Are you new to the city or still feel like a newcomer? Join us for one of our Finding Your Niche for Newcomers events, a great way to connect with other newcomers while learning more about our community!
We aim to support newcomers through their transition to a new city by helping them find the services, resources, and information they may need to settle in. We are here to help make the transition as comfortable as possible. For more information or if you are new to Québec City, please get in touch with our newcomers coordinator at newcomers@veq.ca or at 418-683-2366 ext.225.
Past Newcomers Events
- History of Québec, October 2023
- Guided Tour of the National Assembly, October 2023
- Health 101 info session, November 2023
- Game Night, November 2023
- Kahoots with Canadian Parents for French, November 2023
- Info session on immigration, November 2023
- Newcomers Potluck, December 2023
- Holiday Happy Hour, December 2023
Finding your Niche for Newcomers Events
Newcomer’s Boat Tour of Québec City, June 1, 2019
On June 1st, newcomers enjoyed a gorgeous sunny day aboard the AML Louis Jolliet cruise along the St.Lawrence river. We are so happy with how our first and sold-out Newcomer’s boat tour turned out. We had beautiful weather, one of the season’s first gorgeous sunny and warm days! We enjoyed a great view of the city as we cruised up and down the St.Lawrence while being told about the exciting history of the area by our very competent and highly bilingual guide. What a wonderful day!
Newcomers’ Paint Night, May 15, 2019
Another excellent paint night with a great group! We always enjoy hosting this fantastic activity where newcomers can come together and paint in a relaxing setting while meeting other newcomers to Quebec City. Thank you to our competent instructor and our enthusiastic participants!
Revenu Québec Information Session for Newcomers to Québec, March 25, 2019
We were very pleased to host Revenu Québec for an information session for newcomers to Québec. Some topics covered were the Québec and Canadian tax system, tax obligations, the tax year, income tax return and more. We had an outstanding presenter and a great turnout. It was a great evening to ask questions and clarify information. We hope to be able to offer this kind of information session again in the future.
Service Canada Information Session for Newcomers, February 21, 2019
On February 21st, a Service Canada representative presented information regarding different Service Canada programs relevant to our newcomer clientele. Some topics covered were social insurance numbers, employment insurance benefits, Canada child benefits, registered education savings plans (RESP), services available through the company’s website, and much more. This was a great opportunity for people to ask any specific questions they had directly to a Service Canada representative.
Winter Sliding: Newcomers’ Adventure to Valcartier Villages Vacances, February 9, 2019
On February 9th, Voice of English-speaking Québec (VEQ) held our first Newcomers Winter Excursions to Village Vacances Valcartier. The goal was to get newcomers outside (when many people are inclined to curl indoors) and visit one of Québec’s famous winter activity centres: Village Vacance’s winter playground. Despite the chilly weather, newcomers snowtubed all day long under blue skies and sunshine. It was a great success and we hope to do it again in the future. Thanks to everyone who came out to make the day so wonderful!
Employment Workshop with the FORT Program, February 6, 2019
The FORT program from the Valcartier Family Centre once again put on an excellent employment workshop. This time, the topic was Promoting Yourself to an Employer. The topic and content of the workshop were very well received, particularly the hands-on portion where people prepared and practiced their own 30-second “pitch.” Participants walked away feeling better prepared to approach employers and attend the spring job fairs.
Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) workshop: Newcomers and the Canadian tax system, January 30, 2019
We are very thankful that the Canada Revenue Agency came and did a presentation specifically for newcomers regarding taxes in Canada. Some topics covered were filing a tax return, Canada Child Benefit, GST/HST Credit, the volunteer program, and more! Participants very much appreciated the information, and it helped to answer many questions. People left feeling a little more confident and equipped to tackle their taxes. We hope to be able to offer the same information session in January next year.
Newcomers’ Paint Nights, November 8th & 22nd, 2018
This is a very pleasant activity where newcomers paint under the guidance of our talented host, Elsa Moreau. The Newcomers Paint Nights are becoming extremely popular to the extent that we have needed to add a second night and take a waiting list. Stay tuned, we will be offering this lovely activity again in the winter and spring. Register fast because seating is limited!
Managing Your Money in Canada- Workshop for Newcomers and Recent Immigrants, November 6, 2018
As part of Financial Literacy month, VEQ offered this workshop put on by the Canadian Foundation for Economic Education. It was an educational afternoon where newcomers could learn a little bit about Canada’s banking system and ask their own financial questions.
Winds of Change Workshop, November 15, 2018
This was an excellent evening for newcomers to meet new people while learning about how change can impact your life. We also had a fantastic guest speaker with a very relatable story. Thank you to our partners at Jeffery Hale Saint Brigid’s for presenting the workshop, our guest speaker and all the participants.
History of Québec presentation, October 24, 2018
What an informative and educational evening learning about the history of the city we live in! We had a wonderful group of people for this fantastic historical presentation that we hope to be able to offer again in the future.
Health 101 & Winter in Québec, September 27th, 6:30-8:30pm
In partnership with Jeffery Hale Saint-Brigid’s and the Wellness Centre at Jeffery Hale, VEQ put on our first Health 101 and Winter in Québec event. The event was a great success and a VERY informative evening. We will be offering the event again in the future. Some topics covered were Information on health services, where to go or call when sick and various other medical topics. Each participant received a health passport and a health 101 guide. If you missed this event but want to consult the Health 101 guide, click here. For the winter portion of the evening, we covered topics such as winter attire, activities and how to get the most out of this beautiful season!
Newcomers Walking Tours & Ferry Ride in Old Québec – May 26 & 27th, 2018
Once again, this activity proved to be extremely popular, so we decided to offer a second walking tour! We were fortunate to have great weather on both days. This activity is an excellent way for people new to Quebec to learn a little bit about the Old City while meeting other newcomers. The ferry ride was a great way to finish the morning and enjoy one of the city’s best views. Thank you to all the participants and our excellent guide.
Newcomers Paint Night– May 17, 2018
What a fun night we had at our first Newcomers’ Paint Night! This was an evening to paint (no experience necessary) while mingling with other newcomers to Quebec City. Thank you to Elsa Moreau, our wonderful teacher for her patience and wonderful guidance. Due to the popularity of this activity, we hope to be able to offer it once again in the fall and the winter.
Newcomers’ Snowshoe Excursion – February 17, 2018
We had a beautiful day for this year’s Snowshoe Excursion at Domaine de Maizerets. It was a fun-filled morning exploring beautiful trails on snowshoes! For most newcomers, this was their first experience with snowshoes. We had a lot of fun and are looking forward to next year!
Newcomers’ Creative Corner Art Group, Winter session 2017
In partnership with Jeffery Hale Community Partners, VEQ put on the bi-weekly Newcomers’ Creative Corner Art Group. It was a wonderful activity and a fantastic way for newcomers to explore their creative side while mingling with other newcomers.
Winds of Change Workshop – November 23, 2017
We had a great group of people at this year’s Winds of Change event. It was a nice night for meeting new people while learning a little bit about how change impacts our lives. Thank you to Jeffery Hale Community Services for presenting, our guest speaker Vivian Yatabe and to all the participants that were there.
Language Exchange Café – Café rencontre: anglais-français- October 26, 2017
What a fun night of games and conversation in English and French! This activity took place during Quebec Intercultural Week (SQRI) with the intention of bringing newcomers together that want to practice either or both their English and/or French. This is the second time that we have held this event, and once again, it was a success. In the feedback we received, the majority of the participants expressed an interest in having more activities like this in the future!
Newcomers’ Meet & Greet: Taste of Québec – September 14, 2017
This year, we had a great group of people of all ages and backgrounds at our annual Newcomers’ Meet & Greet: Taste of Québec event. It was a tremendous opportunity for newcomers to try some authentic Québec foods while meeting new people and learning a little about the Québec culture. This year’s menu: Tourtière, baked beans, creton, cheese, homemade sucre à crème, maples cookies and more! Thank you to all the volunteers and participants for making it a success.
Walking Tours of Old Québec – June 3 & 17, 2017
This year, due to popular demand, we offered two Newcomers’ Walking Tours of Old Québec. Each time, we had a wonderful group and were lucky not to get rained on. The tour was an excellent way for newcomers to learn a little about the Old City while meeting some people. A new addition this year was the ferry ride at the end. This was a great way to finish the day and simultaneously get a fantastic view of the city. Overall, it was a great activity. Thank you to our partner Be Active Québec, all the participants as well as our fantastic guide!
Snowshoeing Excursion – February 18, 2017
This year’s snowshoe excursion sure was a popular event! We were very fortunate to have a pleasant and mild February day. The location was beautiful, and people enjoyed participating in one of the most popular winter sports in Québec. This was an excellent activity for newcomers to get outside while mingling with other people new to the city! Thank you to our partners at Be Active Québec and Holland Elementary, Québec High School and St.Patrick’s High School for lending us the snowshoes for the day! It was a great day; we hope to do it again next year!
Winds of Change Workshop – November 23, 2016
Are you new to Québec or still feel like a newcomer? Voice of English-speaking Québec, in partnership with Jeffery Hale Community Services, is providing a workshop for English speakers who have moved to the Quebec City region in the last few years. Mingle with other newcomers in an informal atmosphere and understand how change impacts your life, while discovering methods of adapting to a new culture and language. Also, hear testimonials from different newcomers and their experiences.
Newcomers’ Language Exchange Café / Café rencontre: anglais-français : November 9, 2016
We are very pleased with our very first Newcomers’ Language Exchange Café. It was a great evening for newcomers to come together and either practice their French or English through conversation and games. We had a wonderful group of people! It was a night for stimulating conversations and meeting new friends. We hope to be able to do this event again in the future. Thank you to all the fantastic participants and volunteers who helped make it a success!
Newcomers Meet & Greet: Taste of Québec – September 8, 2016
We had an excellent turnout for this year’s Taste of Québec and a great menu! This was an opportunity for newcomers to taste some of the delicious foods from Québec while meeting and mingling with new friends. This year’s menu: Tourtière, pea soup, baked beans, creton, cheese, homemade sucre à crème and more! Thank you to all the volunteers, businesses that donated door prizes, and participants for making it a success. I’m already looking forward to next year!
Newcomers Picnic in the Park – August 20, 2016
What a gorgeous day we had for the picnic! We had a great group of people in a beautiful setting. This was an excellent opportunity for newcomers to get out, see a new park, and meet some new people while enjoying a gorgeous summer day. The kids had a ball with bubbles and the playground. A great day all around!
Looking forward to next year!
Newcomers Walking Tour of Old Québec – June 18, 2016
We had a great turn out again for this year’s Newcomers Walking Tour of Old Québec. We were fortunate to have gorgeous weather and a great guide! This was a fantastic opportunity for newcomers to explore the old city on foot, meet other newcomers to the city, visit the beautiful sites and learn a little about Québec City’s rich history. Already looking forward to next year!
Newcomers Snow Shoe Excursion: Plaines of Abraham – January 16, 2016
Voice of English-Speaking Québec in partnership with Be-Active Québec would like to thank everyone who participated in snow shoeing this weekend. VEQ, along with 35 newcomers, participated in a fun-filled afternoon of touring the Plains of Abraham. During this event, we were provided with traditional snow shoes and a bit of history of what it would be like to live in the 20th century. This event was a great way to unite newcomers, break isolation, and enjoy the outdoors.
Newcomers Creative Corner Classes- In partnership with Jeffery Hale
VEQ has decided to continue putting on the Newcomer’s Creative Corner in partnership with Jeffery Hale Community Partners.This is an opportunity for newcomers to get together in a relaxing setting to meet and mingle while painting. We had a lovely group and overall this activity continues to be a great success!
Newcomers Event: Winds of Change Information Session- November 3, 2015
We were delighted with the turnout for this year’s Winds of Change Information session, held annually in partnership with Jeffery Hale Community Services. This year, we are pleased to say we had 25 participants, many of whom had been in Québec for less than six months! It was an excellent opportunity to learn about how change impacts our lives while discovering methods to adapt to a new culture and language. Thank you to our guest speaker, Phil Almaguer, door prize donors, and the participants for making it a successful evening.
Newcomers Meet & Greet: Taste of Québec- October 8, 2015
We had a great turn out at our fifth annual Taste of Québec, held at the Jeffery Hale Hospital. This years menu consisted of tourtière pie, paté, Québec cheeses and homemade pouding chômeur! Thank you to all the businesses that donated outstanding door prizes and to all the participants for making it a great event!
