From 1979 onwards, some members of the Québec City clergy became involved in sponsoring refugees from Southeast Asia. This was the case of Father Fernand Bernier from the Notre-Dame-du-Chemin parish who welcomed four newcomers from Cambodia: Rathana San, El-Kannina San, Malis San and Meala San. They were among the first to flee their war-torn country by boat, which is why these Southeast Asian refugees became known as “boat people.”

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!

Father Fernand Bernier and four refugees from Cambodia

Jacques Deschênes From 1979 onwards, some members of the Québec City clergy became involved in sponsoring refugees from Southeast Asia. This was the case of Father Fernand Bernier from the Notre-Dame-du-Chemin parish who welcomed four newcomers from Cambodia: Rathana San, El-Kannina San, Malis San and Meala San. They were among the first to flee their war-torn country by boat, which is why these Southeast Asian refugees became known as “boat people.”

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Depicted period: 1986

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