À propos de l'extraordinaire diversité (et ouverture) des sciences régionales québécoises : origines et prospective

This paper reviews the history of regional science in Quebec, going back to the period before its formal establishment in the province. From the very beginning, regional science in Quebec was influenced by outside actors and ideas. The fathers of Quebec regional science were French and American. Since, varying schools of thought have flourished, some more sociological in tone others economic and quantitative, in the various universities and regions of the province, giving rise to a rich body of literature, still growing. Today, regional science in Quebec, while solidly rooted in its local environment, is now also an avowedly universal research community, whose work appears in the best academic journals. A new generation is knocking at the door. The dominant feature of Quebec regional science remains its openness, not only to other ideas, but also to others. That is its true good fortune and its specificity.