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When Saigon fell in April 1975, North and South Vietnam were united under a communist regime. Many citizens, particularly members of the Saigon elite, left the country. Some chose Québec City as their new home. This image shows refugees from Vietnam taking a French course at COFI, the teaching centre for newcomers, a few months after their arrival in Québec City.
1975 - 2019

An ever-more diverse population

At the end of the 20th century, migration and population movement increased around the world. Québec City’s cultural landscape rapidly diversified during this time. The city’s quality of life and professional opportunities attracted people from all over. Some endured great difficulty, fleeing authoritarian political regimes in Haiti or Eastern Europe for instance. Others sought refuge from armed conflicts, such as those in Congo, Vietnam and Cambodia. Get a glimpse into the lives of individuals to discover how this sweeping phenomenon of immigration played out on a smaller scale in Québec City!

Newcomers from Vietnam learn French

Jean-Marie Villeneuve When Saigon fell in April 1975, North and South Vietnam were united under a communist regime. Many citizens, particularly members of the Saigon elite, left the country. Some chose Québec City as their new home. This image shows refugees from Vietnam taking a French course at COFI, the teaching centre for newcomers, a few months after their arrival in Québec City.
Chronoscope What comments or thoughts does this photo evoke for you? (unilingual French for a limited time) Source: Ville de Québec All rights reserved: Ville de Québec - Le Soleil Fonds - Date: August 1975