Do our job ads have to be in French?

Quebec's Charter of the French Language sets rules for French in commercial content, and websites and social media aimed at Quebec customers must be available in French. We produce French-first materials; check the specific requirements with the OQLF.

Does the CCQ affect how we recruit?

Yes. The CCQ handles competency certification for workers in Quebec's construction industry, which shapes who you can hire and how. Check the CCQ's guidance before you advertise; we don't interpret it.

Can you write recruiting content in French?

Yes, with qualified French-language writers and translators. We write in French first rather than translating an English ad at the last minute.

Recruiting Roofers in Quebec

Snow and cold set a firm roofing season in Quebec, and winters run longer once you leave the St. Lawrence lowlands. But what really sets Quebec apart for recruiting is how the construction industry is organised and the role of French. A plan that works in Ontario needs real changes before it works here.

How Quebec's construction industry shapes hiring

Answer first: in Quebec, construction workers need competency certification from the CCQ, and contractors need RBQ licences, so recruiting has to fit that framework.

Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) is responsible for competency certification of workers in Quebec's construction industry. Who you can hire, and how, depends on its rules. Read them at the source before you post; we don't interpret them.
Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) licenses contractors who carry out construction work for others. That matters to recruiting too: an applicant comparing employers may check whether yours holds a proper licence.
CNESST covers labour standards and workplace health and safety. Start there for safety requirements, including working at height, and for employment standards questions.

Because these rules are specific and change, everything we produce for a Quebec roofing company is reviewed by you against the official sources before it goes live.

French-first recruiting

Answer first: write in French first, not as an afterthought.

Quebec's language charter, strengthened by Bill 96, expects French to dominate commercial advertising, and a website or social account aimed at Quebec customers needs a French version. The OQLF explains the requirements for businesses. For recruiting, practical consequences are:

job ads and hiring pages written in natural Quebec French, by qualified writers
crew video captioned in French
applicant replies by text in French, with English available where appropriate
truck and yard signage reviewed with the language rules in mind

The Quebec roofing labour market

Answer first: Montréal and its suburbs dominate, with distinct regional markets around Québec City, Gatineau, Sherbrooke and Saguenay.

Greater Montréal, Laval and Longueuil. The largest pool, divided by bridges and traffic. Drive-time targeting matters here as much as anywhere in Canada.
Québec City and Lévis. A strong regional market across the river from each other, with its own hiring rhythm.
Gatineau. Shares a labour pool with Ottawa, so applicants may compare employers on both sides of the river.
Sherbrooke and Saguenay. Smaller markets where reputation and referrals carry a lot of weight.

Weather and the hiring season

Long, snowy winters compress the roofing season, especially outside the St. Lawrence lowlands. Build your bench in the autumn, prepare French materials and test ads over the winter, and hire before the thaw. The hiring season calendar covers the timing.

Weather, materials and timing for French content

Answer first: French materials take longer to prepare well, so start them in the autumn.

A good French ad, hiring page and set of captions cannot be rushed out in March. Writing in natural Quebec French, checking terminology for roofing work and reviewing everything against your own understanding of CCQ and RBQ requirements takes a few weeks. Starting in the autumn means you can test French ads in January and February, when budgets go further, and launch proven campaigns before the season opens. It also leaves time to film crews and caption clips properly rather than relying on automatic subtitles.

How we would recruit for a Quebec roofing company

Start from the official framework: you confirm CCQ and RBQ requirements, and we build marketing that fits them.
Write French-first ads and pages per role. See hiring pages.
Film crews in French for honest employer-brand clips. See crew video.
Reply in French within minutes with applicant text-back.

We are a marketing service, not a contractor or staffing agency, and we don't give legal or labour-relations advice. See pricing or contact us.

Recruiting roofing crews in Quebec