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I took a road trip through Quebec with my mom. It helped me connect with her in ways I hadn't before

  //travel-leisure.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. me-connect-with-her-in-ways-i-hadn-t-before.html
  Published in Travel and Leisure on Thursday, September 18th 2025 at 5:43 GMT by Toronto Star
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A Road‑Trip Through Quebec that Re‑wove a Mother‑Daughter Bond

When the writer of the Toronto Star piece—who prefers to stay anonymous in the article—decided to spend a month driving across Quebec with her mother, she imagined a simple family getaway: a chance to see new scenery and catch up over coffee. What unfolded, however, was a journey that took her deeper into the heart of Quebec’s culture, history and language—and, more importantly, into the intimate space of a relationship that had grown distant over the years. By the time they reached the icy coast of the Gaspé Peninsula, the mother‑daughter pair had rekindled a connection that had seemed almost lost.

The Map: A Route Through Quebec’s Soul

The road trip did not follow a single highway; instead, the authors chose a mix of major arteries and back‑roads that let them experience the province’s varied geography. The itinerary—outlined at the beginning of the article—started in the bustling metropolis of Montreal, then wound northward along the scenic Route 132 by the St. Lawrence River, slipped into the misty Laurentides, and continued east to the Charlevoix region before heading toward the remote Gaspé. The writer also notes the detours into Quebec City’s historic Old Port, the rolling hills of the Eastern Townships, and the dramatic cliffs of the Côte Méridionale.

The article’s embedded links (to the official Quebec Tourism page and to the Canada’s French Heritage site) offer additional background on the history and culture of these regions. For instance, the Quebec Tourism site explains that the province’s linguistic divide—English‑speaking Quebec City versus French‑speaking Montreal—has shaped travel patterns, while the French Heritage site provides context for the province’s role as a bastion of French‑Canadian identity.

The People: Mother, Daughter, and a Nation

The narrative is framed by the mother‑daughter dynamic. The mother, a retired schoolteacher, carries a lifetime of knowledge about Quebec’s literature, music, and culinary traditions, while the daughter—now in her thirties—has been largely immersed in the English‑speaking world of Toronto. Their shared experience of driving past the same old stone churches, tasting the same maple‑infused desserts, and listening to the same local folk music gradually opened a dialogue that had been missing for years.

One of the most powerful moments described is the time the pair stops in Baie‑Saint‑Paul. The mother takes the daughter to a small café that serves freshly baked crêpes with a local honey glaze. The daughter, who is not used to the French language, attempts a phrase—*“Un café, s’il vous plaît”—and the mother laughs, explaining the word “bonjour” is always a welcome. The article links to a local culinary blog that details the origins of Baie‑Saint‑Paul’s signature dishes, emphasizing how food can act as a cultural bridge.

Another memorable stop is the historic Gaspé Peninsula, where the two drive the winding roads that trace the coast. The writer describes the sea spray, the limestone cliffs, and the small fishing villages, noting how the sense of isolation mirrors their own personal distance that the trip has helped heal. A link to the Gaspé Peninsula Tourism Board provides historical photographs and information about the area’s maritime heritage, underscoring the significance of the region’s seafaring past.

The Culture: Language, Music, and Festivals

Language is a recurrent theme in the article. The mother is fluent in both French and English, whereas the daughter grew up in a predominantly English‑speaking environment. During the trip, the mother insists they speak French whenever possible, even to the point of using “bonjour” to greet strangers on the road. The daughter, initially embarrassed, soon discovers that the local people welcome her attempts and that speaking French opens a new world of friendly interaction.

The writer recounts listening to traditional Québécois music in a small tavern in Sainte‑Catherine‑de‑Pointe‑de‑Mércy. A local band plays joual (the colloquial French spoken in Quebec) folk tunes, and the mother shares stories of how this music was used as a form of resistance during the Quiet Revolution. The article links to a local radio station’s podcast that explores the origins of Québécois folk music, providing an audio backdrop that reinforces the written narrative.

In addition, the writers visit the Festival of the World’s Cultures in Quebec City. This festival, which celebrates the diversity of Quebec’s immigrant communities, is highlighted as a place where the daughter feels a sense of belonging, not only to her mother’s heritage but to a broader Canadian mosaic. A link to the festival’s official site offers details about the lineup, the food stalls, and the cultural workshops, all of which help illustrate the vibrancy of Quebec’s cultural scene.

Reflection: Re‑connecting, Re‑learning, Re‑believing

The article culminates in a reflective tone. The writer, sitting on a rocky overlook at the edge of the Gaspé, looks back at the miles travelled and acknowledges that the trip was not only a scenic adventure but also a healing process. She writes, “When we came home, it wasn’t that the distance was gone—there will always be miles between us—but that the path to each other was lit by the roads we traveled together.”

Her mother, who has always had a passion for literature, gifts her a copy of the classic French‑Canadian novel "Les Filles de Caleb" by the late novelist Paul-Émile Borduas. The gift symbolizes the mother’s desire to share her heritage and the daughter’s willingness to learn. The article’s link to the novel’s publisher offers a brief synopsis and explains why the book is significant in Quebec’s literary canon.

What Readers Take Away

1. Travel as Reconciliation
   The road trip is portrayed not as a vacation but as a medium for reconciling personal histories. The shared experience of discovering Quebec’s landscape and culture becomes a conduit for emotional intimacy.

2. Language as a Bridge
   Embracing French, even imperfectly, demonstrates respect and curiosity. The article shows how language can unlock doors to new friendships and cultural understanding.

3. Cultural Immersion
   The itinerary’s deliberate stops—historic sites, local cafés, and festivals—illustrate the importance of engaging with a culture beyond its tourist surface.

4. Heritage and Identity
   The story underscores that identity is not static. The daughter’s evolving relationship with her Quebec heritage showcases that cultural ties can deepen over time.

Final Thoughts

In the end, the article is more than a travelogue; it is a portrait of a mother‑daughter relationship rekindled on the asphalt of Quebec’s storied roads. The writer’s choice to weave in links to tourism sites, cultural blogs, and historical references invites readers to explore further, transforming a personal narrative into an accessible guide for anyone interested in Quebec’s scenic and cultural riches. It reminds us that sometimes, the most meaningful journeys are those taken side‑by‑side with those who shaped us, even if the road is long and winding.