Today, the vast majority of Québec City’s population speaks French as their first language. It is hard to imagine that a great part of the city was once English! However, it was the case in the mid-19th century. A large wave of immigration from the British Isles came through Québec City, the point of entry to Canada. The Anglophone presence peaked in Québec City around 1870, when nearly half of the residents, mainly from Ireland, were English-speaking. Come and rediscover Québec City’s English-speaking past!
George Bishop Engraving and Printing Co., Montréal
Of Scottish origin, Joseph Morrin grew up in Québec City, where he served as mayor from 1855 to 1858. He then opened Morrin College, the city’s first medical school, in a building formerly used as a prison. He also helped found the Literary and Historical Society for Québec City’s English speakers. It is still located in the old Morrin College building today.
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