Catherine Cano, Quebec’s delegate in Miami, made the front page this week of Miami Today, a highly respected and reliable source of information in Miami-Dade County for community, economic, and administrative news for the past 43 years.
In this interview, Ms. Cano reflects on her exceptional career path, spanning international journalism and diplomacy, and explains her current role at the Quebec Office in Miami, which opened in December 2024 to strengthen ties between Quebec, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. She emphasizes that the office’s presence aims to consolidate economic, cultural, educational, and political relations between the two regions.
A native of Chicoutimi, Ms. Cano recounts how her interest in journalism began in childhood, when she would watch the late-night news with her father. She studied political science and communication at the University of Ottawa to gain a solid understanding of public issues. Her journalism career took her to Washington, Denver, and Miami, where she covered major events such as the U.S. presidential elections, the First Gulf War, the September 11 attacks, as well as international summits of the G7, G8, and APEC. “I spent a total of 13 years in the United States before coming to Miami,” she says, describing that period as a dream come true.
She subsequently held executive positions at Radio-Canada, notably as director of the News Network and head of news content for television, radio, and digital platforms. Her expertise led her to international roles, first at the International Organization of La Francophonie in Paris, then at UNESCO, where she represented Quebec on issues related to cultural diversity, education, technology, and artificial intelligence.
Ms. Cano explains that the transition from journalism to diplomacy came naturally: both fields rely on listening, understanding different points of view, and building relationships based on trust. She emphasizes that her current work involves maintaining an open dialogue, understanding the local realities of Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and reporting on these issues to the Quebec government. The office also serves as a trade platform, facilitating exchanges between Quebec and Florida businesses, which account for $2.3 billion annually.
She highlights Florida’s importance to Quebecers: between 1.2 and 1.5 million of them spend each winter there, forming a deeply integrated community. And more than 60 Quebec companies are established there, in sectors ranging from construction to aerospace, including services, transportation, and technology.
Ms. Cano highlights several recent achievements of the office: the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Miami-Dade County on climate resilience, a Florida resolution underscoring the friendship between Quebec and Florida, as well as economic missions involving SelectFlorida, Space Florida, and universities. She sees strong growth potential in aerospace, transportation, technology, energy, and infrastructure—fields where Quebec’s and Florida’s expertise complement each other.
Here are links to articles published by Le Soleil de la Floride for more information on the memorandum of understanding, the resolution, the economic missions, and Ms. Cano’s appointment to the Quebec Office in Miami:
TWO DELEGATIONS FROM FLORIDA TO QUEBEC
THE GOVERNMENT OF QUEBEC AT MRO AMERICAS IN ORLANDO
QUEBEC CONSTRUCTION MISSION IN TAMPA
HISTORIC AGREEMENT BETWEEN QUEBEC AND FLORIDA
QUEBEC MISSION TO FLORIDA (MINISTER SKEETE IN MIAMI)
“A STRONG QUÉBEC PRESENCE AT THE WORLD STRATEGIC FORUM IN MIAMI!”
CONGRATULATIONS TO CATHERINE CANO ON HER NOMINATION!
IT’S NO COINCIDENCE THAT THE MIAMI HEAT (NBA) TEAM HAS A NAME THAT REFLECTS THE HEAT!
The hottest cities in Florida during the summer have been revealed, and Miami takes the top spot!
Florida may be known for its year-round sunshine, but summer conditions can vary significantly depending on which part of the state you visit, as revealed by a new study that identifies the cities with the consistently highest temperatures.
The new study, conducted by Go Smoke Free, examined Florida’s metropolitan areas to identify the hottest places in the state during the summer, because while Florida is known for its year-round sunshine, summer conditions can vary greatly depending on the region you visit.
The cities were ranked based on their average temperature for the months of June, July, and August, using weather data from the five summers between 2020 and 2024.
Top 10
Miami tops the list with an average summer temperature of 84.2 °F. This city in southeastern Florida also has a humidity level of 74.3% and receives an average of 0.306 inches of rain per day, creating hot and very humid conditions throughout June, July, and August.
Tampa, on the west-central coast, ranks second with an average temperature of 83.5 °F. Its humidity is slightly higher than Miami’s, at 76.3%, although rainfall is lower, at 0.212 inches per day.
North Port, on the west coast, ranks third at 83.3°F and stands out for its combination of heat, humidity, and rainfall. The average humidity is 81.6%, tying it for first place among all Florida cities included in the study.
Naples, in the southwestern part of the state, ranks fourth with an average temperature of 82.9 °F. Its humidity level reaches 80%, making it another location in South Florida where temperature alone is not enough to account for the severity of the weather conditions.
Cape Coral (southwest), Pensacola (Florida Panhandle), and Orlando (central) share fifth place, with all three cities recording an average summer temperature of 82.8°F. However, additional weather data reveal clear differences among them.
Cape Coral is the most humid of the three, with 77.3% humidity, and receives the most rain, averaging 0.333 inches per day. Pensacola has the lowest humidity, at 74.7%, and slightly stronger winds of 7 mph, while Orlando falls between the two with 74.8% humidity and 0.269 inches of precipitation per day.
Jacksonville, in the northeastern part of the state, ranks sixth with an average temperature of 82.4°F. The city has a humidity level of 75.8% and receives 0.237 inches of rain per day. Panama City follows in seventh place with 82°F. The average humidity is 77.4%, while precipitation reaches 0.288 inches per day, placing it among the most humid cities at the top of the rankings. Palm Bay and Sebastian share eighth place, both with an average temperature of 81.9°F. Sebastian is slightly more humid (79%), compared to 78.8% in Palm Bay, but Palm Bay receives less rain (0.189 inches per day). Deltona ranks ninth with an average summer temperature of 81.7°F. The city has a humidity level of 76.9% and receives 0.212 inches of rain per day.
Tallahassee rounds out the top 10 with an average summer temperature of 81.5 °F. Florida’s capital has a humidity level of 76.6% and receives 0.231 inches of rainfall per day.
In a press release, a spokesperson for Go Smoke Free stated: “For anyone living in or visiting Florida, it’s important to pay attention to the humidity level as much as the temperature. Heat in the 80s may not seem particularly intense, but high humidity can make walking, sightseeing, or spending several hours outdoors much more tiring.
“People who go to the beach, visit a city, or drink alcohol outdoors should plan for regular breaks and keep water within reach. Waiting until you’re exhausted or very thirsty often means the heat has already started to take its toll.” ”
Source: https://gosmokefree.co.uk, which conducted this study.
Note: Go Smoke Free analyzed 22 metropolitan areas in Florida to identify the cities with the highest average temperatures during the summer, including the months of June, July, and August.
LeBron James snubs the Miami Heat (NBA)
Even though Miami is the hottest city, LeBron James has once again chosen not to join the Miami Heat and has signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.
WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND
Friday, July 24
STARLIGHT MUSICALS
Holiday Park, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.,
Fort Lauderdale
Saturday, July 25
SOUTH FLORIDA SOUL RODEO
South Florida Fair, West Palm Beach
Every Saturday
DELRAY BEACH GREEN MARKET
Old School Square, Downtown Delray Beach
BRICKELL/FLATIRON PARK GREEN MARKET
Brickell Flatiron Park, Miami
SATURDAY ORGANIC FARMER’S MARKET
Coconut Grove
Every Sunday
FARMERS MARKET
El Prado Park, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
THE MKT AT LAS OLAS OCEANSIDE PARK
Fort Lauderdale
LINCOLN ROAD FARMERS MARKET
Miami Beach
VIZCAYA VILLAGE FARMERS MARKET
Miami
Every Saturday and Sunday
SAWGRASS MILLS
FARMERS’ & ARTISANS’ MARKET
Sunrise
www.floridafreshmarkets.com/markets
YELLOW GREEN FARMERS MARKET
3080 Sheridan St.
Hollywood ($20 parking)
WEATHER
Here is the forecast from the National Weather Service (NWS) for the weekend.
Friday night
Low chance of showers and thunderstorms before 3 a.m., then a low chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5 a.m. Generally clear skies, with a low around 82. East wind 5 to 9 mph. The chance of precipitation is 20%.
Saturday
Chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5 p.m. Generally sunny skies, with a high of around 87. Heat index may reach 101. Light and variable winds, shifting to the southeast at 5 to 10 mph in the morning. The chance of precipitation is 60%. Rainfall will be less than one-tenth of an inch, except during thunderstorms when heavier amounts are possible.
Saturday evening
30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8 p.m. Generally clear skies, with a low around 80. Wind from the south at about 8 mph.
Sunday
Showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., followed by showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 p.m. High around 88. Wind from the southwest at 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation: 90%.
Sunday evening
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8:00 p.m., followed by a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 8:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. Low of around 79. Wind from the southwest at about 10 mph. Chance of precipitation: 80%.
IMPORTANT: The heat index in South Florida will reach between 100 °F and 108 °F each afternoon this weekend, due to actual air temperatures in the low to mid-90s and high tropical humidity. (CBS News)
