The Grand Welcome

On the street corner, you’ll see a jester bowing and welcoming you with a dramatic flair! This playful sculpture is called Le Grand Bienvenue, or The Grand Welcome, and it’s the work of Quebec artist Nicole Taillon. For twenty years, this cheerful figure stood outside the headquarters of the Canadian insurance company Caisse Desjardins. Today, he’s found a new home here at the boutique hotel Monsieur Jean, where he welcomes visitors to the heart of Old Quebec. The artist designed the jester as a universal symbol of hospitality. No matter who we are or where we come from, we all find ourselves in the same kingdom. In Quebec, locals sometimes use bienvenu not just to say “welcome,” but also as a direct translation to say “you’re welcome”—a charming example of how English and French mingle here in everyday life.