MMB 2009 Conference - April 1-3, 2009



	Québec City History Local Attractions		Basilique-Cathédrale Notre-Dame-De-Québec This basilica got its start as a small church in 1647. In the ensuing years, it suffered everything from fires to battle damage, especially during fighting between British and French armies in 1759. But no matter what, the church was rebuilt and repaired. Each replacement was bigger than the last until it reached the size you see today - a structure completed in 1925. Hours: Monday - Friday: 08:00 - 16:00, Saturday & Sunday: 08:00 - 18:00 Web: www.ville.quebec.qc.ca/EN/touristes/attraits/eglises.aspx Centre d'Interpretation de Place-Royale This interpretive center touts the area as the cradle of French history. The exhibits focus on the individual people, houses and challenges of setting up on the shores of the St Lawrence River. It goes a bit heavy on the random artifact displays (just how many displays of uncaptioned broken cups and saucers does one visitor need to see at a time?) but otherwise there are slick, worthwhile displays. Children can dress up in costumes on the bottom floor and tours of the Lower Town are offered by guides in period dress during summer. Hours: Early September - Late June: Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00 - 17:00 Admission: Adults: $5; Seniors (65+): $4.50; Students (17+ with valid student card): $3.50; Youth (Ages 12 - 16) $2; Children Under 12: Free of Charge Web: www.mcq.org/en/cipr/index.html Choco-Musée Érico* A visit to the Choco-Musée Érico will give you the opportunity to discover a collection of over 200 antique objects, all linked in one way or another to the delicious history of chocolate. Our collection is composed of artifacts from Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean Islands, the United States and Canada. The average duration of a visit is approximately 15 10 30 minutes. Hours: Monday-Wednesday & Saturday: 10:00 - 17:30; Thursday and Friday: 10:00 - 21:00; Sunday: 11:00 - 17:30 Admission: Free Web: www.chocomusee.com La Citadelle This massive star-shaped fort towers above the St Lawrence River on Cap Diamant. The excellent hour-long guided tours give you the low-down on the spectacular architecture and covers exhibits on military life from colonial times to today. The changing of the guard takes place daily at 10:00 in summer. The beating of the retreat, with soldiers banging on their drums at shift's end, happens every Friday at 19:00 from July 6 until early September. French forces started construction here in the late 1750s leaving a gunpowder building and a redoubt. The actual Citadelle was built by the British, who feared two things: an American invasion and a revolt by the local French-speaking population (the cannons point at the river, and at Québec City). However, by the time the Citadelle was completed (construction took 30 years) things were calming down. The Treaty of Washington (1871) between the United States and the new Dominion of Canada ended the threat of American invasion. The Citadelle houses about 200 members of the Royal 22e Régiment (the rest live with their families at Valcartier base nearby). The Vandoos, a nickname taken from the French for 22 (vingt-deux), is the only entirely French speaking battalion in the Canadian Forces. They have a reputation amongst the Forces as the toughest (ie most badass) regiment in the army. Hours: November - March: 10:00 - 13:30; April: 10:00 - 16:00 (Daily) Admission: Adults: $10; Seniors (65+): $9; Students (17+ with valid student card): $9; Youth (Ages 8 - 17) $5.50; Children Under 8: Free of Charge; Family Rate: $22.00 Web: www.lacitadelle.qc.ca Eglise Notre-Dame-Des-Victoires* The oldest stone church in the USA and Canada, dating from 1688, Our Lady of Victories is a modest house of worship on the Place-Royale, Lower Town's principal square. It stands on the very spot where de Champlain set up his 'Habitation,' a small stockade, 80 years prior to the church's arrival. Inside a replica of a wooden ship hangs from the ceiling - the Brézé thought to be a good-luck charm for ocean crossings and battles with the Iroquois. The church got its name after British ships were unable to take Québec City in 1690 and again in 1711. Inside are copies of works by Rubens and Van Dyck. Hours: 09:30 - 16:30 (Daily) Web: www.ndvsf.org/church/ Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec Anyone curious about Québec art needs to carve out at least half-a-day for a visit to this museum, one of the best in the province. There are expert permanent exhibitions that range from art and artists in the early French colonies to Québec's abstract artists. There are also individual halls devoted entirely to the province's artistic giants of the last century. The do-not-miss permanent exhibitions include one devoted to Jean-Paul Lemieux (1904-90) and the other to Jean-Paul Riopelle (1923-2002) which includes ' L'hommage à Rosa Luxemburg' (Tribute to Rosa Luxemburg; 1986), his largest work ever. The Brousseau Inuit Art Collection of 2639 pieces spanning 50 years was a personal collection of Inuit art acquired by the museum in 2005. There are also frequent exhibitions from abroad and elsewhere in Canada. The museum is spread out through three halls including the Pavilion Charles-Baillairgé, Québec City's former prison. Audioguides are available for the permanent collections and often for temporary exhibitions as well. Hours: Tuesdays & Thursday - Sundays: 10:00 - 17:00, Wednesday: 10:00 - 21:00 Admission: Adults: $15; Seniors (65+): $12; Students (Under 30 with valid student card): $7; Youth (Ages 12 - 17) $4; Children Under 12: Free of Charge; Family Rate (2 Adults and 3 Children ages 12 - 17): $30 Web: www.mnba.qc.ca/Home.aspx All prices in Canadian Dollar (CAD)