers to small, medium and large communities - including many in California, Florida, Europe and the Caribbean - through Philadelphia International Airport."&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Customers can begin booking their Quebec City travel on February&amp;nbsp;12 through US Airways' website at &lt;a href="http://www.usairways.com/"&gt;www.usairways.com&lt;/a&gt;, by calling US Airways Reservations at 1-800-428-4322 or through their travel agent. US Airways Express carrier Air Wisconsin will operate three flights a day with 50-seat CRJ-200 regional jets as follows:&lt;/p&gt;
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                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 65px;"&gt; &lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 200px;"&gt;Philadelphia-Quebec City&lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 65px;"&gt; &lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt; &lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 65px;"&gt; &lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 200px;"&gt;Quebec City-Philadelphia&lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 65px;"&gt; &lt;/td&gt;
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            &lt;/tbody&gt;
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                &lt;tr style="text-decoration: underline;"&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Flight&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Departure&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Arrival&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt; &lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Flight&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Departure&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Arrival&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
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                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt;4030&lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt;9:30&amp;nbsp;a.m.&lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt;11:21&amp;nbsp;a.m.&lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt; &lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt;4035*&lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt;6:00&amp;nbsp;a.m.&lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt;8:01&amp;nbsp;a.m.&lt;/td&gt;
                &lt;/tr&gt;
                &lt;tr&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt;4034&lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt;2:49&amp;nbsp;p.m.&lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt;4:40&amp;nbsp;p.m.&lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt; &lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt;4055&lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt;12:00&amp;nbsp;a.m.&lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt;2:01&amp;nbsp;p.m.&lt;/td&gt;
                &lt;/tr&gt;
                &lt;tr&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt;4046&lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt;8:35&amp;nbsp;p.m.&lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt;10:28&amp;nbsp;p.m.&lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt; &lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt;4093&lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt;5:15&amp;nbsp;p.m.&lt;/td&gt;
                    &lt;td valign="top" align="center" style="width: 110px;"&gt;7:16&amp;nbsp;p.m.&lt;/td&gt;
                &lt;/tr&gt;
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        &lt;p&gt;*&lt;em&gt;Service begins June&amp;nbsp;3 for Flight 4035&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;Quebec City will be the eighth destination in Canada served by US Airways. Last year, the airline began daily, year-round service between Philadelphia and Halifax and added service between its Charlotte, N.C. hub and Ottawa. In addition to these cities, US Airways flies year-round to Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Montreal and Toronto.  In late March, the airline will also add a second seasonal nonstop flight to Frankfurt from its Philadelphia hub.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;About US Airways&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
        US Airways, along with US Airways Shuttle and US Airways Express, operates more than 3,200 flights per day and serves more than 200&amp;nbsp;communities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Central and South America. The airline employs 32,000 aviation professionals worldwide and is a member of the Star Alliance network, which offers its customers 21,000 daily flights to 1,160 airports in 181&amp;nbsp;countries. Together with its US Airways Express partners, the airline serves approximately 80&amp;nbsp;million passengers each year and operates hubs in Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia and Phoenix, and a focus city in Washington, D.C. at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. US Airways was the only airline included as one of the 50&amp;nbsp;best companies to work for in the U.S. by LATINA Style magazine's 50&amp;nbsp;Report for 2010. For the sixth year in a row, the airline also earned a 100&amp;nbsp;percent rating on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality index, a leading indicator of companies' attitudes and policies toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees and customers. For more company information, visit usairways.com. (LCCG)&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;– Fly With US –&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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</description><pubDate>2011/02/10</pubDate></item><item><title>Official Unveiling of the Hall of Influence at the Québec City Convention Centre</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="contentNews"&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;58 people generate $150 million in economic impact&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Québec City, January 27, 2011&lt;/strong&gt; – In the presence of a hundred notable figures from across the Québec City area, the chief executive officer of Société du Centre des congrès de Québec, P.-Michel Bouchard, unveiled the &lt;strong&gt;Hall of Influence&lt;/strong&gt;. This animated work of art celebrates influential individuals who have helped create significant economic impact for Québec City and enhance its international profile.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Since 1996, many men and women have taken it upon themselves to get involved, investing their time and energy to seek out major conventions. We have decided to pay homage to these influential individuals and immortalize them through a publicly accessible animated work of art, which we have christened the Hall of Influence,” explained Mr. Bouchard.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Today we are recognizing the contribution of &lt;strong&gt;58&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;decision makers and researchers. Thanks to them, &lt;strong&gt;57&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;international conventions, each attended by 600&amp;nbsp;participants or more, have been booked at the Québec City Convention Centre since 1996. These conventions alone have generated over &lt;strong&gt;$150&amp;nbsp;million&lt;/strong&gt; in economic impact, or close to &lt;strong&gt;$2.6&amp;nbsp;million&lt;/strong&gt; per event.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Since the Québec City Convention Centre opened its doors, the events held here (shows, meetings, banquets, conventions) have injected a total of &lt;strong&gt;$1.3&amp;nbsp;billion&lt;/strong&gt; into the local economy, one billion of which is specifically attributable to conventions, all markets combined. The convention category also represents nearly 70% of the Centre’s total revenues and the economic impact it generates. New money generated by events since 1996 totals $780&amp;nbsp;million. As for the Centre’s hotel partners, they have benefited with over two million room nights.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The future looks bright. Confirmed events currently on the Centre’s books for the coming years are expected to generate &lt;strong&gt;$123&amp;nbsp;million&lt;/strong&gt; in economic impact.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Without the contribution of these influential individuals, we would not have achieved such impressive results. Over time others will follow their example and join them in this hall of influence, a reflection of Québec City’s success as an internationally renowned convention destination,” concluded the Québec City Convention Centre CEO.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style="text-align: center;"&gt;– 30 –&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Source:&lt;br /&gt;
Ann Cantin&lt;br /&gt;
Director of Communications and Marketing&lt;br /&gt;
Québec City Convention Centre&lt;br /&gt;
418-649-7711, ext. 4054&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a href="mailto:acantin@convention.qc.ca"&gt;acantin@convention.qc.ca&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
</description><pubDate>2011/02/04</pubDate></item><item><title>Québec City Tourism gets behind Pentathlon des neiges – La vie sportive</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"&gt;
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        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Québec City, January 26, 2011&lt;/strong&gt; - "Québec is the ultimate winter city. It boasts an outdoor playground right in the heart of town for all to enjoy, making it the ideal place to hold the 7th edition of Pentathlon des neiges – La vie sportive!" noted Québec City Tourism chair Alain April in reiterating his organization's support for the event. This is the fourth year Québec City Tourism is helping promote Pentathlon des neiges – La vie sportive through its support fund for Québec City area tourist events. The event will run from January 29 to February 27.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;The event lasts several weeks and features an array of disciplines. It is a big tourist draw for Québec City as athletes and their travel companions converge for days at a time in this exciting winter destination brimming with cultural and recreational activities.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt; The Pentathlon is held at a great time of year and reinforces Québec City's reputation as a top winter destination. "The Plains of Abraham are only steps from Old Québec. They are the perfect venue to showcase the beauty and richness of Québec City and its surrounding area and are within easy reach of attractions, hotels, and restaurants," added Mr. April.&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p style="text-align: center;"&gt;– 30 –&lt;/p&gt;
        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Source:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
        Sylvie Walter&lt;br /&gt;
        Communications Advisor&lt;br /&gt;
        &lt;strong&gt;418-641-6654, ext. 5482&lt;br /&gt;
        &lt;a href="mailto:Sylvie.walter@quebecregion.com"&gt;Sylvie.walter@quebecregion.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:Sylvie.walter@quebecregion.com"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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</description><pubDate>2011/02/01</pubDate></item><item><title>The funicular stays open.</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="photo-featured figure-a"&gt;&lt;div class="div"&gt;&lt;img src="/img/catalogue/photo-funiculaire-du-vieux-quebec-1_Album-petit.jpg" alt="Funiculaire du Vieux photo-funiculaire-du-vieux-quebec-1 (30760)" title="Funiculaire du Vieux photo-funiculaire-du-vieux-quebec-1 (30760)" /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;The funicular remains open during the rebuilding of Dufferin Terrace.  Taking the funicular is the easiest way to commute from the lower town to the upper town.  All aboard!!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;http://www.funiculaire-quebec.com/en/Accueil.htm&lt;/p&gt;</description><pubDate>2010/11/23</pubDate></item><item><title>Opening set for November 27 at Mont-Sainte-Anne</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;p&gt;Beaupré, November 15th, 2010 - The weather forecast announced for the next days will allow our operations team to confirm the opening of the resort for Saturday November 27th, 2010. For the pleasure of skiers andriders, the resort will be open 7 days a week.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A total of 120 snow guns are armed on the North side of the mountain while the snowmaking team is still waiting on a constant cold spurt to turn the switch on. The present forecast indicates that it will be possible to start the snow production on the night of Thursday to Friday and that we will keep going all week-end long.The snowmaking will take place on the entire skiable domain of the North Side of the mountain, with the objective of offering the biggest skiable terrain as soon as possible.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Snow addicts: the wait is almost over!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style="text-align: center;"&gt;- 30 -&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Source : Lisa Marie Lacasse &lt;br /&gt;
Chef de service aux communications&lt;br /&gt;
1.888.827.4579 # 323&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a href="mailto:lisa-marie.lacasse@rcrquebec.com"&gt;lisa-marie.lacasse@rcrquebec.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Karine Larochelle&lt;br /&gt;
Coordonnatrice aux communications&lt;br /&gt;
1.800.463.6888 # 566&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a href="mailto:karine.larochelle@rcrquebec.com"&gt;karine.larochelle@rcrquebec.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description><pubDate>2010/11/17</pubDate></item><item><title>L’Hôtel de Glace now at 10 minutes from downtown Québec City !</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Québec, November 15th 2010 – Getting considerably closer to downtown Québec City, the Hôtel de Glace 2011 will be built on one of the most beautiful natural park. The complete address is 9530, de la Faune street (www.hoteldeglace-canada.com/contact.php). As the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jacques Desbois says, this new location closer to Québec City will probably increase the number of visitors.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;A more accessible site between nature and urbanity&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Now situated at only 10 minutes from downtown Québec City, the Hôtel de Glace will be in the heart of winter experiences offered in Québec and surrounding areas. More accessible to the bus circuits and closer to surrounding hotels, the Hôtel de Glace 2011 will welcome, according to the forecasts, a bigger volume of local, national and international tourists. « In addition, our clients will be taking advantage of the Hôtel de Glace’s proximity allowing a unique mix of outdoor and urban experiences making the reputation of Québec City, Snow Capital of North America”, said Mr. Jacques Desbois, CEO of the Hôtel de Glace.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;New pavilions for a maximum of comfort&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For novelties this year, visitors will take pleasure in discovering the luxurious reception house and the pavilion named Celsius where visitors will have the opportunity to eat and relax. These new heated pavilions will upgrade the service quality and the visitors will enjoy more comfort.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;A season which promises!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;From December, the Hôtel de Glace’s creators will be working on the new construction site. Entirely redesigned, this masterful work of art made of ice and snow offers an unforgettable winter experience from January 7th ‘till March 27th, 2011. So it is an appointment from January, 2011 to rediscover this unique nordic event in America. For more information about our current winter packages or to admire pictures of the Hôtel de Glace, please visit the www.hoteldeglace-canada.com&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;From January, 2011, live a unique winter experience in the heart of the capital!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center; ;"&gt;- 30-&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For information: Sarah Mr Matthews, Communications Adviser&lt;br /&gt;Phone.: 418 875-4522, # 101&lt;br /&gt;Free of charge: 1-877-505-0423&lt;br /&gt;Smatthews@hoteldeglace-canada.com&lt;/p&gt;</description><pubDate>2010/11/17</pubDate></item><item><title>2M$ in investment at Hotel 71</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;p&gt;Québec City, November 11, 2020 - &lt;strong&gt;Hotel 71&lt;/strong&gt;, a four star hotel located at 71, Saint-Pierre Street in a prestigious building that was once the National Bank's first head office, is presently investing 2M$ in an important project that will add 20 more rooms and among them, 4 suites. A great way to celebrate their 5th anniversary! One of the new suites will have an incomparable view of the St. Lawrence River and Cape Diamant. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Among the other novelties… the addition of a conference room to accommodate from 5 to 20 persons, a boutique featuring very exclusive products and a brand new restaurant called Matto 71. Guests will find delicious menus onsite, and will not have to get out of the hotel for lunch or dinner.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style="text-align: center;"&gt;-30-&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Source:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Jean Brouillard Communication et relations publiques&lt;br /&gt;
418-682-6111&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a href="mailto:jbcom@videotron.ca"&gt;jbcom@videotron.ca&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a href="http://www.jeanbrouillard.com"&gt;www.jeanbrouillard.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Information :&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Sonia Gilbert&lt;br /&gt;
418-692-1171 (Hotel)&lt;br /&gt;
418-694-6253 (Office)&lt;/p&gt;
</description><pubDate>2010/11/16</pubDate></item><item><title>Religious and spiritual tourism in Québec: an action plan for marketing the four national sanctuaries of Québec</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Montréal, November 13, 2010&lt;/strong&gt; – It is with great enthusiasm that the network of the four national sanctuaries of Québec and their four affiliated regional tourist associations announce the completion of a preliminary tourism marketing plan for the following places of worship: Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal (Montréal), the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Basilica, Our Lady of the Cape Shrine (Trois-Rivières), and Saint-Anthony's Hermitage (Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean). This plan will provide the opportunity to lead marketing actions, for the first time, at the annual World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) Expo, which takes place this year in Montréal (from November 13 to 16, at the Palais des congrès); to develop a joint Internet site; to produce a common promotional brochure in French and English; and to create a first-rate welcome plan to greet the journalists and travel agents attending the WRTA Expo. The objective of employing this dynamic action plan is clearly to make Québec one of the most prized religious and spiritual tourism destinations in the world due to its unique heritage, highlighted by its four national sanctuaries.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Religious tourism is a quickly growing industry in the world at the moment. The World Tourism Organization estimates that 300 million people of faith take part in this activity, representing more than 18 billion dollars in consumer spending, of which 60% is done by North Americans. This is an impressive pool of tourists for our sanctuaries, which despite their undeniable popularity, are still relatively unknown on the international level. In joining forces through a collective action plan, the four national sanctuaries of Québec and the four tourism associations will be able to better impact this market and attract even more foreign visitors to Québec in the coming years,” declared Mr. Carol Martel, Chief Executive Officer of Tourisme Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“With the recent canonization of Brother André, tourist attention has moved towards the exceptional religious and spiritual heritage of Québec in a way that has not been witnessed in a long time. The opportunity to shine light on our four sanctuaries is therefore favourable. The annual World Religious Travel Expo, which is being held in our city for the first time, welcomes approximately 500 key players from the religious tourism industry. Since these specialists, who hail from the four corners of the world, are potential promotional agents for our sanctuaries, we count on doing everything it takes to make their Québec experience a memorable one,” added Mr. Pierre Bellerose from Tourisme Montréal.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The marketing action plan will be carried out thanks to the financial support of the Ministère du Tourisme du Québec and Canada Economic Development (CED). Their contributions will help to implement the action plan for the promotion and development of the four Catholic pilgrimage sanctuaries of Québec, financed, in part, by the sanctuaries themselves and their respective Association touristique régionale (ATR): Tourisme Montréal, l’Office du tourisme de Québec, Tourisme Mauricie, and Tourisme Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean. The implementation of this plan is the concrete result of a conclusive 2010 study on the potential of religious and spiritual tourism. According to recent data, the four national sanctuaries of Québec collectively attract three million visitors, thus making them the premier tourist attraction of Québec.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style="text-align: center;"&gt;– 30 – &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Sources:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Pierre Bellerose&lt;br /&gt;
Vice President&lt;br /&gt;
Public Relations, Product Research and Development&lt;br /&gt;
Tourisme Montréal&lt;br /&gt;
514 844-2404&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a href="mailto:bellerose.pierre@tourisme-montreal.org"&gt;bellerose.pierre@tourisme-montreal.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Carol Martel&lt;br /&gt;
Chief Executive Officer&lt;br /&gt;
Tourisme Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean&lt;br /&gt;
418 630-6999&lt;br /&gt;
418 543-3536, ext. 231&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a href="mailto:cmartel@tourismesaglac.net"&gt;cmartel@tourismesaglac.net&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description><pubDate>2010/11/15</pubDate></item><item><title>Québec City and partners adopt a positioning strategy for international cruises</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="contentNews"&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;Stakeholders would like to see Que´bec City become a port of embarkation and disembarkation in addition to remaining a port of call.&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Quebec City, September 28, 201&lt;/strong&gt;0—Minister of Tourism Nicole Me´nard, Minister of Transport and Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale Region Sam Hamad, Que´bec City Mayor Re´gis Labeaume, Que´bec Port Authority President and CEO Ross Gaudreault, and Cre´neau d’excellence tourisme : patrimoine, culture et nature President Guy Desrosiers, are pleased to announce a strategy to tap Que´bec City’s potential as a port of embarkation and disembarkation and home port for new international cruises.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This $1.9 million project will position Que´bec City as a unique and authentic destination brimming with international caliber activities combining culture, heritage, and nature inways unimaginable anywhere else in North America, and which fit into the framework of the Capitale-Nationale region’s ACCORD initiative. Economic development agency Que´bec International will oversee the project’s implementation.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In 2009 the Port of Que´bec welcomed some 53,400 port-of-call passengers and 33,000 destination passengers. Port-of-call passengers spend an average of $102 during their visits, whereas destination passengers departing from or arriving at Que´bec City spend an average of $428.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“This project is a perfect fit with my ministry’s &lt;em&gt;Strategy for the Sustainable Development and Promotion of International Cruises on the St. Lawrence&lt;/em&gt;, which is why I’ve supported it from the very beginning. This Cre´neau d’excellence tourisme initiative will help us achieve our primary goal of making the St. Lawrence a major international cruise destination within North America,” enthused Minister Nicole Me´nard.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“To maximize returns from this rapidly growing industry, Que´bec City needs to further position itself as a port of embarkation and disembarkation so as to get even more tourists hooked on our incredible vistas, charming tourist attractions, and exceptional quality of life,” added Minister Sam Hamad.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Our city has everything it needs to attract even more visitors,” said Mayor Labeaume. “Initiatives like the one announced today are crucial to developing our market and establishing Que´bec City as a top destination for cruise enthusiasts. The Port’s service is truly exceptional and the city keeps improving its tourism attractions. The Image Mill and Cirque du Soleil shows are really just the beginning!”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h4 style="color: #4f99d6;"&gt;Project goals&lt;/h4&gt;
&lt;ul class="list-blue"&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;Boost the number of destination passengers to 40,000 by 2010 (12,000 in 2007)  &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;Generate stays in commercial accommodations throughout the Que´bec City and Charlevoix tourism regions&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;increase&gt;
    &lt;/increase&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;Trigger additional spending on cruise ship refueling, maintenance, and repairs&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;Contribute to the development of other destinations in eastern Que´bec&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;Drive returns in other industry sectors&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Port of Que´bec President and CEO Ross Gaudreault asserted, “By working together we achieve strength in numbers. The cruise industry has gone global, and competition is fierce. That said, we have all the strengths necessary to succeed in driving growth in our region, which will in turn contribute momentum to cruise tourism development all along the St. Lawrence.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h4 style="color: #4f99d6;"&gt;A group effort&lt;/h4&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The following partners will contribute to the project’s funding: the City of Que´bec; Ministe`re du Tourisme; Que´bec City Tourism; Ministe`re du De´veloppement e´conomique, de l’Innovation et de l’Exportation; Bureau de la Capitale-Nationale; the Que´bec Port Authority; Jean Lesage International Airport; Association touristique re´gionale de Charlevoix; Centre local de de´veloppement de Que´bec; and Confe´rence re´gionale des e´lus de la Capitale-Nationale.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For more information on implementation of this action plan, please contact Marie-Louise Pineault	by	phone	at	418-681-9700,	ext.	237	or	by	email	at &lt;a href="mailto:mlpineault@quebecinternational.ca"&gt;mlpineault@quebecinternational.ca&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style="text-align: center;"&gt;-30-&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Sources:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Julie Boivin&lt;br /&gt;
Press Officer&lt;br /&gt;
Office of the Minister of Tourism&lt;br /&gt;
Tel.:418-528-8063&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Paul-Christian Nolin&lt;br /&gt;
Press Officer&lt;br /&gt;
Office of the Mayor of Que´bec City&lt;br /&gt;
Tel.: 418-641-6434&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Alexandre Boucher&lt;br /&gt;
Press Officer&lt;br /&gt;
Office of the Minister of Transport and Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale&lt;br /&gt;
Region Tel.: 418-643-6980&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
</description><pubDate>2010/09/30</pubDate></item><item><title>The Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="contentNews"&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;A favourite site for fall outings&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;QUÉBEC, Que – September 30, 2010&lt;/strong&gt; – Starting now and until October 24, from 9:30&amp;nbsp;a.m. to 4:30&amp;nbsp;p.m. every day, the public is invited to the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area (NWA) to view migrating Greater Snow Geese and take part in a little science. As part of the &lt;em&gt;Gros Plan sur les Oies&lt;/em&gt; activity, visitors will meet up with dedicated naturalist guides at the &lt;em&gt;Bois-Sent-Bon&lt;/em&gt; trail observation platform and then attempt to spot the geese marked with brightly coloured necklaces. The work is part of a scientific monitoring program for this globally unique population.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A favourite destination of nature lovers, Environment Canada’s Cap Tourmente NWA is a great place to watch the fall migration of thousands of birds. Every October, migrating Greater Snow Geese invade the foreshores of the St. Lawrence in search of food for the journey ahead. Many other bird species are also present in the area, which is recognized as a wetland of international importance.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;What hardy birdwatcher could resist a 20&amp;nbsp;km network of trails along the mountain, across the plain or through the marsh, with a splendid view of the St. Lawrence? Or maybe your preference is for fall activities and a quiet spot to take in the rich biodiversity of the various habitats? Try the Cap Tourmente BioKit, a new tool for discovering the area’s flora and fauna. At each point of interest, activities will be suggested: the choices you make will determine the next steps in your adventure. Using a GPS device, you can discover the marvels of Cap Tourmente.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;During this International Year of Biodiversity, take advantage of warm fall days to be outdoors, watch the geese and see the fall colours at the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area, an exceptional site located less than 45&amp;nbsp;minutes from downtown Québec City.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Cap Tourmente NWA is open from 8:30&amp;nbsp;a.m. to 5:00&amp;nbsp;p.m. until October 31. Admission is $6.00 for adults, $5.00 for students and free for children under 12 accompanied by a parent. There are telescopes on site, and binoculars and GPS devices for rent as well as a historic route to facilitate observations. For more information on activities and services available, call 418 827 4591, or e mail the park at &lt;a href="mailto:cap.tourmente@ec.gc.ca"&gt;cap.tourmente@ec.gc.ca&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area is part of a network of 54 protected areas across Canada established to protect critical habitats for wild species, some of which are at risk. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style="text-align: center;"&gt;- 30 -&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For more information, please contact:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Pascale Boulay&lt;br /&gt;
Press Secretary&lt;br /&gt;
Office of the Minister of the Environment&lt;br /&gt;
819 997 1441&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Media Relations&lt;br /&gt;
Environment Canada&lt;br /&gt;
819 934 8008&lt;br /&gt;
1 888 908 8008&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
</description><pubDate>2010/09/30</pubDate></item><item><title>Moose Observation 2010&lt;br&gt;Forêt Montmorency</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="contentNews"&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;Fiche technique&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Period: September 17th to October 31st 2010&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Activity Days:&lt;/strong&gt; Fridays, Saturdays &amp;amp; Sundays&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Dawn:&lt;/strong&gt; 6:00 am to 10:00 am- &lt;strong&gt;Meeting Place:&lt;/strong&gt; Main Lodge of Montmorency Forest at 5:45 am&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Dusk:&lt;/strong&gt; 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm - &lt;strong&gt;Meeting Place:&lt;/strong&gt; Main Lodge of Montmorency Forest at 3:45 pm
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;div class="clearfix"&gt;
&lt;div style="float: left;" class="photo-featured figure-a"&gt;
&lt;div class="div"&gt;&lt;img src="/img/catalogue/orignal1634214529334454075.jpg" alt="Orignal" title="Orignal" /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div style="float: left;" class="photo-featured figure-a"&gt;
&lt;div class="div"&gt;&lt;img src="/img/catalogue/orignal2634214530813002020.jpg" alt="orignal" title="orignal" /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;N.B.:&lt;/strong&gt; Starting October 15th&lt;br /&gt;
Dawn: 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm– Meeting Place: Main Lodge of Montmorency Forest at 2:45 pm&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Duration:&lt;/strong&gt; 4 hours - &lt;strong&gt;Maximum Capacity&lt;/strong&gt;: 7 people per group&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Reservations required: &lt;em&gt;Forêt Montmorency&lt;/em&gt; (418) 656-2034&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MEETING PLACE: Main Lodge of Montmorency Forest (Pavillon Forêt Montmorency), route 175, Kilometer Marker 103&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Rate: $26 + tax/person/per observation period&lt;br /&gt;
** Includes: guide, 4x4 transportation &amp;amp; loan of binoculars **&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Activity includes: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul class="list-blue"&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;A guided hike in the heart of the boreal forest within the natural moose habitat. The walking distance varies according to the selected site from 1 to 5 km. The observation site is chosen by the guide based on previous tracking of moose and weather conditions. Several sites are used in rotation in order to diminish disturbance of wildlife and to increase a successful observation. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;An interpretation of the fauna &amp;amp; flora of the Montmorency Forest’s balsam fir-white birch. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;The interpretation of the moose’s behavior and the identification of signs of its presence: tracks, droppings and markings. &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;A period of alertness* for an hour and a half, and the moose calling performed by your guide, Pierre Leloup.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;*There is no minimum age to participate to the activity, however, to ensure a smooth running of the excursion, participants must be able to undertake a period of silent lookout for a period of two hours.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;What to bring:  &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul class="list-blue"&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;Warm clothes (ideally dark and silent material), boots, tuque &amp;amp; mittens.&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;A light snack, water for the hike, (camera is optional).&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;Avoid scented cosmetics.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The successful observation of wild animals is not guaranteed. According to the experience of our guide Pierre Leloup, the success rate of moose watching of the event at the Montmorency Forest is 75%. In addition, several other species are regularly observed: beaver, porcupine, fox, loon, and birds of prey. Other species are occasionally observed: black bear, timber wolf, and Canada lynx.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Source : Forêt Montmorency&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a href="mailto:Pierre.vaillancourt@ffg.ulaval.ca"&gt;Pierre.vaillancourt@ffg.ulaval.ca&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a href="http://www.fm.ulaval.ca"&gt;www.fm.ulaval.ca&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
(418) 656-2034&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
</description><pubDate>2010/09/30</pubDate></item><item><title>The Virtual Version of the VivaCité Trail</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;p&gt;We are pleased to announce, in conjunction with the Centre local de développement (CLD) de Québec and merchant associations in relevant sectors, that the virtual version of the VivaCité Trail, a marked pedestrian trail, is now available with the Les rues de Québec Mobile application on smart devices such as iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad (available on App Store: &lt;a href="http://www.apple.com/itunes/affiliates/download/"&gt;http://www.apple.com/itunes/affiliates/download/&lt;/a&gt;).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This new variation on the VivaCité Trail, accessed through mobile devices, includes 65 stations and points of interest in four typical historical districts of Québec City, which tourists will visit on the walking tour.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Information is presented in real time thanks to the geonotification feature accessed through the GPS installed on the devices. Users can view information in three modes: list mode, map mode, and augmented reality mode. As well, a short video introducing the walking tour and each of the four districts can be viewed by users. (Click on the following link for a video presentation: &lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3sJ3795O4U"&gt;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3sJ3795O4U&lt;/a&gt;.)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This new application, available in English and French, will improve the tourists’ experience by giving them a wealth of information on one device.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For information:&lt;br /&gt;
Louise Thomassin&lt;br /&gt;
Québec City Tourism&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a href="mailto:Louise.thomassin@quebecregion.com"&gt;Louise.thomassin@quebecregion.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
418-641-6654, extension 5483&lt;/p&gt;
</description><pubDate>2010/09/23</pubDate></item><item><title>New location for the Hôtel de Glace</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="contentNews"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier, August 18th 201&lt;/em&gt;0 – The 2010 winter has been a great success with the 10th anniversary celebrations of the Hôtel de Glace. Further more the 11th season is expected to be a huge success because of the big novelty of the Hôtel de Glace: its new location. In fact, the Hôtel de Glace, as we know it, will move into one of the most beautiful natural park of Québec City: &lt;a href="http://www.hoteldeglace- canada.com/contact.php"&gt;http://www.hoteldeglace- canada.com/contact.php&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;THE MAGIC MORE ACCESSIBLE&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;From the beginning of 2011, the Hôtel de Glace will be in the middle of the winter experiences available in Québec and surrounding areas. Guests and visitors will discover or rediscover the magic of the Hôtel de Glace in the winter beauty of this new enchanting site.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;“In addition, our clients will be taking advantage of the Hôtel de Glace’s proximity allowing a unique mix of outdoor and urban experiences making the reputation of Québec city, the Snow Capital of North America”, said Mr. Jacques Desbois, CEO of the Hôtel de Glace.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;STARTING JANUARY 7TH, 2011&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;It is therefore a rendez-vous in January 2011 to rediscover this nordic event unique in America. In the meantime, you can already take a look at the 2011 packages and new photos	of	the	Hôtel	de	Glace	Online:	&lt;a href="http://www.hoteldeglace- canada.com/reservation.php"&gt;http://www.hoteldeglace- canada.com/reservation.php&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;11th season of the Hôtel de Glace, from January 7th to March 27th 2011&lt;/em&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center; ;"&gt;– 30 –&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For information: Karine Grandmont, Marketing Consultant&lt;br /&gt;Phone: 418-875-4522 ext 110 - Toll Free: 1-877-505-0423&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:kgrandmont@hoteldeglace-canada.com"&gt;kgrandmont@hoteldeglace-canada.com&lt;/a&gt; - &lt;a href="www.hoteldeglace-canada.com"&gt;www.hoteldeglace-canada.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description><pubDate>2010/09/18</pubDate></item><item><title>Exceptional sales at the Québec City Convention Centre</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;div class="contentNews"&gt;&lt;style&gt;    .contentNews .list-blue {margin-bottom:15px;}    .contentNews .list-blue li {margin-bottom:2px;}&lt;/style&gt;&lt;h3&gt;11 international events confirmed for Québec City&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;Québec City, September 17, 2010 – The 2010 summer has been exceptional for the Québec City Convention Centre. Thanks to local ambassadors and the sales team, Québec City has confirmed 7 international events and 4 American events for future years. The Centre’s calendar now has 24 international and American events confirmed until 2016.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;These new confirmations will generate $22 million in economic impact for the Québec City region and $4,5 million in taxes and tax-related revenues. Furthermore, the 10,000 delegates will generate 46,000 room nights in local hotels. In addition to generating significant revenues, these major events will also create and maintain 300 jobs.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;International Events&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;3rd ISPIM Symposium – Québec en mode solutions&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;International Society for Professional Innovation Management&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;December 2010 - 250 delegates – 600 room nights&lt;br /&gt;Economic Impact: $248,980&lt;/p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Ambassador :&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;ul class="list-blue"&gt;    &lt;li&gt;Christophe Deutsch, Institut national d’optique (INO)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Confidential*&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;May 2012 – 1,500 delegates – 7,250 room nights&lt;br /&gt;Economic Impact: $3 430 707&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;IEEE Semi-annual Vehicular Technology Conference 2012&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;September 2012 - 700 delegates – 2,800 room nights&lt;br /&gt;Economic Impact : $1 297 150&lt;/p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Ambassadors :&lt;/em&gt;&lt;ul class="list-blue"&gt;    &lt;li&gt;André Morin, Lyrtech inc.&lt;/li&gt;    &lt;li&gt;Sébastien Roy, Jean-Yves Chouinard et Leslie Rusch, Université Laval&lt;/li&gt;    &lt;li&gt;Fabrice Labeau, Université McGill&lt;/li&gt;    &lt;li&gt;David Haccoun, &lt;em&gt;École polytechnique de Montréal&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/li&gt;    &lt;li&gt;Alex Stéphenne, Huawei Technologies&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium 2014 (IGARSS)&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;July 2014 – 1,250 delegates – 6,050 room nights&lt;br /&gt;Economic Impact : $2 854 872&lt;/p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Ambassadors :&lt;/em&gt;&lt;ul class="list-blue"&gt;    &lt;li&gt;Josée Lévesque, Defence Research and Development Canada, DRDC Valcartier&lt;/li&gt;    &lt;li&gt;Monique Bernier, Institut national de recherche scientifique - Eau Terre Environnement (INRS ETE)&lt;/li&gt;    &lt;li&gt;André Morin, Lyrtech inc.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;World Conference on Timber Engineering 2014&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;August 2014 - 600 delegates – 2,280 room nights&lt;br /&gt;Economic Impact : $1 087 818&lt;/p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Ambassadors :&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;ul class="list-blue"&gt;    &lt;li&gt;Richard Desjardins, FPInnovations&lt;/li&gt;    &lt;li&gt;Christian Dagenais, cecobois&lt;/li&gt;    &lt;li&gt;Alexander Salenikovich, Centre de recherche sur le bois, Université Laval&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;XXXIII FIMS World Congress 2014&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;Federation of Sports Medicine&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;June 2014 – 1,000 delegates – 3,800 room nights&lt;br /&gt;Economic Impact : $1 808 446&lt;/p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Ambassador :&lt;/em&gt;&lt;ul class="list-blue"&gt;    &lt;li&gt;Dr Jean Doré, Clinique de kinésiologie, Université Laval&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;27th International Mineral Processing Congress&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;September 2016 – 1,100 delegates – 6,300 room nights&lt;br /&gt;Economic Impact : $2 993 505&lt;/p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Ambassadors :&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;ul class="list-blue"&gt;    &lt;li&gt;Jean Vavrek, Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum&lt;/li&gt;    &lt;li&gt;Yves Harvey et Ahmed Bouajila, Corem&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;h3&gt;American Events&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Confidential&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;September 2012 - 650 delegates – 3,250 room nights&lt;br /&gt;Economic Impact : $1 504 422&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Annual Meeting of the Division of Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics 2013&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;June 2013 - 900 delegates – 3,400 room nights&lt;br /&gt;Economic Impact : $1 621 222&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;2014 Annual Conference of the Society for Historical Archaeology&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;January 2014 - 700 delegates – 2,600 room nights&lt;br /&gt;Economic Impact : $1 246 774&lt;/p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Ambassadors :&lt;/em&gt;&lt;ul class="list-blue"&gt;    &lt;li&gt;William Moss, Ville de Québec&lt;/li&gt;    &lt;li&gt;Réginald Auger, Département d’histoire, Université Laval et CÉLAT&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Confidential&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;August 2014 – 1,400 delegates – 8,160 room nights&lt;br /&gt;Economic Impact : $3 857 265&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Statistics for contracts signed in summer 2010&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;ul class="list-blue"&gt;    &lt;li&gt;International and American events : 11&lt;/li&gt;    &lt;li&gt;Room nights : 46,490&lt;/li&gt;    &lt;li&gt;Estimated economic impact : $21 951 163&lt;/li&gt;    &lt;li&gt;Taxes and tax-related revenues: $4 559 903&lt;/li&gt;    &lt;li&gt;Delegates : 10,050&lt;/li&gt;    &lt;li&gt;Jobs created and maintained : 298&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;*Confidential events are indicated as such at the client’s request.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;"&gt;– 30 –&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Source :   &lt;strong&gt;Ann Cantin&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Director Communications and Marketing&lt;br /&gt;418 649-7711, ext. 4054&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:acantin@convention.qc.ca"&gt;acantin@convention.qc.ca&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>2010/09/16</pubDate></item><item><title>Free Shuttle Bus Service to Wendake</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>From July 3rd to October 10th 2010, Tourisme Wendake, in partnership with the Hotel-Museum First Nations, the Huron-Wendat Museum, the Huron Traditional Site and Tours du Vieux-Québec, is pleased to provide a free shuttle bus service to its visitors so as to allow them to discover the beauty and richness of Wendake’s tourist attractions and appreciate the legendary hospitality of the Huron-Wendat Nation. Schedule and details &lt;a target="http://www.tourismewendake.com/navette.php"&gt;http://www.tourismewendake.com/navette.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Welcome! Kwe Kwe!&lt;br /&gt;
Tourisme Wendake&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a target="mailto:info@tourismewendake.ca"&gt;info@tourismewendake.ca&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
</description><pubDate>2010/07/02</pubDate></item><item><title>Musée de la civilisation goes wireless! </title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;With the help of Nurun Québec &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A mobile version of the &lt;strong&gt;Musée de la civilisation&lt;/strong&gt; website can now be accessed from wireless devices. This project was carried out in cooperation with the Interactive Communications Team at &lt;a href="http://www.nurun.com/home/work-ideas/points-of-view.html"&gt;Nurun Québec&lt;/a&gt;. To view the adapted site and find out all about the Museum, simply type in www.mcq.org on your mobile device!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The mobile version of the &lt;strong&gt;Musée de la civilisation&lt;/strong&gt; site will be of special interest to tourists looking for cultural attractions and planning a visit to the Museum. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;With this mobile version, the Museum is expanding its already impressive online presence supported by its website, blog, and active participation in social networks such as &lt;a href="http://www.facebook.com"&gt;&lt;em&gt;Facebook&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href="http://www.twitter.com"&gt;&lt;em&gt;Twitter&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;,&lt;a href="http://www.flickr.com"&gt;&lt;em&gt; Flickr&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com"&gt;&lt;em&gt;Youtube&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The project developed by &lt;strong&gt;Nurun&lt;/strong&gt; enables the Museum’s regular and mobile sites to be updated simultaneously, saving time and resources. What’s more, the &lt;em&gt;Device Atlas&lt;/em&gt; tool used to develop the site makes the distinction between conventional cellphones and smartphones by recognizing the type of mobile platform used. &lt;em&gt;Device Atlas&lt;/em&gt; serves as a gateway to redirect users to the appropriate site depending on the platform their device uses (iPhone/iPod touch, or other mobile device).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Nurun&lt;/strong&gt;, a multicultural and multidisciplinary agency dedicated to interactive communications, takes a collaborative approach to its work. With offices on three continents, agency members share their know-how, knowledge, and intelligence to develop innovative approaches and solutions. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Musée de la civilisation&lt;/strong&gt; explores everything from major societal trends to the multiple facets of civilizations from all around the world through exhibitions and cultural and educational activities. The Museum is committed to staying innovative, which explains its active presence in cyberspace. The virtual world is key to reaching young audiences, enhancing access to culture, and promoting Québec’s heritage. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Information and &lt;a href="http://www.mcq.org/fr/joindre.html"&gt;Reservations&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Press relations : Serge Poulin, 418 528-2072 / &lt;a href="mailto:spoulin@mcq.org"&gt;spoulin@mcq.org&lt;/a&gt;
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;NURUN&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Véronique Landry&lt;br /&gt;
Communications Nurun&lt;br /&gt;
418 627-0999, poste 55336
&lt;/p&gt;
</description><pubDate>2010/04/14</pubDate></item><item><title>April 28 Pre-Sale Date for Quebec City Summer Festival  Hydro-Québec Badges!</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Quebec City, March 3, 2010&lt;/strong&gt; – The first 60,000 badges for the Quebec City Summer Festival will go on sale on April 28 in greater Quebec City area Metro supermarkets. Offered at a special early-bird price, these badges were snapped up in less than 30 hours last year, so Festival fans are advised to hurry again this year!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Online Ticket Office&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This year, the Quebec City Summer Festival (July 8 to 18) has found a new way to make life easier for festivalgoers: like all major events of its kind, it now has online ticketing. As of 10 AM on Saturday, May 1, Hydro-Québec badges will be offered at the regular price on the Festival website at &lt;a href="http://www.infofestival.com/"&gt;www.infofestival.com&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“We really had no choice,” explained Quebec City Summer Festival general manager, Daniel Gélinas. “Requests to purchase badges online in advance were starting to pile up. We needed to provide this service to satisfy the public and accommodate our fans from outside the area.“&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;‘Smart’ Bracelets&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This year, the daily colour-coded bracelets sold with the Hydro-Québec badge will be replaced by a ‘smart’ bracelet containing a microchip that is valid for all 11 days of the Festival. This innovation eliminates counterfeiting and will make it easier for security to control admissions.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Program&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Much of the 2010 lineup, including the exclusive shows, will be released on April 27, at the same time as the price of this year’s badges. With only one show announced to date, Rammstein, slated for July 18, enthusiasm is building, with 300 comments already posted on the Festival website.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;All the details on the sale of Hydro-Québec badges can be found at &lt;a href="http://www.infofestival.com"&gt;www.infofestival.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Quebec City Summer Festival is presented by Bell in collaboration with Molson Dry.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center; ;"&gt;-30-&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Information:&lt;br /&gt;Luci Tremblay&lt;br /&gt;Director of Communications&lt;br /&gt;Quebec City Summer Festival&lt;br /&gt;(418) 523-4540&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:ltremblay@infofestival.com"&gt;ltremblay@infofestival.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description><pubDate>2010/03/03</pubDate></item><item><title>The official caterer at the Maison du Québec in Vancouver victim of its own success!</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;p&gt;A few days before the end of the Vancouver Winter Games, the official caterer at the Maison du Québec, George V, sees its dishes of local products from various regions across the province of Quebec selling like hot cakes. The banquet and catering services provider to the Hôtel Château Laurier Québec hits it big with the visitors! "We had to order and have delivered rush many additional products from Quebec to satisfy the ever increasing demand, explains Guy Michaud, director of George V. Our Quebec cheese, "tourtières", ham croissants, maple recipes, everything is in such an astronomical demand" he adds.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Particularly everyone’s favorite, the "poutine" of Chef Heinrich Meesen : "our "poutine" is one of the favorite dishes here, at the Maison du Québec. Every single person adores it!" explains Chef Meesen. Let’s note as well that the maple cotton candy and the Archibald Micro-Brewery beer are also much appreciated. As a matter of fact, when buying a six-pack, a magnificent stay at the Hôtel Château Laurier Québec by olympic day is awarded, for a total of 17 winners. In short, this magical experience allows thousands of people from everywhere in the world to discover or rediscover typical meals from Quebec: "some visitors have already told us that they will very soon come and  enjoy these little food pleasures directly in Quebec! We can be proud of participating to the success of the food of our province. This showcase is simply incredible for our producers" concludes Chef Heinrich Meesen.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Source:&lt;br /&gt;Kaven Brassard, Project Manager&lt;br /&gt;Force G Communications&lt;br /&gt;762, boul. des Chutes&lt;br /&gt;Québec (Québec) G1E 2B9&lt;br /&gt;T 418 660.4627&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a hrefd="http://www.force-g.ca"&gt;www.force-g.ca&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description><pubDate>2010/02/26</pubDate></item><item><title>'Panache’ Executive Chef named seafood ambassador by Montery Bay Aquarium</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;François Blais recognized for commitment to sustainable fishing, environmental leadership&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Québec&amp;nbsp;City, QC, February&amp;nbsp;25, 2010&lt;/strong&gt; – Auberge&amp;nbsp;Saint-Antoine’s Panache Restaurant is proud to announce that Executive Chef, François Blais is an honoured recipient of the prestigious 2010 &lt;em&gt;Cooking for Solutions&lt;/em&gt; Seafood Ambassador award. Chosen by a distinguished selection committee at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California, Blais will be the only Canadian chef honoured at the May&amp;nbsp;20, 2010 gala.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Award winners were selected based on their support of environmentally responsible fishing and fish-farming practices; their role as leaders and educators in the industry; and their potential to act as spokespersons for the ever-growing sustainable seafood movement.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“The vision and philosophy for Panache has always been to use the freshest local ingredients to create traditional French-Canadian dishes with a modern twist,” said Blais. “Fresh, sustainable seafood is a staple of the Panache menu – from Côte Nord scallops to Iles-de-la-Madeleine lobster. It keeps the menu exciting and guests returning.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Chef Blais will participate in the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s 9th annual &lt;em&gt;Cooking for Solutions&lt;/em&gt; event to be held May&amp;nbsp;20-22, 2010. The three-day program will celebrate organic and sustainably grown produce, seafood and wine, and features a gala reception, cooking demonstrations, information fairs and celebrity chef book signings. During the &lt;em&gt;Cooking for Solutions&lt;/em&gt; gala, visitors will have the chance to sample one of Blais’ seafood creations – Pec-Nord off button sea scallops with cranberry and champagne vinaigrette.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Panache Restaurant is located inside the Auberge&amp;nbsp;Saint-Antoine, a 95-room boutique Relais &amp;amp; Châteaux hotel situated in the Old Port of Quebec&amp;nbsp;City. Known for it’s impeccable level of service and attention to detail, the hotel has been consistently ranked among the top hotels in Canada by Condé Nast Traveler, and is one of the Top Small City Hotels as awarded by Travel + Leisure Magazine. In 2009, Chef Blais was designated ‘National Chef of the Year’ by the Societé des chefs cuisiniers et pâtissiers du Québec.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;###&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;About Auberge&amp;nbsp;Saint-Antoine:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Built over one of Quebec&amp;nbsp;City’s most significant architectural sites, the Îlot Hunt, Auberge&amp;nbsp;Saint-Antoine is located at the heart of the Old&amp;nbsp;Port area, facing the majestic St.&amp;nbsp;Lawrence&amp;nbsp;River. It is a true boutique hotel offering 95 rooms and suites and is steps away from the fortifications, museums, and the lively Petit&amp;nbsp;Champlain&amp;nbsp;Street. The property consists of four distinct structures dating from 1700 to present day that cleverly linked, showcase its unique riches: solid 300-year old beams, stone walls, slate floors, glass and porcelain objects unearthed in the course of a restoration turned archeological dig.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Panache, the hotel’s restaurant, directed by Executive Chef François Blais, is renowned for the creative dishes of fine French Canadian Cuisine with a twist using local, seasonal produce. Auberge&amp;nbsp;Saint-Antoine is a member of the respected Relais &amp;amp; Chateaux brand. &lt;a href="http://www.saint-antoine.com/" title="http://www.saint-antoine.com/"&gt;www.saint-antoine.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;About Cooking for Solutions:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Currently in its ninth year, Cooking for Solutions is a three day celebration of organic and sustainably grown produce, seafood and wines. The focus of Cooking for Solutions is to help people connect their individual buying decisions to the health of the oceans and the soil. The events support the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program, which helps consumers make seafood choices that assure a future with abundant ocean wildlife and work with restaurateurs and retailers to shift the market in ways that support sustainable seafood. &lt;a href="http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/" title="http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/"&gt;www.montereybayaquarium.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Media Contact:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Kate Hillyar&lt;br /&gt;
Siren Communications&lt;br /&gt;
416.351.0777&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a href="mailto:kate@sirencommunications.com" title="mailto:kate@sirencommunications.com"&gt;kate@sirencommunications.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description><pubDate>2010/02/25</pubDate></item><item><title>Auberge Saint-Antoine Receives a 2009 Vision Trophy</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>Auberge Saint-Antoine, located in the heart of Québec City’s Old Port, received last November the Vision Trophy 2009 in the category “Visionary business - restaurant/lodging”. This distinguished trophy is one of the highest awards in the Québec City region and recognizes the visionary sprit of Auberge Saint-Antoine.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;
For more information, visit &lt;a href="http://www.saint-antoine.com/"&gt;Auberge Saint-Antoine's website&lt;/a&gt;.
</description><pubDate>2010/02/15</pubDate></item><item><title>Sibéria Station Spa Stands Out</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>Sibéria Station Spa, a Scandinavian-style spa located in the great outdoors, is the first company in the province of Québec to count on an entire team of massage therapists recognized by the Fédération québécoise de massothérapie. The company’s objective is not only to offer high-quality massages but also to inform its clientele on the benefits this profession offers for a healthy lifestyle.&lt;br /&gt;
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For more information, visit &lt;a href="http://www.siberiastationspa.com/"&gt;Sibéria Station Spa's website&lt;/a&gt;.
</description><pubDate>2010/02/15</pubDate></item><item><title>Barbie and Fashion. 1959-1966 / Febuary 9 to April 18, 2010</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;p&gt;The Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec has put together a special exhibition for spring break: &lt;em&gt;Barbie and Fashion. 1959-1966&lt;/em&gt;. Fifty of the prettiest and most elegant dolls will be on display to charm young and old alike.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Taking off in the 1960s, Barbie became a model of refinement for millions of girls around the globe. Elegant suits inspired by Balanciaga, splendid Balmain-style sheath dresses, sumptuous evening gowns à la Dior. Between 1959 and 1966, the famous doll dazzled the world with her chic, wide-ranging wardrobe.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The exhibition is arranged around seven themes sure to bring back happy childhood memories: &lt;strong&gt;Barbie’s Closet&lt;/strong&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;Shopping&lt;/strong&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;Suits&lt;/strong&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;Cocktail Dresses&lt;/strong&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;The Photo Shoot&lt;/strong&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;Ball Gowns and Evening Dresses&lt;/strong&gt;, and &lt;strong&gt;The Collector&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Always a trend-setter, this iconic figure has influenced fashion for more than 50 years. &lt;em&gt;Barbie and Fashion. 1959-1966&lt;/em&gt; features some of her most memorable looks in a playful complement to the exhibition &lt;em&gt;The Golden Age of Couture. Paris and London 1947-1957&lt;/em&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Quick fact: Since 1959, 105 million yards of fabric have gone into making Barbie and friends' fashions, making Mattel one the largest apparel manufacturers in the world!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center; ;"&gt;- 30 -&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Source:&lt;br /&gt;Marie-Hélène Raymond, Media Relations Officer&lt;br /&gt;418 644-6460, ext. 5520 / 1 866 220-2150 / &lt;a href="mailto:marie-helene.raymond@mnba.qc.ca"&gt;marie-helene.raymond@mnba.qc.ca&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Parc des Champs-de-Bataille, Québec (Québec) G1R 5H3&lt;/p&gt;</description><pubDate>2010/02/09</pubDate></item><item><title>Québec and Bordeaux: a strong link, a direct link!</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Twinning is paying off&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The city of Québec is pleased to announce new Air Transat direct flights between Bordeaux and Québec which will strengthen our overseas trading, whether for business or leisure.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A direct result of the twinning of Québec City and Bordeaux, these added flights will be offered beginning next September and will meet the existing demand considering that a large number of French travellers to Québec hail from regions outside the Parisian region.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The promotion of these flights will be done jointly by the Bordeaux and Québec City tourism offices. They are preparing cross-promotional campaigns aimed at encouraging Quebecers and Bordelais to visit their twin region. In Québec, the promotion will be visible on the capital region’s transport network buses.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;« The links between Québec and Bordeaux are strong and will be further strengthened through the announcement of these new flights, said Mr. Raymond Dion, Municipal Councillor for the city of Québec and President of the capital region’s transport network. Our two cities have much in common and we hope that these exchanges will follow this upward trend, particularly in matters pertaining to the economy. »&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A cultural and urban destination where large open spaces can be found less than 30 minutes from the downtown core, Québec city will be more accessible than ever thanks to Air Transat’s direct flights.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Québec at &lt;em&gt;Bordeaux&lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt; fête le vin&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The inaugural flight will coincide with Québec City’s participation as the guest of honour during the &lt;em&gt;Bordeaux&lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt; fête le vin&lt;/em&gt; event, which will take place from June 24th to 27th.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Québec City intends to take advantage of this event to promote the city and its regions to several clienteles: investors, future immigrants, students and tourists. The kiosk will present what makes Québec stand out while appealing to the French: its knowledge economy, a cultural and technological environment that remains close to nature, in short, a mythical image adapted to the 21st century.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;« Québec is a welcoming, attractive and beautiful city, and in full economic growth, stated Mr. Dion. We want to share our success and allow our bordelais friends to benefit from it as well. »&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center; ;"&gt;- 30 -&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Source :&lt;br /&gt;François Moisan&lt;br /&gt;Communications Services&lt;br /&gt;418 641-6210&lt;br /&gt;2, rue des Jardins, Québec (Québec)  G1R 4S9&lt;br /&gt;Telephone: 418 641-6210, fax: 418 641-6466&lt;br /&gt;www.ville.quebec.qc.ca&lt;/p&gt;</description><pubDate>2010/02/04</pubDate></item><item><title>The golden age of couture : Paris and London, 1947-57 </title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;p&gt;In 2010, the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec will present &lt;em&gt;The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London, 1947-57&lt;/em&gt;, an exhibition illustrating one of the richest and most strikingly memorable decades of fashion history.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Opening with the revolutionary “new look” unveiled by Christian Dior after World War II, the show highlights the pinnacle of haute couture that revolved around Dior and his contemporaries.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London, 1947-57 &lt;/em&gt;recalls the effervescence and spontaneity of the post-war years, when Paris reinvented fashion with a vast panorama of creations signed by the likes of Cristóbal Balenciaga, Hubert de Givenchy, Pierre Balmain and Jacques Fath, and London followed suit with its own elegance styled by Norman Hartnell, Hardy Amies, Victor Stiebel and Michael of London.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The exhibition presents more than 200 designs and features some hundred creations, among them day outfits, cocktail dresses and evening gowns worn by international high society and Britain’s royal family. Fashion photography is also well represented, with highly modern pictures by Richard Avedon, Irving Penn and others. Documentary films, clips from Hollywood movies, audio documents and a wide assortment of archival material complete the presentation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Drawn chiefly from the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England, the exhibition debuted at the V&amp;amp;A and has since toured to venues including the Bendigo Art Gallery, Victoria, Australia, and China’s Hong Kong Heritage Museum.&lt;/p&gt;</description><pubDate>2010/02/03</pubDate></item><item><title>Québec City Tourism Launches its New Website</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Québec  City Tourism Launches its New Website&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The new &lt;a title="http://www.quebecregion.com/" href="http://www.quebecregion.com/"&gt;www.quebecregion.com&lt;/a&gt; is on line since November 26. Read the comments from the surfers, see the new photos and videos, get up-to-date contents, select your favourites and prepare right now your visit in Québec City and area!&lt;/p&gt;
</description><pubDate>2009/11/26</pubDate></item><item><title>Plaines lunes - The block-buster presentation will be back in August 2010</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>&lt;p&gt; After the success of 2008, the National  Battlefields Commission is happy to announce the return of the megaproduction &lt;em&gt;Plaines lunes &lt;/em&gt;from August 17 to 21, 2010. This 2nd edition of the block-buster presentation  will be held on the Plains of Abraham’s major events site, with the  contribution of approximately 500 volunteer extras, for five memorable  evenings.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A  flagship event of the park’s 100th anniversary program created by Dominique Martens, &lt;em&gt;Plaines lunes &lt;/em&gt;has been seen by over 13,000 spectators in  2008. It includes five performances, approximately forty evocative scenes, some  1,300 costumes, nearly 2,000 characters which helped shape our history and  imagination.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;One day, in 1908, while young  Theo is painting on the Plains of Abraham, he meets Eve, the daughter of  Professor Arthur, head of the astronomical observatory. On certain nights, when  the moon is full, a mysterious witch haunts the observatory and, for a few  moments, time becomes disrupted and the eras get mixed up, plunging the Plains  back into the significant chapters, dark or festive, of its history.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The National Battlefields  Commission invites once again the population to be part of this brilliant  historical epic, either as an extra, a dancer or in another role altogether.  Some 500 volunteers will give life to this remarkable human adventure in Québec  City. To participate, the persons interested must complete the form available  online at www.theplainsofabraham.ca and return it by e-mail at  plaineslunes@bellnet.ca or by fax at 418 649-6077.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The tickets (reserved seats in  the stands) will be on sale shortly for $45/13-64 years old; $40/5-12 years old  or 65 or older (taxes included, service charge additional) or, on performance  nights, at the Discovery Pavilion of the Plains of Abraham, next to Drill Hall.  The show will be held rain or shine (no umbrellas allowed).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.theplainsofabraham.ca/"&gt;www.theplainsofabraham.ca&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center; ;"&gt;- 30 –&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center; ;"&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Source :&lt;br /&gt;Joanne Laurin, Communication Officer &lt;br /&gt;418  649-6251&lt;br /&gt;joanne.laurin@ccbn-nbc.gc.ca&lt;/p&gt;</description><pubDate>2009/11/25</pubDate></item><item><title>Bodies: the Exhibition — The Science Inside You</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>Discover a tremendous machine: your own body! See the skeleton, different muscles, systems and organs up close at Pavillon d’Espace 400e until January 1st.&lt;br /&gt;
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For more information, visit &lt;a href="http://expobodies.ca/qc/index_en.html"&gt;Bodies website&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
</description><pubDate>2009/11/23</pubDate></item><item><title>The Weekend of Champions</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>On November 28, professional boxing and university football are on the agenda. A rematch between Lucian Bute and Librado Andrade will be held at the Colisée, and the Vanier Cup match will be held at PEPS (Laval University), for the first time in Quebec in 45 years.&lt;br /&gt;
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For more information, visit &lt;a href="http://www.interbox.ca/two_battles_of_word_championship_in_quebec_city"&gt;Interbox's website&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
</description><pubDate>2009/11/23</pubDate></item><item><title>Aurora Borealis</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>The grain silos in the Old Port are once again brought to life by a luminous veil of light which illuminates the nights of Québec City. Aurora Borealis is a permanent lighting installation inspired by the colors of the northern lights that is displayed every night, for five years, from dusk until 11:30 pm.&lt;br /&gt;
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For more information, visit &lt;a href="http://lacaserne.net/index2.php/other_projects/"&gt;Ex Machina's website&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
</description><pubDate>2009/11/23</pubDate></item><item><title>This season; 3 new glades!</title><author>Office du tourisme de Québec</author><description>This winter, rugged terrain fans will be thrilled to discover 3 new glades at Stoneham: the Caribou, Wapiti and Orignal. Beginner and intermediate skiers and riders can experience their first tree runs easily. Nearly 20% of Stoneham’s slopes are now glades; there is challenge for all skill levels!&lt;br /&gt;
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For more information, visit &lt;a href="http://www.ski-stoneham.com/3/Aproposdenous/Nouvelles/tabid/263/language/en-US/Default.aspx/news/622/Default.aspx"&gt;Station touristique Stoneham's website&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
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