WELCOME TO VALCARTIER GARRISON
AN AREA WITH AN ENVIABLE COMMUNITY LIFE
Located on a plateau at the foot of the Laurentian Mountains, some 29 kilometres from Old Quebec, Valcartier Garrison is spread over an area that measures about 12 by 24 kilometres, or 210 km2.
Valcartier Garrison is, without a doubt, one of the best equipped garrisons in the country. It boasts 913 housing units, a shopping centre, a newspaper, two schools, two chapels, a military family resource centre, a hospital, a community centre, a sports centre and numerous recreational clubs that make it the envy of many garrisons. Valcartier is also home to the Myriam Bédard Biathlon Centre, one of the best biathlon facilities in North America.
The area around Valcartier is without a doubt a paradise for those who enjoy outdoor activities. Snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, horseback riding, canoeing, hunting, fishing, swimming, hiking, mountain biking and comfort biking can all be enjoyed close by the Garrison. Whether you’re looking to stay in shape or simply to have fun, the possibilities are infinite!
A FEW FACTS & FIGURES
Valcartier Garrison is a community in itself. Its large and diverse population includes more than 6,000 service men and women.
• Valcartier Garrison also employs more than 1,500 permanent and temporary Public Service workers, including non-public fund employees.
• During the summer months, the community swells due to Reserve training and cadet summer training-as many as 1,800 users of Camp Vimy and 3,000 participants in the Cadet Summer Training Program flock to Valcartier for training.
• Range and Training Areas (RTA) Service is responsible for 29 ranges and training areas that are available for collective and individual training of troops. Together, the ranges and training areas cover a territory that allows for live firing at large unit level.
• Each year, Valcartier Garrison spends more than $23 million on various goods and services.
• Military personnel and civilian employees as a whole earn, on average, $340 million a year in gross wages.
• The approximate nominal value of the buildings and various facilities within the Garrison and the areas under its responsibility is estimated at $1 billion.
• The operating and maintenance budget for the Quebec City portion of Valcartier Garrison is $26 million.
OLD QUEBEC BECKONS
Quebec City was founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain and is considered the cradle of French civilization in the Americas. In 2008, Quebec celebrated its 400th anniversary. Strolling through the streets of the oldest fortified city in North America is a truly enchanting experience. The walls of Old Quebec speak volumes about the history of the people who have lived within them for generations. Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985, Quebec City will hold you spellbound with its unique and romantic character. Its old stones and gates will charm you as you find your way to the heart of the Old City. Whether on foot, in a car, on a bicycle or
in a horse-drawn carriage, you will discover the city’s very soul: its courteous and friendly inhabitants as well as its charming restaurants and open recreation areas.
Cultural life in Quebec City flourishes thanks to its theatres, playhouses, movie houses, symphony orchestra and museums that offer a variety of attractions throughout the year. During the summer, numerous street entertainers invade Old Quebec to everyone’s great delight. The Summer Festival adds extra excitement to the warm July evenings. In early August, our rich history is re-enacted through the Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France. In winter, the Quebec Winter Carnival and its numerous family activities generate the kind of festive atmosphere to make you forget the chilly temperatures.