Rimouski

Around Rimouski

Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Town and around · Quebec · 53k people

Rimouski

Locals say Bas-Saint-Laurent · “La porte du Bas-Saint-Laurent”

Where the St. Lawrence shapes every day.

Océanic blueSt. Lawrence teal

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Welcome to Rimouski, where the St. Lawrence meets the land. Whether you're here for the marine life, the hockey, or just the fresh air, you'll find a friendly community that loves the outdoors. Take a walk along the waterfront, explore the national park, and enjoy the local flavors.

Clubs for Rimouski

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The room

One room for everyone around Rimouski. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

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Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Rimouski. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

  • Parc national du Bic Coastal park with hiking, kayaking and stunning capes and bays.
  • Pointe-au-Père lighthouse and historic site Includes the historic lighthouse and the Onondaga submarine.
  • Rimouski marina and waterfront Lively area with boats, cafés and views of the St. Lawrence.
  • Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR) Known for its oceanography and marine sciences institute.
  • Colisée Financière Sun Life Home of the Rimouski Océanic junior hockey team.
  • Musée régional de Rimouski Regional history and art exhibits.
  • Outdoors Hike the trails of Parc national du Bic
  • Outdoors Kayak along the St. Lawrence shore
  • With kids Visit the Onondaga submarine at Pointe-au-Père
  • With kids Explore tidal pools at Parc du Bic
  • Evenings Catch a Rimouski Océanic hockey game
  • Evenings Enjoy live music at local pubs
  • Locals love waterfront parks
  • Locals love craft breweries

Through the year

  • Festival de la chanson de Rimouski November Songwriting competition and concerts.
  • Foire agricole de Rimouski August Agricultural fair with animals and local produce.
  • Festival des oiseaux du Bic May Birdwatching festival during spring migration.
  • Rimouski Marathon September Road race along the St. Lawrence.

Humid continental climate with cold, snowy winters and mild, pleasant summers. The best time to be out is from June to September. Best: June to September

Getaways

Local flavour

Teams

  • Rimouski Océanic QMJHL

Eat and drink

  • Poutine Classic Quebec dish, widely available in local casse-croûtes
  • Tourtière Traditional meat pie, a holiday staple in the region
  • Fresh seafood from the St. Lawrence (shrimp, crab, salmon) Local catches featured in many restaurants

Where people go

  • Parc national du Bic Rock formations, fjords, and coastal trails
  • Pointe-au-Père lighthouse and historic site A landmark with a maritime museum
  • Rimouski marina and waterfront A hub for boating and seaside walks
  • Coastal villages and farmland of the Bas-Saint-Laurent Charming hamlets and agricultural landscapes

Heritage and traditions

Rimouski is proud of its deep maritime heritage, from the historic Pointe-au-Père lighthouse to the Onondaga submarine, and its vibrant French-Canadian culture set against the majestic St. Lawrence River.

This time of year in Rimouski

  • Harvest and apple picking Fall Orchards open for picking and cider tasting.

Say it like a local: “C'est le fun” — It's fun; a common expression of enjoyment.

Festivals

  • Festival de la chanson de Rimouski April–May A songwriting competition and concert series showcasing emerging francophone talent.
  • Foire agricole de Rimouski August Agricultural fair with livestock, local produce, and family activities.
  • Festival des oiseaux du Bic May Birding festival celebrating spring migration along the St. Lawrence.
  • Rimouski Marathon September Road race along the waterfront and through the city.
  • Les Grandes Fêtes du St-Laurent August Major outdoor music festival with Quebec and international acts.
  • Fête nationale du Québec (Saint-Jean-Baptiste) June June 24 celebrations with bonfires, concerts, and community pride.

Landmarks with a story

  • Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse and Historic Site One of Canada's tallest lighthouses, with the submarine and museum.
  • Cathédrale Saint-Germain de Rimouski Neo-Gothic cathedral in the city centre, a spiritual landmark.
  • Manoir Fraser A Victorian manor house now a museum of local history.
  • Maison Lamontagne A 19th-century farmhouse preserved as a heritage home.
  • Empress of Ireland Memorial Commemorates the 1914 shipwreck that claimed over 1,000 lives, with ties to Pointe-au-Père.
  • Old Port of Rimouski Once a bustling shipping hub, now a waterfront promenade with warehouses repurposed.

Food traditions

  • Cretons A spiced pork spread served on toast for breakfast, a Quebec staple.
  • Fèves au lard Baked beans slow-cooked with maple syrup and pork, often at sugar shacks.
  • Pouding chômeur A poor man's pudding with cake batter and maple syrup sauce, a classic dessert.
  • Tarte au sucre Sugar pie made with maple syrup or brown sugar, a local favourite.
  • Cabane à sucre meal A spring tradition of visiting sugar shacks for a feast of maple-glazed ham, eggs, and oreilles de crisse.

Music and arts

  • Chanson à texte tradition Rimouski has a strong tradition of lyrical French songwriting, celebrated at the Festival de la chanson.
  • Maritime folk music Sea shanties and accordion tunes echo the fishing heritage.
  • Visual arts inspired by the coast Local painters and photographers capture the dramatic St. Lawrence landscapes.

A little history

  • 1696 Founding of Rimouski
  • 1914 Sinking of the Empress of Ireland
  • 1909 Construction of Pointe-au-Père lighthouse
  • 1950 Great Fire of Rimouski
  • 1969 Founding of UQAR

Rivalries

  • Rimouski Océanic vs Baie-Comeau Drakkar QMJHL rivalry with a nearby coastal town.
  • Rimouski Océanic vs Chicoutimi Saguenéens Historic QMJHL matchups.
  • Game day Rimouski Océanic hockey games
  • Game day Curling bonspiels
  • Outdoors Whale watching
  • Outdoors Sailing the St. Lawrence
  • With kids Explore the Onondaga submarine at Pointe-au-Père
  • With kids Tide-pooling at Parc du Bic

Rimouski speaks Quebec French with a distinctive maritime flavour, featuring a slower, melodic rhythm and vocabulary influenced by the sea. Locals often drop 'là' at the end of sentences and use familiar Quebec expressions.

Only here

  • The Onondaga submarine – one of only a few such vessels in Canada, now a museum.
  • The Empress of Ireland shipwreck – the deadliest maritime disaster in Canadian history, memorialized at Pointe-au-Père.
  • The Pointe-au-Père lighthouse – one of the tallest in Canada, with a unique octagonal shape.
  • The Bic islands – a tiny archipelago with rare seabirds and dramatic cliffs.
New here? A few tips
  • Learn French – while some know English, daily life is in French, and locals appreciate any effort.
  • Dress for the wind – the St. Lawrence breeze can be biting even in summer; layers are key.
  • Try the local cheese – look for cheddar from the region at farmers' markets.
  • Explore the coast – the Route Verte and Parc du Bic are musts for newcomers.
  • Get used to the long winters – embrace snowshoeing, ice fishing, and the winter carnival.

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Nearby

Every area
La MitisQuebecWhere the river meets the wind.Haute-Côte-NordQuebecThe wild shore where the St. Lawrence meets the fjord.Les BasquesQuebecWhere the St. Lawrence meets the Basque coastLa MatapédiaQuebecWhere the river meets the forestMataneQuebecGateway to the Gaspé, where the river meets the sea.TémiscouataQuebecLakes, forests, and warm hearts.Baie-ComeauQuebecWhere the river roars and the forest whispersRivière-du-LoupQuebecThe river's peaceful shore

Rimouski. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.

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