35th Montreal International Jazz Festival Held
Approximately two-million music fans gathered in Quebec’s largest city for the 35th Montreal International Jazz Festival. Between June 26 and July 6, 2014, crowds in downtown Montreal were entertained with the smooth sounds of some of the world’s top performers, including the Barenaked Ladies; Tony Bennett; Terence Blanchard; Michael Buble; Elvis Costello; Ron Di Lauro; Earth, Wind & Fire; Aretha Franklin; Lady Gaga; Ben Harper; Keith Jarrett; the Grace Kelly Quartet; B.B. King; Diana Krall; Daniel Lanois; Katie Melua; Charlie Musselwhite; Diana Ross; and Rufus Wainwright - among many others. Music lovers had around 800 concerts to choose from during the 11-day event, many of which were free. A variety of foods were also available at the venue’s various eateries.
Being able to attend the annual Montreal International Jazz Festival is only one of several reasons that many foreign nationals who immigrate to Canada choose to move to the province of Quebec. Known for its unique French-Canadian culture, Quebec is the largest province in Canada and has the second largest population of any Canadian province or territory. Since French is the predominant language used in Quebec, most of the people who immigrate to Canada and settle in Quebec arrive from French-speaking countries, such as France, Morocco, Algeria, Lebanon and Haiti, but many people also move to Quebec from countries where French is not a main language and then learn French as a practicality. In addition to having the second largest economy in Canada, Quebec is also known for being a green province, both in terms of its natural beauty and its abundant clean “green” energy (for example, 96% of the electricity used in Quebec comes from hydroelectric power). Whether you want to enjoy music in Montreal, French-Canadian cuisine in Quebec City, or go snow skiing on one of approximately 90 ski slopes in this scenic province, Quebec has much to offer people who immigrate to Canada.
