Definition of culture
Culture is about lifestyles, customs and habits.

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Our Definition of Culture

One if not the most accurate definition of culture comes from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The UNESCO defines culture as a "set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features that characterize a society." 

"Culture includes knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, laws, customs and any other capabilities and habits acquired by a member of a society". 

Worldwide integration, international trade and cultural diversity are now the subjects of a new and rising global way of thinking. 

Culture is a pattern that constantly varies and cultures must always be considered as a dynamic dialogue.

Each society has its own values, its own beliefs, its own core values and each society generally admits the existence of other cultures. If one agrees to do business, to immigrate or to travel to Montreal, one must also accept to abide by our core values. It is our core culture that gives us our cohesion, our identity, our framework and our anchor.

A French Culture Majority

In the Quebec and Montreal society, the French majority, the English and the Aboriginals live close to people of other cultures and origins. Everyone can freely choose their lifestyle, opinions and religion but, in return, everyone must respect the rights of others. 

Quebec is a pluralistic society, respectful of a freedom of conscience in an harmonious environment free of assimilation intent.

Our society is secular. The independence between political and religious issues plays an important role in the way our society is organized. Religion has no place in our public life. 

Quebec and Montreal are democratic societies. Our political systems are characterized by social equality, freedom, equality of rights and privileges and our democracy is based on citizen participation in political parties and associations.

Over the years, from generation to generation, our lifestyles have changed. We now believe that all individuals must feel free to explore the uniqueness of their culture and identity and must develop an understanding of the cultural diversity that exists around each and everyone of us. 

A French Culture Diversity

The Quebec society is a free and democratic society, a society enriched by its diversity and based on the rule of law. We abide by the separation of the political and religious powers, by the same rights for both men and women and by the exercise of rights and freedoms in compliance with the rights and freedoms of others.

In 1975, the National Assembly of Quebec passed a statutory bill of rights that states our egalitarian foundations as they are specified in our Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. 

The Charter came into effect in 1976 and has precedence over all provincial legislation. 

Only the Constitution of Canada and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms have priority over the Quebec Charter. Our Charter defines the right to equality, prohibits discrimination in all its forms and outlines the political, judicial, economic and social rights of all citizens.

In 1986, the National Assembly of Quebec adopted the “Declaration on intercultural and interracial relations”. The Declaration condemns racism and urges the Government of Quebec to promote and encourage the full participation of all people to economic, social and cultural development, regardless of their color, religion, ethnic or national origin.

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