| 1534 |
Jacques Cartier lands in Gaspé and, in the name of the King of France, takes possession of the territory that would become known as Canada. |
| 1608 |
Founding of Québec City by Samuel de Champlain. |
| 1642 |
Founding of Ville-Marie (Montreal) by Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve. |
| 1759 |
The Battle of the Plains of Abraham marks the defeat of the French troops at the hands of the English army. |
| 1763 |
Under the Treaty of Paris, New France is ceded to the British Crown. |
| 1774 |
The Québec Act authorizes the practice of the Catholic religion and the use of the French language and French civil law in Québec. |
| 1791 |
The Constitutional Act of Canada establishes two provinces: le Upper Canada (Ontario), with an anglophone majority, and Lower Canada (Québec), with a francophone majority. |
| 1867 |
The British North America Act creates a federation of four Canadian provinces: Québec, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. |
| 1960 |
Québec enters an era of widespread modernization known as the Quiet Revolution. Under the government of Jean Lesage, reforms are undertaken in the areas of social policy, healthcare, education and economic development. |
| 1974 |
French becomes Québec’s official language. |
| 1980 |
Québec voters, by a margin of 60%, reject a referendum seeking permission to negotiate sovereignty-association with the rest of Canada. |
| 1995 |
In another referendum, Québec voters, by a margin of 50.5%, reject a proposal regarding Québec sovereignty, including an offer of partnership with the rest of Canada. |
| 2003 |
At Québec’s initiative, the Canadian provinces create the Council of the Federation. |
| 2006 |
An agreement between Canada and Québec recognizes Québec’s international role and its right to take part in UNESCO initiatives and conferences within the Canadian Permanent Delegation. |
| 2008 |
Signing of the Québec-France agreement on the recognition of professional qualifications during the 12th Francophone Summit, held in Québec City. The agreement seeks to conclude 100 mutual recognition arrangements (MRAs) concerning professional qualifications. That same year, Québec City celebrates its 400th anniversary. |
| 2010 |
Commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Quiet Revolution. |
