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In this piece by Cockburn, people in horse-drawn carriages create a typical Québec City winter scene. The ice bridge that formed between Québec City and Lévis provided the opportunity to socialize and enjoy winter leisure activities. Of course, it also made it possible to travel between shores and conduct commercial activities.
1823 - 1836

A destiny bound by ice!

Before the Québec Bridge opened in 1917, residents had two ways of crossing the river. In summer, they could take a boat across. In winter, however, they crossed on the ice bridge that formed when the river froze over. It was then that the crossing—by horse-drawn sleigh—was the quickest and easiest, and that the residents of Québec City and Lévis, on the opposite bank of the St. Lawrence River, spent the most time together. Rediscover this bygone era!

Québec City, seen from the frozen river

James Pattison Cockburn In this piece by Cockburn, people in horse-drawn carriages create a typical Québec City winter scene. The ice bridge that formed between Québec City and Lévis provided the opportunity to socialize and enjoy winter leisure activities. Of course, it also made it possible to travel between shores and conduct commercial activities.
Chronoscope What other details do you notice in the background of this watercolour? (unilingual French for a limited time) Source: Library and Archives Canada Document in the public domain (free of copyright) - Acc. No. 1989-260-6 - Date: 1830