Québec/Ontario

Canadian Odyssey: Québec City to Toronto

Program No. 3734RJ
Discover the beauty and history of Eastern Canada’s great cities — Québec City and its Old Town, cosmopolitan Montréal, national capital Ottawa and Toronto, the largest city in Canada.

Enroll with Confidence

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more

Protecting the Environment

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more

At a Glance

Discover the grand beauty and historical significance of some of the great cities of Eastern Canada: Québec City, the last walled city in the Americas north of Mexico; Montréal, a cosmopolitan center of culture; Ottawa, the national capital; and Toronto, the largest city in Canada. Compare the distinctive architecture and mood of each city. Explore grand cathedrals, stroll cobblestone streets and visit world-class museums. And enjoy discussions with local experts on the history, culture and art of Canada.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to two miles per day; uneven surfaces, cobblestones; some hills and stairs encountered. Some standing in museums/historic sites.

What You'll Learn

  • Visit the magnificent Notre Dame Basilica, a masterpiece of Gothic revival architecture.
  • Discover upper and lower town in Old Québec, exploring fortifications that date from 1745.
  • Journey from Ottawa's Parliament Hill to Old Town Toronto and the historic St. Lawrence Market.

General Notes

Select dates are designated for small groups and are limited to 24 participants or less.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Bruce Bell
Bruce Bell — journalist, author, playwright, actor, curator — brings an incredible passion and enthusiasm for the history of Toronto and its architecture. He has been the monthly history columnist for Canada’s largest community newspaper since 1999 and has also been appointed as historian for many famed Toronto sites. Bruce is the author of “Amazing Tales of St. Lawrence Neighbourhood” and “Toronto: A Pictorial Celebration.” His mission is to tell Toronto’s history through his writings and lectures, including his sold-out shows at Toronto’s famed Winter Garden Theatre.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Bruce Bell
Bruce Bell View biography
Bruce Bell — journalist, author, playwright, actor, curator — brings an incredible passion and enthusiasm for the history of Toronto and its architecture. He has been the monthly history columnist for Canada’s largest community newspaper since 1999 and has also been appointed as historian for many famed Toronto sites. Bruce is the author of “Amazing Tales of St. Lawrence Neighbourhood” and “Toronto: A Pictorial Celebration.” His mission is to tell Toronto’s history through his writings and lectures, including his sold-out shows at Toronto’s famed Winter Garden Theatre.
Profile Image of Jason Kucherawy
Jason Kucherawy View biography
With his colleague Steve Woodall, Jason Kucherawy starting offering expert-led walking explorations of Toronto ten years ago, as an outgrowth of their previous experience together as leaders for educational organizations. Both men have extensive experience working with teenagers, students of English as a second language, and international travelers of all ages. Jason, Steve and the others they work with combine deep knowledge of the Toronto area with wit, energy, enthusiasm and their genuine enjoyment of meeting people from around the world.
Profile Image of David Jeanes
David Jeanes View biography
David Jeanes is a retired professional engineer. He is vice-president of Heritage Ottawa, which is committed to the preservation of heritage architecture, and president of Transport 2000 Canada, which is devoted to sustainable public transportation. A native of Britain, David has lived in Ottawa much of his working life and spent 32 years in the high-tech industry on the design, standardization and marketing of global data-communication networks.
Profile Image of Patricia Brown
Patricia Brown View biography
Patricia Brown has traveled across Canada and the USA with numerous groups, allowing her to discover many wonderful places and meet equally wonderful people. Patricia is also bilingual in French and English which certainly makes navigating the province of Quebec easier! She studied Communication at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, BC, as well as Travel in Quebec. Currently, she’s made her home in Montreal with her partner and dog, where she indulges in her other passions, cooking and entertaining.
Profile Image of Clarisse Fréchette
Clarisse Fréchette View biography
Clarisse Frechette’s family arrived in Québec back in 1677 as shipbuilders. She has a bachelor’s degree in sociology and worked as a research agent for Québec’s Department of Education before taking on the role of a field manager for Statistics Quebec. Becoming an educational interpreter was second nature for Clarisse, with her love of history and certainly her love of Québec! She has explored the old streets of Québec for over 20 years. It is always her pleasure to help people discover this area.
Profile Image of Marie Legroulx
Marie Legroulx View biography
Marie is an eleventh-generation Quebecoise whose ancestors settled on the shores of the St. Lawrence River in the mid-17th century. She has a BA in history and an MA in Quebec literature from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. Marie draws on both fields in her Road Scholar learning adventures as well as within her life more broadly. She taught French and Quebec literature for 25 years at the university level. Marie has been leading groups in Quebec City and the surrounding area since 2008.
Profile Image of Thom Seivewright
Thom Seivewright View biography
Thom Seivewright has been working as a local city expert in Montreal for over 6 years. He spends his days showing people around Montreal and connecting them with the city’s unique culture, history, architecture, and languages. His background is in communications, journalism, and hospitality, but sharing his passion for this cosmopolitan city is his favorite thing to do.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.





Recommended For You

loading spinner