From Stadacona to the REM · Drawing 18 of 43
Québec Becomes a Province
July 1, 1867
In 1867, Québec became one of Canada’s first four provinces, with Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. This union was called Confederation. Each province had its own government.
Look together
Can you find Québec and the other three provinces on the map?
An idea to try
Choose a colour for each province. Then find Québec on a map from today. Compare how far Québec stretches on the two maps.
For the adult reading along
A little more to discover
On July 1, 1867, the Province of Canada was divided into Ontario and Québec. They formed the Dominion of Canada with New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The new country remained part of the British Empire. Québec had its own provincial government. Indigenous peoples were excluded from the Confederation negotiations.
The outlines are simplified from the Atlas of Canada. They show 1867 boundaries, when Québec extended less far north than it does today. Indigenous peoples had already lived on these lands for a long time.
Sources and illustration notes (4)
An imagined museum visit today. The simplified map shows the four provinces in 1867. Outline source: Natural Resources Canada, Atlas of Canada, Territorial Evolution, 1867. Four large closed shapes with bold borders; small islands and waterway details are omitted to make colouring easier.
These links lead to other websites. Explore them with an adult. References identify the institution and the related lesson; some linked pages are in French.
- Department of Justice Canada — Constitution Act, 1867, section 5The four provinces named in the Act.
- Government of Canada — Federalism in CanadaCreation of Ontario and Québec from the Province of Canada and the division of powers.
- Natural Resources Canada — Territorial Evolution, 1867Historical boundaries and simplified outlines of the four provinces.
- Canadian Museum of History — Estranged VoicesExclusion of Indigenous peoples from the negotiations.
Page prepared on November 7, 2026. Illustrations simplify places and scenes; they are not historical documents.
This drawing is from the book Québec’s Great Moments to Colour
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