An annual event. Quebec's intercultural encounters week (Semaine québécoise des rencontres interculturelles) runs from November 2 to 8, 2026, under the theme "Le Québec en commun" (Quebec in common), according to the official page for the week on Québec.ca (in French). Organized every year by Quebec's immigration, francization and integration ministry (MIFI), it highlights the contribution of Quebecers of every origin and encourages dialogue between them.
Across Quebec. Activities are offered in every region by the ministry's partner organizations, and also by municipalities, schools and businesses. Everyone is invited to take part, whether you arrived three months ago or were born here.
How to find an activity. The activity calendar (in French) lets you filter by region and show only virtual events. Activities appear as organizers register them and they are approved, so check back in the days before the week starts. On each listing, check the location, the schedule and whether you need to register in advance.
What these activities look like. The ministry suggests simple formats to organizers: lunch talks, recipe exchanges between people of different origins, book clubs on literature from here and elsewhere, classroom exhibits about students' countries of origin. These are ideas, not a program: each organization picks its own. To be approved, an activity must foster intercultural connection and living together, in French.
Three awards presented during the week. This is also when the government presents the Charles-Biddle, Maurice-Pollack and Solange-Chalvin awards. The Solange-Chalvin awards have existed since 2023 and replaced the Mérites en francisation.
A diverse Quebec. According to figures published on the same page, 17.1% of Quebec's population was born outside Canada, and more than 400 ethnic origins were counted in the 2021 census.
Organizing something? A community organization, municipality, business or school can add its activity to the calendar from the official page, which also lists the eligibility criteria and free promotional material (posters, social media visuals).
Good to know for newcomers. Since the activities take place in French, this is a concrete chance to practise the language in a welcoming setting, with people who expect to meet others from all over. It's also a way to discover the organizations active near you. To go further, see our guide to cultural associations for immigrants and our guide to volunteering in Quebec.
