Staff concerned as Quebec City Aquarium shuts down on weekdays for construction

Major construction near the Quebec City Aquarium has led to its closure on weekdays until mid-December, raising concerns among staff about wages and work schedules.

Starting Monday, the aquarium will only be open on weekends, operating from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, when construction is paused. It will also open on Monday, Oct. 14, for the Thanksgiving long weekend.

SEPAQ, the provincial agency responsible for parks and wildlife reserves, made the decision after evaluating the safety risks caused by the construction work around the aquarium’s parking lot and near bridge entrances.

“We prioritized the safety of our customers and employees,” said Stéphanie Tremblay, the aquarium’s communications adviser, noting that many visitors include young children, seniors, and people with reduced mobility.

The union representing the aquarium’s 130 workers has not disputed the reasons for the closure but expressed disappointment over the lack of communication before the decision was announced.

"I found out [Friday] afternoon through a news release," said Normand Paradis, president of the Syndicat de la fonction publique et parapublique du Québec (SFPQ) for the Quebec-Chaudière-Appalaches region.

"We had hoped—and still hope—for more collaboration with SEPAQ to better coordinate and address workers' concerns when the announcement was made."

Concerns about schedules

Although SEPAQ assured that no job losses or layoffs would occur due to the weekday closures, Paradis raised concerns about how employees' schedules might be affected.

"Will workers be forced to take leave? And who is guaranteed to get all their hours?" he asked. "Plus, now they’ll have to work every weekend, whereas they used to be able to work Monday to Friday."

Paradis estimates that around 60 customer service employees will be more impacted than those responsible for caring for the animals. "We still have to ensure the animals are cared for, fed, and their habitats maintained," he said.

Tremblay acknowledged that the aquarium is a large site with various tasks but confirmed that some staff would experience schedule changes.

Paradis also questioned whether SEPAQ would seek compensation from Quebec's Transport Ministry, which is managing the construction that led to the closure. Tremblay responded that this would be part of ongoing discussions.

Visitors and groups who had booked weekday visits have been contacted and will receive refunds. Additionally, the validity of annual passes will be extended to account for the closure days.