Québec, ville de bois

Abstract

Since the establishment of the trading post of Quebec City in 1608, the economic growth and the development of the town have been closely linked to timber and forestry. Whether on a daily basis for domestic supplies or for commercial purposes, timber is actively involved in the town development (timber trader luxury villas, workers' dwellings, parks), in its economy (5th largest harbour in the world) and in the building of its collective imagination. Six era are reminiscent of this fabulous history: the beginning of the timber economy under the French regime (17th century - 1763); the flourishing period of the squared timber during the English colonial era (1763 -first half of the 19th century); the transition period toward lumber and the U.S. market (second half of the 19th century -1870); the birth of the pulp and paper industry and the beginning of the scientific forestry (early 20th century) and finally the actual era with the development of the governmental structures, training and research centres and the general uprising of secondary processing industry.