7 Best Cities To Retire In Quebec
Quebec is one of the most unique provinces in Canada, with its historic cities and distinct brand of French culture. For retirees, the perks are more than the sum of its tourist attractions, however. Sure, Montreal offers renowned museums and entertainment options, but its excellent healthcare and public transit systems make city living highly accessible and attractive for residents of all ages. Saint Hyacinthe presents a more laid-back lifestyle that prioritizes nature and time spent outdoors. And Sherbrooke sits somewhere in the middle, with a blend of arts and recreation that can only be found in the Eastern Townships. Across the province, these cities are guaranteed to make your next chapter equal parts relaxing and fulfilling.
Montreal
Montreal offers a slice of European living in North America. The largest city in Quebec is a popular retirement destination for seniors due to its affordable cost of living for a city of its size, ample public transit, and access to major healthcare institutions. And of course, there's a strong arts and cultural scene that will keep you entertained for your entire retirement.
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is perhaps the best gallery in all of Canada. The museum collects artwork by Canada's masters and features a rotating selection of international artists to keep you coming back for years to come. For those more interested in history, there is the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History. The museum takes you through the history of Quebec and Montreal, with archaeological findings on display to bring the past to life. And to meet your fellow retirees, head to Jean Talon Market. Located near Little Italy, this farmers market has some of the freshest produce, meat, and fish available in the city, perfect for creating a delicious dinner.
Saint-Jérôme
Saint-Jérôme sits in the Laurentians just north of Montreal and may appeal to seniors who speak French. While all of the areas in and around Montreal maintain a Francophone quality, Saint-Jérôme almost requires knowledge of French to get around. If you speak the language, you'll find a walkable community with plenty to do for retirees.
Parc régional de la Rivière-du-Nord is one of the best natural areas in all of Quebec. You can hike some of the trails or fish in the river if you are an angler. Take the grandchildren with you for an unforgettable afternoon that will teach them the joys of the Canadian outdoors. For a different outdoor experience, get yourself a membership at the Golf Club Saint-Jérôme. The club offers 18 challenging holes, and it is one of the better courses in the Montreal area. The arts scene is also alive and well in town, centered around the Théâtre Gilles-Vigneault. It hosts concerts, plays, and musicals, so there's always something on that you'll enjoy.
Saint-Hyacinthe
East of Montreal, in the Montérégie region, you'll find Saint-Hyacinthe. The city is renowned for being one of the province's quietest and safest. But the city comes alive every summer during the Expo agricole de Saint-Hyacinthe. This 10-day event features all the hallmarks of a great agricultural fair, with farm animals, truck pulls, a demolition derby, and more. It's one of the best events in Quebec, and you'll have a front-row seat to it if you retire to Saint-Hyacinthe.
Of course, there's still plenty to do in town when the fair is dormant for the year. Les Salines Park is an excellent city park with walking trails and a playground for your grandkids. Saint-Hyacinthe is an agricultural capital of Quebec, and you'll see why when you head to the Public Market. It is an excellent farmers' market where you can find extremely fresh produce, friendly vendors, and artisanal goods. If you're a home cook, you'll be visiting the market again and again to take your recipes to the next level.
Sherbrooke
Not far from the border with the U.S. states of Maine and Vermont is the city of Sherbrooke. The "Queen of the Eastern Townships" offers a blend of outdoor activities and a cutting-edge arts and culture scene. For outdoor fun, head to Mont-Bellevue Park just outside of town. In the summer, its trails will take you through countryside that helps you feel at one with nature. And in the winter, it becomes a downhill and cross-country ski destination. For an outdoor adventure that's a little less extreme, there's the Marais Réal D.-Carbonneau. The park offers a relaxing stroll near wetlands, giving you the chance to see reptiles and migratory birds.
The cultural scene in Sherbrooke gathers around the Musée des beaux-arts de Sherbrooke. The gallery, occupying a former bank building, highlights regional artists. And with a constantly rotating list of exhibits, there's always something new on tap. And for live music, the Granada Theatre in town brings in musicians from across the country to perform in an intimate downtown venue.
Drummondville
Drummondville is a retirement community where residents have nearly unlimited entertainment options, no matter what they enjoy. History, art, and sports all come together to create a very unique and tight-knit community. The city's claim to fame is the Village Québécois d'Antan. The village is a replica of what a classic Quebec town would have looked like between the 1810s and the 1930s. Costumed staff will guide you through the grounds and help give you an appreciation of what life was like in Canada's past.
For sports, you'll find some of the best dirt-track racing in Canada at the Autodrome Drummond. The race track sees action on the weekends with pro stock and late model races. Food and music fill the summer calendar too, most notably the Festival de la Poutine, which draws crowds to town every August for concerts and Quebec's signature dish.
Trois-Rivières
Sitting at the confluence of the Saint-Maurice and Saint Lawrence rivers, Trois-Rivières is one of the oldest cities in North America, tracing its origin back to 1634. The city has an active retirement community thanks to its plentiful museums and convenient location about equidistant from Montreal and Quebec City. The Pop Museum in town will take you back to the recent past, focusing on Canada's pop culture and how Quebec shaped it. The museum also has several rotating exhibits, so it's worth living in the area to see what's new each season. Attached to the museum is the Old Prison. Take a tour of the prison to see a more distant past, as you'll learn how the 19th-century prison operated and its importance to Trois-Rivières' development. And the city gets racing fever in August, when the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières comes to town. The event has hosted a mix of open-wheel and stock car racing on its downtown street circuit, giving fans a taste of both.
Quebec City
Quebec City has many of the same draws as Montreal, such as a European feel and rich cultural tradition, in a smaller package. The French founded the city in 1608, and you can still see that history come alive on the streets. You can learn more about the history of the area before and after the settlement of the city at the Museum of Civilization. The museum highlights the development of the area, from its days as part of the lands of the indigenous tribes, through New France, and up to today as part of Quebec. For the art history of the province, you'll find yourself coming back to the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec again and again. The gallery is home to the works of many great Quebecois artists, such as Alfred Pellan. But it's not all museums and history in Quebec City. The Quartier Petit Champlain is one of the oldest commercial districts in North America, and you'll spend countless days exploring its boutiques and restaurants on a day out with your fellow retirees or on a romantic getaway with your partner.
Enjoy Your Golden Years in Beautiful Quebec
Quebec offers no shortage of cities to retire to, with something to offer everyone. Some are Francophone communities, while others are places where you can easily get around in English. So whether your ideal retirement involves walking through nature, exploring museums, or catching a live show, you're sure to find your ideal retirement community in one of these seven cities.
