Montreal

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Québec's seasonal extremes are something that set the province apart from much of the world. Temperatures can climb to above 30°C in summer and drop to -25°C in winter. Visiting Québec during the two "main" seasons (summer and winter) is like visiting two totally different places, with the seasons influencing not only the scenery, but also the lifestyles and behaviour of the local population.

The winter of 1998 was probably the most devastating in the history of Montréal. For almost a week in early January, heavy freezing rain hit the city, causing a series of catastrophes. The accumulation of the freezing rain toppled electrical pylons, cut Montréal's electrical supply, and plunged almost half of Québec's population into a cold darkness for several days, and in some cases for several weeks. The downtown core was closed for about a week to clear the ice, interrupting all financial and commercial activity. Though the "Ice Storm of 1998 strongly affected Montrealers", it brought the community together in a show of support.