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Quebec Winter Carnival founder discusses its origins
It was a merry fete celebrating pea soup and tourtière. Revellers rejoiced in the culture of les habitants when the Quebec Winter Carnival first began in 1894. In 1955, residents of Quebec City revived the festival with new traditions in the old city. Skilled canoeists raced on the half-frozen St. Lawrence and artists built ice sculptures. But over the years purists say Le Carnaval de Québec has strayed too far from its roots, using gimmicks from Bonhomme to Brooke Shields to attract crowds.
Program: Quebec Now
Broadcast Date: Feb. 19, 1974
Guest(s): Philippe Plamondon
Reporter: Gilles de Lalande, Sarah Jennings
Duration: 3:16
Last updated: February 8, 2013
Page consulted on March 25, 2013
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