What Québec Wants™

Going to the gym in Québec

Statistical Snapshots - facts and figures about Québec and the RoC

The morality of buying sex in Québec

Statistical Snapshots - facts and figures about Québec and the RoC

Québec's proposed French signage regulations give retailers much leeway.

New regulations would require businesses with non-French trademarks to display prominent French signage, whether it is a slogan, a description or a message about what’s on sale.

This is the government response to a 2014 ruling on a court action brought by Best Buy, Costco, Gap, Old Navy, Guess, Wal-Mart, Toys “R” Us and Curves that under existing language regulations, companies with an English brand name were not obliged to add a French phrase to their signs. The new rules will require that the French addition be in the same field of vision as the principal sign and that it be illuminated at night if the main sign is.

Many retailers in Québec already comply by adding a touch of French to their names either by adding an article or a French descriptor. Les cafés Starbucks. Le Body Shop. Crate & Barrel Maison. Winners Mode. Moore vêtements pour hommes.

The new rules would allow a retailer to comply by simply adding a French slogan. 

As such, the sign of the Roots store on Ste-Catherine Street in Montréal with "Depuis 1973" (Since 1973) would likely comply. And so does Tim Hortons Toujours Frais signage.

The rules will apply immediately after the regulations’ adoption to new signs, but there will be a three-year delay to bring existing signs into conformity.

For more on this, read our previous post, The upside of politeness in Québec

Quebec travellers less adventurous

Statistical Snapshots - facts and figures about Québec and the RoC

A survey by Ipsos Reid conducted between December 15 and 20, 2015 among 1,003 Canadians on behalf of RBC Insurance asked respondents to identify which of five traveller profiles best described them. While there aren't major differences, the findings offer an insight into Quebec travellers.

Relative to Canadians in the RoC, Quebeckers are less adventurous / more likely to remain in their comfort zone.

The Risk-Raking Rover - You seek adventure at every turn, the last thing you want to do on your vacation is be bored.

• 11% of Canadians
• 12% of Quebeckers

The Scheduled Sightseer - Every minute of your vacation is planned out and fits within a tightly-packed schedule.

• 13% of Canadians
• 16% of Quebeckers

The Armchair Adventurer - You like to sit back and relax, letting others go off on adventures if they want.

• 13% of Canadians
• 11% of Quebeckers

The Timid Trekker - You don't like to stray too far from your comfort zone when on vacation, opting instead for similar restaurants and activities.

• 18% of Canadians
• 24% of Quebeckers

The Play-it-by-ear Pilgrim - The only plan on your travels is where you're going, after that you just see where the journey takes you.

• 44% of Canadians
• 37% of Quebeckers