Before icebreakers arrived in the 20th century, the immense expanse of the St. Lawrence River in front of Québec City would freeze over every winter. The city would then be cut off from international shipping for many months. In town, however, people carried on with their activities. They would cross the river, either by canoe over floating mounds of ice or on the ice bridge, depending on conditions. All around Québec City, rivers and frozen waterfalls offered an extraordinary spectacle. These magnificent winter landscapes are revealed through 19th-century artworks.
The perilous crossing of the Royal Mail in Québec City
George William Ellisson, after Cornelius Krieghoff
In addition to transporting people, the passeurs ferried goods between the two banks of the frozen St. Lawrence River. Here, Royal Mail employees struggle to deliver the post. The passeurs taught their knowledge to the next generations, and some families were known and sought out for their expertise.
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