Quirky Quebec
Strange, surprising, and quirky facts to discover about Quebec.
Quirky Quebec · August 27, 2026Those cords hanging from cars in winter: the block heater, explainedIn Quebec, people plug in their cars in the cold. A block heater warms the engine before you leave: easier starts, less fuel, a better-protected engine.
Quirky Quebec · Updated September 9, 2026The Fleurdelisé: What Quebec's Flag Tells YouBlue, a white cross, four fleurs-de-lis: Quebec's flag is everywhere. Adopted in 1948, it tells centuries of French history in America.
Quirky Quebec · Updated September 9, 2026'Je me souviens': where the motto on the license plates comes fromThree words on every Quebec plate. 'Je me souviens' ('I remember') is the province's official motto, created in 1883, and its meaning remains a mystery.
Quirky Quebec · Updated September 9, 2026What is a cégep? The school level that exists only in QuebecBetween high school and university, Quebec has a level found nowhere else in Canada: the cégep. Two pre-university or three technical years, tuition-free.
Quirky Quebec · Updated September 9, 2026The '5 à 7': Quebec's after-work social institutionIn Quebec, a '5 à 7' is nothing mysterious: it's the local happy hour, a drink with colleagues or friends at the end of the day. A great way to socialize.
Quirky Quebec · August 25, 2026Milk in bags: yes, in Quebec milk is sold in little pouchesIn Quebec, milk is often sold in bags: a 4-litre bag holding three pouches. You need a pitcher to hold one — and snip a corner to pour.
Quirky Quebec · Updated September 9, 20263½, 4½: decoding apartment sizes in QuebecIn Quebec, rental ads count rooms, not bedrooms: the number counts the main rooms, and the '½' means the bathroom. A 4½ is a two-bedroom.
Quirky Quebec · Updated September 9, 2026Dépanneur Culture: the Store that Gets You Out of a JamOpen late, stocked with beer, milk and a loaf of bread at midnight. Where did this very Quebec institution — and its odd name — come from?
Quirky Quebec · Updated July 28, 2026Quebec's July 1 'Moving Day': why the whole province moves at onceLeases ending June 30, no trucks to be found, boxes on every sidewalk: the story behind the most chaotic day of the year.
Quirky Quebec · Updated September 9, 2026The Quebec Expressions Nobody Understands at First'Wanna go magasiner for a char?' A friendly little glossary to decode everyday Quebec French without panicking.