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Snow was great fun for Québec City residents in the 19th century. The slope near the Citadel that we see here was ideal for tobogganing. Cultural exchanges brought this Indigenous activity into the culture of New France. Toboggans were used by First Nations to transport tools.
1840 - 1894

Ah! “It has snowed, oh, how it has snowed!”

These words were written by the famous Québécois poet Émile Nelligan in the late 19th century. Since then, they have been repeated at every large snowfall. And Québec City is certainly one of the places where this poem is quoted most often: It is one of the snowiest cities in the world! Explore this album of photos and other artworks to learn how 19th-century residents of Québec City made the most of winter. Lots of questions about these images await!

Tobogganing at the Citadel

Cornelius Krieghoff Snow was great fun for Québec City residents in the 19th century. The slope near the Citadel that we see here was ideal for tobogganing. Cultural exchanges brought this Indigenous activity into the culture of New France. Toboggans were used by First Nations to transport tools.
Chronoscope What comments or thoughts does this piece evoke for you? (unilingual French for a limited time) Source: Library and Archives Canada Document in the public domain (free of copyright) - Acc. No. 1989-479-31 - Date: 1856