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sherbrooke TRAVEL Spring 2013
The
Ultimate Experience HISTORY TOURISM PHYSICAL FEATURES CULTURE
welcome ð You are arriving in Sherbrooke in one of the most spectacular seasons when the nature shows the small city’s large beauty. In this edition of the Sherbrooke Travel Magazine you will find a brief history, some places to visit, cultural activities, and lots of visuals. This magazine was especially created to give you the analysis of Sherbrooke’s ecosystem and features. Since spring is the season when all nature flourishes, you can experience all the physical characteristics that make this city so wonderful.
Small City, Large Beauty
Promenade du Lac des Nations
history ð
The first ever people to visit the grounds of the city known today as Sherbrooke were Abenakis tribesmen. They used this place as a meeting point between different settlements within the area.
Once Samuel De Champlain arrived in Quebec in 1608 the French managed to create an alliance with the Abenakis and the area around Sherbrooke was used as a battlefield.
In 1793, Americans from Vermont settle in the town of Ascot. These were the first attempts at colonization, which occurred on the Saint-Francois River. In 1802, the group’s leader Gilbert Hyatt built the first flourmill along the river. This attracted many families to live around that area therefore constructing a small village named “Hyatt Mills”
The village’s name is later changed to Sherbrooke after its new governor, Sir John Coape
Manufacturing was established early and this lead to the harnessing of hydropower from
The first school in Sherbrooke opens in 1836 and acquires the status of University 10 years later
A railway was also created in 1852 within Eastern Townships that provides easier trade routes. This created many new jobs for the settlers and Irish immigrants that worked on the railroad. The French and Canadian settlers with the help of the new Irish Settlers who stayed in the city eventually started rapidly expanding factories.
The rest of the nineteenth century saw Sherbrooke rapidly expanding with the establishment of academic institutions to earn a role as a college town.
Population Ă°ďƒ°
Who will you find in Sherbrooke?
The population of Sherbrooke is 154,601 people. The greatest amount of residents in the city is between the ages of 20-24 due to the fact that Sherbrooke is a college town with the largest concentration of students in Quebec.
Age (Years)
Sherbrooke Population Pyramid
85+ 80-84 75-79 70-74 65-69 60-64 55-59 50-54 45-49 40-44 35-39 30-34 24-29 20-24 15-19 10-14 05-09 0-4 (8,000.00)
Females Males
(6,000.00)
(4,000.00)
(2,000.00) Population 2,000.00
4,000.00
6,000.00
“Students are the future”
ð WHAT’S TO COME? Since the University of Sherbrooke employs students straight after graduation, the city will seem to grow towards a more knowledge based and technological industry. The foreseeable modernization in the future of the city will mean that old traditions such as manufacturing and machinery will die out. The high population of students and young adults in the city will also mean that the city of Sherbrooke will see a large increase in a short period of time to its employers in the service sectors.
8,000.00
Climate
Temperatures range from −5.7 °C (21.7 °F) in January to 24.7 °C (76.5 °F) in July.
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Temperature (Degrees Centigrate)
Rainfall (mm)
Climate Graph of Sherbrooke, Que
Months
Holds a milder climate than most of the other regions in the province of Quebec.
The growing season is from about April 20 to October 20, and the frostfree period is 120 days
Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating: there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather. ~ John Rushkin
The average precipitation greatly decreases by 42mm from the changing of the season from summer to fall.
The climate of Sherbrooke is affected by the Atlantic Ocean, which causes summers to be milder, and winters to be warmer. The average annual precipitation is 83mm with the highest amount in August and the other summer months.
The Atlantic Ocean creates a moist, humid continental climate according to the Koppen climate classification.
Landscape ð
{ PHYSICAL FEATURES} Region’s Appeal Due to the many waterways in the area of Sherbrooke this would surely attract many visitors to the city. Tourists can discover many lakes located in the heart of the city such as the Lac des Nations and many more in the outskirts of the city. The warm and mild climate of the city during the summer will also attract people for a wonderful getaway.
Sherbrooke has parks and greenspaces that encompass a variety of recreational activities. In total, there are 108 in the municipality
Nature Sherbrooke has been focused on management of forestry and the environment making it one of the most ecological cities in Quebec. The result is beautiful and developed scenery with wonderful trees, plants, waterways, and colors. This greatly cared for environment should attract many nature enthusiasts, families and even young students
ð The environment and beautiful nature bring many tourists to the area no matter what the season. As so many waterways are present in and around the area of Sherbrooke water activities are growing attractions. They cause a low impact on the environment since it is all natural and clean, however many motorized boats that come to ride in the water can leave behind oil, gas and other harmful pollutants in the area. A way to make this practice more sustainable in order to keep the environment clean is to offer the rental of canoes and pedal boats all across the city and near the water to bring more people to enjoy a safe, clean and peaceful ride through the waters without causing pollution. Also many tourists visit the area for camping, picnicking, hiking and cycling. To sustain a beautiful and clean environment people must always remember to dispose waste properly, conserve water and power and to not litter. This will sustain the beautiful physical features of Sherbrooke for years to come.
“Nature never did betray The heart that loved her.” ~ William Wordsworth
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Economy Ă°ďƒ°{INDUSTRIES}
Ever since the first settlers arrived in Sherbrooke it has been known as a hard working city. Sherbrooke’s industrial base still heavily relies on clothing, textile and machinery industries and has expanded to technological industry as well. Jobs in Sherbrooke have been more Manufacturing- based, but this is starting to change with more universities employing graduates into Service and Knowledge based industries. The University of Sherbrooke is the largest employer in the city creating 6,000 jobs. Health care and social services employ 5,511 people in the city.
The art gallery at the Université de Sherbrooke, the Galerie d’art du Centre culturel de l’Université de Sherbrooke, will present a mural covering all of the gallery’s walls.
Culture and Tourism Ă°ďƒ°
During the summer, many festivals, concerts and other events can be found in and around the city Sherbrooke. It has a very amped up cultural life that attracts many artists, tourists, families, and young students. Sherbrooke interprets the historical past of the city and combines it with the modernized, young population to create a place that is a rich cultural hub.
If you were to walk down the streets of this small city, you could find a 6km
Sherbrooke also has two museums, the Museum of Science and Nature and the Sherbrooke Fine Arts
journey of astonishing wall paintings that transform the entire street into an outdoor gallery.
The Granda Theatre is another must see cultural hotspot for any visitors. It was built in 1929 and is still around today hosting many theatrical and musical performances.
Ă°ďƒ° Every summer, Sherbrooke hosts a variety of multicultural and diverse festivals attracting many large crowds. The festivals range form Asian to Irish and even a festival dedicated to the family alone. This can target all types of audiences, whether you are young or old. The City of Sherbrooke will attract victors from Canada since it is one of the most ecological cities, not only in Quebec ,but in all of the country. . The touristic activities in the city will appeal to the
During the hot weather, all the nearby waterways could prove an excellent gateway for a calm canoe trip with friends.
young crowd since festivals, art, museums, and performances gear more towards contemporary and modern styles. Meanwhile the relaxing, slow and beautiful nature will target older people and families. Sherbrooke is a popular tourist destination due to its historic past and young population. It is a city for everyone!
The Orford Express Tourist Train offers a majestic trip through time. It contains restaurant-coach cars that can comfortably seat 212 guests along the wonderful ride that experiences the countrysides of Sherbrooke, Magog and Eastman.
Find More About the Ultimate Experience ð Bureau d'information touristique 785, rue King Ouest Sherbrooke (Québec) J1H 1R8 Telephone: 819 821-1919 Toll free: 1 800 561-8331 info@destinationsherbrooke.com
Editor in Chief