For centuries, horses have been a major ally in coping with Quebec winters. They can pull heavy loads and thus facilitate snow clearing operations. They can pack down the snow and trace out paths. Many cities required horses to wear bells to signal the movement of sleighs on the road.

1918 - 1955

Winters of yesteryear

Winter is inseparable from Québec City! Every year, its streets are buried under mountains of snow. Although this continues to be the case today, winter had a very different impact on the daily lives of Québec City residents in the first half of the 20th century. From clothing to snow-clearing, how people braved the snowfall greatly evolved over those decades. Come and see for yourself the city’s winters of yesteryear. What memories do you have of these icy landscapes?

View of a road in winter

Photo Moderne Enr. For centuries, horses have been a major ally in coping with Quebec winters. They can pull heavy loads and thus facilitate snow clearing operations. They can pack down the snow and trace out paths. Many cities required horses to wear bells to signal the movement of sleighs on the road.

Chronoscope What elements can you identify? (unilingual French for a limited time)

Depicted period: 1950

Source: Ville de Québec Document in the public domain (free of copyright) - Date: circa 1950

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