Participants enjoyed a banquet with authentic Québec flair, after which they enjoyed the impressive ice sculptures of Michel Lepire.

Québec’s Ministerial Delegate for Transport, Mr. Norman MacMillan, addressed the groups.

Over the past few days, you have participated in many Congress activities. The Mayors' Session and the Ministers' Session have broadened our range of knowledge on the governance of winter service and methods of promoting winter mobility adapted to the climate.

You have also participated in or observed a wide variety of excellent technical sessions that have undoubtedly enabled us to share and perfect our knowledge on the policies, practices and technologies used around the world relating to sustainable mobility in winter conditions.

Some of you have seen equipment demonstrations and participated in technical visits. I think that this banquet is a well-earned break in this busy program that you are so diligently following.

Despite the sometimes variable weather, winter in Québec has remained a festive season. We have resolved to love and live with this season which we consider to be very very beautiful. For us, it is another opportunity to celebrate. As proof of this, the City of Québec has been hosting the largest Winter Carnival in the world for a very long time, with a diverse program of activities that is currently taking place in our beautiful city.

I hope that this evening will be, like this Congress, an enriching and enjoyable experience for all of you. An evening when you will enjoy all our hospitality.

Several Québec artists will be performing this evening. They may show you each in their own way, how much Quebecers love winter, music and …having fun! We also hope that you will enjoy this Québec food, which has been prepared entirely with local products.

You are our guests and it is a great honour for us to be able to share with you our culture, our energy and our joie de vivre.

I wish you a very pleasant evening. Please take this opportunity to continue your discussions in a friendly atmosphere, become better acquainted, have fun and enjoy Québec!

Thank you, have a wonderful evening!

The evening closed with a colourful folk music performance by the Painchaud family, before welcoming Bonhomme Carnaval, the mascot of the largest winter carnival in the world.