Launched in the mid-1960s, the Grand Théâtre de Québec project had its share of ups and downs. Work was halted when the Union Nationale party returned to power. New premier Antonio Barrette felt that the project was contrary to traditional French Canadian cultural values. However, in the fall of 1967, construction resumed under Premier Daniel Johnson, who was more open to modernizing Quebec.

1958 - 2016

The Grand Théâtre de Québec, a legacy of the Quiet Revolution

The Grand Théâtre de Québec was supposed to be built in time to mark the centenary of Canadian Confederation in 1967. After various ups and downs, the theatre was inaugurated on January 16, 1971, near Parliament Hill. The theatre was created to provide Québec City with a large-scale cultural complex. It includes the Octave-Crémazie (500 seats) and Louis-Fréchette (1,800 seats) performance halls, as well as the Conservatoire de Musique. A famous phrase by poet Claude Péloquin is written on the mural inside the Grand Théâtre. Over the years, the Grand Théâtre’s stages have welcomed a host of artists and groups.

Symbol of the modernization of Québec City

Auteur inconnu Launched in the mid-1960s, the Grand Théâtre de Québec project had its share of ups and downs. Work was halted when the Union Nationale party returned to power. New premier Antonio Barrette felt that the project was contrary to traditional French Canadian cultural values. However, in the fall of 1967, construction resumed under Premier Daniel Johnson, who was more open to modernizing Quebec.

Chronoscope Do you have any memories of the construction of the Grand Théâtre? (unilingual French for a limited time)

Depicted period: 1968

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