Quebec 2023: Annual meeting of the Cities of Literature, October 9 to 13
Bienvenue à Québec!
Dear colleagues, bienvenue à Québec for the 2023 Cities of Literature annual meeting.
We are proud to share our home and our literature with you, just as we are eager to take this opportunity to learn from your cities, each with its own inspiring characteristics. Truly, you inspire us to be bolder, to be more creative and to push the boundaries of what literature can be. Being a part of this network means belonging to a strong and supportive community, one where collaboration and solidarity help each one of us achieve meaningful work, both locally and internationally. Let’s celebrate that!
We have worked hard over the past year to prepare a productive and fun week together, during which we will take the time to discuss topics of importance to our network. You will also have opportunities to discover Quebec City and its rich literary culture through meetings with local organizations, visits to iconic sites and literary performances of all kinds.
All the team wishes you a wonderful week in Quebec. We hope this is only the first of many visits you will make to our beautiful city.
Bonne semaine,
Dominique Lemieux, General Manager, L’ICQ, focal point for Québec, ville de littérature UNESCO
Program
Monday, October 9
6 – 9 p.m. Welcome dinner
A convivial buffet at Les autres jours, a cozy venue for literary projects.
📍 280, Saint-Joseph Est Street, Office 4, Quebec (Qc), G1K 3A9
Tuesday, October 10
8:30 – 10 a.m. Breakfast at St. Andrew's Church
📍 5, Cook Street, Quebec (Qc), G1R 3X8
10 – 10:45 a.m. Visit of La Maison de la littérature
La Maison de la littérature (the House of Literature) is a hub for literature within and without the bounds of books. Dedicated to and open to all, the Maison is a place for writing, creating, sharing and hosting literary events in a lively, friendly and warm atmosphere. It is a place for self-expression, creation and promotion of literary arts. Its library is a part of the Bibliothèque de Québec.
📍 40, Saint-Stanislas Street, Quebec (Qc), G1R 4H1
11 – 5 p.m. Work sessions at the Morrin Centre
The Morrin Centre is managed by the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec, the oldest existing learned society in Canada.
📍 44, Chaussée des Écossais, Quebec (Qc), G1R 4H3
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. → Welcome session
12 – 1 p.m. → Lunch break
1 – 3:30 p.m. → Work sessions: Governance, integration
3:30 – 4 p.m. → Break
4 – 5 p.m. → Best practice presentations: managing a designation
5 – 6 p.m. Free time
6 – 8:30 p.m. Cocktail at Le Diamant
Reception with local partners in a prestigious theater.
📍 966, Saint-Jean Street, Quebec (Qc), G1R 1R5
9 p.m. Optional: Traditional music session at Les Salons d’Edgar
📍 263, Saint-Vallier Est Street, Quebec (Qc), G1K 3P4
Wednesday, October 11
9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Work sessions at the Centre d’interprétation historique de Sainte-Foy
The Centre d’interprétation historique de Sainte-Foy is housed in a 17th century building, once the presbytery of the Notre-Dame-de-Foy parish.
Work sessions with the three other Canadian creative cities: Montreal (Design), Toronto (Media Arts) and London (Music), at the invitation of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO.
📍 2825, Chemin Sainte-Foy, Quebec (Qc), G1V 1W1
9 – 10:30 a.m. → Opening conference by Ivana Otasevic, from UNESCO Chair on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions
9:30 – 10:30 → Round table on SDGs with Jacinthe de Guire (Montreal), Cory Crossman (London) and Marie Grégoire, CEO of Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec
10:30 – 10:45 a.m. → Break
10:45 – 11:45 a.m. → Work session: SDGs
11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. → Lunch break, visit of the exhibition
1 – 1:30 p.m. → Canadian creative cities coproduction project presentation with Catherine Chénier, Director of ExpoCité, and Guillaume Aniorté, Director of Quartier des spectacles international
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. → Best practice presentations: SDGs, environment and citizen engagement
2:45 p.m. Departure for Saint-Roch
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Visit of the Gabrielle-Roy library
The Gabrielle-Roy library is the central library of the Bibliothèque de Québec, a network of 26 public libraries throughout the city. Gabrielle-Roy is undergoing a major renovation and will reopen in the spring of 2024. This trendsetting library will be a hub for cultural and community organizations and offer a wide range of services and activities to the public.
📍 350, Saint-Joseph Est Street, Quebec (Qc), G1K 3B2
5 – 8 p.m. Dinner (free time)
8 – 10 p.m. Show at Morrin Centre
A literary circuit in this heritage building, showing what Quebec is all about.
📍 44, Chaussée des Écossais, Quebec (Qc), G1R 4H3
Thursday, October 12
8:30 – 10 a.m. Tour and walk along the St. Lawrence River
10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Work session at Monique-Corriveau library
📍 1100, Route de l'Église, Quebec (Qc), G1V 3V9
10 – 10:30 a.m. → Visit of the library; presentation of children’s books
10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. → Work session on international days
12 – 12:30 p.m. Visit of the La Liberté book shop
A family bookshop, founded in 1945, run by three generations of the Lalibertés.
📍 1073, Route de l'Église, Quebec (Qc), G1V 3W2
12:30 – 1 p.m. Departure for Old Quebec
1 – 4 p.m. Work sessions at the Monastère des Augustines
The Monastère des Augustines, a haven of heritage, culture and wellness and a non-profit organization, is located in the historic wings of the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec monastery, from which emerged the first hospital on the continent north of Mexico.
📍 77, des Remparts Street, Quebec (Qc), G1R 0C3
1 – 2 p.m. → Lunch at the Monastère des Augustines
2 – 4 p.m. → Meeting with the literary community
4 – 5 p.m. Optional: visit of the monastery
5 – 8 p.m. Evening at La Maison de la littérature
📍 40, Saint-Stanislas Street, Quebec (Qc), G1R 4H1
5 – 6:15 p.m. → Public best practice presentations
Short presentations by 8 cities of literature, in their mother tongue with French and English subtitles, for Quebec’s literary community.
6:15 – 6:30 p.m.→ Group picture in the library
6:30 – 8 p.m. → Québec en toutes lettres launch cocktail
Québec en toutes lettres is a contemporary literary festival, presenting multiform literature steeped in multi- and interdisciplinarity.
8 – 8:30 p.m. Multivox: opening performance
23 cities of literature are represented in this multilingual audio installation created by Québec en toutes lettres.
📍 place d'Youville (Qc) G1R 3P1
Friday, October 13
8:15 – 8h45 a.m. Transport to Wendake by bus with a guide
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Work sessions at Hotel-Musée Premières Nations
A hotel-museum concept 100% owned by Wendake Nation.
📍 15, Place de la Rencontre, Wendake (Qc), G0A 4V0
9 – 9:45 a.m. → Greetings by Chief Carlo Gros-Louis; presentation by Louis-Karl Picard-Sioui from Kwahiatonhk ! and the Indigenous Book Fair
9:45 – 10:30 a.m. → Workshop: What is a good project proposal?
10:30 – 10:45 a.m. → Break
10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. → Round tables on residencies, festivals, managing a designation, and communication and outreach
12:30 – 2:30 p.m. Walking tour of Wendake and lunch on the go
Wendake is home to the Huron Wendat nation, renowned for its culture and its revitalization work for wendat language and traditional crafts.
2:30 – 6:30 p.m. Work sessions at Hotel-Musée Premières Nations
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. → Best practice presentations
3:30 – 3:50 p.m. → Short break
3:50 – 4:50 p.m. → Project proposals
4:50 – 5:10 p.m. → Edinburgh 2024
5:10 – 5:30 p.m. → Wrap up
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Final dinner at La Traite
Gastronomy of the Indigenous terroir.
📍 5, Place de la Rencontre, Wendake (Qc), G0A 4V0
8:30 p.m. Departure for Old Quebec
Useful information
Key contacts
Catherine Lefrançois: (418) 953-4776
Miriam Blair: (581) 992-6879
Police and ambulance: 911
Taxi: (418) 525-5191
*Canada calling code: 1
Hotel
Hôtel Manoir Victoria, 44 Côte du Palais (Qc), G1R 4H8, (418) 692-1030, admin@manoir-victoria.com
Weather
Quebec city in October is chilly! A high of 11 °C and a low of 1 °C (52 F and 34 F) is the norm. Rain is also very probable. You need a warm jacket, a hat, gloves, a scarf and something waterproof. Make sure to have decent walking shoes as our city is very steep and we plan to walk around a little – it’s the best way to see the sights! You will need closed shoes for the visit of the Gabrielle-Roy library; it is still under construction.
Customs
In Quebec, it’s customary to tip around 15% when buying food and drinks in restaurants and bars. Also note that taxes are never included in the listed price and come up to about 15% as well. This goes for all shops. The exchange rate for the Canadian dollar is currently at 1.46 for Euro and 1.36 for US dollar. Most shops accept credit and debit cards; you don’t necessarily need cash.
Getting around
We have planned transport for you for all our activities, but if you’re going out alone, note that we have a very good bus system. The fare is 3.75$, payable in cash. You can also get a temporary bus card in most corner stores or get the app (here).
You can also try out our public bikes (here)!
An eco-friendly event
We are trying to be as eco-friendly as possible. We will fully compensate for international and local transportation. You can help us by bringing your reusable water bottle and mug. Thank you!
Other practical information
Quebec City is in the Eastern Time Zone.
We use A&B electric outlets (120 V, 60 Hz); you will need an adapter.
Welcome!
To help you plan your stay, here are a bilingual map of the city, a list of parks and gardens, and a list of classic Quebec City activities and sights.
Below is a map of all the official locations of our event.
The neighbourhoods
Old Quebec
This is where your hotel is located. Nearby, you can find bakeries, cafés and gourmet convenience stores.
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, Old Quebec is the most intact fortified town north of Mexico. It has a rich literary history, and you can discover it through the Vieux-Québec littéraire map.
Dominique’s recommendations:
Food: Le Parlementaire (good food in a historical setting), Buffet de l’antiquaire (a beloved diner)
Sights: the ferry (the best way to see Quebec!), Rue Sous le cap
Shopping: Boutique des métiers d’art du Québec (local craft by artisans)
Catherine’s recommendations:
Books: Librairie Pantoute
Food: Bistro Hortus (organic), Chez Boulay (boreal flavors), Paillard
Miriam’s recommendations:
Books: Morrin Centre library
Food: Apsara, Cochon Dingue, Brûlerie St-Jean (best hot chocolate in town)
Sights: rue du Trésor, Holy Trinity Cathedral (I’m biased, this is my church, mass is at 11 on Sundays), the Notre-Dame Basilica (the court-yard next door is beautiful at night), the ramparts, the Plains of Abraham (walk down into the woods!), Musée de la civilisation, the Old Port (Vieux-Port)
Shopping: Simons, La commode (thrift store)
Vanessa’s recommendations:
Food: Comptoir Boréal
Sights: Garden, museum and chapel at the Monastère des Augustines, Terrasse Dufferin and Promenade des gouverneurs
Shopping: Boutique de Noël (for everything Christmas!)
Saint-Jean-Baptiste
Saint-Jean-Baptiste is a lively part of the city, where you will find booksellers, record shops, restaurants, pubs and bistros. The Claire-Martin library, built in an old church, is worth a visit and sits next to a cemetery that is a popular hanging place for the locals.
Learn more about Saint-Jean-Baptiste.
Dominique’s recommendations:
Books: all the small booksellers on Saint-Jean Street
Food: Nina Pizza Napolitaine (so good!), Le Billig, Érico (run by chocolate enthusiasts)
Catherine’s recommendations:
Food: Buvette Scott, JA Moisan (a very old grocery store), Le Sacrilège
Sights: St. Matthew’s cemetery and park, next to Claire-Martin library
Miriam’s recommendations:
Books: Librairie Saint-Jean-Baptiste (café and second-hand bookstore, excellent selection of teas)
Shopping: CD Mélomane (always has a good recommendation)
Vanessa’s recommendations:
Food: Crêpes at Bonnet d'Âne
Sights: Le Diamant
Montcalm
Montcalm is an old bourgeois neighbourhood, home to the arts and to many trees. The Plains of Abraham are open all year round and locals like to go there for picnics in the summer and skiing in the winter.
Dominique’s recommendations:
Books: Librairie du Quartier
Food: Chez Gaël Vidricaire (one of the best pastry chefs in Quebec!), Maison Smith
Miriam’s recommendations:
Food: Les cousins, Halls Cartier, Aux deux violons, Café Kriegoff
Sights: Musée des beaux-arts de Québec, the Plains of Abraham (more of them!), Cinéma Cartier
Vanessa’s recommendations:
Food: Bistro B
Saint-Roch
Saint-Roch is the hip neighbourhood where culture meets technlogy. It is the most lively part of town at night.
Dominique’s recommendations:
Food: Nina Pizza Napolitaine (again!), Hono Ramen and Hono Izakaya, Le Clocher Penché (a classic), La Korrigane (local microbrewery), Le Croquembouche (pastry and sandwiches), Café Pékoe (a good place to work)
Sights: Saint-Vallier Street East
Catherine’s recommendations:
Food: Tora Ya Ramen, Saint-Henri Micro-Torréfacteur (for an excellent coffee and for the funky doughnuts)
Books: Librairie Pantoute
Shopping: Le Knock-Out! (record store)
Miriam’s recommendations:
Food: Les Salons d’Edgar (traditional music sessions on Tuesday nights)
Shopping: Le Comptoir Emmaüs (thrift store)
Sights: Saint-Charles River (lovely park, fun to bike or walk along), Saint-Joseph Street (lots of little shops and some old churches)
Vanessa’s recommendations:
Food: Kundah Hôtel (Indian cuisine), Camellia Sinensis (wonderful tea room)
Sights: Galerie Criterium, VU Centre (photography center)
To learn more about all Quebec's neighbourhoods: https://www.quebec-cite.com/en/quebec-city/neighbourhoods
Delegates
Angoulême: Gérard Desaphy, Sylvain Pothier-Leroux
Barcelona: Jaume Muñoz Jofre
Beirut: Matilda El Khoury
Bucheon: Seoyoung Jung, Sunkyong Kim
Dublin: Anne-Marie Kelly
Dunedin: Nicky Page
Durban: Deborah Patricia Skelton
Edinburgh: Ali Bowden, Rachel McCrum
Exeter: Liv Hooper
Göteborg: Joakim Albrektson
Heidelberg: Dr. Andrea Edel, Phillip Florian Koban
Iowa City: John Kenyon
Jakarta: Laura Prinsloo
Kraków: Elżbieta Foltyniak
Kuhmo: Aino Ainali
Leeuwarden: Ernst Bruinsma, Tryntsje van der Steege
Lillehammer: Olav Brostrup Müller
Ljubljana: Tina Popovič, Damjan Zorc
Lviv: Hanna Khriakova, Mariana Zagoruiko
Manchester: Jo Flynn, John McAuliffe, Katie Popperwell, Ivan Wadeson
Melbourne: David Ryding
Milan: Liù Palmieri, Laura Teruzzi
Nanjing: Huimu Zhu, Shuang (Lilas) Yuan
Norwich: Peggy Hughes
Nottingham: Hannah Trevarthen
Odessa: Maya Dimerli
Prague: Katerina Bajo, Tomáš Řehák
Quebec: Catherine Lefrançois, Dominique Lemieux
Reykjavík: Kjartan Már Ómarsson
Seattle: Stesha Brandon, José Luis Montero
Slemani: Dr. Haval Abubaker, Shamal Abu Baker Hussein
Tartu: Marja Unt
Vilnius: Rūta Elijošaitytė-Kaikarė
Wonju: Kevin Hwang
