Samuel de Champlain

Hello! My name is Samuel de Champlain. I am an explorer. When I was a little boy living in a place called France, I dreamed about big adventures. I loved to stand by the ocean and watch the tall ships with their big white sails. I always wondered what was on the other side of the big, blue water and wanted to see for myself.

When I grew up, my dream came true! I got to be an explorer and sail on a tall ship across the sea. The journey was very long, but I was so excited. When we finally saw land, it was a beautiful new place. There were giant green forests with tall trees and wide, sparkling rivers. I met the people who already lived there. They are called the First Nations. We became good friends, and they were very kind. They taught me how to travel in a special boat called a canoe and showed me how to find my way through the big woods.

I thought this new land was a wonderful place to build a new home. I found the perfect spot for a town. It was high up on a cliff right next to a big river called the St. Lawrence River. In the year 1608, I started building a town there for my friends from France. We called our new home Quebec. We worked together to build strong wooden houses that would keep us safe and warm.

I lived a long and exciting life full of exploring and building. Today, that little town of Quebec is a big, beautiful city where lots of people live and play. People remember me for starting this new community and for making maps of this amazing land. Sometimes, they even call me the 'Father of New France,' and that makes me very proud.