This photograph shows an interesting blend of cultures! Here we see Ernest Blais’s truck. “Charroyage general,” written in typical Quebec French, advertises his haulage business. The truck is carrying a traditional Chinese music group from the Dramatic Society of the Chinese Kuomintang. The Kuomintang was the name of the political organization in power in China in 1945.

1945 - 1945

A parade by Québec City’s Chinese community during World War II

The arrival of the trans-Canada railway spurred the growth of a Chinese community in Québec City in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. On September 5, 1945, many of its members proudly marched through the streets of Québec City in celebration of V-J Day, the surrender of Japan on August 14, 1945. Japan withdrew its military occupation from China, and World War II officially came to an end. See how this historic event, which took place on the other side of the world, reverberated in the streets of Old Quebec.

A Chinese cultural association in the heart of the city

Auteur inconnu This photograph shows an interesting blend of cultures! Here we see Ernest Blais’s truck. “Charroyage general,” written in typical Quebec French, advertises his haulage business. The truck is carrying a traditional Chinese music group from the Dramatic Society of the Chinese Kuomintang. The Kuomintang was the name of the political organization in power in China in 1945.

Chronoscope What are your thoughts on this political exploit? (unilingual French for a limited time)

Depicted period: 1945

Source: Ville de Québec Document in the public domain (free of copyright) - Date: 1945-09-05

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