Often debated in travel journalism is the likening of one place to another, versus describing a destination on its own terms. While convenient for familiarizing readers with a new locale, the former technique can also be an ill-fitting shoe. Toronto, for instance, long labored as Canada’s “Manhattan,” while Sydney and Melbourne continue to attract misguided comparison to Los Angeles and New York.
Paris seems to be the gold standard. Among many examples, Bucharest was long regarded as “Little Paris,” or “Paris of the Balkans;” Beirut was the “Paris of the Middle East;” Augusta, Ga., the “Paris of the South;” San Francisco the “Paris of the West;” and so on.
Sometimes, though, comparatives are irresistibly unavoidable—as in the case of Montreal and Quebec City, both of which cannot be anything but Parisian- or French-like because of their very origins and enduring Francophone culture.
Founded in 1608 by French explorer Samuel de Champlain, Quebec City, today the capital of Quebec, was originally the seat of New France in North America. Visited by French explorer Jacques Cartier in 1535, Montreal, officially established in 1642, is the world’s second-largest French-speaking metropolis after Paris.
However, while undeniably easier to reach than hopping over the Atlantic, neither neatly fits the popular “Paris without the jet lag” label. Each city is a fraction of the size of the City of Lights, and while similar in many respects, the influences behind each city’s architecture, food, dialect, customs and attitude are distinct from their Gallic kin.
Better is to say that each is unmistakably French (or European) in character, but with charms all their own—which for groups translates into meetings and events with a real difference. PageBreak
Uncork and Unwind
Embracing work-life balance like few other North American destinations, Montreal is the place for inspirational, productive meetings.
“Montreal’s mix of 21st century business infrastructure with our European Old World charm makes us an ideal destination for groups,” says Michel Bourdon, Tourisme Montreal’s vice president of sales for convention services and hospitality. “They can have faith that their business meetings will be taken care of to the highest level, while surrounded by centuries of history, a bilingual French-English environment and a joie de vivre that is unique in North America.”
For Montrealers, dining is a pleasure, something to be savored and enjoyed.
“We don’t rush out an hour after we arrived because we’ve finished eating,” says Tanya Churchmuch, Tourisme Montreal’s assistant director for media and leisure. “We linger, and enjoy the conversation and ambience.”
Inspiration for chefs far and wide, Montreal’s exuberant, ever-evolving dining scene is also distinguished by its widespread BYOW (Bring Your Own Wine) culture. From family restaurants to high-end eateries such as Monsieur B, P’tit Plateau and O’Thym, Montreal also goes corkage fee-free—unlike most other cities in North America.
Corporate and other groups seeking an authentic taste of the city “that loves to celebrate life” need look no further than Les Filles du Roy at the Hotel Pierre du Calvet. Housed in one of the city’s oldest historic buildings in the heart of Old Montreal, the French cuisine and yesteryear ambience are utterly transporting.
Another landmark for gatherings as gregarious as its owner, Lenny Lighter, is Moishe’s Steakhouse on St. Laurent Boulevard, which celebrated its 75th anniversary last year.
No less enticing is Montreal’s cultural and artistic menu. Staging more than 100 major events throughout the year, Montreal maintains its global reputation as a city of festivals with signature events such as the wintertime Montreal En Lumiere, Just For Laughs Festival and legendary Jazz Fest.
Pantheonic with top-class institutions, Montreal’s event-capable titans include the tri-venue Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and Pointe-a-Calliere Museum. Located on Montreal’s original foundations from 1642, this national historic site combines urban archaeology with event spaces that include the glass-walled Montreal 360° Space atop the recently added Mariners’ House.
With other choices such as the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal boasts hundreds of spectacular public art pieces throughout the city.
The great outdoors are also celebrated at the Montreal Botanical Garden. One of the world’s leading such facilities, this multivenue complex features more than 22,000 plant species, 20 thematic gardens and 10 exhibition greenhouses, with an array of rental spaces in the Insectarium, Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium and gardens.
Groups taken by the cobblestone streets and centuries-old architecture of Old Montreal will find an even greater concentration of these charms up the Saint Lawrence River in Quebec City. PageBreak
Capital Planning
Three hours by car or an hour by air northeast of Montreal, welcoming Quebec City is an open-air treasure chest favored by corporate, business and incentive groups for its comfortable mix of modern facilities with atmospheric history.
“Together with our local partners, we are committed, willing and able to deliver a memorable experience for business and leisure travelers alike,” says Nancy Dacres, account executive with Quebec City Tourism. “Easy-going and friendly, Quebec City is a living museum best explored on foot, and whatever your group’s interest, from gastronomy and history to faith tourism and business events, we have you covered.”
UNESCO-protected in its entirety, Quebec’s fairytale Old Town, divided into Upper Town and Lower Town, is the sole surviving fortified colonial city in North America, with its ramparts, bastions, gates and defensive works still intact.
Featuring churches, convents and monuments such as the Citadel and Dauphine Redoubt, the cliff-top Upper Town is crowned by the legendary Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac (currently under renovation). Lower Town, meanwhile, is a fantasy of ancient districts, narrow streets and centuries-old homes.
Fortifying, too, is Quebec City’s gastronomic scene, with unique Old Town choices including Aux Anciens Canadiens. Housed in the city’s oldest house, dating to 1675, this 128-seat heirloom features five dining rooms decorated with antiques, with private space for groups and receptions.
Among the city’s cultural treasures is the multivenue Museum of Civilization, accommodating events for up to 1,000 people in spaces including the Grand Hall and the Chapel of the French America Museum. Dating to 1750, the chapel, rebuilt in 1888, hosts a range of functions in its stunning nave and choir areas.
Heavenly, too, is the sweeping grandeur of Le Capitole de Quebec. Just steps from the Quebec City Convention Centre, this historic theater is now a multifunction event and hospitality complex with eight meeting spaces, a 40-room hotel and a restaurant.
With festive summers and Nordic winters, Quebec City is a breath of fresh air year-round. Since opening in 2001, the ephemeral (early January to late March) Ice Hotel, constructed each year just 10 minutes from downtown Quebec City, has drawn more than 1 million visitors. Offering other seasonal activities including skiing, dog sledding, sugar shacking and fall foliage tours, Quebec City and its environs, including the rapturous Charlevoix region, has distilled Old World French and European ingredients to create an enriching product all its own.
Vive la difference!
Longtime Meetings Focus contributor Jeff Heilman learned to laissez les bon temps rouler in Quebec.
