Living in Montréal ➔➔ Before leaving ➔➔Settling in Greater Montréal ➔➔Living in Montréal

2010-2011 ➔➔Becoming a permanent resident

www.montrealinternational.com BY GOING HERELIVE WWW.PERMANENT HERE RESIDENCY.CA

MONTRÉAL INTERNATIONAL INVITES YOU TO VISIT THIS WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION AND HELP IN THE PROCESS OF OBTAINING PERMANENT RESIDENCY. MORE DETAILS ON PAGE 121

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MONTRÉAL INTERNATIONAL INVITES YOU TO VISIT THIS WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION AND HELP IN THE PROCESS OF OBTAINING PERMANENT RESIDENCY. MORE DETAILS ON PAGE 121

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Founded nearly 375 years ago, Montréal remains the world’s second-largest French- speaking city. Situated at a crossroads of American and European influences, our city possesses a unique personality that will delight all visitors.

A UNESCO City of Design since 2007, with a rich and diverse architectural heritage, Montréal is one of the world’s safest and most hospitable cities. It is a thriving and highly animated metropolis that is famous for its festivals, museums, music, fine dining, architecture and parks.

Montréal is also home to many communities of different origins that have enriched its cultural environment and forged a new urban landscape. A stroll down certain streets reveals the charm of our cultural melting pot and the variety of our specialized boutiques and small shops. Visiting Montréal is like taking a tour of the world—without having to travel very far. From the Montrealers are proud of their city and are well known for the cordial and cheerful welcome Mayor they extend to visitors.

Gérald Tremblay Mayor of Montréal 3

LONGUEUIL and THE SOUTH SHORE The South Shore in 2010 ...... p .113 Calendar of events and festivals in the region . . . . .p .115 Contents Museums / tourist attractions ...... p .11 6 What to do in the area? ...... p .11 8 Press ...... p .119 Sports: main centers, sites, fields ...... p .119 BEFORE LEAVING Québec territory ...... p .0 0 6 Demographic and historic data ...... p .0 0 6 BECOMING Climate ...... p .0 08 A PERMANENT RESIDENT Moving ...... p .0 08 Permanent residency ...... p .12 2 Relocation agencies ...... p .0 0 9 How to apply? ...... p .12 3 Temporary worker status ...... p . 012 Where to send your application? ...... p .124 Checklist and practical advice ...... p . 013 Medical examiniation ...... p .124 Visa and permanent resident card ...... p .12 7 Contact us ...... p .12 8 SETTLING IN GREATER MONTRÉAL Arrival and the first few days ...... p . 018 THE PETIT FUTÉ “LIVING IN MONTRÉAL” is published by: About this Housing ...... p .030 Les Éditions Néopol inc., 300, rue St-Sacrement, suite 415, Health ...... p .0 47 Montréal, Québec, H2Y 1X4. guide Education ...... p .051 Tel: (514) 279-3015 | Fax: (514) 279-1143. www.petitfute.ca | Email: [email protected] Personal finances ...... p .0 63 General Manager: Jonathan Chodjaï. Political and judicial system ...... p .0 6 8 Publications Manager: Audrey Lorans-Garbay. Collection Managers: Jonathan Chodjaï & Michaël Galvez. Author : Valérie Fortier. LIVING IN MONTRÉAL Studio Manager: Noémie Roy Lavoie. Jonathan Chodjaï (p109), Fotolia (p94, 102), Nicolas Garbay (p87), THE ISLAND OF MONTRÉAL Montréal International, Noémie Roy Lavoie (p36, 37, 50, 80, 97,111), Montréal in 2010 ...... p .072 Shutterstock (p5, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17, 29, 30, 31, 35, 40, 41, 43, 44, Greater Montréal Map ...... p . 076 45, 48, 52, 55, 58, 66, 70, 71, 83, 84, 85, 86, 88, 96, 100, 123, 128), Universities ...... p .078 Tourisme Montérégie (p115,118), Tourisme Montréal (p38, 39, 89). Calendar of events and festivals in the region . . . . .p .0 83 Printing: Litho Chic, Québec. Museums / tourist attractions ...... p .0 9 0 Distribution: Montréal International What to do in the area? ...... p .0 97 ISBN: 978-2-922450-82-8 Press ...... p .10 0 Legal deposit – Bibliothèque nationale du Québec, 2010. Sports: main centers, sites, fields ...... p .10 1 Legal deposit – Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 2010. Free Montréal ...... p .10 3 Although the utmost care has been taken in the selection of LAVAL and THE NORTH SHORE addresses and gathering of information, the text contained in The North Shore in 2010 ...... p .10 5 this guide has no contractual value, and Éditions Néopol shall Calendar of events and festivals in the region . . . . .p .10 7 not be liable for any changes to prices, timetables, or telephone Museums / tourist attractions ...... p .10 8 numbers. Full or partial reproduction of the text is forbidden What to do in the region? ...... p .11 0 unless previously agreed in writing by the publisher and Montréal Press ...... p .112 International. Unless specified otherwise the listed addresses are Sports: main centers, sites, fields ...... p .112 located on the Island of Montréal.

2 Contents Map of the subway

Before leaving

Québec territory ...... p .0 06 Demographic and historic data ...... p .0 06 Climate ...... p .0 08 Moving ...... p .0 08 Relocation agencies ...... p .0 09 Temporary worker status ...... p . 012 Checklist and practical advice ...... p . 013 7 QUÉBEC TERRITORY 1643: A first cross was erected on Mount Before Québec extends over 1,540,680 km². Its area is Royal by Sieur de Maisonneuve, in thanks equivalent to that of Spain, Portugal, France, for the colony being saved from the threat leaving Belgium, Switzerland and Germany combined. of flood. It is bordered by the United States to the 1658: Margaret Bourgeoys founded the first south, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and school for young girls while Jeanne Mance Labrador and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, established the first hospital in Montréal, the TABLE OF and Ontario to the west. In addition to many Hotel-Dieu. DISTANCES FROM urban areas, it contains extensive agricultural 1701: The Indians sign the Great Peace. MONTRÉAL plains and huge forests, as well as some of Settlers then engage in the fur trade. Wars the oldest mountains in the world, coastal, being waged at the time against both the QUÉBEC. . . . CITY. . . . 255 km mining and industrial areas and Arctic regions Indians and the English drove the city to BOSTON ...... 495 km that remain virtually unexploited. Dominated fortify itself. However these protective TORONTO ...... 545 km by the St. Lawrence, one of the world’s largest measures failed to discourage the designs of NEW YORK ...... 610 km rivers, Québec’s countless lakes and rivers the British. BUFFALO ...... 640 km account for 3% of the planet’s freshwater 1760: The surrender of New France is signed DETROIT ...... 900 km water resources. in Montréal. CHICAGO ...... 1 365 km 1778: It is a Frenchman, Fleury Mesplet, who creates the first newspaper in Québec, “la Source : www.caaquebec.com Dmogrape hic In 2006, the Montréal Metropolitan Community gazette du commerce et littéraire pour la data numbered 3 532 554 people, which is about ville et le district de Montréal (the business 50% of Québec’s population and the reason for and literary gazette for the city and district its economic, social and political importance. of Montréal). Today, The Gazette is the only The Montréal Metropolitan Community is English daily in the city. composed of 82 municipalities. 1792: An administrative decision divides the city in two: east and west of St. Laurent MONTRÉAL 1 854 440 inhabitants (52 %) Boulevard. www v. ille .montreal .qc c. a 1801: The old city grows beyond its walls and they have to be torn down. LONGUEUIL 385 533 inhabitants (11 %) 1824: The Lachine Canal opens, leading to www .longueuil c. a unprecedented economic growth. 1832: Montréal was administered by various LAVAL 368 709 inhabitants (10 %) governors until King William IV www v. ille .laval qc. c. a allowed the city to become incorporated. SPOKEN 1833: The city’s first mayor, Jacques Viger, is LANGAGES IN THE SOUTH SHORE 493 971 inhabitants elected. MONTRÉAL AREA NORTH SHORE 429 899 inhabitants 1887: The inauguration of the first transcontinental railway marks the beginning Francophones : Source : Statistique Canada, Recensement 2006 ; From: l’Observatoire of Montréal’s golden age. During the 2 231 975 : 63 % Grand Montréal de la Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal American prohibition, Montréal becomes a favorite destination for Americans: it is the Anglophones : dawn of the great cabarets and Montréal’s 423 115 : 12 % MONTRÉAL, Before the arrival of the French, Montréal, reputation as an exciting city. A LITTLE HISTORY then called Hochelaga, was an American 1959: The St. Lawrence Seaway enables Bilingual (French and English) : Indian village inhabited by Mohawks. ocean-going ships to continue upriver to the 1 826 540 : 52 % Great Lakes. 1535: The explorer Jacques Cartier arrived 1967: The world exposition Terre des Allophones : on the site. Having climbed the mountain, he Hommes (Man and His World) changed the 58 730 : 2 % names it Mons Realis (Royal Mountain) in the city and underlined its international vocation. honnor of King François the First. It pursued this direction by hosting. the Source : Statistique Canada, Recensement 1642: Ville-Marie, the future Montréal, is Summer Olympic Games several years later. 2006 ; Compilation : From : l’Observatoire founded by Paul de Chomedey. The small 1976: Montréal is the host city for the Grand Montréal de la Communauté colony settles near the river banks. Summer Olympics. métropolitaine de Montréal 6 Before leaving 9 1992 : Montréal celebrated the 350th birthday EUROPACK of its foundation (1642). 620, avenue Orly, Dorval 2005 : The city obtained cutting edge Tel . : 514-633-8583 | Fax : 514-633-8321 installations to the Park Jean-Drapeau to info@europack c. a accomodate the FINA watery sports world www e. uropack c. a championship in July. G rOUPE CDP 5, Complexe Desjardins, Niveau 52, Case postale 698 CLIMATE Because of its latitude and location, Québec Tel . : 514-849-8490 | Fax : 514-849-7090 has a continental climate characterized by cold cdpcentreville@gcdp c. a winters and relatively hot summers. Although www g. cdp c. a seasonal temperatures vary in different regions of Québec, in Montréal they reach an average MARTEL EXPRESS MONTRÉAL inc. maximum of 26°C in summer while the average 10 105, boul . Henri-Bourassa Ouest, Ville Saint-Laurent minimum winter temperature is -15°C. Tel . : 514-331-3311 / 1 800 642 2862 Fax : 514-331-0303 Most newcomers underestimate the severity info@martelexpressmontreal .com of the Québec winter. In fact, temperatures www .martelexpressmontreal .com sometimes reach from -25°C to -30°C and snow is generally abundant. Furthermore, Most of these long-distance moving the mercury often exceeds 27°C in summer. companies offer: Fortunately, homes are equipped with heating ➔➔ A short-stay and long-stay storage service and insulation that provide all the comforts with optimum conditions, either before necessary during the cold season and some departure or when the shipment arrives; also have air conditioning to counter the ➔➔ Comprehensive insurance for your goods summer heat. transported by land, sea or air. This policy covers any damage that may occur between your current residence and that MOVING It is recommended that you use the moving of your destination and is subject to certain services of a company located in Montréal itself. In addition to moving, most companies terms and conditions; ➔ also offer a storage service. It is preferable to ➔ A transport service for your vehicle (car, manage the move on site rather than from a motorcycle, etc.). distance, in case of any problems.

Here is a list of some international moving Agencies specializing in relocation provide RELOCATION companies: many services and advice that may be of AGENCIES great value when you are settling into the AMJ CAMPBELL INTERNATIONAL metropolitan area of Montréal. Most of these 1255, 32e avenue agencies offer a diverse range of services, Tel . : 514-631-5223 / 1 888-265-6883 | Fax : 514-631-1232 namely: mbelanger@amjmontreal c. om | www .amjcampbell c. om ➔➔ A visit to Greater Montréal ➔➔ Information about the Montréal region DÉMÉNAGEURS MELDRUM (LES) ➔➔ Assistance in renting or buying an apartment 6645, rue Sherbrooke Ouest or house Tel . : 514-481-1122 / 1 800-561-1123 | Fax : 514-488-5305 ➔➔ Help with administrative formalities (health- info@meldrumthemover c. om | www m. eldrumthemover c. om insurance card, social insurance number, driver’s license, and opening a bank account) DÉMÉNAGEMENTS PERFORMANCE ➔➔ Search and help in choosing schools and PMI INC. (ALLIED) day-care centers for your children. As a 11 100, rue Mirabeau general rule, it is your employer who takes Tel . : 514-351-8700 / 1 866-680-8700 | Fax : 514-352-8702 care of the costs of services provided by www .pmiperformance c. om these agencies. 8 Before leaving 11 Here are some relocation agencies: THE MI GROUP ARIANNE Relocation Canada 1301, 32e avenue 1600 Notre-Dame Street West #312 Tel . : 514-636-8062 / 1-888-844-3820 GROUPE RANGER Tel . : 514-482-2200 Fax : 514-636-9031 440, boul . René Lévesque Ouest, Fax : 514-937-0137 mi .montreal@themigroup c. om | www t. hemigroup c. om Bureau 1200, Montréal www .ariannerelocation c. om The MI Group provides extended planning, Tel . : 514-844-1746 This agency sets itself apart by exemplary quality support, and the care for detail Fax : 514-844-6996 follow-up and dynamic communication. necessary for all your relocation needs. Their info@groupe-ranger c. om It offers a complete range of relocation Flexiplan offers a wide variety of relocation www g. roupe-ranger c. om services: analysis of your needs, moving and services designed to meet the needs of the A team of experienced professionals immigration procedures, realty and schooling international business community. will guide you in your recruitment search, welcome and support for your of middle- and upper- managers in settlement. Whether you are on your own or VIA MONTRÉAL administrative or technical fields. arriving with your family, ARIANNE Relocation Tél : 514-231-3244 | Fax : 514-327-9138 The competences and expertise of Canada will guide you to a smooth landing info@viamontreal c. om | www v. iamontreal c. om their consultants as well as their in Montreal! Via Montréal is a company set up to meet the candidates will satisfy the most constantly growing needs of employers and demanding businesses. IDÉAL CANADA their staff members when moving to Montréal. 345 avenue Victoria – suite 303 The relocation services offered by Via Montréal Services offered : Tel :. 514-903-9959 fall within the scope of employee aid programs + Permanent IT posts recruitment Fax: 514-903-1490 enabling newcomers to quickly settle in to their + IT consultation www .idealcanada c. om new environment. The service is completely + Career transition An international relocation services agency, personalized and adapted to the specific needs + Career management services Idéal Canada also offers a program for cultural of each client. + Potential evaluation and professional integration. Its pleasant team leaves no stone unturned when it comes to taking charge of your relocation. Idéal Canada will find the accommodation you really want and for a good price. Children are not forgotten. Our services will meet all your needs and those of your little ones.

PRIMACY RELOCATION CANADA 460, rue Saint-Gabriel, 3rd floor, suite 31 Tel :. 514-861-0903 Fax: 514-861-8625 www .primacy c. om Primacy Relocation Canada is a Montréal- based company. It is owned by an international group with the same name and specializes in international mobility management. The Montréal team manages several hundred relocations every year. It provides turnkey assistance including real- estate services, relocation services, goods transport management, and immigration management.

10 Before leaving 13 TEMPORARY This expression refers to a foreign national who leave. The QPIP is an income replacement plan. WORKER holds a work permit issued by Immigration You must have received employment income to STATUS Canada (CIC). The document authorizes its be eligible. holder to work exclusively for the company mentioned on it. Québec and Canadian family assistance plans To change employers, the foreign national Several public plans pay allowances for children: must request a new permit. However, certain ➔➔ Soutien aux enfants du Québec categories of people can obtain an «open» ➔➔ Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) permit that allows them to hold any job. This ➔➔ Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) applies to spouses of temporary workers and students. In addition to meeting the general eligibility requirements, you must have lived in Canada The work permit is valid for the term of the job, for at least 18 months to be eligible for benefits. usually between one and three years. It can be renewed under certain conditions, but for a total period not exceeding five years, unless All essential documents to bring must be C HECKLIST AND an exception has been made. originals or certified copies. When records are PRACTICAL ADVICE in a language other than French or English, it is necessary to obtain an official translation ACCESS TO Generally speaking, a temporary worker and (done by a certified translator) or authenticated PUBLIC SERVICES his family have the right to the same services by official authorities. This translation must as Canadian citizens or permanent residents, accompany the originals. sometimes subject to specific eligibility requirements. Here are the main public services ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTS to which they are entitled: ➔➔ passport ➔➔ work permit / visa(s) ➔➔ Québec health insurance ➔➔ other identity documents, (e.g. national The temporary worker, his spouse and identify card, …) dependents have access to this free and ➔➔ birth certificates dating from under three universal plan that covers medical and months of age hospitalization services. Nationals from the ➔➔ family record book following countries are immediately eligible ➔➔ valid driver’s license or international license without a period of non-coverage: Denmark, ➔➔ sworn statement of good driving from Finland, France, Greece, Luxembourg, Norway, the insurance (may decrease car insurance Portugal and Sweden. premiums in the host country) ➔➔ medical (X-rays if necessary) and dental ➔➔ Québec prescription insurance records for each members of the family This public plan pays 70% of the cost of basic ➔➔ vaccination and immunization cards prescriptions for those who do not have access ➔➔ proof of membership in your country’s to a private plan. Many employers offer group health insurance plan (Carte Vitale for plans that provide at least the same services. French citizens) ➔➔ letter from your bank in the country of ➔➔ Employment insurance origin showing your credit record (may If a temporary worker loses his job, he can be very useful for obtaining a credit submit an application for employment authorization in the host country) insurance benefits limited to the term of his ➔➔ copies of your tax declarations for the three work permit. previous years ➔➔ diplomas, school certificates, certificates ➔➔ Québec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) of education, transcripts, description of This plan pays benefits to all eligible workers— courses taken and internships served, salaried and self-employed—who take maternity certificates of employment or work leave, paternity leave, parental leave or adoption experience 12 Before leaving 15 ➔➔ references from former employers or your recommended and the types of houses, current employer apartments available ➔➔ up-to-date curriculum vitae ➔➔ Obtain civil liability and housing insurance ➔➔ reference letter form your landlord (for ➔➔ Ensure that the necessary repairs to the renters) housing in the host country are done ➔➔ school report cards for children before your arrival (if applicable) ➔➔ adoption certificate(s) ➔➔ Find out beforehand about obtaining ➔➔ marriage certificate services such as heating fuel, water, ➔➔ documents authorizing children in your electricity, phone, Internet, etc., and the custody to leave Canada without the other procedures that need to be undertaken to parent obtain them. ➔➔ documents establishing the custody of children (if applicable) ➔➔ divorce certificate (if applicable) SCHOOL IN QUÉBEC

All documents listed above will be useful in ➔➔ Inquire about local public and private Québec for: schools ➔➔ customs checks ➔➔ Understand the basics about the local ➔➔ obtaining a social insurance number educational system (evaluation, levels, etc.) ➔➔ obtaining a health insurance number ➔➔ Inquire about enrolment conditions, ➔➔ obtaining a driver’s license valid in Québec wearing of uniforms if applicable, etc. ➔➔ enrolling your children in school ➔➔ Inquire about the different transportation ➔➔ ensuring recognition of your academic and options available for your children professional qualifications ➔➔ opening a bank account ➔➔ applying for a mortgage FINAL PREPARATIONS

Be sure to have some Canadian currency for Don’t forget to cancel your contracts with the visa formalities and insurance. Pay special following companies or services: attention to the spelling of names, surnames, ➔➔ Electric company and the accuracy of dates of birth that appear ➔➔ Supplier of gas or fuel on any official documents issued for you or ➔➔ Water company your family members. ➔➔ Phone company ➔➔ Cable or satellite TV service ➔➔ Internet provider PREPARING FOR THE MOVE ➔➔ Bank. (It is recommended that you keep an account open in your country of origin. ➔➔ Organize the packing and moving of Have your bank statements forwarded to belongings your new address as soon as possible. Give ➔➔ Request an estimate of goods from the a member of your family a proxy to your insurance company account if need be. ➔➔ Inquire about customs procedures in the ➔➔ Insurance company host country ➔➔ Doctor ➔➔ Organize the transportation for pets (if ➔➔ Pharmacy applicable) ➔➔ Post office (have your mail forwarded to your new address) ➔➔ Family allowance PLANNING FOR ACCOMMODATION ➔➔ Electoral list (register at the consulate upon IN QUÉBEC arrival in Canada if you wish to continue voting in your country of origin) ➔➔ Plan your temporary accommodation (if ➔➔ Cancel subscriptions to magazines and necessary) newspapers ➔➔ Find out what neighborhoods are ➔➔ Schools 14 Before leaving ➔➔ Lawyer ➔➔ Notary ➔➔ Social activities, clubs or recreational associations ➔➔ Professional associations, relatives and colleagues

UPON ARRIVAL

➔➔ Apply for your health insurance card ➔➔ Have your driver’s license transferred ➔➔ Register with your consulate

Settling in « Business people know that Montréal is th economic hub Greater Montréal of Québec. [...] We have (in Montréal) a strong knowledge- based economy relying on a highly skilled workforce. [...] Montréal has been central in the success of Canon Canada. Arrival and the first few days ...... p . 018 Housing ...... p .030 Health ...... p .0 47 Tamotsu Nakamura, Education ...... p .051 President and Chief Executive Officer Personal finances ...... p .0 63 Canon Canada » Political and judicial system ...... p .068

16 19 E nTRY and welcoming appliances (however check the voltage) and ARRIVING procedures automobiles. You must however comply with Upon your arrival, you will note that the routine the following conditions: AND THE procedures are relatively simple and short if you have a valid passport and visa. ➔➔ do not permit a Canadian resident to use your belongings FIRST FEW Canadian Customs and Immigration Services ➔➔ refrain from selling or otherwise disposing have the authority to grant a working, study or of your belongings in Canada DAYS visitor’s visa during customs inspections. ➔➔ take everything with you when you leave Canada (including the automobile) CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION ➔➔ pay a reimbursable deposit to customs, if SERVICES required, even if as a general rule all these www .serendreaucanada g. c c. a belongings are not subject to duty.

Passing through customs N.B.: To import vehicles, you must be careful about First, you must go through customs like all Transport Canada’s safety and emission standards . Provincial other passengers, showing your passport and authorities can require a safety certificate for registration . the form that the Canadian Embassy gave you. You then must go to the Immigration Canada More information at: offices. www .riv c. a www t. c g. c c. a/securiteroutiere/

Going to Immigration Canada At Immigration Canada, you will meet an agent You can import duty free a certain amount of A l lCOho and who will help you fill in your immigration form, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products, as tobacco as well as those of family members present long as you are at least the minimum age (18 with you. He will give you a copy of the form, years old in Québec). information leaflets and a form to use to request ➔➔ If you are 18 years old or more, you can your social insurance number (SIN). import 400 grams and 400 sticks of tobacco. ➔➔ If you are above the minimum age required Going to Immigration Québec by the province where you enter Canada, Upon arrival in Québec, you should consult you can bring in 1.14 liters of spirits or 1,5 a Québec Immigration agent. You will be liters of wine or 24 cans or 335 ml (12-ounce) registered for information sessions of your bottles of beer (or the equivalent, which is choice. After the various registrations, you will 8.5 liters) without any customs duty being be able to go to customs for your personal applicable. effects. You can import a higher quantity of alcoholic Going to “Personal Effects” Customs beverages than the exemption limits. However, Once all of the procedures mentioned above the cost will be higher because you will have to have been completed, you will be able to see a pay customs charges as well as provincial fees. customs agent for your personal effects. If you When you become a permanent resident, you have had packages sent to you by “container” can import your wine cellar, up to 270 liters, or any other means (belongings you do not with special fees payable to the Société des have with you) you must mention them and Alcools du Québec (www.saq.com). state whether they are used or new, as well as provide an estimate of their value. This procedure exempts you from paying customs Firearms, Pets, Plants RESTRICTIONS charges when you retrieve them later. Canada has very strict rules covering firearms. You must first obtain the appropriate permits You can, when you first arrive in Canada, by contacting the Sûreté du Québec. temporarily import your personal and domestic belongings without paying duty. These Site for the Canada Firearms Center: belongings include furniture, dishes, silverware, www .rcmp-grc c. a/cfp-pcaf/ 18 Settling in Greater Montréal 21 CANADA CUSTOMS AGENCY Because pets can be carriers of parasites or regular and reduced fare weekly and monthly CAM cards, Tel :. 1 800-267-6999 illnesses that are harmful to human beings, 1-day and 3-day passes, and monthly TRAM cards, for (automated system for cattle, crops and forests, customs agents zones 1 to 8 . Info : www .stm .info/English/info/a-747 .pdf businesses and individuals) supervise their entry into Canada jointly with By shuttle (Aerobus) : departures every 30 minutes from www c. ra-arc g. c c. a Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and other 9 a .m . to 9 p .m ;. hourly from 9 a .m . to 9 p .m . One-way regulatory organizations. ticket: adult $16, elderly $15, children (5 to 12 years) $13 . CANADA BORDER SERVICES www .autobus .qc c. al AGENCY, METRO MONTRÉAL Please enquire ahead of time on the Canadian By taxi. The price of a trip, regulated by the government, 400, place d’Youville, Food Agency’s website at: is established by a meter that the driver starts up upon 2nd floor, Montréal www .inspection g. c c. a departure . A global price can be negotiated for long Tel :. 1 800-959-2036 distances . For your information, a trip by taxi from Customs agents also help Agriculture and Trudeau airport to downtown Montréal is $38 . AGRICULTURE AND Agri-Food Canada to control the entry into the By limousine. $49 .50 to $54 4. 0 to downtown: AGRI-FOOD CANADA country of plants, including soil, sand and any To reserve a taxi or limousine: 514-394-7377 . www .agr g. c c. a matter in which they are planted or wrapped, because this matter can carry harmful insects or illnesses. You must obtain beforehand an The money used in Québec is the Canadian Cnadiana importation permit from Agriculture and Agri- Dollar (CAN $ ). It is divided into 100 cents and is Currency Food Canada and a phytosanitary certificate available in the following formats: from the government authorities responsible for plant health in your country of origin. Coins 1 ¢, 5 ¢, 10 ¢, 25 ¢, 1 $ and 2 $. Meat, Dairy Products, Fresh Fruit and Vegetables, Endangered Species Bank notes A complex group of requirements, restrictions 5 $, 10 $, 20 $, 50 $ and 100 $. and limits are applicable to the importation into Canada of meat, dairy products, fresh If you did not bring some Canadian money with fruit and vegetables and other food products. you at the time of departure, you can get some You can prevent difficulties with customs at the exchange counters found in airports as services by avoiding importation into the well as in downtown Montréal. This service country of such products. Customs agents help is offered by foreign exchange dealers and in Environment Canada apply the Convention on certain bank and Caisse populaire branches. International Trade in Endangered Species. This convention restricts trade and movement of a N.B.: Because of the fraud, some stores now certain number of particular species of animals, refuse $100 bills and $50 bills. fish, birds, reptiles, insects and plants, and all recognizable byproducts made with their fur, skin, bones, etc. Almost all goods and services are subject to Cnsumptiono consumption taxes collected by the Canadian Taxes and Québec governments: How to Get You will find an information booth in all the ➔➔ The Canada goods and services tax (GST): to Downtown airports, train stations and bus stations. From 5% Montréal Montréal-Trudeau airport : ➔➔ Québec sales tax (QST): 7.5% of the sales By the 747 Express bus. 1 to 3 departures per price plus the GST. hour, 24 hours a day, to the Montréal’s central bus terminal Unless otherwise indicated, these taxes are not (Berri-UQAM metro station), featuring nine stops on its included in the listed price. way . The $7 fare is payable in (exact amount) cash aboard the bus or with a fare card, sold at the airport (international arrivals level) and at the Gare d’autocars de Montréal SUBWAY AND BUS Public (central bus terminal) . It also provides travellers with a The city of Montréal has a public transportation Transport transit pass valid on the STM bus and metro network for system using both buses and subway, referred the next 24 hours . Other public transit fares can also be to as the metro. It offers a network of 68 metro used for the express service, at no additional cost, including stations, particularly appreciated during winter 20 Settling in Greater Montréal 23 Fares as of (including three stations in Laval and one in AGENCE MÉTROPOLITAINE January 1, 2010 Longueuil). Divided into four lines, the metro DE TRANSPORT (AMT) serves the heart of the metropolitan region 500, place d’Armes, 25th floor Regular cash and connects the cities on the St. Lawrence www .amt .qc c. a 1 trip 2,75 $ River’s South Shore to Montréal’s center, as Information about commuter trains, well as Laval to the north of the city. metropolitan Express Circuits and TRAM Single fares à la carte monthly cards. 1 trip 2,75 $ The payment method for a public 6 trips ...... 13,25 $ transportation ride can vary from one Customer service municipality to another. You can pay with cash Tel: 514-287-8726 (514-287-TRAM) / OPUS* (the exact amount is required on buses and 1 888-702-8726 (1 888-702-TRAM) 1 trip 2,75 $ commuter trains — they do not accept tickets 6 trips ...... 13,25 $ or provide change) or with tickets bought The TRAM is an integrated monthly card giving 10 trips ...... 21,00 $ from authorized agents (except in Montréal) access to the commuter train network as well Weekly pass ...... 20,50 $ or in metro stations. asthe metropolitan region’s bus and metro Monthly pass ...... 70,00 $ services. If you need to use several buses, or even the *The OPUS card may be bought metro and a bus to get to your destination, in most metro stations and must you don’t have to pay each time. Your ticket or The law authorizes most businesses to be open B uSINESS hours be credited before being used. card allows you to continue your trip without to the public: additional cost. Keep it until you reach your ➔➔ from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday ; 1 / 3 day passes destination and use it again on your way if you ➔➔ from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 1 day 7,00 $ change transportation types en route. 3 days ...... 14,00 $ In fact, most businesses are open: If you use public transportation almost ➔➔ from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Wednesday; Trip information exclusively to get around, the purchase of a ➔➔ from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; Tel :. 514-288-6287 or AUTOBUS monthly or weekly card (OPUS) gives you an ➔➔ from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday; unlimited number of trips during the validity ➔➔ from 10 a.m. or noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. General information period at a more favorable price. and found objects: Certain shopping centers are open Monday to Tel: 514-786-4636 or STM-INFO School children under 18 years of age and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (choose option 4 then option 2) people 65 years old and older are eligible for tickets and monthly cards at a reduced rate. Establishments such as supermarkets, small www.stm.info To have access to these rates, you must first grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations and obtain an identity card issued by the Société recreational or tourist businesses (restaurants, de Transport de Montréal (STM). cinemas, museums and hotels, etc.) have a more flexible schedule and sometimes offer their services 24 hours a day or from 7 a.m. to There are five trains linking downtown midnight. Montréal and the suburbs:

COMMUTER ➔➔ Montréal/Dorion-Rigaud By law, you must remain a citizen of your Administrative TRAINS ➔➔ Montréal/Deux-Montagnes country of origin because you hold temporary procedures ➔➔ Montréal/Blainville/St-Jérôme status in Canada. Keep the originals of the ➔➔ Montréal/Mont-Saint-Hilaire following documents in a safe place: your ➔➔ Montréal/Delson/Candiac passport or travel document, your work, study or visitor’s permit. The rates depend on the destination zone and vary between $81 and $222 per month (TRAM) These documents prove your identity and your or between $3.75 and $8 one way. status in Canada. You will need them in most of the procedures you undertake. Only use copies (certified if necessary) when you must leave a proof of identity for an official request. 22 Settling in Greater Montréal 25 SOCIAL The social insurance number (SIN) is useful countries that have a reciprocal social security INSURANCE in many circumstances, particularly when agreement with Québec are not generally NUMBER dealing with: subject to the waiting period. In that case, ➔➔ Government organizations a proof of insurance from the social security ➔➔ Financial institutions system from the country of origin will be ➔➔ Employers required during registration for the RAMQ (e.g.: “carte Vitale” from France). These countries are The required form is given to you upon Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Luxemburg, arrival by Immigration Canada agents. For Norway, Portugal and Sweden. permanent residents, you must go in person to a SIN assignment counter in a Service To obtain your Québec health insurance card, Canada Centre, with the form, your permanent it is recommended that you go in person resident card, your permanent residence directly to a RAMQ office. You may also pre- RÉGIE DE L’ASSURANCE confirmation and the visa stamped on your register by phone. A form will then be sent MALADIE DU QUÉBEC (RAMQ) passport. For temporary residents, you must to you. 425, boulevard de also go in person to a SIN assignment counter Maisonneuve Ouest, in a Service Canada Centre, with the form, your The required documents for all applications 3rd floor, suite 300 work or study permit, and a visitor’s record are: A confirmation of permanent residence, Tel :. 514-864-3411 issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada the self-adhesive visa applied to your passport, www .ramq g. ouv qc. c. a (CIC). Don’t forget to give a postal address on your Certificat de Sélection du Québec (CSQ) Metro Place-des-Arts, the form where you will be able to receive, as well as a proof of residence (lease or letter De Bleury Nord exit during the following few weeks, the plastic from your host). Identification pictures will be Open from Monday to Friday from card with your social insurance number. taken on site for an $8 fee. Plan on a wait of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. without one to two hours depending on the day and interruption except Wednesdays CENTRE SERVICE CANADA - MONTRÉAL time of visit. (10 a.m. to 4:32 p.m.). 1001, boulevard de Maisonneuve Est, 2nd floor www .servicecanada g. c c. a It is recommended that people who come to CONSULATE work temporarily in Canada register with the REGISTRATION QUÉBEC HEALTH The health insurance card is issued by the consulate from their country of origin as soon INSURANCE CARD Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec as they arrive. This procedure is usually free and (RAMQ). This personalized card, plasticized, is not mandatory. However, it is mandatory to with your picture and signature, entitles you establish or renew identity papers or to be able to receive most ealth care free. You must to be added to an electoral list in your country make your application quickly. It can take up of origin and therefore to be able to vote. To to three months to receive it. Any health care get your consulate registration card, you must you require in the mean time will be invoiced furnish the following documents: copy of your to you. birth certificate or family book, your national identity card and/or your passport, as well as These costs will be reimbursed after you your visa, a proof of residence in Canada and receive your card. You will simply have to file finally two identification pictures. For more a reimbursement request and include your details, it is recommended that you contact your invoices. However, exceptionally, medical, consulate before going there. pharmaceutical and hospital services required as a result of a pregnancy or for women who CONSULATE GENERAL OF BELGIUM are victims of violence, are provided without 999, boulevard de Maisonneuve Ouest, suite 1600 charge during the waiting period. Tel . : 514-849-7394 www .diplomatie .be/montrealfr There are exemptions to the waiting period. The RAMQ will inform you if an exemption is CONSULATE GENERAL OF applicable to you or a member of your family. THE UNITED STATES In this case, you will receive your card within 1155, rue Saint-Alexandre a maximum of 2 weeks. People coming from Tel . : 514-398-9695 | www .amcits c. om/montreal .asp 24 Settling in Greater Montréal 27 CONSULATE GENERAL OF FRANCE can be up to two months! Don’t wait too 1501, avenue McGill Collège, 10th floor, suite 1000 long to avoid exceeding the permitted Tel . : 514-878-4385 | www c. onsulfrance-montreal o. rg period. On the day of the appointment, you must furnish the following documents: birth SOCIÉTÉ DE L’ASSURANCE CONSULATE GENERAL certificate, passport, temporary work permit AUTOMOBILE DU QUÉBEC OF GREAT BRITAIN or permanent resident card along with your (SAAQ) 1000, rue de la Gauchetière Ouest,suite 4200 Certificat de Sélection du Québec and of Tel :. 514-873-7620 / 1 800-361-7620 Tel . : 514-866-5863 | www .britishcouncil o. rg/canada course the driver’s license from your country www .saaq g. ouv .qc c. a of origin to be exchanged (all these official From Monday to Friday CONSULATE GENERAL OF LUXEMBOURG documents must be originals). The cost from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 3706, rue St Hubert for issuing a Québec driver’s license is $86 MONTRÉAL Tel . : 514-849-2101 for one year (the cost increases if you have 855, boulevard Henri-Bourassa Ouest accumulated demerit points during the 2 LAVAL CONSULATE GENERAL years preceding renewal). Galeries de Laval OF SWITZERLAND 1545, boulevard Le 1572, avenue du Docteur Penfield If you have a driver’s license from one of the Corbusier, suite 75 Tel . : 514-932-7181 | www e. da .admin c. h following countries — Germany, Austria, LONGUEUIL Belgium, France, Japan, Luxemburg, Norway, Place Désormeaux New Zealand, the Netherlands: Holland, 2877, chemin Chambly Automobiles Netherlands Antilles (St. Martin, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Sabat and St. Eustache), Portugal, HISTORY OF A USED VEHICLE T HE RÉGIME This system pays an indemnity to any person Andorra, Republic of Korea (South Korea), www .saaq g. ouv .qc c. a/publications/ D’ASSURANCE living in Québec for injuries received during Ireland, United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland immatriculation/histoires .pdf AUTOMOBILE an accident involving an automobile, whether and Turkey — you are admissible for a license An important reference before DU QUÉBEC he/she is the driver, a passenger, cyclist or exchange. If not, you will have to do the theory concluding the purchase pedestrian. Their compensation is ensured exam and the road test. Contact the SAAQ by of a used vehicle. no matter where in the world the accident telephone to arrange an appointment. happened, without having to prove who was responsible for the accident. It is the insurance contributions paid on driver’s licenses and All road vehicles must be registered. To REGISTRATION vehicle registration that finance the public obtain this registration, you must hold automobile insurance system. liability insurance for material damages and go to an SAAQ service point. You will have to The Société de l’assurance automobile du show proof of insurance when you apply for Québec (SAAQ), which administers the system, registration. is responsible for insuring and protecting people against the risks associated with use The registration for a passenger vehicle costs of roads. It is also the SAAQ that issues driver’s $261 in Montréal (there is an additional fee, set licenses and vehicle registrations. at 1% for luxury vehicles, that is calculated on the value exceeding $40,000) and must be renewed each year at a set date. The first time, DRIVER’S LICENSE To drive a vehicle in Québec, a person must the SAAQ will issue you a certificate, which you have the appropriate class of license. If you must keep, and a license plate which you must did not get an international driver’s license in attach to the back of your vehicle. your country of origin, and if you hold a valid driver’s license from somewhere other than After that, you simply make a payment after Québec, you can, within the first six months receiving a notice in the mail. of establishing residence, drive a passenger vehicle without a Québec license. After this Purchasing a car represents a large expenditure. PURC HASING period, you must have a Québec license. Generally, you will find that the price of a A CAR vehicle is more affordable in Canada than You must contact the SAAQ by telephone in Europe. It is recommended that you visit to get an appointment. Be careful, the wait several dealers before buying a car. Specialized 26 Settling in Greater Montréal 29 car magazines and consumer guides can also overage. Do not forget to find out how much be a good source of information. insurance will cost.

Note that vehicle price negotiation is Finally, in order to find out if the dealer and widespread in North America, so don’t hesitate the leasing company (generally, the company to negotiate with the sales representative in to whom the dealer assigns the lease) you order to obtain the best offer. If you opt for the have chosen have previously been the subject purchase of a used car, do not hesitate to ask of consumer complaints, consult the “Profil for all information available about the vehicle’s du commerçant (Business Profile),” which is history. accessible on the Office de la Protection du It is recommended that you never purchase Consommateur website. a used vehicle that has not had a technical inspection. OFFICE DE LA PROTECTION SOME USEFUL DU CONSOMMATEUR REFERENCES Lng o -tERM Rather than purchasing a vehicle, many (CONSUMER PROTECTION OFFICE) vehicle lease Québeckers choose the long-term vehicle Tel . : 514-253-6556 lease solution. This system can be beneficial 1 888 672 2556 depending on your needs. www o. pc g. ouv .qc c. a

Here are a few tips: Before choosing your car, PROTÉGEZ-VOUS, the decide on your budget, and, above all, your reference for consumers needs. You will be less likely to be influenced. www .protegez-vous c. a Have a precise model in mind, check any advertisements and go to several dealers. L eASING... Shared: Shop for the car based on its initial purchase COMMUNAUTO price before looking at leasing terms. This way, Tel . : 514-842-4545 you will avoid getting lost in the calculations. www c. ommunauto c. om In fact, even though certain leasing companies The telephones are manned from Monday offer terms that are more attractive than to Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. others, the cost of leasing depends on several Established in the city since 1994, this car rental factors (value, amount of depreciation during subscription company provides a clever way of the lease, interest rate and the term of the having the use of a car for exactly the period lease…). and number of kilometers you want. Given the need to subscribe for a year, this is Comparing leasing offers is generally recommended for residents of Montréal and preferable to comparing only the offers that not casual visitors. More than 1,000 cars and have the same elements (deposit, security 300 parking spaces are available to some deposit, length of lease, periodic payments 20,000 subscribers in the Montréal, Québec, and the amount of the purchase option). Sherbrooke and Gatineau regions. You can choose from three annual packages Calculate the total cost of each offer, taking tailored to different uses. Other types of rates into consideration all the amounts payable before and during the lease period (except are also available (long distance, work, Le the security deposit that is reimbursable to the Lièvre). Membership requires a deposit of lessee by the lesser at the end of the lease), as $500, which is returned to the member after a well as the price of the purchase option at the minimum period of one year if you do not want end of the lease. to repeat the experience (except for Le Lièvre). It is an economical and ecological solution that The contract usually limits the number of contributes to the rationalization of automobile kilometers. Find out the cost per kilometer for use without the trouble of maintenance. 28 Settling in Greater Montréal 31 Unless you have friends or family already LES APPARTEMENTS LA CITÉ Housing established in Montréal, it will be difficult for 350, rue Prince-Arthur Ouest you to reserve housing in advance. You need Tel . : 514-845-4173 to have, of course, minimal knowledge of the 1 800-263-2483 location where you wish to live to be able to http ://montreal .lacite c. a/apartments .html make a good choice even before you arrive. Furnished or non-furnished apartments situated in the center of Montréal on Prince- Whether you want to rent an apartment or buy Arthur Street, not far from St. Denis Street and a property, you must be patient. In Québec, the Latin Quarter. La Cité is made up of three rental and purchase agreements are generally buildings linked by a shopping center, and done by a written contract in the prescribed public transportation is close by. form. HOMELIDAYS www .homelidays c. om Iitialn First of all, it is a good idea to stay temporarily Virtual specialists in vacation rentals between accommodation in a furnished apartment or room rented individuals, around the world. Rental of furnished weekly or monthly while you look for housing apartments for rent weekly or monthly only that properly meets your needs. Choose between individuals. You can find an apartment housing that is sufficiently central to make in Montréal based on your own search criteria. your search easier. MY STUDIO MONTRÉAL Most dailies publish a list of apartments for Tel . : 514-844-0744 rent in the classified section (The Gazette, La www .mystudiomontreal c. om Presse, Voir) for temporary rental of a furnished This new venture offers furnished apartments, apartment, companies, hotels or individuals studios and rooms to rent by the night, week that offer this service provide all the necessary or longer. They are located in different parts comfort and convenience. of the city (University of Montréal, Concordia, McGill, the Plateau, etc.). The range of furnished rental products is very broad, LA PRÉSIDENCE ranging from studios to two bedrooms, Tel . : 514-842-9988 each with their particular charm. Their well- 1 866-842-9800 designed website lets you get a good look at www .lapresidence c. om the various offers. Luxury furnished apartments situated in the heart of Montréal. There are different types STUDIO MEUBLÉ MONTRÉAL of apartments: studio, senior, executive (one Tel . : 514-831-8753 bedroom) and presidential (2 bedrooms). Free info@studiomeublemontreal c. om access to seminar and banquet services for www .studiomeublemontreal c. om residents: 19 meeting rooms holding from 10 This company offers housing solutions, mainly to 700 people. on a monthly basis, in completely furnished downtown bachelors and apartments. Most LE NOUVEL HÔTEL & SPA have been completely renovated and provide 1740, boulevard René-Lévesque Ouest all the conveniences: double beds, linens and Tel . : 514-931-8841 blankets, kitchenette with appliances, dishes 1 800-363-6063 and utensils, bathroom with bath (towels info@lenouvelhotel c. om included), telephone (free local calls) and www .lenouvelhotel c. om color TV with cable. The layout and decoration Studio apartments with kitchenettes or varies, and cleanliness is guaranteed. The executive rooms. Situated on René-Levesque team is serious and the studios are ideally Boulevard, a few minutes from the Bell situated (Durocher Street, St.Famille Street and Centre and Crescent Street, this hotel offers Lorne-Crescent). A savvy recommendation for comfortable rooms right downtown. newcomers!

30 Settling in Greater Montréal 33 Lokingo for Before renting, take time to discover interested, the owner may request that you fill your first house the surrounding areas and the different out a form giving the necessary information neighbourhoods in the city, as well as for him to verify your references (behavior in a evaluating your needs and your resources. previous apartment, capacity to pay rent). This document is called “Offre de location” (Rental Housing that is too far from your children’s offer). It often contains a clause by which the school or your work will cause you unnecessary owner reserves the right to take a few days PRACTICAL ADVICE Québec apartment expenses. In the same way, an apartment to carry out verifications, after which he will Before signing a lease, read it very glossary that is too small, insufficiently equipped or inform you if you are accepted as a tenant. closely. Make sure that all the requiring major repairs risks leaving you with The owner’s acceptance thus concludes the conditions discussed with the owner 21/2, 31/2, 41/2, etc. bad memories of your first year here, both agreement between the parties. It is therefore are included, in particular repairs to number of rooms in the apartment, financially and personally. very important not to sign several “Offres de be done and their execution date. where the kitchen is counted as a room location” at the same time. and the bathroom as a half-room. Newspapers are a good way to find an apartment. Besides dailies like La Presse, The Régie du logement can also inform you Equipped or semi-furnished Le Journal de Montréal and The Gazette, of your rights and responsibilities, practices basic large appliances (stove you can also consult free newspapers such prohibited by law, ways to renew your lease and refrigerator) are furnished as Voir or Hour available in metro stations or end it, as well as recourses you have if your and included in the rent. and newspaper stands. Internet sites are owner does not respect his end of the contract. also helpful: The tenants association in your neighborhood, Heated or not heated often called the “Housing Committee,” can heating costs are included www .lespac c. om also help you with any questions regarding in the rent or not. www c. raigslist o. rg the renting of an apartment. www .montreal .kijiji c. a www c. herchetrouve c. a It is important to note that the owner cannot www c. yberpresse c. a require, upon signature of the lease, more than the first term’s payment. In fact, he cannot But the best way is simply searching in the require payment of more than one rental streets. Walk around in a neighborhood to period in advance, generally one month. If identify the apartments offered, indicated you want to leave your apartment during by a sign. You can also go directly into a the term of your lease, you can sublet it and building and try to ring the landlord, who, if reserve the right to come back. This procedure he is available, will show you the apartment. is completely legal in Canada. RÉGIE DU LOGEMENT Québec housing standards usually count one Village Olympique, Pyramide Ouest (D) room per person, excluding the kitchen and You can also assign your lease, which is to 5199, rue Sherbrooke Est (corner Viau) bathroom. terminate your lease and pass it on to another Rez-de-chaussée, suites 2095 and tenant. In general, the apartment’s tenant tries 2161, Montréal to find a future tenant as quickly as possible to Tel: 514-873-2245 Le bail The rental contract, called a lease, generally assume his lease. Of course, the owner must www.rdl.gouv.qc.ca expires on June 30 of each year. The best be notified and he is allowed to refuse and Open from Monday to Friday period to look for an apartment is therefore find a new tenant himself. from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from March to June inclusively. However, housing can be found year-round. Once you have made a choice, you should sign a lease. Buying a home calls for much thought Byingu a house It is an important procedure, because it is a and requires extra precautions. Property or an apartment true contract that defines the responsibilities transactions are usually made through a realtor, of both the owner and the tenant. though some owners sell their own homes.

The lease must be written in French (unless After assessing your financial resources and the there is mutual consent to the contrary), it credit available to you through your bank, you must state the rental period and amount to be should set a maximum price and determine paid the first of the month. Sometimes, when the residential neighborhoods where you’d you visit an apartment and you say you are like to buy property, then visit these areas 32 Settling in Greater Montréal 35 AVERAGE PRICE and note the telephone numbers of realtors CÔTE-SAINT-LUC/ INDEX* FOR THE listed on the signs in front houses for sale HAMPSTEAD/ PURCHASE OF that interest you. Also consult newspaper and MONTRÉAL-OUEST A NEW SINGLE- Internet ads : Area : 10,1 km2 / 43 575 inhabitants FAMILY DWELLING www .mls c. a The city of Côte-Saint-Luc has an essentially IN CANADIAN www .duproprio c. om English-speaking population of Jewish origin URBAN REGIONS www .remax-quebec c. om like its neighbor, Hampstead. There is a wide www .propriodirect c. om choice of condominiums along with a wide index $ CAD www c. entris c. a variety of modern single-family homes. MONTRÉAL . . . . 100,0 . . . 258 028 OTTAWA ...... 112,6 . . .290 483 While visiting the homes you selected, inspect The city of Hampstead is well-known for its TORONTO . . . . . 147,0 . . . 379 943 the place carefully, ask the seller what he pays opulent homes. Montréal-Ouest is a small CALGARY . . . . . 157,0 . . . 405 267 annually in taxes and maintenance and, of residential community situated west of the VANCOUVER . . . 230,0 . . . 593 767 course, the asking price. Also inquire about city of Montréal. The majority of its population easements associated with the building, in is English-speaking and many families have other words restrictions to property rights. lived in the community for generations. Source: SCHL, ACI, chambres immobilières Furthermore, it is a good idea to get the locales, Statistique Canada, prévisions property assessed by a professional. Once ACCESS MONTRÉAL OFFICE de la SCHL (2009-2010) Tiré de SCHL, Le your choice is made, you can make an purchase Tel . : 514-485-6800 marché de l’habitation, Perspectives du offer to the seller. It is always prudent to have marché de l’habitation, Faits saillants the offer conditional on obtaining a mortgage HÔTEL DE VILLE CÔTE-SAINT-LUC – Canada, 4e trimestre de 2009 and a building inspection done by a specialist. 5801, boulevard Cavendish | Tel . : 514-485-6800 If the seller accepts the conditions of your www c. otesaintluc o. rg offer, you must respond and the transaction will be finally concluded by an act of sale HÔTEL DE VILLE D’HAMPSTEAD signed before a notary. 5569, chemin Queen Mary | Tel . : 514-369-8200 www .hampstead .qc c. a

Cntrale CÔTE-DES-NEIGES / HÔTEL DE VILLE DE MONTRÉAL-OUEST cities and NOTRE-DAME-DE-GRÂCE 50, avenue Westminster Sud | Tel . : 514-481-8125 neighborhoods Area : 21,4 km2 / 164 246 ininhabitants www .montreal-ouest c. a in Montréal Situated at the foot of the north and west sides of the mountain, this neighborhood is characterized by its cultural diversity with some PLATEAU MONT-ROYAL 80 ethnicgroups represented, a large student Area : 8,1 km2 / 101 054 inhabitants population and the presence of prestigious Situated north-east of downtown Montréal, this institutions: the University of Montréal, Saint- borough is one of the oldest residential areas Joseph Oratory, Sainte-Justine Hospital, in Montréal and has attractive housing. In past Montréal Jewish General Hospital, S. Mary’s years, the Plateau has attracted in particular Hospital Centre, Collège Brébeuf, etc. Housing is young couples and singles who have renovated mainly apartments, duplexes and townhouses. the properties in the sector. The Notre-Dame-de-Grâce sector has many single-family houses because of the majority of Theaters, restaurants, clubs and designer wealthy English people who lived here in the boutiques abound here. The activities are middle of the last century. Côte-des-Neiges is concentrated on St. Denis Street and St. Laurent a neighborhood bubbling with life It is one of Boulevard, as well as adjacent arteries such as the first places where Montréal’s immigrant Rachel, Mont-Royal, Duluth and Prince Arthur. population set themselves up upon arriving, This neighborhood is considered to be the living in the same neighborhood as university most “IN” in the city. and college students. ACCESS MONTRÉAL OFFICE ACCESS MONTRÉAL OFFICE 201, avenue Laurier Est, bureau 120 5160, boulevard Décarie | Tel . : 311 Tel . : 311 | www .bonjourplateau c. om 34 Settling in Greater Montréal 37 VERDUN homes and their prices have a tendency to Area : 9,7 km2 / 66 078 inhabitants increase as they get closer to the top of the A French-speaking community prevails in this mountain. Lower Westmount offers a wide borough, even though the English-speaking choice of apartments, condominiums and population is also well established here. In townhouses near the main commercial areas the center of Verdun, duplexes and apartment on Sherbrooke Street and Greene Avenue. The buildings are numerous and attractive at municipality is home to well-known schools very affordable prices. This city situated and two English-speaking colleges: Dawson south of downtown is easily accessible by and Marianapolis. expressway. Three metro stations also ensure transportation to its residents. The Île-des- WESTMOUNT CITY HALL Soeurs sector is home to large industrial 4333, rue Sherbrooke Ouest | Tel . : 514-989-5200 companies such as Honeywell, Kodak and www w. estmount o. rg Recherches Bell, but it is first and foremost a high-end residential neighborhood. The country and the city melt together, the views ROSEMONT/PETITE-PATRIE offering the immensity of the river on one side Area : 15,9 km2 / 133 618 inhabitants and the panorama of Montréal’s skyscrapers Bordered on the south by Sherbrooke Street on the other. and on the north by Villeray/Saint-Michel/ Parc Extension and Saint-Léonard boroughs, ACCESS MONTRÉAL OFFICE Rosemont/Petite Patrie is home to the Botanical 4555, rue Verdun, Verdun | Tel . : 311 Garden, one of the most prestigious of its kind. The latter is next to the Maisonneuve Park where residents can jog, cross-country ski and play OUTREMONT golf in the heart of the city. Among the types Area : 3,9 km2 / 22 897 inhabitants of housing are single-family houses, duplexes, A chic French-speaking neighborhood. The triplexes and apartments. The sector is home residential neighborhood which lies on Mont- to three large sporting and recreational centers. Royal’s east slope has opulent homes and The Jean-Talon market attracts farm produce extends on its western boundary to properties buyers from the surrounding neighborhoods. owned by the University of Montréal. The The main commercial arteries are St. Laurent northern sector has a large Orthodox Jewish Boulevard and St. Hubert Street. and Greek population. At its eastern limits, Park Avenue is lively and cosmopolitan, Laurier ACCESS MONTRÉAL OFFICE and Bernard Streets are bursting with good 5650, rue d’Iberville | Tel . : 311 restaurants and elegant boutiques. Outremont offers several public and private schools. VILLE-MARIE ACCESS MONTRÉAL OFFICE Area : 16,5 km2 / 78 876 inhabitants 543, chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Outremont This neighborhood is built on a rich historical Tel . : 311 past. Founded in 1642 by a Catholic mission made up of about 50 French missionaries who came to convert American Indians, Ville- WESTMOUNT Marie is in fact the cradle of Montréal. Upon Area : 4 km2 / 20 494 inhabitants their arrival, they actually christened the new One of the most prestigious neighborhoods in colony «Ville-Marie» (Mary City) which a short Canada. The city of Westmount is situated on time later became Montréal, one of the rare the southern slope of Mont-Royal, not far from large cities in North America to have preserved Montréal’s downtown area. The municipality is its historical center. Old Montréal is getting home to Murray and Westmount parks, each a facelift with residential lofts and small chic one offering recreational facilities, and also hotels in restored historical buildings. This Summit Park, which is a nature reserve. Like neighborhood is the heart of the metropolis: Outremont, which is nearby, the size of the skyscrapers, historical monuments, major 36 Settling in Greater Montréal 39 hotels, three university campuses, major 3782, boulevard de la Côte-Vertu, Ville Saint-Laurent hospitals, two train stations, a bus station, the Tel . : 514-335-9555 central metro network, the Montréal Stock 7272, boulevard Newman, LaSalle | Tel . : 514-364-6110 Exchange, major banks, the Palais des congrès 16 975 route Transcanadienne, Kirkland | Tel . : 514-697-9228 (convention center with up to 200,000 square www .braultetmartineau c. om feet of exposition space) and, of course, the City Hall and Court House which are adjacent. BRICK You can walk from these buildings to the 10 001, Métropolitain Est, Pointe-aux-Trembles metro through 30 kilometers of underground Tel . : 514-881-4100 tunnels. Ville-Marie is recognized as the 7999, boulevard Les Galeries, Anjou | Tel . : 514-353-9600 business center, the showcase of cultural and 8701, boulevard l’Acadie | Tél : 514-381-1313 knowledge dissemination, and the heart of 6867, boulevard Newman, LaSalle | Tel . : 514-595-6900 business, economy and entertainment-related 17 080, route Transcanadienne, Kirkland activities in Montréal. But housing access is not Tel . : 514-695-9600 easy, the rents being the highest in Montréal. www t. hebrick c. om

ACCESS MONTRÉAL OFFICE CORBEIL ÉLECTROMÉNAGERS 888, boulevard de Maisonneuve Est, 5e étage | Tel . : 311 6783, boulevard Léger, Montréal-Nord | Tel . : 514-322-8595 9355, boulevard Lacordaire, Saint-Léonard Tel . : 514-326-7710 Contact the Access Montréal information line 6725, rue Jean-Talon Est, Saint-Léonard | Tel . : 514-259-2800 by dialing 311 on your telephone. You will be 7566, rue Saint-Hubert | Tel . : 514-271-1118 connected directly to the city of Montréal’s 4646A, avenue du Parc | Tel . : 514-270-7811 telephone service. 9570, boulevard l’Acadie | Tel . : 514-383-1141 7401, boulevard Newman, LaSalle | Tel . : 514-363-6789 3163, boulevard des Sources, Dollard-des-Ormeaux Frnisngsu hi After having found your new housing, you will Tel . : 514-421-5395 need basic furnishings. Furniture leasing is an www c. orbeilelectro c. om economical immediate solution. You can also buy affordable furniture by taking advantage FUTON D’OR of sales and consulting classified ads in the 3855, rue Saint-Denis | 514-499-0438 newspapers. www f. utondor c. om

You can also buy used furniture at garage IKEA sales and through religious or volunteer 9191, boulevard Cavendish, Ville Saint-Laurent organizations. Community immigrant service Tel . : 1 866-875-4532 | www .ikea c. a organizations can give you names and addresses. INTERVERSION 4273, boulevard Saint-Laurent Tel . : 514-284-2103 | www .interversion c. om FURNITURE, APPLIANCES & DECORATION MEUBLES LÉON 11 201, rue Renaude-Lapointe, Anjou | Tel . : 514-353-7506 ISLAND OF MONTRÉAL 2222, Place Transcanadienne, Dorval | Tel . : 514-684-6116 www .leons c. a AMEUBLEMENT BÉLANGER 1895, rue Bélanger | Tel . : 514-728-6321 MOBILIA 625, boulevard de Maisonneuve Ouest BRAULT ET MARTINEAU 6855, rue Jean-Talon Est, Saint-Léonard 8500, Place Marien, Montréal-Est | Tel . : 514-648-5757 Tel . : 514-253-1070 12 605, rue Sherbrooke Est | Tel . : 514-645-7447 2345, autoroute Transcanadienne, Pointe-Claire 6700, rue Jean-Talon Est, Saint-Léonard Tel . : 514-695-8880 Tel . : 514-254-9455 www .mobilia c. a 38 Settling in Greater Montréal 41 MODERNO CORBEIL ÉLECTROMÉNAGERS 4268, boulevard Saint-Laurent 3675, boulevard Saint-Martin Ouest, Laval 514-842-4061 / 1 877-537-5685 Tel . : 450-682-6609 www .moderno c. a 3607, autoroute Laval Ouest, Laval | Tel . : 450-682-4090 1092, Desserte Ouest, autoroute 13, Laval MOUTARDE DÉCOR Tel . : 450-689-0844 1282, rue Bernard | Tel . : 514-272-1212 294, Montée des Pionniers, Lachenaie www .moutardedecor c. om Tel . : 450-585-9941 285, Montée Masson, Mascouche | Tel . : 450-474-5995 ROCHE BOBOIS 1147, boulevard Jean-Baptiste Rolland, Saint-Jérôme 505, avenue du Président-Kennedy Tel . : 450-432-3008 Tel . : 514-350-9070 www c. orbeilelectro c. om www .roche-bobois c. om MEUBLES LÉON STRUCTUBE 3195, boulevard Saint-Martin, Laval | Tel . : 450-688-3851 7190, boulevard Langelier, Saint-Léonard www .leons c. a Tel . : 514-355-8670 3782, rue Saint-Denis | Tel . : 514-282-1666 MOBILIA 289, rue Sherbrooke Ouest | Tel . : 514-844-4608 4000, autoroute Laval 440 Ouest, Laval | Tel . : 450-687-1447 1450, rue Sainte Catherine Ouest | Tél : 514-393-8782 www .mobilia c. a 3945, rue Jean-Talon Ouest, Ville Mont-Royal Tel . : 514-342-8288 ROCHE BOBOIS 2315, autroute Transcanadienne, Pointe-Claire 660, boulevard Le Corbusier, Laval | Tel . : 450-688-6000 Tel . : 514-426-2386 www .roche-bobois c. om www .structube c. om STRUCTUBE ZONE 1058, autoroute 13, Laval | Tél : 450-689-0911 5555, chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges | Tel . : 514-343-5455 650, boulevard Le Corbusier, Laval | Tel . : 450-682-3060 4246, rue Saint-Denis | Tél : 514-845-3530 3444, avenue des Grandes Tourelles, Boisbriand 5014, rue Sherbrooke Ouest | Tél : 514-489-8901 Tel . : 450-420-7474 www .zonemaison c. om www .structube c. om

LAVAL AND THE NORTH SHORE SOUTH SHORE

BRAULT ET MARTINEAU BRAULT ET MARTINEAU 500, boulevard Le Corbusier, Laval | Tel . : 450-682-2516 9500, boulevard Taschereau, Brossard | Tel . : 450-619-6777 210, Montée Masson, Mascouche | Tel . : 450-474-8531 1351, boulevard des Promenades, Saint-Hubert 145, rue de Lafayette, Repentigny Tel . : 450-676-1911 Tel . : 450-470-0815 575, Pierre-Caisse, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu 125, boulevard Desjardins Est, Sainte-Thérèse Tel . : 450-349-1609 Tel . : 450-430-0555 www .braultetmartineau c. om 21, rue Gauthier, Saint-Jérôme | Tel . : 450-431-9338 www .braultetmartineau c. om BRICK 1449 & 1451, boulevard des Promenades, Saint-Hubert BRICK Tel . : 450-926-9400 1530, boulevard Le Corbusier, Laval | Tel . : 450-681-9600 www t. hebrick c. om 901-1001, boulevard Curé-Labelle, Laval (centre de liquidation) | Tel . : 450-973-1111 CORBEIL ÉLECTROMÉNAGERS 274, Montée des Pionniers, Lachenaie 7535, boulevard Taschereau, Brossard | Tel . : 450-443-2163 Tel . : 450-657-7171 1563, boulevard des Promenades, Saint-Hubert 3400, avenue des Grandes Tourelles, Boisbriand Tel . : 450-676-8861 Tel . : 450-420-4224 100, rue Moreau, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu | Tel. : 450-349-0066 www t. hebrick c. om www c. orbeilelectro c. om 40 Settling in Greater Montréal 43 IKEA in convenience or grocery stores). Telephone 586, rue de Touraine, Boucherville | Tél : 1 866-414-4532 service is invoiced every month. Telephone www .ikea c. a numbers starting with “1-800” or “1-866” or “1-877” or “1-888” are free long-distance calls. MEUBLES LÉON 1909, rue F .X . Sabourin, Longueuil | Tel . : 450-445-2969 The first pages of your regional phone book www .leons c. a clearly explain all you need to know as a subscriber (rates, use, etc.). They also give you MOBILIA the address of the service counters nearest to 8505, boulevard Tachereau Ouest, Brossard your home. Tel . : 450-462-1264 1515, boulevard des Promenades, Saint-Hubert Tel . : 450-443-5557 Most cellular phone service companies offer www .mobilia c. a a diversified range of products and services CELLULAR that will satisfy your needs, both personally PHONES STRUCTUBE and professionally. Each one offers a range of 582, chemin de Touraine, Boucherville | Tel . : 450-655-8228 plans thatsuit everyone, starting from $30 up 9550, boulevard Leduc, Brossard | Tél : 450-445-8053 to $120 per month for local, national or North 6400, boulevard Taschereau, Brossard American calls. (centre de liquidation) | Tel . : 450-443-6991 www .structube c. om The plans include a limited number of minutes depending on the cost, useable for incoming or outgoing calls, and are often subject to T neeLEPho It is very easy to obtain telephone service contracts ranging from 12 to 36 months in Québec. You simply contact customer (very expensive to terminate, compare before service for the telephone company that signing). Basic functions such as call display, services your municipality or go to a service voicemail, SMS, call waiting or call forwarding counter called “Espace Bell” for Bell Canada, can be included in the plan or added for $5 to and bring identification (passport or visa), or $8 each. else contact the company directly by phone, from a phone booth. You will be able to get a Access to “data” plans necessary for smart phone and phone books. phones in order to access the Web and email will cost an additional $20 to $60 depending In Montréal, you can also opt for IP on the package. Unlimited call options during telephone by cable offered by Videotron. It certain time periods (evenings and weekends is very profitable if you combine it with TV usually) are also available. Most suppliers offer programming and the Internet. Usually you plans including unlimited incoming calls. Add will be asked to give a deposit before service the cost for each additional minute (from 15¢ activation. The amount varies. Generally, the to 35¢) if over the package limit. service will be activated in 48 hours with Bell (if the line already exists) and within a week Long-distance calls are billed in addition to with Videotron. antenna time used. Onthe other hand, if you wish to buy a cellular phone without a plan, The monthly subscription rate, which is very and therefore without a contract, it is possible affordable, gives you an unlimited number to buy prepaid cards to credit your account. of local calls, no matter how long they last. However, long-distance and international RESIDENTIAL TELEPHONE INFORMATION calls, even though the price is dropping, are relatively expensive. That is why it is very BELL CANADA important to choose your operator carefully Tel . : 310-2355 / 1 800-668-6878 | www .bell c. a before any subscription. (International calling cards remain the best solution for calling DISTRIBUTEL abroad at lower costs; you can purchase them Tel . : 1 877-301-4077 | www .distributel .net 42 Settling in Greater Montréal 45 and/or uploaded per month included in PRIMUS CANADA your plan). Tel . : 1 800-830-5511 | www .primustel c. a ➔➔ For high speed, there are two technologies available: connection by cable, provided by ROGERS cable companies, and ADSL (asymmetric Tel . : 1 888-764-3771 | www .rogers c. om digital subscriber lines) using traditional telephone wiring. These types of TELUS connections are the norm; they require Tel . : 310-1212 / 1 888-520-8358 | www t. elusquebec c. om a modem and a network card. Bell and Vidéotron split the lion’s share of the high- VIDÉOTRON speed market. Tel . : 1 888-433-6876 | www v. ideotron c. a For all these plans, the rental or purchase of a modem is mandatory. On the other hand, CELLULAR TELEPHONE INFORMATION each provider may have special offers on the condition that you sign a contract for a BELL MOBILITÉ minimum period and/or combing several Tel . : 514-420-7748 / 1 800-667-7626 | www .bell c. a services (residential and mobile phone, television and Internet). FIDO Tél . : 1 800-481-3436 /1 888-945-3436 | www fi. do c. a SOME INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS

KOODO BELL INTERNET Tél . : 1 866-99-KOODO | www .koodomobile c. om Tel . : 310-7873 / 1 800-773-2121 | www .bell c. a

ROGERS DISTRIBUTEL Tel . : 1 888-764-3771 | www .rogers c. om Tel . : 1 877-301-4077 | www .distributel .net

SOLO MOBILE PRIMUS CANADA Tel . : 1 877 999 7656 | www .solomobile c. a Tel . : 1 877-704-4269 | www .primustel c. a

TELUS MOBILITÉ TELUS Tel . : 1 888-520-8358 | www t. elusmobilite c. om Tel . : 1 888-520-8358 | www t. elusquebec c. om

VIDÉOTRON VIDÉOTRON Tel . : 1 888-433-6876 | www v. ideotron c. a Tel . : 1 888-433-6876 | www v. ideotron c. a

VIRGIN MOBILE Tel . : 1 866-999-2321 | www v. irginmobile c. a Even if it is not mandatory to insure your Insurance furniture, apartment or home, it is strongly recommended that you do so. Insurance INSURANCE BUREAU OF CANADA I nTERNET Just as for cellular phones, Internet service brokers and companies offer a wide range 800, Place-Victoria, suite 2410 providers offer customized plans according to of protection against fire, theft and civil C.P. 336, succ. Tour de la your needs. The options offered are varied, the responsibility. Without these precautions, you Bourse, Montréal services almost infinite. However, a few options risk finding yourself in a difficult situation if, Tel: 514-288-4321 / 1 877-288-4321 help distinguish between the providers. for example, you lose all your belongings in www.infoassurance.ca a fire. Furthermore, if you have a mortgage, www.bac-quebec.qc.ca ➔➔ First you have to choose between the the lender will require that the building be traditional connection by telephone insured. Before taking out insurance, take modem (outdated but still available) and a the time to become fully informed about the high-speed connection. different types of insurance available from your ➔➔ Then decide on the connection speed and entourage and insurers. For the same general bandwidth (amount of data downloaded coverage, premium prices can vary greatly. You 44 Settling in Greater Montréal 47 may also inquire at the Insurance Bureau of Again, take your time in choosing the one that Canada information center. Be careful, it may be offers you the best maintenance service for your difficult to insure an apartment situated in the heating system and the most competitive prices. same building as a store or a restaurant. Inquire before signing. In Canada, the electric current is 110 volts. The Voltage and INSURANCE COMPANIES electrical installations are the same as in the electrical First of all, inquire at your bank to find out United States. Devices made for use in Europe outlets about the different insurance services they and several other countries in the world will offer. If the rates do not suit you, here are other need an adapter (small connector to fit in the major insurance groups: plug) or a transformer (device that converts voltage). You can obtain them in electronics ALLSTATE CANADA stores in Montréal or even at the airport. The Tel . : 1 866-757-9616 | www .allstate c. a best solution is not to bring devices that won’t work on 110 volts and acquire new ones once AXA ASSURANCES you are in Canada. Tel . : 1 800-361-4330 | www .axa c. a

LA CAPITALE ASSURANCES GÉNÉRALES Video systems in Canada (as in the United States) Video systems Tel . : 1 888-522-5260 | www .lacapitale c. om are NTSC type. Unless you buy a special device, you will not be able to view PAL and SECAM- DESJARDINS ASSURANCES GÉNÉRALES format video cassettes (used in Great Britain, Tel . : 1 888-277-8726 | www .assureurnumero1 c. om Europe, Australia and other countries in Asia and Africa). For DVDs, we are in zone 1. Even if it isn’t INDUSTRIELLE ALLIANCE shown anywhere, it is quite easy today to buy a Tel . : 1 866-950-4828 | www .inalco c. om “de-zonable” DVD reader that will let you take advantage of films imported from other “zones” WAWANESA QUÉBEC without any problem. Before buying, check on Tel . : 1 888-933-9292 | www w. awanesa c. om the Internet to see how to make your player “multizone”. Practical advice: low-end Philips- brand models are easy to de-zone. E nERGY Energy expenses are usually the tenant’s expenses: responsibility, unless the lease specifies they gas, electricity, will be paid by the owner. That is often the HEALTH heating oil case with heating. It is very easy to subscribe (fuel oil) to electricity and gas services because, in Medical care and hospitalization are free RÉGIE DE L’ASSURANCE each region, they are provided by just one for holders of a medical insurance card (the MALADIE DU QUÉBEC (RAMQ) distribution company. You simply have to “carte soleil”, or “sun card”). They are insured 425, boulevard de Maisonneuve Ouest, call customer service for the local electricity by the universal medical and hospitalization 3rd floor, suite 300 (Hydro-Québec) and gas (Gaz Métropolitain) insurance system in Québec. This system, Tel. : (514) 864-3411 / 1 800-561-9749 companies to find out how to subscribe and however, does not cover dental care for www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca what it will cost you per month. people over 10 years of age, nor certain particular treatments (alternative medicine, HYDRO-QUÉBEC cosmetic procedures, etc.). Before consulting Tel . : 514-385-7252 / 1 888-385-7252 a doctor or other health specialist, ensure www .hydroquebec c. om that he participates in the Québec health insurance system. If not, you will have to pay GAZ MÉTRO for the consultation yourself. You can get Tel . : 1 800-875-6202 answers to your questions about the Régie www g. azmet c. om de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) services at any time by calling the “carte soleil For heating oil, there are a large number of parlante”, or “talking sun card”, an automated oil companies and independent distributors. telephone information system. 46 Settling in Greater Montréal 49 LES CENTRES You can obtain basic medical services SAINT-LUC DE SANTÉ ET either in private practices, private clinics or 1058, rue Saint-Denis SERVICES polyclinics or else at a Centre Local de Services SOCIAUX (CSSS) Communautaires (CLSC), which belongs to OTHER HOSPITALS E mERGENCY Care ET LES CENTREs your neighborhood’s Centre de Santé et de If you or a person in your entourage LOCAUX DE Services Sociaux (CSSS). I sLAND of Montréal requires immediate medical care, SERVICES you can go to the emergency room COMMUNAUTAIRES The CSSS offers a range of general and HÔPITAL DOUGLAS (mental health) at the nearest hospital. However, (CLSC) specialized services to everyone within 6875, boulevard Lasalle, Verdun if you cannot move the injured/ill the particular area: prevention, evaluation, Tel . : 514-761-6131 person, you must call emergency diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, support medical services. Dial 911. and lodging services. When the CSSS includes HÔPITAL DU SACRÉ-COEUR a hospital, general and specialized hospital 5400, boulevard Gouin Ouest Transportation by ambulance is services are also available. Besides dispensing Tel . : 514-338-2222 not free, except for road or work front-line services to people in its territory, the Urgences : 514-338-2000 accidents, people already hospitalized, CSSS provides them with a wide range of health social welfare beneficiaries and social services by reaching an agreement LAKESHORE GENERAL HOSPITAL and certain elderly people. or other means of collaboration with other 160, avenue Stillview, Pointe-Claire service providers. Some CLSCs or CSSSs provide Tel . : 514-630-2225 EMERGENCY their services in several languages. Since the NUMBERS shortage of doctors is growing more and more JEWISH GENERAL HOSPITAL severe in Montréal, you can go to a CLSC for 3755, chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges AMBULANCE / FIRE DEPARTMENT / minor problems that a nurse can take care of. Tel . : 514-340-8222 POLICE 911 There are 12 CSSSs in Montréal that MONTRÉAL GENERAL HOSPITAL include a total of 28 CLSCs : 1650, avenue Cedar SÛRETÉ DU QUÉBEC www .santemontreal .qc c. a Tel . : 514-934-1934 310-4141 (*4141 from a cell phone)

For Laval: www c. ssslaval qc. c. a HÔPITAL JEAN-TALON INFO-CRIME QUÉBEC 1385, rue Jean-Talon Est 514-990-3166 / 1 800-711-1800 For the North Shore: Tel . : 514-495-6767 www .rrsss15 g. ouv .qc c. a (Laurentians), QUÉBEC POISON CENTRE www .santelanaudiere qc. c. a (Lanaudière) HÔPITAL MAISONNEUVE-ROSEMONT 1 800-463-5060 5415, boulevard de l’Assomption For the North Shore: Tel . : 514-252-3400 POWER OR EQUIPMENT FAILURE www .santemonteregie qc. c. a 1 800-790-2424 HÔPITAL RICHARDSON (in case of fallen live wires, Info-Santé : 811 (throughout Québec) 5425, rue Bessborough transformers or poles: call 911) Tel . : 514-484-7878 MAIN MONTRÉAL HOSPITALS GAS / ODOR DETECTION Le Centre hospitalier universitaire de Montréal ROYAL VICTORIA HOSPITAL 911 (CHUM) includes three hospitals: 687, avenue des Pins Ouest Tél : 514-934-1934 FOREST FIRE CENTRES HOSPITALIERS 1 800-463-3389 UNIVERSITAIRES INSTITUT DE CARDIOLOGIE Tél : 514-890-9000 DE MONTRÉAL www c. humtl qc. c. a 5000, rue Bélanger Tel . : 514-376-3330 HÔTEL-DIEU 3840, rue Saint-Urbain CENTRE HOSPITALIER UNIVERSITAIRE SAINTE-JUSTINE NOTRE-DAME 3175, chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine 1560, rue Sherbrooke Est Tel . : 514-345-4931 48 Settling in Greater Montréal 51 MONTRÉAL CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL without a spouse, social welfare beneficiaries 2300, rue Tupper and low-income people and families are Tel . : 514-934-1934 exempt from this contribution. Urgences : 514-412-4499

HÔPITAL SHRINERS POUR ENFANTS Unlike medical care, dental treatments are D eNTAL care 1529, avenue Cedar not free except for certain surgeries done in Tel . : 514-842-4464 hospitals or certain university establishments. Children under 10 years of age, however, can obtain dental care free of charge by presenting LAVAL AND THE NORTH SHORE their health insurance card. To receive treatment from a dentist, call one of the numerous private HÔPITAL DE LA CITÉ-DE-LA-SANTÉ offices, or a university dental clinic that provides 1755, boulevard René-Laennec, Laval treatment at reduced prices. These clinics are Tel . : 450-668-1010 usually very busy and it is often hard to get an appointment quickly. HÔPITAL DE SAINT-EUSTACHE 520, boulevard Sauvé, Saint-Eustache Tel . : 450-473-6811 EDUCATION In Québec, all children between the ages of © NRL HÔPITAL PIERRE-LE GARDEUR six and sixteen must attend school. The school Th e QuÉBEC 911, chemin des Pionniers, Terrebonne year, which lasts about 180 days, begins at the educational Musée des Hospitalières Tel . : 450-654-7525 end of August or beginning of September and system of the Hôtel-Dieu of Montréal ends in June. The Québec education system HÔPITAL RÉGIONAL DE SAINT-JÉRÔME is made up of a public education network MINISTÈRE DE L’ÉDUCATION, 290, rue Montigny, Saint-Jérôme starting with kindergarten through university. DU LOISIR ET DU SPORT Tel . : 450-431-8200 Teaching is free right up to the CEGEP level (Montréal regional office) inclusively. The English-speaking community 600, rue Fullum, 10th floor has public learning establishments. However, 514-873-4630 THE SOUTH SHORE since French is the official language in Québec, www.meq.gouv.qc.ca immigrant children must attend the French HÔPITAL CHARLES-LEMOYNE system. There are private schools accredited 3120, boulevard Taschereau, Greenfield Park by the Québec Education Ministry (MEQ). They Tel . : 450-465-5000 require the payment of tuition fees and set admission conditions that can vary from one HÔPITAL DU HAUT-RICHELIEU institution to the next. 920, boulevard du Séminaire, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Tel . : 450-359-5000 Preschool education (kindergarten) prepares Preschool HÔPITAL PIERRE-BOUCHER children for elementary school. They benefit Education 1333, boulevard Jacques-Cartier Est, Longueuil from supervision that favors their development Tel . : 450-468-8111 in a stimulating learning environment that helps them acquire skills that will encourage their educational success. M eDICATIONS A universal insurance plan guarantees access for all Québec residents to medications required Even though kindergarten is not mandatory, by their state of health. When purchasing 98% of eligible children are registered. medication, you must pay a contribution to the pharmacist up to an annual maximum set Preschool education is given: by law. ➔➔ To four-year olds, part-time, during the whole school year. Children under 18 years of age, full-time ➔➔ To five-year olds, full-time, during the whole students between 18 and 25 years of age school year. 50 Settling in Greater Montréal 53 ➔➔ Everywhere in Québec, by both the public COLLÈGE STANISLAS educational system as well as private 780, Dollard, Outremont | Tel . : 514-273-9521 schools. www .stanislas .qc c. a Situated in the Outremont borough, Collège E lEMENTARY Whether they have gone to kindergarten or Stanislas is the largest French college in school not, all six-year-olds must be registered for Québec. It is a member of the French lycée education elementary school. If your child is five years old, network and prepares students for French he can be admitted as long as he is six years old baccalaureates in literature, sciences and before October 1 of his first year of schooling. economy and social sciences. Its diplomas are Students with adaptation problems can benefit recognized world-wide, offering the young from special classes that take their learning graduates access to the best universities. difficulties into consideration. Additional courses ensure equivalence with After elementary school, children must the Québec educational system, enabling continue their education at secondary school. students to change and reorient their studies if This instruction can take one of two forms: needed. The courses, which are conducted in a ➔➔ General instruction, lasting five years, family atmosphere, take place from September which leads to graduate studies and awards to June and extend from kindergarten to a Secondary Studies Diploma (DES); graduation. With exceptional success rates ➔➔ Vocational training programs, which lead for the BAC, the Collège Stanislas meets all directly to the work market and award a the challenges. A first-choice institution for Professional Studies Diploma (DEP). These families desiring to provide quality education programs can be accessed after three to for their children. five years of general secondary studies. The length of vocational studies can vary between one and two years, depending on Secondary studies lead to college, the S eCONDARY the program chosen. first level of graduate studies. The Collège school d’enseignement général et professionnel education (CÉGEP) and certain private colleges offer Colleges in the AEFE network students the choice between: (l’Agence d’enseignement du ➔➔ Pre-university study programs that last two français à l’étranger — French years, that as the name suggests, prepare Educational Agency Abroad): them for university ➔➔ Technical three-year training programs, COLLÈGE INTERNATIONAL which lead directly to the job market or MARIE DE FRANCE university. 4635, chemin Queen Mary | Tel . : 514-737-1177 www .mariedefrance .qc c. a Whatever their choice, students follow general The CIMF has French-education institution, study courses, with a core portion being from kindergarten to secondary classes, whose common to both programs. mission is the diffusion of the French culture and language, by the means of a teaching of excellence, making it possible to each one There is a wide diversity of pre-university C oLLEGE to reach academic and personal success. The programs: natural sciences, social studies, arts, education development of the school, which currently music, plastic arts, arts and letters, sciences, provides education for 1800 students coming speech sciences, history and civilization. from all the cultural horizons, religious and For technical study programs, they are socio-economic, corresponds to the needs for numerous and are divided into five categories: an extremely various population. More than biological technology, physics technology, 12 000 pupils finished their secondary studies human technology, business administration at the College international Marie de France technology and arts. before undertaking, beyond their higher studies, careers in the whole world. There are also various specialized training establishments, such as institutes and 52 Settling in Greater Montréal 55 « I couldn't have conservatories that offer widely varied COLLÈGE ÉDOUARD-MONTPETIT training programs: circus, music, agrifood 945, chemin Chambly, Longueuil gotten this done technology, tourism and hotel management, Tél . : 450-679-2631 fashion design, horticulture, etc. The student www c. ollege-em qc. c. a without you. The who finishes his CEGEP successfully obtains a Collegiate Studies Diploma (DEC). paperwork was University education represents the second U nIVERSITY level of graduate studies. The length of these Education massive, but you Island of Montréal studies varies according to the discipline and cycle chosen. Since they are very autonomous, guys made it all rather FÉDÉRATION DES CÉGEP universities can define their teaching 500, boulevard Crémazie Est and research programs, determine their straightforward and Tel . : 514-381-8631 requirements regarding student admission www f. edecegeps .qc c. a and registration as well as award their own easy to follow. The diplomas. immigration process Laval and North Shore First-cycle university studies lead to a bachelor’s (90 credits, usually three years of is very daunting, COLLÈGE MONTMORENCY studies), or a certificate (30 credits, generally 475, boulevard de l’Avenir, Laval a one-year program). Second cycle studies but the people at Tél . : 450-975-6100 lead to a master’s degree (two additional www c. montmorency .qc c. a years of study). Third-cycle studies lead to a Montreal International doctorate after several years (usually three). CÉGEP DE SAINT-JÉRÔME Montréal has many universities, colleges and seemed to have 455, rue Fournier, Saint-Jérôme research institutes. Deux autres antennes : Mont-Tremblant et Mont-Laurier the answer to every Tél . : 450-436-1580 / 1 877-450-2785 www c. stj .net UNIVERSITIES, SCHOOLS problem right at AND INSTITUTES CÉGEP LIONEL-GROULX their fingertips and 100, rue Duquet, Sainte-Thérèse I sLAND of Montréal Tél . : 450-430-3120 always responded to www c. lg .qc c. a UNIVERSITÉ CONCORDIA 1455, boul . de Maisonneuve Ouest questions clearly and CEGÉP RÉGIONAL DE LANAUDIÈRE Tél . : 514-848-2424 781, rue Notre-Dame, Repentigny (centre administratif) www c. oncordia c. a usually within hours of Tél . : 450-470-0911 3 antennes : Joliette, L’Assomption et Terrebonne UNIVERSITÉ DE MONTRÉAL being asked. Thanks www c. egep-lanaudiere .qc c. a 2332, boulevard Édouard-Montpetit Tél . : 514-343-7076 / 1 866-977-7076 so much again for www u. montreal c. a South Shore all your help. » UNIVERSITÉ DU QUÉBEC CHAMPLAIN REGIONAL COLLEGE À MONTRÉAL (UQÀM) Matt Harrington 900, Riverside Drive, Saint-Lambert Pavillon Judith-Jasmin, Local J-M320 Professeur Université de Montréal Tél . : 450-672-7360 405, rue Sainte-Catherine Est www c. hamplaincollege .qc c. a/st-lambert/ Tél . : 514-987-3000 www u. qam c. a CÉGEP DE SAINT-JEAN-SUR-RICHELIEU 30, boulevard du Séminaire, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu UNIVERSITÉ McGILL Tél . : 450-347-5301 845, rue Sherbrooke Ouest www c. stjean qc. c. a Tél . : 514-398-4455 www .mcgill c. a 54 Settling in Greater Montréal 57 TÉLÉ-UNIVERSITÉ ÉCOLE NATIONALE D’AÉROTECHNIQUE 100, rue Sherbrooke Ouest 5555, place de la Savane, Saint-Hubert Tél . : 514-843-2015 / 1 800-665-4333 Tél . : 450-678-3561 www t. eluq u. quebec c. a www c. ollege-em qc. c. a/ena

CONSERVATOIRE D’ART DRAMATIQUE DU QUÉBEC Even if you are an adult, several reasons can A dULT education 4750, avenue Henri-Julien, 1er étage make you want to start or continue your studies: or continuing Tél . : 514-873-4483 ➔➔ Do remedial studies education www c. onservatoire g. ouv qc. c. a ➔➔ Acquire new general or professional training ➔➔ Simply out of personal interest CONSERVATOIRE DE MUSIQUE DE MONTRÉAL A varied range of educational programs exists 4750, avenue Henri-Julien for adults: full-time or part-time courses, during Tél . : 514-873-4031 the day or evening, by correspondence, etc. www c. onservatoire g. ouv .qc c. a Adult education centers, which come under school boards, provide literacy courses in ÉCOLE DE TECHNOLOGIE particular at the pre-secondary level as well SUPÉRIEURE (ÉTS) as general and professional training at the 1100, rue Notre-Dame Ouest secondary level. Colleges and universities also Tél . : 514-396-8800 provide adult education programs. www e. tsmtl c. a ADMISSION TO CERTAIN ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE PROGRAMS 2900, boulevard Édouard-Montpetit Before admitting applicants to study Tél . : 514-340-4711 programs, educational institutions in Québec www .polymtl c. a must first ensure that they meet the admission requirements for these programs. For HEC MONTRÉAL professional training programs, the minimum 3000, chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine admission requirements vary according to the Tél . : 514-340-6000 study program offered. For technical training www .hec c. a programs, a secondary school diploma (DES) or its equivalent is required. INSTITUT DE TOURISME ET D’HÔTELLERIE DU QUÉBEC (ITHQ) For a list of institutions offering adult 3535, rue Saint-Denis education: Tél . : 514-282-5108 / 1 800-361-5111 Montréal: www .montreal .gouv .qc c. a (click on « Éducation www .ithq .qc c. a et vie sociale » in the left menu, then « Éducation », and finally « Éducation des adultes : services éducatifs ») Laval and North Shore Laval: www2 c. slaval .qc c. a (click on « Écoles et centres » in the left menu) ÉCOLE HÔTELIÈRE DE LAVAL Provincial site: www .mels g. ouv .qc c. a/DFGA 190, rue Roseval, Laval Tél . : 450-662-7000, poste 2400 www c. slaval .qc c. a/ecolehoteliere/

South Shore

UNIVERSITÉ DE SHERBROOKE Campus de Longueuil 150, place Charles-Le Moyne, Longueuil Tél . : 450-463-1835 / 1 888-463-1835 www u. sherbrooke c. a/longueuil 56 Settling in Greater Montréal 59 Solcho Boards These bodies are responsible for all public COMMISSION SCOLAIRE schools, from preschool education to secondary DE LA RIVIÈRE-DU-NORD level, inclusively, as well as professional training 995, rue Labelle, Saint-Jérôme and adult education centers. School boards are Tel . : 450-436-5040 administrated by a council of commissioners, www c. srdn .qc c. a elected by popular vote for a four-year term, and parent representatives elected for one year. They COMMISSION SCOLAIRE DE LA are responsible for organizing and providing SEIGNEURIE-DES-MILLES-ÎLES quality educational services to efficiently 430, boulevard Arthur-Sauvé, Saint-Eustache meet the educational needs of young people, Tel . : 450-974-7000 adults as well as organizations in their territory, www c. ssmi .qc c. a companies in particular. COMMISSION SCOLAIRES They must also adapt education services to meet DES AFFLUENTS the needs of students who are handicapped or 80, rue Jean-Baptiste-Meilleur, Repentigny have adjustment or learning difficulties. School Tel . : 450-492-9400 boards determine which educational services www c. saffluents .qc c. a are offered by each school, professional training center and adult education center. They ensure South Shore day-care services for students in preschool and primary education and may organize COMMISSION SCOLAIRE DES transportation for students, as well as other GRANDES-SEIGNEURIES services such as food and lodging in order to 50, boulevard Taschereau, La Prairie increase accessibility to educational services. Tel . : 514-380-8899 Most of the school boards are French, but some www c. sdgs qc. c. a are English. COMMISSION SCOLAIRE DES HAUTES-RIVIÈRES FÉDÉRATION DES COMMISSIONS 210, rue Notre-Dame, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu SCOLAIRES DU QUÉBEC Tel . : 450-359-6411 1001, avenue Bégin, Québec www c. sdhr .qc c. a Tel . : 418-651-3220 www f. csq .qc c. a COMMISSION SCOLAIRE DES PATRIOTES 1740, rue Roberval, Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville Island of Montréal Tel . : 450-441-2919 / 1 877-449-2919 www c. sp .qc c. a COMMISSION SCOLAIRE DE MONTRÉAL 3737, rue Sherbrooke Est COMMISSION SCOLAIRE Tel . : 514-596-6000 DES TROIS-LACS www c. sdm .qc c. a 400, avenue Saint-Charles, Vaudreuil-Dorion Tel . : 450-477-7000 COMMISSION SCOLAIRE www c. strois-lacs .qc c. a ENGLISH-MONTREAL 6000, avenue Fielding COMMISSION SCOLAIRE Tel . : 514-483-7200 MARIE-VICTORIN www e. msb .qc c. a 13, rue Saint-Laurent Est, Longueuil Tel . : 450-670-0730 Laval and North Shore www c. smv .qc c. a

COMMISSION SCOLAIRE DE LAVAL RIVERSIDE COMMISSION BOARD 955, boulevard Saint-Martin Ouest, Laval 299, boulevard Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Saint-Lambert Tel . : 450-662-7000 Tel . : 450-672-4010 www c. slaval .qc c. a www .rsb .qc c. a 58 Settling in Greater Montréal 61 Amissiond and Since French is Québec’s official language, The schedule for students in kindergarten and Solcho day- registration the children of immigrants, no matter what elementary school rarely coincides with that of care services their mother tongue is, must usually attend working parents. What’s more, these students an institution belonging to the French sometimes have a day off on regular work days, school board in their community. Children for pedagogical days, for example. Several of temporary residents may be admitted to schools therefore offer day-care services, which English education. For more information, take care of children: contact directly the English school where you ➔➔ Before the beginning of classes in the wish to register your child. morning ➔➔ At lunchtime KINDERGARTEN, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ➔➔ After school AND SECONDARY SCHOOL In order for your child to attend school, you Students who use these services after class can must first make a request for registration to the do their homework and study during this time. school board in your community. You will be asked to present originals or certified copies of Parents who send their children to day-care the following documents: services in schools for at least two and a half ➔➔ Passport hours per day, for a minimum of three days a ➔➔ Birth certificate week, pay minimal daily fees. ➔➔ School report cards, if applicable However, other fees can be added, for example Depending on the situation, registration with for meals or special activities organized by the the school can be done either by the school day care. Find out from your child’s school board or by the parents. Where appropriate, or contact your school board to learn which the school board will give you the necessary schools provide this type of service. registration documents as well as the address for the school where you need to go. Childcare centers (CPE) coordinate and supervise Childcare All school boards give public notice each year home childcare services. It should be noted that centers and about new registrations. The registration period places are scarce and the waiting period can be stop-over starts in February or March, for the beginning long (sometimes up to two years). centers of the school year a few months later, usually at the end of August. You may however, However the fee (subsidized) is $7 per child per make a registration request at any time, but day, which is 3 to 5 times less than in a private, MA GARDERIE for preschool (kindergarten) registration, it is non-CPE day care. For children under 5 years of www .magarderie c. om generally recommended that you do so before age on September 30, there is a program offering the end of June. places for reduced fees and places exempted The information network about day from fees. To find out more, contact the day care care in Québec, this small portal with a COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY child-like design provides free resources you have chosen, or the Ministère de la Famille et To register for a college, contact the institution for all parents in Québec. It is a meeting des seniors (MFA). directly. If the school is a member of a regional place for childcare services (preschools, application service, they will give you the CPEs, day-care workers) and parents. needed information. For the fall semester Regroupement des centres de la petite enfance It offers detailed information on the (starting at the end of August), the application de l’Île de Montréal (day care and child availability of places in Montréal, Laval, for admission must be completed before and family resources for Montréal): Longueuil and elsewhere in Québec. March 1. For the winter semester (starting in www.rcpeim.com January), the deadline is November 1. Colleges may require admission fees. For universities, THE QUÉBEC DAY-CARE NETWORK you must make an application for admission All these services are given in premises set aside directly at the institution you have chosen and for them, except those that take in children at a pay fees. The deadlines vary according to the private residence. Childcare centers coordinate institution and the education program. and supervise home childcare services.

60 Settling in Greater Montréal 63 THE QUÉBEC DAY-CARE NETWORK PERSONAL number lenght option ages availability description of children of care FINANCES varies, childcare birth 48 hrs educational at most 7 full or centres to 5 yrs consecutive program* Opening an account is essential for day-to-day Fnanciali part-time transactions. To open one, just go to the branch services possibility of of your choice, preferably near your home or home birth maximum service for educational work. You will be asked for identification using childcare varies to 12 yrs of 9 more program* your social insurance number and/or your services than 24 hrs passport (and any other document supporting your residency in Canada). It is important to varies, daycare birth 24 hrs educational choose your institution well because fees for at most 7 full or centres to 12 yrs consecutive program* transactions, checks and other services can vary part-time from one bank to another. mornings or NEW AND UNIQUE: nursery groups of afternoons, educational 2 to 5 yrs maximum 4hrs CANADIAN IMPERIAL YOUR FINANCIAL CENTRE schools at least 7 on a regular program* BANK OF COMMERCE Keen to improve your personal finances? basis www c. ibc c. om Drop by our innovative hub of optional financial expertise. Under the same stopover birth variable, 24 hrs at most 7 educational BANK OF MONTRÉAL roof, the Carrefour Desjardins - centres to 12 yrs occasional consecutive activities www a .bmo c. conveniently located in downtown Montréal’s central business LAURENTIAN BANK district – offers you a full range of * Program adapted to the child’s age and the time spent on site with www .banquelaurentienne c. om specialized products, services and the ultimate goal of enhancing overall development. advice to help you grow your money. NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA Our multilingual team welcomes www a .bnc c. you into a modern, prestigious and comfortable environment. ROYAL BANK OF CANADA www .rbcbanqueroyale c. om CARREFOUR DESJARDINS 1241 Peel Street (near SCOTIA BANK Dorchester Square) www .scotiabank c. a Montréal (Québec) Telephone: 514-875-4266 TORONTO DOMINION BANK Fax: 514-875-1111 www t. dcanadatrust c. om desjardins c. om/carrefour 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday CAISSES DESJARDINS ET CENTRES or by appointment, wherever and FINANCIERS AUX ENTREPRISES whenever it’s convenient for you. www .desjardins c. om

HSBC www a .hsbc c.

When you open your account, the bank will DEBIT CARD give you a debit card directly linked to your bank account. This is an instant debit card and it is impossible to obtain credit with it, you can only spend the money that is available in your account. It is free, but there is a fee 62 Settling in Greater Montréal (M)CD08327_ang 2/28/08 3:13 PM Page 1 (M)CD08327_ang 2/28/08 3:13 PM Page 2

WELCOME TO DESJARDINS!

Desjardins, the largest cooperative financial group in Canada, For immigrant entrepreneurs. The seasoned experts from Desjardins is proud to welcome you to Québec as a new resident. business centres offer them sound support and a complete range of products and services to boost the productivity of their business and Thanks to the expertise of its financial advisors, Desjardins sets itself the development of their markets, regardless of their sector of activity. apart as the leader in terms of welcoming newcomers. When you establish a business relationship with us, you have access to a complete range of savings and investment, financing and life and property insurance products and services.

Please contact our Carrefour Desjardins team at [email protected] or check out our Web site at desjardins.com/carrefour. www.desjardins.com/newcomers

Publicité Desjardins – Anglais – Double page (Page de gauche) Publicité Desjardins – Anglais – Double page (Page de droite) 67 for transactions if you do them elsewhere you contract a loan with a financial institution, than an automated teller machine at one they may require that you carry insurance on of your institution’s branches. The Interac the loan to ensure your capacity to reimburse network is a widespread payment system in your debts. They cannot, however, require you North America. You can pay for most of your to subscribe to the insurance with them. purchases with this card. Automated tellers are accessible everywhere day and night. All Québec residents with an income must pay INCOME TAX CREDIT CARD The use of credit cards is widespread in their share of government expenses which go Québec. Contrary to their use in Europe, to ensure services to the community. Everyone North American cards are not affiliated with must therefore make an annual declaration of your bank account but are linked to a credit their income, whatever the source, for provincial account from another organization. The and federal income tax purposes. The Québec holder of a Visa or MasterCard receives a tax system, as well as that of Canada, is based statement of his account every month with on the principle of self-assessment. That means a payment due date. You don’t have to pay that each taxpayer must supply information on the whole amount, but a minimum amount his income and expenses to the government must be paid each month. The amount due as well as calculate his share of income tax to Welcome, carries monthly interest rates that are rather pay. It is what is called the individual income Newcomers to Canada high until the amount is completely paid tax return. This return must be sent to each Are you looking for a sound financial off. These rates vary between 15 and 20%. of the two governments before the 30th of institution to handle your finances Major store chains as well as certain gas April following the taxation year, which covers when you arrive in Canada? Desjardins companies offer their own credit cards (La January 1 to December 31 of the previous year. offers complete banking services Baie, Sears, UltraTue, Esso, Petro-Canada, etc.). The first year, you will have to obtain the Federal for individuals and businesses. However, obtaining a Canadian credit card government forms from Revenue Canada, at can be quite difficult for new immigrants a post office or by Internet. For the Québec For more details on the services offered because the application approval generally government return, you must contact Revenue by Desjardins or to open an account, is based on an analysis of your credit record Québec, Communication-Québec or a Caisse visit our Web site at desjardins.com/ in Canada. A newcomer often doesn’t have a populaire. The following years, you will receive newcomers. You can download the “credit rating”, which will result in a rejection your forms by mail. These documents come with newcomers’ information guide, by most financial institutions. Some are more appendices and a guide explaining what to do. which offers you details on relevant flexible than others on this, and will agree to If your financial situation is relatively simple, the aspects of Canadian economic life. study applications on a case by case basis. short forms are sufficient. If you have already paid You can also speak to one of our The employer will sometimes stand surety your income taxes, either by payroll deduction, agents by dialling 1-800-CAISSES. and therefore make access to credit easier. or by regular payments during the year (tax Depending on the choice of credit cards, installments), filling out your returns will enable It’s more than a bank. interest rates, as well as credit limits, payment you to request a refund for amounts overpaid It’s Desjardins – the largest terms and annual fees can vary from one bank or will tell you the balance to be paid. Failing integrated cooperative financial to the next. to produce these returns can result in interest group in Canada and the number charges or substantial fines. If you need help to one financial institution in Québec. fill out your income tax returns, you can phone CHECKS Personal checks are rarely accepted in stores. the information services for the Canada Revenue They are more often used for rent payment, Agency and Revenue Québec. Specialized paying invoices or payments sent by mail. agencies and accountants can also assist you by filling out the returns for you. You will have to pay for their services, however. CREDIT Several kinds of credit are available in Québec. Credit is so easily accessible that you must be REVENU QUÉBEC extremely careful. Even though it enables you Tel :. 514-864-6299 / 1 800-267-6299 to purchase all kinds of products immediately, www .revenu g. ouv .qc c. a credit is expensive because it carries interest that can be rather high, depending on the CANADA REVENUE AGENCY type of loan, as well as administration costs. If Tel :. 1 800-959-7383 | www c. ra-arc g. c c. a 66 Settling in Greater Montréal 69 POLITICAL AND Canadian and Québec political systems number of members elected forms the next JUDICIAL SYSTEMS Québec is a part of the Canadian government. This party’s chief becomes confederation, which includes 10 provinces Prime Minister, the head of government. and three territories. The main institutions ➔➔ The Canadian political system has three that make up the Canadian Parliament are the levels of government: federal, provincial House of Commons and the Senate. Québec and municipal. has its own government, which administers laws passed by the National Assembly. Human rights and freedoms The Québec Charter of Human Rights and CANADA Freedoms defines the fundamental rights for ➔➔ House of Commons and the Senate every person. Section 10 of this law stipulates legislate on questions of common interest in particular that: “Every person has a right to members of the confederation: national to full and equal recognition and exercise defense, border control, currency, etc. of his human rights and freedoms, without ➔➔ Federal members of Parliament, of whom distinction, exclusion or preference based on there are 308, sit in the House of Commons race, colour, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and are elected by universal suffrage for a civil status, age except as provided by law, limited mandate, keeping their seat until religion, political convictions, language, ethnic Parliament is dissolved (after a maximum of or national origin, social condition, a handicap five years). or the use of any means to palliate a handicap. ➔➔ Senators, of whom there are 105, are Discrimination exists where such a distinction, nominated by the Governor General on the exclusion or preference has the effect of recommendation of the Prime Minister of nullifying or impairing such right.” Canada.

QUÉBEC Police forces ensure the security of citizens and P oLICE forces ➔➔ Québec is represented on the federal level by monitor compliance with the law. There are 75 members of Parliament and 24 senators. three main types of police forces in Québec: ➔➔ The Québec National Assembly legislates in ➔➔ Municipal police in most cities of its fields of jurisdiction, including education, considerable size. health, justice, natural resources and ➔➔ Sûreté du Québec, present throughout the municipal affairs. province, particularly on highways and in ➔➔ The National Assembly has 125 members rural regions where there is no municipal elected by the population in the ridings they police. represent and whose interests they represent. ➔➔ Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which ensure compliance with federal laws, MUNICIPALITIES particularly in airports. ➔➔ Municipal administrations also have the power to adopt regulations in their fields of You can ask the police to intervene in a large jurisdiction, including questions regarding number of situations: municipal planning. ➔➔ emergencies of all kinds ➔➔ Municipal councils, directed by an elected ➔➔ road accidents mayor, are also administrations chosen by ➔➔ if you are victim of a robbery, aggression or the population during universal suffrage fraud elections. ➔➔ if you note the disappearance of a person in your care BRIEFLY… ➔➔ if you witness a crime ➔➔ Only Canadian citizens aged 18 years or older and registered on the electoral For emergencies, you can contact your list have the right to vote. They may also municipal police by dialing 911. Otherwise, present themselves as candidates for you can simply dial the nearest police station election as members. directly. You should keep this number near ➔➔ The political party that has the greatest you phone. 68 Settling in Greater Montréal Curtso There exist a large number of courts, each having their own field of jurisdiction: criminal, administrative or civil lawsuits, suits covered MINISTÈRE DE LA JUSTICE by provincial or federal legislation, or DU QUÉBEC municipal regulation. If you want to bring a www.justice.gouv.qc.ca lawsuit before a court, or if you are required to appear there, you will most likely wish to PALAIS DE JUSTICE DE MONTRÉAL retain the services of a lawyer. The Ministère 1, rue Notre-Dame Est de la Justice du Québec, the Commission des Tel. : 514-393-2721 services juridiques and the Barreau du Québec can supply documentation regarding the rules BARREAU DU QUÉBEC to follow, your rights, your responsibilities and www.barreau.qc.ca the way to obtain a lawyer’s services.

INFORMATION SUR VOS JUDICIAL SERVICES DROITS ET RESPONSABILITÉS You are free to choose the lawyer who will www.educaloi.qc.ca represent you before the courts and defend your interests. You will have to pay for his SOCIÉTÉ QUÉBÉCOISE services, however. You may be admissible for D’INFORMATION JURIDIQUE Legal Aid, a government service that gives 715, rue du Square-Victoria, suite 600 low-income people access to a lawyer’s Tél : 514-842-8741 services for free or for a small contribution. www.soquij.qc.ca Contact the nearest office to see if you are eligible for this program.

SMALL CLAIMS Because of the complexity of the judicial COURT system and waiting times that are sometimes long, the Court of Québec created the Small Claims Court Division. This court expedites the settling of everyday civil suits (a disagreement with a merchant, a service provider, etc.). However, this rapid procedure has requirements: ➔➔ your claim must be less than $7,000 ➔➔ you cannot be represented by a lawyer ➔➔ the person or company you are suing must be a Québec resident or have a business Living in Montréal office there ➔➔ the judgment rendered is final and without appeal. The Island of Montréal ...... P . 0 7 2 Laval and the North Shore ...... P .1 0 5 Longueuil and the South Shore ...... P .11 3

70 73 M oNTRÉAL in 2010 The metro, commuter trains and bus lines ISLAND OF Montréal has the second largest population in converge at the center, adding to the Canada after Toronto. It is a dynamic financial busyness of the streets, public squares and QUALITY OF LIFE MONTRÉAL and commercial center, as well as a world-class the underground city. Spreading out from the COMPARISON port on the waterway linking the Great Lakes to downtown metro stations is an inside network (2009) the Atlantic. The city is also the second largest of 30 kilometers of pedestrian walkways French-speaking city in the world after Paris (in and commercial centers (178 entrances), MONTRÉAL ...... 100 CITY OF MONTRÉAL terms of population). It is the only Canadian city connecting 62 building complexes and SAN FRANCISCO ...... 98.8 Tel.: 311 (from Montréal) reconciling the influences of the Old Continent forming a true city under the city. BOSTON ...... 98.1 514-872-0311 (outside of Montréal) and North American modernity, bringing CHICAGO ...... 96.3 www.ville.montreal.qc.ca together the French- and English-speaking Montréal’s underground city is also the largest WASHINGTON ...... 96.3 Here you will find contact information communities divided so long by history. It has pedestrian and commercial network of its kind NEW YORK ...... 96.0 for the various departments of the city succeeded in creating a diverse ethnic mix in the world. More than 500,000 people go SEATTLE 95.8 and its districts. through immigration. What was once a cluster through it every day. LOS ANGELES 94.1 of separate towns and villages is now a single, HOUSTON ...... 92.4 MONTRÉAL TOURISM highly dynamic cultural center. Located on A city bursting with vitality MIAMI ...... 92.3 Tél : 514-873-2015 / 1 877-266-5687 the Island of Montréal, Montréal consists of 19 and creativity DETROIT 92.1 www.tourisme-montreal.org districts or boroughs, 1.85 million inhabitants The spectacular growth of the Cirque du Soleil ATLANTA ...... 92.0 (3.78 million in Greater Montréal), and no fewer is an illustration of Montréal’s creative dynamic. than 80 ethnic groups. At the center of the This company revolutionized the circus world. Source : Mercer Human Island, Mount Royal, also called the Mountain, Its permanent shows in the United States and Resource Consulting, 2009 dominates the urban landscape. its world tours make it the first multinational Methodology: The international (215 circus. Furthermore, the National Circus cities) survey evaluates 39 factors Outstanding quality of life School, founded in 1981 by Guy Caron, a related to quality of life, particularly Montréal is a vibrant, very human cosmopolitan comedian and circus performer, and Pierre including political, social, economic, city. The liveliness of its downtown and the Leclerc, an elite gymnast, is the internationally and environmental factors, personal quality of life in its neighborhoods set the renowned school that enabled the Cirque du health and safety, education, city apart. The excitement of its cultural life Soleil and Cirque Éloize to emerge. Montréal transport and other public services. is enhanced by a harmony based on a long cultural productions strike a chord with visitors tradition of coexistence between different from every nation. This is a sign of the success cultures. The Montréal International Jazz of artistic ensembles as diverse as the Grands Festival, one of the cultural festivals attracting Ballets Canadiens, the contemporary dance HOMICIDE more than 3 million visitors each year, is an company LaLaLa Human Steps, and even the RATE (2007) example of the major public events that Montréal Symphony Orchestra, who perform (for 100 000 inhabitants) exemplify the city’s joie de vivre. on the world’s largest stages.

MONTRÉAL ...... 1 . ,6 Safe and vibrant way of life Montréal businesses can claim the same BOSTON ...... 2,8 Montréal is one of the safest large cities in success through their exporting of TV series SAN DIEGO ...... 3,6 North America. Day or night, its public places and feature films to more than 130 countries, NEW YORK ...... 4,5 are alive with crowds of lovers of music, translated into more than 35 languages. The SAN FRANCISCO ...... 8,8 food and film. Crime, already very low for cultural activities benefit from an enthusiastic HOUSTON ...... 8,8 such a large city, has been falling steadily public. Festivals such as the Montréal DETROIT 10,9 since 1990. Downtown Montréal is a mix of International Jazz Festival, the Just for Laughs offices, large stores, boutiques, restaurants, Festival, and the World Film Festival are Source : american data : Federal universities, and hospitals, just a stone’s throw especially popular. Bureau of Investigation, 2008. Canadian from comfortable or bohemian residential data : Statistique Canada, 2008 districts. Unlike most large North American These are all in addition to major international Note: This comparison refers to the 20 cities, Montréal’s downtown district contains events, such as the Canadian Formula One largest metropolitan regions in North not only office blocks but also a diverse Grand Prix, the International des Feux Loto- American for which data is available. population. It is possible to live in a single- Québec (Montréal Fireworks Festival), and the family house located in a residential district of Canada Masters tennis tournament (Rogers the city and get to your office in less than 30 Cup), which attract an increasing number of minutes. visitors every year. Finally, for those who enjoy 72 Living in Montréal 75 COST OF LIVING their food, Montréal is recognized as one of the The Port of Montréal, open 365 days a year, (2009) gastronomic capitals of the world, as attested occupies first place among ports on the east to by the American Food & Wine magazine. coast of North America, ahead New York, for MONTRÉAL ...... 100 transporting containers on the North Atlantic. TORONTO ...... 104,4 Diverse, top-quality housing ATLANTA ...... 108,5 The Montréal region is one of those rare Each day, 550 scheduled flights land or take off WASHINGTON ...... 111,2 world cities where the cost of housing is still from Pierre-Elliot Trudeau International Airport. LOS ANGELES 116,9 affordable. Housing prices are lower than The great commercial centers of northeastern CHICAGO ...... 118,9 in most of the world’s large cities to which North America are just one hour away by air, MIAMI ...... 119,9 Montréal is compared. In fact, properties and the Trudeau airport itself is located only PRICE LEVEL (2009) BARCELONA 120,9 sold in several other North American cities 20 minutes from downtown. Located on the LONDON 136,5 cost twice as much as the average price in South Shore, the St. Hubert airport is one of Without rent With rent SHANGHAI ...... 140,2 Montréal. The region offers a wide range of the airports used for business flights in the Montréal 100,0 100,0 PARIS ...... 140,1 dwelling types, whether want to live in one Montréal area. TORONTO . . . . . 103,4 . . . . . 105,7 NEW-YORK ...... 147,3 of the liveliest downtown districts in North AMSTERDAM . . . 108,8 . . . . . 108,1 America, in the charming towns on the South Greater Montréal, STOCKHOLM . . . 114,0 . . . . . 109,9 Note: This comparison refers to a Shore of the St. Lawrence, the thriving districts a place of finance VIENNE ...... 122,5 . . . . . 115,6 selection of 20 large international of Laval, or in the nearby countryside – where The metropolitan Montréal region occupies MUNICH 121,0 . . . . . 116,6 metropolitan regions (including the Top it is normal to find lots of 450 m2 (4,800 square an enviable position in the financial sector LUXEMBOURG . . 118,7 ...... 117,1 20 North American regions listed by feet) – 20 km outside downtown Montréal. and has been able to develop niches in which LONDRES . . . . . 110,9 . . . . . 117,3 the survey). The annual Mercer Human it excels. Several large financial institutions CHICAGO . . . . . 107,5 . . . . . 120,8 Resource Consulting survey compares Greater Montréal is close to several vacation established their headquarters here, such as HELSINKI . . . . . 123,9 . . . . . 124,8 the cost of living in 143 cities based on centers. In less than one hour, it is possible to the Bank of Montréal, the National Bank of DUBLIN ...... 121,5 . . . . . 128,0 more than 200 criteria such as housing, get to more than 30 ski resorts, 80 golf courses Canada, the Royal Bank of Canada, and the PARIS ...... 122,3 . . . . . 128,5 food, clothing, home appliances, as and 50 marinas. Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec HONG-KONG . . . 98,6 135,7 well as transportation and leisure. (Québec deposit and investment fund). COPENHAGUE 142,1 . . . . . 137,2 Affordable cost of living Several foreign-owned banks are also based ZURICH ...... 142,1 . . . . . 142,1 Housing, food, clothing, health care and the in Montréal, such as HSBC Bank, Banque TOKYO 133,7 . . . . . 143,1 education of your children are much cheaper Nationale de Paris, Citibank, Société Générale, GENÈVE ...... 140,0 . . . . . 143,5 in Montréal and the surrounding regions and the Republic National Bank of New York. LOS ANGELES 95,3 147,8 than in other large world cities. The Québec OSLO 147,4 . . . . . 147,8 health system is founded upon the principle Besides the banking head offices, insurance NEW-YORK . . . . 131,1 . . . . . 167,8 of universality, thus providing free basic health companies, and well-established large care to all residents in the province. Public financial groups, there are more than Note: The price level is calculated from education is also free and of high quality from 50 venture-capital companies and 135 a sample of 122 goods and services, kindergarten to college, in both French and international financial centers (IFCs). The latter, including 3 rental fees, weighted English. Ivy League universities, such as McGill as mutual investment fund managers, benefit according to the consumer habits of University and the Université de Montréal, (in Québec) from substantial tax breaks Western Europe. The average currency charge some of the lowest tuition fees in that affect both companies and employees. price over the survey period was used North America. The region’s financial sector benefits from to convert between the different a complete management infrastructure, currencies. Hub of commerce covering both regulation and control, and also Greater Montréal’s population of 3.8 million including IT and telecommunications services inhabitants and a GDP of $120 billion, represent meeting the most demanding requirements. a extremely attractive market. Furthermore, its transport infrastructure offers companies fast Despite the structural changes causing access to a market of 425 million consumers upheaval throughout the world in this from the North American Free Trade Area sector, Montréal has succeeded in keeping its (Canada, United States, and Mexico). More than employment level for the sector at more than 100 million North American consumers can 100,000 salaried workers and offers a high- be reached within a single day’s travel from quality pool of managers and analysts. The Montréal. Québec alone is the U.S.A.’s 7th largest four Montréal universities also offer advanced trading partner. study programs in finance-related fields. 74 Living in Montréal

79 M oNTRÉAL, an international city Montréal clearly has an international character. Some 70 international organizations are located here, directly or indirectly providing nearly 6,000 jobs, and with an economic spinoff reaching close to $300 million. For example, in the aerospace sector, Montréal is home to the McG iLL UnIVERSITY Exceed your international aeronautic telecommunications 845, rue Sherbrooke Ouest expectations! company, SITA, and the International Air Tel . : (514) 398- 4455 Transport Association (IATA). Registrariat : Tel . : (514) 398- 4466 The Centre for www .mcgill c. a Continuing The city also hosts the International Civil Aviation The oldest university in Montreal, Education offers « Montréal is a Organization (ICAO), which comes under the McGill University was founded in the United Nations. Other UN agencies are also 1821, in what would become the a full range of wonderful city established in Montréal, including the Secretariat very heart of Montréal. It is one of programs and for the Convention on Biological Diversity and Canada’s best-known institutions courses that can for business. It is the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. of higher learning and most highly respected university centers in North help give you affordable and the The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is also America. Its eleven faculties, nineteen that competitive located here. The presence of international schools, and its Centre for Continuing edge. quality of life here organizations is complemented by a constant Education offer bachelor, masters flow of foreign visitors. Montréal is the and doctorate level programs. There is remarkable. We destination of choice in Canada and Number 3 are Nearly 30,000 students attending For more information: in North America as a host city for international McGill University, with 53% being 514-398-5700 are very excited conferences. English-speaking and 21% French- [email protected] speaking, with students coming to www.mcgill.ca/potential by the city’s The city has 23,000 hotel rooms and large McGillG100735_Montreal from about 150 International countries. Ad_03_Layout 1 3/24/2010 11:32 AM Page 1 facilities. Its Palais des congrès can hold more energy and the than 20,000 conference delegates at a time. Furthermore, the international district, situated vitality of the real between the Montréal business area and the historic district, is designed to offer a prestigious estate market. » location to international organizations and corporations. Alan Marcovitz President Westcliff Group Universities The Montréal region stands out by the reputation of its universities. The five universities in the Greater Montréal region are A WORLD-CLASS attended by some 165,000 students, including 17,000 foreigners. The region has two French UNIVERSITY FOR A universities, the Université de Montréal and the Université du Québec à Montréal, and WORLD-CLASS CITY two English, McGill University and Concordia Outstanding teaching and research. University. Inspiring museums. Insightful lectures and soul-stirring concerts. Campuses brimming with both history and innovation. Consider McGill, whether you want to study, work or just pay a visit.

www.mcgill.ca

78 Living in Montréal U nIVERSITÉ de Montréal 2900, boul . Édouard-Montpetit Tel . : (514) 343-7076 www u. montreal c. a L’Université de Montréal offers the largest course prospectus in Canada for the health sector. U of M, founded in 1878, has 13 faculties, more than 60 departments covering human and social sciences, as well as various disciplines in pure sciences and health. It has an ongoing relationship with the industry and the socio- cultural and political environment surrounding it, in addition to many exchange agreements with foreign partners. It has 50,000 students, including 4,000 foreign students from 120 countries. The HEC Montréal school and École Polytechnique are affiliated with it.

C oNCORDIA University 1455, boul . de Maisonneuve Ouest Tel . : (514) 848-2424 www c. oncordia c. a Concordia University, founded in 1974, is the result of the merger between two establishments, Loyola College and Sir George Williams University. It has more than 30,000 students, and offers no less than 180 programs governed by four faculties (Arts and Sciences, John-Molson Management School, Engineering and IT, and Fine Arts). The university also has 18 research centers. Its student population consists of 64% English-speaking students and 22% French-speaking.

U nIVERSITÉ du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM) C .P . 8888, succursale centre-ville Tel . : (514) 987-3000 www u. qam c. a Situated in the heart of the Latin quarter, the Université du Québec à Montréal has six faculties and more than 40,000 students. It has seen unprecedented growth since its creation in 1969, and additions are constantly being made to its course prospectus. It has an open attitude toward new students, particularly in making room for adults resuming their education.

80 83 U nIVERSITÉ de Sherbrooke C aLENDAR of events and Campus Longueuil | 1111, rue Saint-Charles Ouest, Longueuil festivals in the region Tel . : (450) 463-1835 / 1 888 463-1835 Most of these events are held each year on www u. sherbrooke c. a approximately the same dates. L’Université de Sherbrooke - Campus de Longueuil hosts more than 9,500 students. WINTER There are nine faculties sharing 80 bachelor, masters and doctorate programs. The Université FÊTE DES NEIGES DE MONTRÉAL de Sherbrooke was the first in the world to (MONTRÉAL SNOW FESTIVAL) offer the Masters in Business Administration End of January to beginning of February (MBA) program in French. The Université de 514-872-6120 Sherbrooke has 26 research chairs. www .parcjeandrapeau c. om Lots of activities await lovers of winter and fresh air: tube sliding, a skating trail, dog-sleds, ice S cIENTIFIC, The Montréal region has the largest and snow sculpture, etc. technological concentration of engineering expertise in and commercial Canada, with 60% of the country’s engineering LES RENDEZ-VOUS DU support consultancy firms. More than 40,000 engineers CINÉMA QUÉBÉCOIS live in the metropolitan region. Second half of February 514-526-9635 SNC-Lavalin, one of the largest engineering- www .rvcq c. om consultation firms in the world, has its The purpose of this event is to promote headquarters in Montréal. The region is also Québec and Canadian cinema abroad through graced with many schools and institutes meetings between the public and film-makers affiliated with these universities, such as and a presentation of more than 150 films or HEC Montréal, École Polytechnique, École videos. de technologie supérieure (School of Higher Technology), National School of Public MONTRÉAL HIGH LIGHTS FESTIVAL Administration, National Institute of Scientific Second half of February Research (NISR) and, in the biotechnology www .montrealenlumiere c. om sector, the NISR Institut Armand-Frappier. Three festivals in one, bringing together the finest talent from here and elsewhere in fields Québec has a proportion of graduates well as varied as dance, theater, music and the above the Canadian average in scientific, art of entertaining. Outdoor site free for the technological, and commercial disciplines. Celebration of Light. Every year, the Montréal region’s employers can choose from a pool of more than 8,000 NUIT BLANCHE in MONTRÉAL new university graduates coming from February scientific and technological fields, and more As part of the Montréal High Lights Festival, than 7,500 from commercial fields, thus night owls who don’t mind the chill can enjoy guaranteeing a highly qualified workforce. a number of trips, activities and entertainment offered throughout the city. A free shuttle service connects the various sites during the night.

SPRING

ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE Mid-March www .montrealirishparade c. om A colorful celebration of St. Patrick, the patron saint of the Irish (note that 4 million Canadians have Irish ancestors). More than 4,000 participants, 40 floats and 45 marching bands! 82 Living in Montréal 85 INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL public to discover the diversity and richness of OF FILMS ON ART Montréal museums and develop a taste to visit Second half of March them all year round. 514-874-1637 www .artfifa c. om BIKE FEST Screenings of films on artistic creation, whether End of May to beggining of June in dance, painting, sculpture, architecture, 514-521-8356 design, drama, photography, cinema, art www ve. lo qc. c. a/feria history, literature and music . A week of cycling events including the Tour de l’Île, Un Tour la Nuit and the Défi Métropolitain. INTERNATIONAL PANAFRICA FILM FESTIVAL Second half of April SUMMER 514-284-3322 www f. estivalpanafrica c. om MONDIAL DE LA BIÈRE More than 80 works from 40 countries. (BEER FESTIVAL) Screenings of short and feature films, dramas End of May to beggining of June and documentaries, followed by discussions 514-722-9640 with the authors. www f. estivalmondialbiere .qc c. a It is the event for Montréal beer lovers. We MONTRÉAL BLUE METROPOLIS found over 350 different beers, ciders and INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL meads, all accented with tasty delights from Second half of April Québec. 514-937-2538 www .metropolisbleu o. rg LES FRANCOFOLIES DE MONTRÉAL Blue Metropolis brings together more than 250 (FRENCH MUSIC FESTIVAL) authors, musicians, journalists and publishers Mid-June from around the world for five days of literary 514-876-8989 activities in several languages. www f. rancofolies c. om A musical event with Francophone artists from PIKNIC ELECTRONIK Europe, Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean. Mid-May to end of September Performances in several halls and outdoors. www .piknicelectronik c. om A first for the 2010 festival: Les Miserables by Sunday outdoor gathering for fans of electronic Victor Hugo, presented at Place des Arts. music. Friendly ambiance in the afternoon and much more festive at night... A must-see event SAINT-AMBROISE MONTRÉAL on the Montréal music scene and, frankly, a FRINGE FESTIVAL memorable day! Other events: Igloofest in Mid-June winter, and the Électronik sugar shack in spring. 514-849-3378 www .montrealfringe c. a FESTIVAL TRANSAMÉRIQUES International festival of free expression that mixes End of May to mid-June theater, dance and music. Several shows in English 514-842-0704 and French, offered over 11 days by more than 80 www f. ta qc. c. a troupes from around the world. Biennial event with a score of companies from here and elsewhere providing innovative CANADIAN GRAND PRIX programming in theater and dance. Mid-June 514-350-0000 MONTRÉAL MUSEUMS DAY www c. ircuitgillesvilleneuve c. a End of May The best drivers in the world compete in 514-845-6873 one of the stages of the Formula 1world www .museesmontreal o. rg championship. Watch for various events during This open house is an opportunity for the the weekend, including open-house day. 84 Living in Montréal 87 L’INTERNATIONAL DES FEUX A summer festival that’s unique in North LOTO-QUÉBEC (LOTO-QUÉBEC America, bringing together the best groups INTERNATIONAL FIREWORKS SHOW) from Africa, the Caribbean and South America. Mid-June to mid-August Free outdoor shows during the weekend. 514-397-2000 | www .internationaldesfeuxloto-quebec c. om Major international fireworks competition FESTIVAL DIVERS/CITÉ (LGBT FESTIVAL) presented with fireworks lasting 30 minutes. End of July to beginning of August Watch the event from the La Ronde site, where 514-285-4011 fireworks are actually exploding right above www .diverscite o. rg you (paying seats, VIP sections also available), One of North America’s largest gay and or from the Jacques Cartier Bridge or the banks lesbian pride events, which attracts more of the St. Lawrence River (choice seats and free). than one million festival-goers. Community, party, culture, insanity, insomnia... Note that MONTRÉAL INTERNATIONAL in mid-August there are also the Montréal JAZZ FESTIVAL Pride celebrations, which now include the End of June to beginning of July community day and parade. 514-871-1881 www .montrealjazzfest c. om OSHEAGA MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL Festival bringing together world-renowned End of July to beginning of August jazz greats. More than 500 concerts, 350 of www o. sheaga c. om them free, spread over nearly a dozen outdoor Osheaga assembles the biggest names in music stages and in theaters. outdoors in the heart of Parc Jean-Drapeau. An indoor component is held a few days before INTERNATIONAL REGGAE FESTIVAL the outdoors festival to prolong the pleasure. End of June www .montrealreggaefest c. om FESTIBLUES INTERNATIONAL Festival mainly dedicated to reggae music but DE MONTRÉAL (MONTRÉAL also includes other musical styles and visual arts, poetry and dance components. INTERNATIONAL BLUES FESTIVAL) Mid-August FESTIVAL JUSTE POUR RIRE 514-337-8425 (JUST FOR LAUGHS FESTIVAL) www f. estiblues c. om July Meet the best blues artists from Québec, 514-845-2322 Canada and France on two outdoor stages and www .hahaha c. om in concert halls. One of Montréal’s most popular festivals, animating the Latin Quarter with comedians, THE CANADA MASTERS – ROGERS CUP entertainers, and street-theater troupes from Mid-August around the world. 514-273-1515 / 1 866-338-2685 www .rogerscup c. om FANTASIA INTERNATIONAL Tennis tournament which brings together FILM FESTIVAL the world’s best players on the international July professional circuit. www f. estivalfantasia c. om Festival dedicated to fantasy films (fantasy, WORLD FILM FESTIVAL action, comedy, suspense and thriller). End of August to beginning of September 514-848-3883 FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL NUITS www ff. m-montreal .org D’AFRIQUE (AFRICAN NIGHTS All countries and genres come together for INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL) this great film competition. Some movies Mid-July and shows are offered free outdoors, on the 514-499-9239 esplanade of Place des Arts, and others are www f. estivalnuitsdafrique c. om paid shows and held indoors. 86 Living in Montréal 89 FALL IMAGE+NATION October OASIS MONTRÉAL MARATHON www .image-nation o. rg Beggining of September Internationally renowned festival of gay and 514-879-1027 lesbian independent film, combining the best www .marathondemontreal c. om films from the four corners of the world. A multidisciplinary event involving several popular activities centered around the FESTIVAL DU MONDE ARABE importance of physical activity and its health DE MONTRÉAL (MONTRÉAL benefits. The first stage of the Montréal ARAB WORLD FESTIVAL) International Marathon also takes place here. End of October to beginning of November 514-747-0000 LES JOURNÉES DE LA CULTURE www f. estivalarabe c. om (CULTURE DAYS) This multidisciplinary festival includes End of September performances, creations, debates and films 514-873-2641 promoting exploration, discovery and www .journeesdelaculture .qc c. a understanding of Arab culture. Since 1997, hundreds of institutions and artists’ studios open their doors to those curious to RENCONTRES INTERNATIONALES discover or better understand the cultural DU DOCUMENTAIRE DE environment of their city. MONTRÉAL (INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FORUM) MONTRÉAL POP MUSIC FESTIVAL November End of September to beggining of October 514-499-3676 514-842-1919 www .ridm qc. c. a www .popmontreal c. om A unique forum in North America for creative The international independent music scene is documentary film encouraging a reflection on on hand at POP Montréal, a festival for lovers of the realities of today’s world. music at its most pure. COUP DE CŒUR FRANCOPHONE BLACK & BLUE FESTIVAL November Beggining of October 514-253-3024 514-875-7026 www c. oupdecoeur .qc c. a www .bbcm o. rg Canada-wide event, presented in a dozen cities The Black & Blue Festival brings together a in across the country, dedicated to French song. multitude of varied activities directed at the gay community and its friends. The climax takes place SALON DU LIVRE DE MONTRÉAL Sunday night during a mega party with famous (MONTRÉAL BOOK FAIR) DJs: One of the biggest world events for gays! Mid-November 514-845-2365 FESTIVAL DU NOUVEAU CINÉMA www .salondulivredemontreal .com DE MONTRÉAL (MONTRÉAL In addition to promoting Québec, Canadian and NEW FILM FESTIVAL) international literature, this show takes you to Mid-October beyond just reading thanks to its many activities. 514-844-2172 www .nouveaucinema c. a SALON DES MÉTIERS D’ART DU The festival is dedicated to the dissemination and QUÉBEC (QUÉBEC ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR) development of new trends in the field of auteur December cinema, independent video and new media. 514-861-2787 Springboard for original and unpublished works, www .salondesmetiersdart c. om its diversified program is open to all, creating a Exhibition and sale of works of art with more unique environment of exchange and discovery than 450 exhibitors showcasing their creations. for the public and the creators. A host of ideas for Christmas gifts. 88 Living in Montréal 91 MONTRÉAL MUSEUMS PASS MUSÉE DES BEAUX-ARTS Museums This passport offers visitors a choice of 34 DE MONTRÉAL (MONTRÉAL museums and attractions in Montréal. You can MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS) and tourist purchase the passport only ($45, valid for 3 1379, Sherbrooke Ouest (Hornstein and Stewart pavilions) days of your choice within a period of 21 days) 1380, Sherbrooke Ouest (Jean-Noël Desmarais pavilion) or choose to combine it with a public transit 1339, rue Sherbrooke Ouest (Claire and Marc Bourgie pavilion) attractions pass ($50, valid for 3 consecutive days). 514-285-2000 Information: www .museesmontreal o. rg www .mbam .qc c. a Outlets: The pass is available at visitor information Metro Peel or Guy-Concordia. Open Tue, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; centers, museums and attractions as well as Wed-Fri, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sat-Sun, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Access free to participating inns and hotels in the city . permanent collections. Temporary exhibitions: adult 1$5, senior $10, student $7.50, family $30, free for those under 13 years. CITY OF GLASS: Half price on Wednesday from 5 p.m. (except for students). THE HISTORY OF ART MUSEUMS CENTRE FOR CANADIAN The museum is renowned for its successful AN INNOVATON ARCHITECTURE international exhibitions such as «Erotic Picasso», www v. illedeverre c. om 1920, Baile | 514-939-7026 | www c. ca .qc c. a «Hitchcock and Art», «Dürer to Rembrandt,» 2010 is the year of glass in Montréal. Metro Atwater or Guy-Concordia. Open Wed-Sun, 11 a.m. to Riopelle,» «Eternal Egypt» and Imagine.» The Museums and galleries in the 6 p.m. (until 9 Thursday); closed Mon-Tue. Adult $10, seniors permanent collection contains the most city will welcome you with great $7, students and children free. Free Thursday after 5:30 p.m. interesting pieces. More than 30,000 objects programming about this material The museum was founded on the conviction make up one of the richest collections in North which is both familiar and fascinating. that architecture is part of everyday life. It America: antiques, a collection of pre-Columbian From February to December, a wide goes without saying that the building itself and Asian paintings by European masters from range of exhibitions and activities will is a pleasure to visit. Designed by Peter Rose the Middle Ages to the present (Memling, present glass in all its forms and in its and Phyllis Lambert, the building has won Mantegna, Rembrandt, Monet, Cezanne, various uses. Blown glass or pieces numerous awards since its opening in 1989. In Matisse, Picasso, Dali...), contemporary art (Robert of sculptured art, industrial glass or addition to the exhibition halls, reception halls Rauschenberg, Alexander Calder, Riopelle...). glass for domestic use, architectural and the conservatory are open to public. They There is also a collection of unique Canadian art, or environmental design, not to house the world’s largest collection of plans, paintings, sculptures, decorative arts depicting mention traveling in time through drawings, photographs, architectural models, the history of Canada, from New France to today. the prism of historical stained-glass books etc. Finally, be sure not to miss the decorative arts windows and the new technologies collection of 700 objects covering more than 6 MUSÉE D’ART CONTEMPORAIN centuries of design. (MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART) 185, Sainte-Catherine Ouest 514-847-6226 | www .macm o. rg NOTRE-DAME BASILICA OF MONTRÉAL H ISTORICAL Metro Place-des-Arts. Open Wed-Sun, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 110, Notre-Dame Ouest MUSEUMS (until 9 p.m. Wednesday); closed Mon (except holiday 514-842-2925 Mon). Adult $10, senior $8, student $6, family 20 $, free www .basiliquenddm o. rg for those under 12 years. Free on Wednesday from 5 p.m. Metro Place-d’Armes. Mon-Fri, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat, 9 a.m-3:30 to 9 p.m. Friday evenings: every first Friday evening of the p.m.; Sun, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Adult: $5, 7-17 years: $4. month from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., the visit includes live music, The basilica was built between 1824 and 1829 film clips of exhibitions and bar. General admission fee. to replace the former Notre Dame church. Its The Musée d’art contemporain promotes majestic interior was added in the late 19th contemporary art works by exhibiting Québec, century. It has been the scene of great events, Canadian and foreign works. The permanent the funeral of Sir Georges Étienne Cartier in collection includes more than 7,000 works 1873, one of the Fathers of Confederation dating from 1939 to today, including the most and former Prime Minister of Canada, as well important collection of works by Paul-Emile as those of Pierre Elliot Trudeau in October Borduas. In other rooms, guest artists are 2000 and Maurice Richard, one of the greatest showcased on a temporary basis. You can take hockey players, and the marriage of Céline a little bit of the museum home with you by Dion. The International Eucharistic Congress stopping off at the boutique, which offers an of 1910 was held here, and Pope John Paul II interesting choice of related items. received children here in 1984. 90 Living in Montréal 93 CENTRE D’HISTOIRE DE MONTRÉAL the Marguerite Bourgeoys farmhouse (1668). (MONTRÉAL HISTORY CENTER) Each piece of furniture and accessory has 335, Place d’Youville | 514-872-3207 a story attached to it. Every Sunday during www v. ille .montreal .qc c. a/chm the summer, you’ll find artists, actors and Metro Square-Victoria. Open Tue-Sun, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (closed musicians from the Ensemble Claude-Gervaise during the holiday season). Adult $6, senior $5, student & and tastings on the menu at the Maison Saint- 6-17 years $4, family $15, free for those under 6 years. Gabriel site. Do not forget to visit the farm yard The permanent exhibition at the Centre and the stone barn dating from 1880. d’histoire de Montréal: “Montréal en cinq temp” makes you relive five eventful eras of MUSÉE DU CHÂTEAU DUFRESNE the city, from 1535 to the cultural boom of the 2929, Jeanne-d’Arc | 514-259-9201 1960s and 1970s, while emphasizing the 20th www .chateaudufresne .qc .ca century. Upstairs, «Montréal aux mille visages Metro Pie-IX. Open Wed-Sun, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed the (The Thousand Faces of Montréal)” offers the other days. Adult $7, student and senior $6, children personal stories from inhabitants of the city. $3.50, family $16, free for those under 6 years. The underground Temporary exhibitions and guided tours are Classified as a historic monument since 1976, city in numbers also available. Château Dufresne was built between 1915 and 1918, in the middle of the First World 31.5 km of hallways, indoor THE FUR TRADE AT LACHINE War, by brothers Oscar and Marius Dufresne. squares, and tunnels linking: NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE Representative of the new French middle class + 10 metro stations, OF CANADA at the time, the museum houses the collection + 2 train stations, 1255, Saint-Joseph, Lachine of furniture and objects belonging to the + 2 regional bus stations, 514-637-7433 (été) / 514-283-6054 founders and also serves as a distribution + 62 building complexes, www .pc g. c c. a/fourrure center for visual arts. Must-see: the interior + 7 large hotels, Metro Angrignon and bus 195. Open from the beginning painted by profane artist Guido Nincheri. + 1,615 housing units, of April to the end of November: Mon-Sun, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 + 200 restaurants, p.m. & 1-5 p.m.; closed on weekends in April and from MUSÉE DU CHÂTEAU RAMEZAY + 1,700 stores, mid-October to end November. Adult $3.90, senior $3.40, 280, Notre-Dame Est | 514-861-3708 + 37 movie theaters and exhibition halls, youth $1.90, family $9.80, free for those under 6 years. www .chateauramezay .qc .ca + 1 college, This National Historic Site you will make you Metro Champ-de-March. Winter: Tue-Sun, 10 + 10,000 indoor public parking spaces, relive the saga of the fur trade in this enchanting a.m.-4:30 p.m. Summer: Mon-Sun, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. + 178 street entry points. site at the confluence of the Lachine Canal Adult $9, student $6, senior $7, 5-17 years $4.50, and the St. Lawrence River. The warehouse family $18, free for those under 4 years. located on the site dates from 1803 and was The Musée du Château Ramezay is the first built by Alexander Gordon, former clerk and building classified as a historical monument shareholder of the Northwest Company. The and the oldest private history museum to building was then bought in 1833 by the Québec. For more than 110 years, it has Hudson’s Bay Company. The historic site is now featured historical exhibitions and organized managed by Parks Canada. cultural, scientific and museum activities.

MAISON SAINT-GABRIEL MUSÉE MARGUERITE- 2146, Place Dublin, Pointe-Saint-Charles BOURGEOYS & CHAPELLE 514-935-8136 | www .maisonsaint-gabriel .qc .ca NOTRE-DAME-DE-BON-SECOURS Metro Charlevoix, bus 57 Est, corner Favard. From the 400, Saint-Paul Est | 514-282-8670 beginning of September to mid-June: guided tours only, www .marguerite-bourgeoys .com Tue-Sun from 1 to 5 p.m. In summer: Tue-Sun, 11 a.m.-6 Metro Champ-de-Mars. Closed from mid-January to p.m. Adult $8, senior $6, student $4, children $2, family end February. May to October: Tue-Sun, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $16, free for those under 6 years. Free Saturday for the 30. November to mid-January and March-April: Tue- first guided tour of the day (11 a.m.) during the summer. Sun, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Free entry to the chapel. Adult Accompanied by the Filles du Roy (the $8, student and senior $5, 6-12 years $4, family $16. King’s Daughters), visitors travel through Archeological site (price includes museum visit): $10. time from the 17th century to today. You Former Indian camping site, the location is will hear wonderfully detailed stories about now host to a 300-year-old chapel, a history 92 Living in Montréal 95 museum and archaeological site. It is around of objects and artifacts found on site during this chapel that \the first suburb of the city archaeological excavations. Founded in developed. The museum is dedicated to 1992 during celebrations of the city’s 350th Marguerite Bourgeoys, an exceptional woman anniversary, the site was the scene of numerous who played a large role in administration of excavations in the 80s leading to the discovery the colony in the 17th century. of 1,000 years of human activity. Today, the museum tour begins with a sound and light MUSÉE McCORD show on the history of the city. It then goes 690, Sherbrooke Ouest | 514-398-7100 underground to discover the foundations of www .musee-mccord .qc .ca the city. The museum also houses temporary Metro McGill. Open Tue-Fri, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sat-Sun, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Monday in summer and holidays, from 10 exhibitions, usually particularly interesting. a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult $13, student $7, senior $10, 6-12 years $5, family $26, free for those under 5 years. Entry free MUSÉE SIR GEORGE-ÉTIENNE- each first Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon. CARTIER (SIR GEORGE-ÉTIENNE The museum tells history through objects, the CARTIER MUSEUM) inheritance of collector David Ross McCord. 458, Notre-Dame Est Canadian history comes to life through to First 514-283-2282 Nations objects, photographs, toys, clothes www .pc .gc .ca/cartier and paintings. The permanent exhibition Metro Champ-de-Mars. Closed from January to «Simply Montréal» represents a Montréaler beginning April. Open Wed-Sun, 10 a.m.-12 noon & with his toys, clothing and sports equipment. 1-5 p.m. (off season); Mon-Sun, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 30 Natives and early settlers are recurrent (summer season). Adult $3.90, youth $1.90, senior themes. Interesting souvenirs are available in $3.40, family $9.80, free for those under 6 years. the boutique. Each of the exhibits recreates the atmosphere of the family home of Sir George-Etienne MUSÉE DE L’ORATOIRE SAINT-JOSEPH (ST. JOSEPH ORATORY MUSEUM) Cartier, a Father of Confederation. Visitors feel 3800, chemin Queen Mary | 514-733-8211 involved and relive scenes from the life of the www .saint-joseph .org era: lessons of etiquette, preparations for a Metro Côte-des-Neiges. Daily from 10 a.m. to 5 social gathering or the bourgeois lifestyle. A p.m. (first mass at 7 a.m.). Free admission. very fun and entertaining way to go back in In the heart of the Saint Joseph Oratory, time. various moments of the daily life of the two great heroes of the Oratory, Saint Joseph MUSÉE STEWART (STEWART MUSEUM) and Brother André, have been recreated with 20, Chemin Tour-de-l’Isle, Ile Ste-Hélène canvasses and newspaper clippings. Every 514-861-6701 | www .stewart-museum .org year, the not-to-be-missed international Metro Jean-Drapeau. Note that the museum is closed until nativity scene teaches visitors about the fall 2010 for a building upgrade. The permanent exhibition traditions of other people. Guided tours of the will be renewed. A program of school, educational and chapel by appointment. cultural activities will be offered to the public and visitors. Located in an old fort on Île Ste-Hélène, MUSÉE POINTE-À-CALLIÈRE this museum houses high-quality historical (POINTE-À-CALLIÈRE MUSEUM) exhibits. The permanent collection containing 350, Place Royale | 514-872-9150 www .pacmusee .qc .ca military documents, testimonials of everyday Metro Place-d’Armes. Open Tue-Fri, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; life and scientific objects (navigation, Sat-Sun, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (until 6 p.m. in July and August astronomy, surveying, mapping, etc.) is very and also open Monday). Adult $14, student $8, senior $10, instructive. In summer, the site provides 6-12 years $6, family $30, free for those under 5 years. demonstrations by the Compagnie Franche Built on the site where Montréal was de la Marine. The outdoor shows are free. The founded, the museum showcases important view of Montréal is marvelous and picnics are architectural relics and a unique collection the order of the day on beautiful sunny days. 94 Living in Montréal 97 SCIENCES BIODÔME DE MONTRÉAL PLANÉTARIUM DE MONTRÉAL MUSEUMS (MONTRÉAL BIODOME) (MONTRÉAL PLANETARIUM) 4777, Pierre-De Courbertin 1000, Saint-Jacques Ouest | 514-872-4530 514-868-3000 www pl. anetarium m. ontreal q. c c. a www .biodome .qc .ca Metro Bonaventure. Hours vary depending on Metro Viau. Mon-Sun, 9 a.m-5 p.m. (until 6 p.m. in the season. Adult $8, student and senior $6, 5-17 summer). Closed on Monday from September to mid- years $4, free for those under 5 years. February. Adult $16.50, student and senior $12.50, 5-17 The wonders of the universe and space years $8.25, 2-4 years $2.50. Special rates for Québec exploration presented in clear language and residents. It is possible to buy packages combined with the imagery. Shows at the Planetarium explore time Insectarium, Botanical Gardens and/or Olympic Tower. and space: from the Milky Way to the edge of the The most extraordinary ecosystems have universe. been recreated: St. Lawrence marine, tropical forest, Laurentian forest and even polar Arctic BIOSPHÈRE and Antarctic worlds. The idea is to raise 160, Chemin Tour-de-l’Isle, Île Ste-Hélène | 514-283-5000 awareness of the fragility of our environment. www b. iosphere e. c g. c c. a We recommend visiting the Biodome’s Metro Jean-Drapeau. From June to November: Mon-Sun, 10 tropical forest in mid-winter. This ecosystem a.m.-6 p.m. The rest of the year: Tue-Sun, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Adult filled with amphibians, reptiles, birds and $12, student and senior $8, free for those under 17 years. heavenly colored fish causes a real culture Inaugurated in 1995, in former pavilion of the shock. For those who want to see a beaver or United States at Expo 67, the Environment penguins, it is also the best (if not the only) Canada’s Biosphere has become over time place in Montréal. the most important Canadian environmental observation center. It is the only museum in JARDIN BOTANIQUE ET North America dedicated to water and, more INSECTARIUM DE MONTRÉAL particularly, to the St. Lawrence River and the (MONTRÉAL BOTANICAL Great Lakes. GARDEN AND INSECTARIUM) 4101, Sherbrooke Est CENTRE DES SCIENCES DE MONTRÉAL 514-872-1400 (MONTRÉAL SCIENCE CENTRE) www v. ille .montreal .qc .ca/jardin Quai King-Edward, Vieux-Port Metro Pie-IX. Mid-May to mid-September: Mon-Sun, 9 514-496-4724 / 1 877-496-4724 a.m-6 p.m. (until 9 p.m. from mid-September to November). www c. entredessciencesdemontreal c. om November to mid-May: Tue-Sun, 9 a.m-5 p.m. Ticket Metro Place-d’Armes. Mon-Fri, 9 a.m-4 p.m.; Sat-Sun, 10 a.m.-5 prices for Insectarium + Jardin botanique (seasonal p.m. (exhibition halls). For the exhibition and 1 IMAX film: adult variations): adult $14-$16.50, senior and student $10.50 $20, 13-17 years and senior $18, 4-12 years $5, family $63. Visit $-12.50, 5-17 years $7-$8,25, 2-4 years: $2-$2.50. their Internet site for IMAX cinema show times and movie games. Special price for Québec residents. Free shuttle service. The fans of science and technology will City dwellers come here to recharge enjoy exploring the science center. Through themselves with fresh air and greenery. interactive displays and amazing fun, Thanks to its 75 hectares, this vast lung for the the visit will help you learn more about city provides a change of scenery that makes science and technology, and the impact of visitors feel like they are strolling through the their applications in our individual and heart of China, or even in a delicate Japanese collective life. garden. At the Tree House, the large plant has the place of honor at the heart of a 40-acre arboretum. In the First Nations Garden, every Montréal is about two hours by car from the plant has commercial, nutritional or medical capital of Canada (Ottawa), the capital of Where to importance. Clearly there are many paths Québec (Québec City), the United States, and to choose from when enjoying this great the major tourist regions of the province. Here go in the garden. Numerous activities and exhibitions are some ideas for weekend outings or just are offered during the course of the year. activities for those who would like to discover Stay tuned! new places without venturing too far. area? 96 Living in Montréal 99 FOR THOSE WHO QUÉBEC CITY ARGENTEUIL COUNTY WANT TO VENTURE 418-641-6290 / 1 877-783-1608 450-224-7007 / 1 800-561-6673 FURTHER www .quebecregion c. om www .laurentides c. om Downriver from Montréal is Québec City, the Between the Laurentian Mountains and the For those who don’t most European city in North America. Plan a Outaouais region, this county is home to small want to leave the city long weekend for your first visit to this city, which wonders that are yours to discover including is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore Vieux- the cities of Lachute and Montebello. It’s all just Not to be missed Québec (Old Québec], the Plains of Abraham, an hour’s drive from Montréal. A great family Here is a list of museums and and even the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife day trip. attractions we suggest you visit if you Area and Montmorency Falls. only have a few days in Montréal. If you PARC SAFARI (SAFARI PARK) don’t want to do them all, choose a few. LA ROUTE DES VINS DE 850, route 202, Hemmingford BROME-MISSISQUOI (BROME- 450-247-2727 Le Vieux-Montréal (Old Montréal) MISSISQUOI WINE ROUTE) www .parcsafari .com Musée Pointe-à-Callière 1 888-811-4928 Open from mid-May to mid-October (see the Place Jacques-Cartier www .brome-missisquoi c. a | www .laroutedesvins c. a website for seasonal hours). Admission based Quais du Vieux-Port (Quays By following this itinerary about 40 minutes on period and age. Packages available. of the Old Port) by car from Montréal, you will pass through This large park has more than 800 animals 20 municipalities, each one more charming from five continents. Stroll in the African Downtown than the last, and be able to visit the region’s savanna and discover the hippopotamus Musée d’Art Contemporain 11 vineyards. river. Children will enjoy completing the (Museum of Contemporary Art) educational passport: they will get a stamp in Musée des Beaux-arts LE CIRCUIT DU PAYSAN every continent they visit. The park includes an (Museum of Fine Arts) (FARMER’S ROUTE) area designed for car safaris, a zoo and a walk Musée McCord 1 800-378-7648 through the jungle to observe the monkeys (McCord Museum) www c. ircuitdupaysan c. om on their island, and lions, tigers and bears from McGill University This 200 km between the Richelieu River and a footbridge. Shows and entertainment, rides, Underground City Saint Francis Lake will show you another side of water park, elephant, camel and pony rides. Chinatown Québec, one filled with the scent of lavender Great selection of restaurants on site. Centre Bell (for hockey fans) where butterflies and red deer are raised. Canadian Centre for Architecture PARC OMÉGA LES CHEMINS DE CAMPAGNE 399, route 323 Nord, Montebello North of downtown (COUNTRY ROADS) 819-423-5487 Saint-Laurent Boulevard 450-834-2535 / 1 800-363-2788 www .parc-omega .com Mont-Royal Park www c. heminsdecampagne c. a June to November: Mon-Sun de 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Lanaudière region is famous for its (park closes at 7 p.m.). Adult $18, senior $17, 6-15 East of downtown agritourism businesses offering exceptional years $13, 2-5 years $6. November to June: Mon-Sun Biodôme local products. The Chemins de Campagne from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (park closes at 5 p.m.). Adult Jardin Botanique and Insectarium map includes not only these businesses in its $14, senior $13, 6-15 years $10, 2-5 years $5. (Botanical Garden and Insectarium) five itineraries but also nature and heritage You’ll love it. Guaranteed! Parc Omega offers Quartier latin sites, art workshops, gardens, accommodation you, in a meticulously maintained private (Latin Quarter) establishments and restaurants. It also reserve, an encounter with the animals of Le Village includes rural lodgings and restaurants, a North America from your car! Hundreds of (The Gay Village) “u-pick” calendar and events for the summer. animals, each more magnificent than the next, move freely through the park, eager to come Les Îles Sainte-Hélène THE LAURENTIANS and taste the carrots that you reach out to and Notre-Dame AND SAINT-SAuVEUR offer them (bags available at the reception for Casino de Montréal 450-224-7007 / 1 800-561-6673 only $2). It’s an unforgettable experience for Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve www .laurentides c. om children and adults. Only the wolves, coyotes (for car-racing fans) This village in the Laurentian Mountains north and bears are in large enclosures, but this is Musée Stewart of Montréal is known for its colors, unique more to ensure better viewing conditions architecture, busy terraces and many restaurants. than for safety reasons because here the laws Worth a visit in both summer and winter. of nature are respected. A must! 98 Living in Montréal 101 LA PRESSE One of the city’s cultural weeklies. An English- Press Subscriptions: 514-285-6911 / 1 800-361-7453 language paper with in-depth stories and www c. yberpresse c. a movie and music reviews. DAILY A daily newspaper that respects its readers with NEWSPAPERS good content six days a week (from monday to NIGHTLIFE saturday). The information is intended to be www .nightlifemagazine c. a objective and demanding. The supplements An excellent monthly guide for night owls. A are comprehensive and well written. An must read. indispensable reference. VOIR LE DEVOIR www a v. oir c. Subscriptions: 514-985-3333 / 1 800-463-7559 An essential weekly newspaper if you want to www .ledevoir c. om take full advantage of Montréal’s cultural scene A daily newspaper focusing on politics, but and underground life. Books, movies, music, despite the size of its Letters to the Editor theater, its all there. section, it is far from being just a forum for debate. The arts coverage reflects major trends. The books section of the Saturday edition offers Sports undisputedly excellent book reviews. REGROUPEMENT LOISIR QUÉBEC (QUÉBEC main centers / LE JOURNAL DE MONTRÉAL RECREATION GROUP) facilities /fields Subscriptions: 514-332-3890 / 1 800-361-9415 4545, avenue Pierre-De Coubertin www .journaldemontreal c. om Tel . : 514-252-3126 / 1 800-932-3735 The number-one selling daily newspaper in www .loisirquebec .qc c. a Montréal. Provides a quick overview of the A para-governmental agency that oversees news. Readers are crazy about the paper’s both athletic and scientific recreational many scandal columns. activities. The source for anyone who wants to play sports in Québec. This group includes THE MONTREAL GAZETTE various organizations linking you with all Subscriptions: 514-987-2400 / 1 800-361-8478 associations, contact information for all clubs, www .montrealgazette c. om leagues, etc. The only English-language daily newspaper in the city. It has no reason to be envious of its CITY OF MONTRÉAL French counterparts. Tel . : 311 | www v. ille .montreal .qc c. a The city of Montréal remains the major organizer of a long list of athletic activities in its many sports THE FREE ONES 24 hEURES and recreation centers. Every sport imaginable www .24heures c. anoe c. a is offered. Keep this reference and check it out Daily newspaper delivered city-wide, notably in often because the prices are very low. the metro. Essential for starting the day off right. SPORTS MONTRÉAL HOUR 1000, av . Émile Journault www a .hour c. Tel. : 514-872-7177 The English counterpart of Voir. The most www .sportsmontreal .com complete movie and music listings. As a not-for-profit organization, the mission of Sports Montréal is to facilitate access for MÉTRO Montréalers to physical activities and their www .journalmetro c. a benefits. Several services are offered at the Daily newspaper available in the metro. A good Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard, including digest of the day’s news given to all travelers. activities and training for all ages (in tennis, yoga, golf, swimming, etc.), as well as day MIRROR camps, a fitness center, and a water activities www .montrealmirror c. om program for children. 100 Living in Montréal 103103 DOWNTOWN YMCA 1440, Stanley 514-849-8393 www y. mcaquebec o. rg Metro Peel. Open Mon-Fri from 6 a.m. to 10:45 p.m., Free Montréal Sat-Sun and holidays from 7:15 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. Since we can’t always afford to have supper in a restaurant or go to the theater, The variety of sports in this fully renovated here’s a list of free activities in Montréal. and equipped center will make you dizzy. At the fitness center, equipment embraces the latest technologies. The subscription provides 1. Free admission to museums unlimited access to a large number of sports Canadian Centre for Architecture. A beautiful building in which exhibitions activities ranging from aerobics, to karate, belly exploring little-known aspects of architecture in the city. Free on Thursday from dancing and swimming. The squash courts, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. gyms and swimming pool are also available to Museum of Contemporary Art. Free on Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. subscribers. If it sounds too good to be true, Saint Joseph Oratory Museum. Free admission at all times, open daily from 10 request a tour of the center. It’s offered free of a.m. to 5 p.m. Its exhibition of 275 nativity scenes from 107 different countries is charge. The YMCA is a true community and has particularly impressive (November to February). nine branches in the city. However, the Stanley Bank of Montréal Museum. Free admission at all times, open from Monday Street location is the best equipped (addresses to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Its beautiful hall and its collection of coins and available on the website). banknotes warrant a visit. Museum of Fine Arts. Free admission at all times to the rich permanent collection (donations are welcome). UNIVERSITY CONCORDIA CAMPUS SPORTS The Redpath Museum (McGill University). Devoted to natural history, it has SPORTS CENTERS Loyola Campus Athletic Complex: 7200, Sherbrooke Ouest several skeletons of dinosaurs and mummies. Free admission at any time (closed Tel :. 514-848-2424, extension 3858 Saturday – donation suggested). EV Fitness Centre: 1515, Sainte-Catherine Ouest Tel :. 514-848-2424, extension 3860 2. Shows http://athletics c. oncordia c. a/ Programming at TOHU, the circus arts organization, includes a number of free shows (circus, music, etc.) of excellent quality. CENTRE SPORTIF UQÀM ➔➔ www.tohu.ca 1212, Sanguinet In summer, le Théâtre de Verdure in Parc Lafontaine offers dance, cinema, Tel . : 514-987-7678 theater and music attracting many people. www .sports u. qam c. a ➔➔ For programming: 514-872-4041. Les maisons de la culture (culture centers) present regular screenings, dance CEPSUM (UNIVERSITÉ DE MONTRÉAL) performances, etc. in all districts. 2100, Édouard-Montpetit www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/culture Tel . : 514-343-6150 The four universities open their doors for film screenings, lectures, performances, www c. epsum u. montreal c. a etc. You will find information on their websites: ➔➔ www.mcgill.ca/calendar/ McGILL UNIVERSITY ➔➔ www3.concordia.ca/newsandevents/ SPORTS DEPARTMENT ➔➔ www.uqam.ca/diffusion/ 475, des Pins Ouest ➔➔ www.umontreal.ca/grand-public/arts-culture.html Tel . : 514-398-7000 Montréal’s many festivals typically offer free shows. These include the www .athletics .mcgill c. a Montréal High Lights Festival in winter, the International Jazz Festival, the Francofolies and the African Nights Festival in summer.

3. Sports More than 110 pools (inside and outdoors, free admission or very inexpensive) and 125 wading pools are available for swimmers. ➔➔ www.ville.montreal.qc.ca A network of 17 large parks is accessible to public. You can spend the day cross-country skiing, bicycling, swimming, etc. ➔➔ www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/grandsparcs 102 Living in Montréal 105 Skating rinks. In winter, many rinks are free for hockey players and skaters. The The North Shore of Montréal means the greater two biggest rinks are those on Mount Royal and in Parc Lafontaine. You will find Laval region, the Basses-Laurentides and some rink information on the city’s website. municipalities in southern Lanaudière. This LAVAL Bike paths. There are nearly 400 km of bike paths on the Island of Montréal. region is the gateway to northern Québec and numerous vacation areas. Rich in history AND THE and dynamic, the North Shore counts several 4. Free reading economic gems, such as Laval Techonopole and La Bibliothèque nationale du Québec (the Québec National Library) makes companies like Bombardier and Bell Helicopter NORTH a wide selection of newspapers and magazines available for consultation. Textron Canada. With the closure of Mirabel The Actualités and Nouveautés (the News and the New) section is open daily airport (airport for the Greater Montréal region), SHORE from 10 a.m. to midnight. The library allows its members to borrow books for the North Shore has had to adapt and change its three weeks. industrial dynamic. In 2008, in the greater Laval Thrte No h ➔➔ You need only register. www.banq.qc.ca region, there were more than 11,000 companies, Shore in 2010 The network of 67 public libraries allows you to borrow books and read including 919 manufacturing companies, 705 magazines on site close to home. distribution companies, 95 companies operating ➔➔ www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/biblio/ in the fields of biotechnology and health General information daily newspapers, Métro (distributed in metro stations) science and 265 in various fields of information and 24 heures (distributed outside metro stations), provide a succinct summary technology. Finally, just a few minutes from of the news. Montréal, the North Shore offers a pleasant living Weeklies offering news and information about going out in Montréal (Voir, environment. Mirror, Hour) make indispensable reading for finding out what’s going on in the world of culture. The specialized monthlies offer content that varies according to their The history of Laval and its region dates back L aVAL specialty: Revue Espaces (outdoors), Fugues (for gays: news, columns, outings, to the very beginning of the history of Québec. General description, history, access etc.), Nightlife (day by day). Traces of the French occupation in 1636 where, and the earliest land grants for pioneers were Municipalities issued in 1675 under the authority of Mgr. + City of Laval 5. Surf the Web François-Xavier Montmorency de Laval, the first North Shore, including: network (the island wireless network). With the organization’s guidance, bishop of New France. The occupation of lands + City of Blainville hundreds of cafés, bars and restaurants are equipped with Wi-Fi antennas. continued westward with the creation of four civil + City of Boisbriand People with laptops equipped with a wireless card can surf free at no charge. municipalities in 1845 whose primary, in fact only + City of Bois-des-Filions La Bibliothèque nationale du Québec and municipal libraries make activity was population cluster at the time was, in + City of Charlemagne computers with Internet available to members. 1857, the village of Sainte-Rose, the main town of + City of Deux-Montagnes the North Shore until the late 19th century. Not + City of l’Assomption 6. Music and film until 1912 did the North Shore become highly + City of Lorraine Once again we recommend the Bibliothèque nationale du Québec and the urbanized when the city of Laval-des-Rapides and + City of Mascouche municipal libraries whose CD, DVD and video collections can be borrowed. the village of L’Abord-à-Plouffe were created. + City of Mirabel See a film at the Bibliothèque nationale du Québec. Members can reserve a + Municipality of Oka viewing station at the library and watch a DVD. It was at that time that the North Shore began to + Municipality of Pointe-Calumet Free films are shown in summer at the Théâtre de Verdure in Parc Lafontaine. make the most of is potential as a tourist destination + City of Repentigny Make sure to arrive very early to get a seat. and ideal resort location for Montréalers. In the + City of Rosemère ➔➔ Program: 514-872-4041. 1960s, the region received a large influx of new + City of Saint-Eustache You can also see short films during the Festival des Films du Monde (World inhabitants which posed serious development + Municipality of Saint-Joseph-du-Lac Film Festival). Screenings are held under the stars on the esplanade of Place problems for the various municipalities. In order + Parish of Saint-Sulpice des Arts. to prevent the duplication of infrastructures, + City of Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines conflicts between municipalities, and public + City of Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac funds from being wasted, some authorities + City of Sainte-Thérèse grouped together a first set of municipalities by + City of Terrebonne creating the city of Chomedey in 1961. Source: www.cic.gc.ca

In 1964, the Québec Ministry of Municipal Affairs created a board of inquiry charged with examining urbanization problems on the island formerly 104104 Living in Montréal 107 known as Île Jésus, which at that time comprised Technology Park), is home to information more than 14 different municipalities. In the end, technology companies. There are many all the cities and villages were completely merged. office buildings in Laval located mainly in The city of Laval was officially incorporated into the central business district. the city of Chomedey on August 6, 1965. Since its creation, Laval has become the largest city by population in Québec after Montréal and Québec Just like the South Shore, Laval and the North Housing : with more than 368,000 inhabitants. From its Shore of Montréal offer incomparable quality- a greener environment and an origins as a bedroom community, the city of price ratios with regard to purchasing or affordable cost of living Laval has become a regional center of economic renting a home. A growing number of young activity with a strong and diversified commercial couples from Montréal are therefore choosing and industrial structure. Since the three Laval the North Shore when settling in and starting Metro stations (Montmorency, Concorde and a family. The strategic location of the Laval 271 AFFORDABLE Cartier) opened in April of 2007, which are directly area, the efficiency of the public transit system, NEW HOMES linked to the Montréal metro, the city of Laval can and the quality of life: these are all arguments move more than 40,000 users daily. in favor of the North Shore. The City of Laval, the Office municipal d’habitation de Laval (Laval Municipal Housing Bureau), and the Société Lllea Vi de Laval Laval is conveniently located just a few minutes Calendar of festivals d’habitation du Québec (Québec 368 709 inhabitants from downtown Montréal. It is a dynamic tourism and events in the region Housing Corporation) announced Source : Statistique Canada, Recensement 2006 region that successfully blends the old charm of the beginning of work on 111 homes its historic neighborhoods with the modernity FESTIVAL DE LANAUDIÈRE as part of the programme logement CITY OF LAVAL of its high-tech companies. Laval has quickly In July | Tickets: 450-759-4343 / 1 800-561-4343 abordable Québec - volet social and Tel. : 311 / 450-978-8000 become a prosperous city of its own right. It is an www l. anaudiere o. rg communautaire (Québec Affordable www.ville.laval.qc.ca ideal place to raise children, and its single-family One of the most prestigious classical music Housing Program - Social and housing development is making it much easier events in North America. The festival ensures Community Focus). This project, LE PARC SCIENTIFIQUE ET DE HAUTE for young couples to own their own home. In the participation of renowned soloists from the with an estimated cost of $13.3 TECHNOLOGIE DE LAVAL LAVAL Laval, economic areas take on many forms in national and international scenes. Concerts and million, includes the construction TECHNOPOLE (LAVAL SCIENCE AND order to offer companies places to start up and recitals are held in the Lanaudière amphitheater, of two buildings with 27 units each HIGH TECHNOLOGY PARK) expand. The Parc Industriel Centre is one of the located in Joliette and in several area churches. on Chemin du Souvenir, a building 1555, boul. Chomedey, largest municipal industrial parks in Québec. It with 51 units on Chemin du Sablon, bureau 100, Laval includes: FESTIVAL DES VINS DE TERREBONNE and another building with six units Tel. : 450-978-5959 ➔➔ The Parc Scientifique et de Haute (TERREBONNE WINE FESTIVAL) on Rue Mercantile. Furthermore, Fax : 450-978-5970 Technologie de Laval (Laval Science and In August . | 450-471-0619 | www i. le-des-moulins q. c c. a 160 other affordable units were www.lavaltechnopole.com High Technology Park), a science campus You can enjoy international and Québec wines unveiled last October. Located at 1313 of international standing which is home in the enchanting Parc Masson, a stone’s throw Boulevard Chomedey, the project has to the Cité de la Biotech and the Campus from the historic site of the Ile des Moulins. an estimated cost of $17 million and TECHNOVAL. was completed in partnership with ➔➔ Private industrial parks: several groups INTERNATIONAUX DE TENNIS JUNIOR the Société d’Habitation du Québec have developed private industrial areas in (JUNIOR TENNIS INTERNATIONAL) (Québec Housing Corporation), the Laval with multi-tenant buildings. End August - early September . Société Canadienne d’Hypothèques ➔➔ The Centre Québécois d’Innovation 450-581-8470 | www t. ennis-junior-repentigny c. om et de Logements (Canadian Mortgage en Biotechnologie (CQIB – Québec International sports competition sanctioned and Housing Corporation), and the Biotechnology Innovation Center): a by Tennis Canada and the International Tennis Montréal Metropolitan Community. business incubator specializing in spinning Federation. It is one of the 10 largest tournament off university biotechnology research. of its kind in the world with more than 40 Source : Laval Mayor’s Office ➔➔ The Centre de Développement des countries participating. Biotechnologies (CDB – Biotechnology Development Centre): building complex L’OKTOBERFEST DES QUÉBÉCOIS dedicated to biotechnology companies. (QUÉBEC’S OKTOBERFEST) ➔➔ The Campus TECHNOVAL, in the Parc The 2nd weekend of September . Scientifique et de Haute Technologie Parc de l’Étang-du-Grand-Côteau, Mascouche de Laval (Laval Science and High 514-767-9339 | www ok. toberfestdesquebecois c. om 106 Living in Montréal 109 Festival of Québec’s microbreweries and food L’ÎLE DES MOULINS products from the Lanaudière region. The (MILL ISLAND) festive atmosphere, worthy of a celebration 866, Saint-Pierre, Vieux-Terrebonne of this kind, allows this event for beer lovers 450-471-0619 to compete with Bavaria, especially since www i. le-des-moulins q. c c. a traditional Bavarian songs and dances are on Flour mills and wool-carding mills built under the menu. On the Thursday before the event the administration of Lord Joseph Masson in takes place there is a famous gourmet dinner the 19th century come to life again through where a four-course meal is accompanied by costumed guided tours and historical Québec beers. animation at various events during the year: artisan kiosks, demonstrations of traditional music, working the wool, maple taffy on M uSEUMS CENTRE DE LA NATURE DE LAVAL snow. The Maison de Pays, built in 1760, offers and tourist (LAVAL NATURE CENTER) various local products and crafts. You can also attractions 901, du Parc, Saint-Vincent-De-Paul, Laval take a tour of a reproduction of a steam boat 450-662-4942 from 1855 on the mill lock. Finally, a wooded www v. ille l. aval q. c c. a/ms/centre_nature area welcomes pedestrians year-round, and in Open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. winter sports enthusiasts can go sliding or don There is no shortage of sports to choose from their skates to enjoy the frozen pond. in this 50-hectare park: skiing, snowshoeing, tobogganing and snow tubes, canoeing LA MAISON DES ARTS and kayaking. In winter, the artificial lake is (HOUSE OF ARTS) MILL ISLAND transformed into a skating rink, and 5 to 8 year 1395, de la Concorde Ouest, Laval olds can learn to ski downhill. If you do not Billetterie générale : 450-667-2040 have the equipment, you can rent it there. In www .salleandremathieu c. om summer, visitors can stretch their legs over 4 km Majestic building with straight lines and of footpaths. Animal lovers will also be served modern architecture, La Maison des Arts is as the Nature Center is home to a farm and a a museum that doubles as a theater. This deer park. Other activities: a carousel of ponies famous cultural institution is dedicated to for toddlers, an astronomical observatory, a promoting art in all its forms and offers several greenhouse and mini-concerts outdoors. Two activities for all age groups. It presents visual cabins with snacks on site. arts exhibitions with guided tours. Artists, professionals and amateurs, will light up the COSMODÔME stage with comedy shows, music and theater 2150, autoroute des Laurentides, Laval for all ages. Other hall: Salle André-Mathieu, 450-978-3600 / 1 800-565-2267 475 de l’Avenir, Laval. www c. osmodome o. rg Space Science Center open Tue-Sun from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. MUSÉE ARMAND-FRAPPIER Open 7 days a week in summer, from the end of June to 531, des Prairies, Laval the first week in September. Free parking and access for 450-686-5641 the handicapped. Restaurants and boutique on site. Space www .musee-afrappier .qc .ca camp offered for children 9 to 15 years of age only. Open Mon-Fri from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed weekends). To awaken the soul of every scientist, a visit to the From September to June, the museum is closed space camp is just the thing. Like a real astronaut, during the week between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. Adult children and adults undergo training to go into $6.65, student and senior $5.35, 5-17 years $4.35, space. Of course, this training is not as rigorous family $20.50, free for those under 5 years. and intense as the real thing. Program: multimedia Created in 1994 by Dr. Lise Frappier Davignon, presentation, excellent scientific workshops, the Armand-Frappier Museum commemorates training simulator tests, construction and launching the work of Dr. Armand Frappier, Pasteur- of a rocket. All that in 24 hours, 3 or 6 days, meals method microbiologist, proponent of included. At the end of the stay, the budding preventive medicine and founder of a research astronauts have two missions to accomplish. institute, by preserving and highlighting Everything needed to attract new astronauts... artifacts from his personal and professional 108 Living in Montréal 111 life. The only institute dedicated solely to ➔➔ Saint Sauveur restaurants and nightlife. bioscience in Québec, the Armand-Frappier www v. ille .saint-sauveur .qc .ca museum’s mission is to be a site for meeting, ➔➔ Summer swimming in the Lac des Sables exchange of ideas and training in the field de Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts. of bioscience for young people, the general www v. ille .sainte-agathe-des-monts .qc .ca public and scientific and industrial researchers. ➔➔ Mont Tremblant National Park; ➔➔ Tremblant, a well-equipped luxury ski RÉCRÉATHÈQUE resort. 900, Curé-Labelle, Laval www .sepaq .com/mont-tremblant 450-688-8880 / 1-877-PLAISIR www .recreatheque .com Angle Notre Dame. Check schedules and prices, LANAUDIÈRE which depend on the activity, on the website. 450-834-2535 / 1 800-363-2788 Looking for a place for a child’s birthday, www l. anaudiere c. a corporate party or just to entertain yourself? The Lanaudière region carries on the memory This amusement center for the entire family of Marie-Charlotte de Lanaudière, daughter of offers different activities: small and large the Lord of Lavaltrie and wife of businessman bowling, billiards, mini-golf, arcades, rides, in- Barthélemy Joliette, descendant of the famous line skating, laser game and bar for adults in explorer Louis Jolliet. It highlights the lineage the evening... For specific schedules, please of Lanaudière lords, called seigneurs, who, visit the website. over seven generations, made a significant contribution to the French colony in North America, the country, and the region. Its name Wht a to do in LES LAURENTIDES not only denotes the region itself, but has come the region? (THE LAURENTIANS) to symbolize nature, quiet, peace and calm. 450-224-7007 / 1 800-561-6673 www .laurentides .com The region is known for its spectacular, Paradise for ski and nature aficionados, cascading waterfalls. The most impressive of the Laurentians region encompasses the these are located in Rawdon, but the famous mountainous slope of the North Shore of the Chutes-Dorwin, located on the Ouareau River, St. Lawrence River. The Laurentians region is are associated with the legend of the Indian part of the St. Lawrence Lowlands and river witchdoctor Nippissingue. At the junction of basin. This is home to some of the oldest rock the Noire and Assomption rivers, the Chutes- in the world, dating back one billion years. Monte-à-Peine-et-des-Dalles regional park is the site of the most powerful waterfall in the This region, which covers nearly 22,000 km2 metropolitan area. The construction of three extends, south to north, from the Mille Îles new bridges and six scenic viewpoints, as well River to north of Mont Laurier and, east to as the installation of many stairs and paths, west, from the borders of the Lanaudière have facilitated access to this gift of nature. region to those of the Outaouais region. It is the primary international tourist destination Must-sees in the Lanaudière Region: in Québec, more commonly referred to as ➔➔ Stay at Auberge du Lac Taureau in “the North”. Saint-Michel-des-Saints. www l. actaureau c. om 1 877-822-2623 Must-sees in the Laurentians: ➔➔ Discover new sensations in the Nordic baths ➔➔ Linear park le P’tit train du Nord. at Spa la Source à Rawdon www .laurentides .com/parclineaire/ www l. asourcespa c. om 450-834-7727 ➔➔ Oka, known for its highly popular beach ➔➔ Shiver in Arbraska, the Rawdon Adventure and for its delicious cheese. Forest. www .municipalite .oka .qc .ca www .arbraska c. om 1 877-886-5500 ➔➔ Deux-Montagnes known for agricultural ➔➔ Rediscover Formula 1 at Gilles Villeneuve tourism and the Oka National Park beach. Museum in Berthierville. www .sepaq .com/oka www m. useegillesvilleneuve c. om 1 800-639-0103 110 Living in Montréal 113 COURRIER LAVAL Press www c. ourrierlaval c. om LONGUEUIL AND Municipalities City of Longueuil, including: HEBDO RIVE-NORD THE SOUTH + Boucherville www h. ebdorivenord c. om + Brossard + Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville LAVAL EN ACTION SHORE + Saint-Lambert www l. avalenaction c. a Thute So h Shore in 2010 - South Shore, including: Like the North Shore, the South Shore of the St. + Municipality of Saint-Amable L’EXPRESS MONTCALM Lawrence River is a region experiencing rapid + City of Beauharnois www l. expressmontcalm c. om growth. Slightly more industrialized than its + City of Beloeil northern counterpart, the South Shore offers + Parish of Calixa-Lavallée L’EXTRA DE LAVAL plenty of opportunities for those who need + City of Candiac www j. ournalextra c. a quick access to the United States and want + City of Carignan proximity to efficient autoroute networks. + City of Châteauguay LE MIRABEL Linked to the city of Montréal by multiple + City of Chambly www l. emirabel c. anoe c. a bridges, the South Shore has become a choice + City of Contrecoeur location for companies. + City of Delson + City of Hudson Sports CITY OF LAVAL However, the region has managed to balance + Kahnawake Indian Reserve Tel . : 311 / 450-978-8000 | www v. ille l. aval q. c c. a development with nature, offering its + City of La Prairie main centers / The city of Laval remains the main body inhabitants unique a unique place to live. The + City of Léry sites / fields offering a host of sporting activities in primary historic and economic site on the + Municipality of Les Cèdres its various recreation and sports centers South Shore is the city of Longueuil. The current + City of Île-Cadieux Absolutely all sports are listed. A reference city limits now encompasses Boucherville, + City of Île-Perrot to remember, therefore, and to make use of Brossard, Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville and Saint- + Village of McMasterville because rates are v Lambert. For many years, all of these towns + City of Mercier Note: a new multifunctional sports and culture have maintained close relations, developing + City of Mont-Saint-Hilaire complex is currently under construction community services such as public transit and + Municipality of Notre- and should open by the end of 2012. ery water treatment systems. Dame de-l’Île-Perrot economical. + City of Otterburn Park + City of Pincourt CARREFOUR MULTISPORTS General description + Village of Pointe-des-Cascades 3095, autoroute Laval, Laval | Tel. : 450-687-1857 This region is bordered, from northeast to + City of Richelieu www c. arrefourmultisports c. om southwest, by the St. Lawrence River and by the + City of Saint-Basile-le-Grand Immense sports complex, host to 150 sport and border with the United States. It is crisscrossed + City of Saint-Constant fitness professionals ready to help you on the by many large autoroutes, including: + Parish of Saint-Isidore road to well-being. Activities include: tennis, ➔➔ autoroutes 10, 15, 20 and 30; + Municipality of Saint-Jean-Baptiste squash, racquetball, badminton, swimming, ➔➔ autoroutes 112 (boulevard Cousineau), 116, + City of Saint-Lazare aquatic fitness, aerobics, training, relaxation, golf 132 et 134 (boulevard Taschereau). + Municipality of Saint-Mathiassur- and spinning. Richelieu In addition to an airport with long-haul + Municipality of Saint-Mathieu TENNIS 13 aircraft capabilities and a metro line linked + Municipality of Saint-Mathieu-de- 1013, autoroute 13, Laval | Tel. : 450-687-9913 directly to the Island of Montréal network Beloeil www t. ennis13 c. om (Metro Longueuil), the region also has a + Municipality of Saint-Philippe Fitness center specializing in racket sports: convenient commuter train network managed + City of Sainte-Catherine tennis, badminton, squash and racquetball. by the Metropolitan Transportation Agency. + City of Sainte-Julie Montégérie, a tourist area on the South Shore, + Municipality of Terrasse-Vaudreuil covers a vast area of more than 10,000 km2. + City of Varennes This region owes its name to the distinctive + City of Vaudreuil-Dorion Montérégian hills located within it. Visitors will + Village of Vaudreuil-sur-le-Lac enjoy its ideal location and unique combination + Municipality of Verchères of culture, agriculture and heritage. Surrounded Source : www.cic.gc.ca 112 Living in Montréal 115 by lakes and rivers, has a significant network of highways leading to the United States and of waterways which were the site of multiple Eastern Canada. historic battles.

The Richelieu River, which stretches across The South Shore offers an environment that Housing: the region from north to south, was formerly is decidedly favorable to the enrichment and a greener way of life with a navigable trade route before fortifications well-being of its inhabitants and families. The a low cost of living were constructed on its bank to protect the nearness, availability and variety of services are population from military attack. Montérégie is the advantages associated with this rich and the third largest tourist destination in Québec diversified urban community. Housing on the due to its many historic sites, museums and South Shore, similar in size, can be up to 50% interpretive centers. cheaper than on the Island of Montréal. To live on the South Shore is to make the choice of being able to have a house with a view on a The city of Longueuil is a diversified city that enjoys a lake or the river. It is also the choice to be able Longueuil healthy economy, peaceful residential living, to leave your residence to go for a walk in the 229 330 inhabitants immense undeveloped spaces and magnificent forest, go skiing, or even swimming in a river, Source : Statistique Canada, Recensement 2006 sites. Stretching between the St. Lawrence River only minutes away by foot. and Saint Bruno Mountain, and facing Montréal, CITY OF LONGUEUIL the municipality has developed a dynamic Tel. : 450-463-7000 | www.longueuil.ca economy, in part thanks to cutting-edge VALLEYFIELD REGATTA C aLENDAR of technologies and aeronautics. Longueuil’s In July events and LONGUEUIL ECONOMIC territory covers an area of 27,392 km2, of which 450-371-6144 festivals in DEVELOPMENT one third is occupied by agricultural land www .regates c. a | Tickets: 22 $ à 84 $ . the region 204, boulevard de Montarville, and the other two thirds are urban area. The This annual event is probably the most popular suite 120, Boucherville University of Sherbrooke also has a campus in the region. During 3 days, lovers of power Tel. : 450-645-2335 / 1 866-599-2335 there, right beside the Longueuil-University and speed get their money’s worth in this www.del.longueuil.ca of Sherbrooke metro station. The university hydroplane race. Of course, each evening ends offers a vast range of study programs, at with a big outdoor show as the celebration the Bachelor’s level, as well as continuing or continues. Advisory to festival-goers: earplugs personalized education (micro-programs, can turn out to be very useful! diplomas). With nearly 230,000 inhabitants and more than 11,000 companies, the city’s SOREL-TRACY GIBELOTTE FESTIVAL economic potential must be developed using In July | Downtown strategic tools. 450-746-0283 / 1 877-746-0283 www f. estivalgibelotte .qc c. a Around the end of 2002, a large part of The gibelotte des îles, a regional fish, takes Longueuil’s economic development, and center stage at the festivities for this great event. today that of the whole agglomeration, was Tastings, live shows, village artisans, sidewalk entrusted to a corporation comprised of sale and entertainment for young and old alike. South Shore managers. Longueuil’s economic In short, a family event not to be missed! development is concentrated on priority sectors such as manufacturing and the food- SAINT-JEAN-SUR-RiCHELIEU processing industry. Longueuil Industriel has INTERNATIONAL balloon festival nine industrial parks and zones and there are In August still 272.2 million square feet to build on. Thanks 450-347-9555 to its unique assets and its strategic geographic www .montgolfieres c. om situation, Longueuil has a great potential for Adult $15, children $7. Festival passport available. economic development. In fact, the city is The largest event of its kind in the country with situated on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, nearly 115 balloons, including several amazing in the heart of the metropolitan region and near forms. Moreover, for $160 to $200 per person, downtown Montréal, with two bridges linking you too can fly! Major shows every evening, directly to it. Longueuil is at the crossroads entertainment for all, a must for 25 years. 114 Living in Montréal 117 BEER AND FLAVOUR FEST FORT CHAMBLY NATIONAL End August or early September . HISTORIC SITE OF CANADA Fort-Chambly National Historic Site 2, rue de Richelieu, Chambly F aMILIES 450 447-2096 450-658-1585 / 1 888-773-8888 Thanks to the region’s special cachet, www .bieresetsaveurs c. om www .pc g. c c. a/fortchambly the South Shore provides a choice of Each year Chambly invites beer lovers at heart, April to mid-May and September to end October: Wed-Sun lifestyles to suit everyone. Many young from simple fans to the more seasoned. The de 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mid-May to September: Mon-Sun from families children in a serene and eco- festival makes you feel you’re at a regional 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (until 6 p.m. from end June to September). friendly environment. It is interesting market in the era of New France, and it’s this Adult $5.65, senior $4.90, youth $2.90, family $14.20. to note the presence of numerous rural atmosphere that makes the event unique. Fort Chambly represents an interesting vestige parks and recreational installations M uSEUMS More than 120 booths of products for tasting, of the French presence. Restored after many that occupy center stage in the / tourist activities, shows, large terraces for relaxing with years of neglect, the fort was built by the French different municipalities in the region. attractions friends, it’s all there for a memorable experience in 1709, at the foot of the rapids of the Richelieu in the enchanting setting of the Richelieu Valley. River, a waterway connecting Montréal to DAY CAMP AT THE JEAN-JEUNE New York. Inspired by Vauban’s fortification OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL AREA principles, it stood firmly awaiting the attackers Tel . : 450-679-5017 / 1 800-598-1351 BEAUHARNOIS ELECTRIC from the British colonies. An exhibition presents www .jean-jeune .qc c. a GENERATING STATION the life of soldiers and inhabitants around 1750. The Jean-Jeune day camp’s mission 80, rue Edgard-Hébert, Beauharnois On weekends, you can watch the firing of is to provide its clients with even 1 800-365-5229 muskets and, on Sundays in July and August, more possibilities and pleasure for www .hydroquebec .com/visitez period characters and artisans will invite you to children. A few steps away from the From mid-May to September: Mon-Sun, guided tours relive the era of New France. pool and playgrounds, the spot is at 9:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. Free. ideal for practicing dynamic activities This is one of the largest hydroelectric MAISON DES CULTURES in a secure environment. The varied stations in the world: the tour will reveal its AMÉRINDIENNES installations and facilities specifically architecture, the phases of its construction, 510, Montée des Trente, Mont-Saint-Hilaire set up for specialties enable children the steps of electrification in the Montréal area 450-464-2500 to have legendary vacations! and its generating units, which extend over www .maisonamerindienne c. om almost a kilometer. Impressive! Phone or write before visiting the site. Admission charge. Guided tours and tastings by reservation. Boutique. EXPORAIL CANADIAN Created by artist André Michel, in partnership RAILWAY MUSEUM with the Foundation Ushket-André Michel, this LA CABOSSE D’OR 110, rue Saint-Pierre, Saint-Constant place of exchange and sharing aims to increase 973, chemin Ozias Leduc, 450-632-2410 awareness of First Nations. A wide variety Otterburn Park www .exporail .org of activities are organized during the year: 450-464-6937 Mid-May to end June: Mon-Sun from 10 a.m. to 5 exhibitions of works by contemporary native www .lacabossedor c. om p.m. End June to September: Mon-Sun from 10 a.m. and Métis artists, evenings of tales and legends, A Belgian chocolate maker to 6 p.m. September and October: Wed-Sun from various conferences, Indian food tastings (by that is a fixture in the 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (exterior site closes at 4 p.m.). reservation), a sugar shack in the spring, etc. region! In addition to the Rest of the year: Sat-Sun from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and many delights for sale, weekdays by reservation for groups. Special hours SUCRERIE DE LA MONTAGNE a chocolate interpretive during holidays and school break. Adult $16, senior, 300, rang Saint-Georges, Rigaud center, mini-golf and a tea 13-17 years $10, 4-12 years $7, family $39. 450-451-0831 salon with pastries and ice This museum features a collection of more www .sucreriedelamontagne c. om cream will complete your than 160 rail vehicles. You travel through more Open all the year by appointment. Meals visit to the Cabosse d’or. than half a century of railway history when offered at lunch and in the evening. you visit the exhibition on the era of giant More than a simple sugar shack, is a true locomotives, monumental construction, the Québec heritage site. The site, an authentic growth of the industrial revolution in Canada traditional sugar bush, invites you to enjoy a from coast to coast. A locomotive and a tram sugaring-off feast with folk entertainment. You run through the grounds to the delight of can also visit the sugar shack and the fieldstone children, and an old station will make you bakery. Accommodation on site with or without relive the glory days of the 19th century. meal package. 116 Living in Montréal 119 Wht a to do in MONT SAINT-HILAIRE center and Île Sainte-Marguerite services (Highway 25, exit the region? NATURE CENTER 1 at Tunnel Louis-H-Lafontaine). River shuttle service. 422, chemin des Moulins, Mont-Saint-Hilaire In the middle of the river and close to 450-467-1755 Montréal, this oasis of greenery covers an area www c. entrenature .qc c. a of 8.14 km². The five islands are connected by a Site and reception open year-round (schedule varies depending bike path and 21 km of trails to explore. Marsh, on the season). Adult $5, senior $4, 6-17 years $2. Equipment channels, forests... A true haven of peace just rental at reception. Special activities offered during the year. minutes from the city. The best way to discover Mont Saint-Hilaire was designated a biosphere it remains sea kayaking. No accommodation in reserve by UNESCO in 1978, the first in Canada. the park. Activities: observation tower, canoe, Its owner, McGill University, is committed sea kayak (private lessons available), hiking to preserving the mountain and conducts and cycling, beach volleyball, nearby golf research on the site, offering educational and course, snowshoeing, Nordic skiing and hiking leisure activities. Hiking trails allow you to reach on snow. Watercraft, bicycles and snowshoes some mountain peaks, offering an extensive for rent. view over the Richelieu Valley, St. Lawrence THE CIDER ROUTE River and Montréal. It is also an ideal place to It is a journey that takes you on a practice skiing and snowshoeing in winter. Out L’ACTION RÉGIONALE Press discovery of artisanal producers who of curiosity, if you meet someone from the area, www .journallactionregionale c. om specialize in cider and all its variations. ask for a few stories about the mountain. Some You will travel through thousands will make you shiver! LA RELÈVE of apple trees, blossoming fields, www .lareleve .qc c. a surrounded by special smells and SAINT-BRUNO NATIONAL PARK colors, and you can meet producers 330, rang des 25 Est, Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville LE COURRIER DU SUD who are masters in the art of handling 450-653-7544 | Reservations : 1 800-665-6527 www .lecourrierdusud c. anoe c. a the apple in its most delicious forms. www .sepaq c. om/pq/msb/fr An first-rate choice in 11 unforgettable Open all year. Hours vary according to season. LONGUEUIL EXTRA steps that take place over 298 Daily access fee: adult $3.50, $1.50 children, free www .lejournaldelongueuilextra c. anoe c. a kilometers. For more information, for children 5 years and younger. Group and family The route map is available at rates available. 20 km from Montréal. Highway For a list of Montérégie weeklies: tourist regional tourist offices. 20, exits 98 and 102 or Highway 30, exit 121. www .monteregieweb c. om The Mont-Saint-Bruno National Park (5.9 km ²) is part of the Montérégie hills nature region. A haven of peace a few kilometers from the CITY OF LONGUEUIL Sports city, it houses a rich and diverse fauna and 5 Tel . : 450-463-7000 | www .longueuil c. a lakes, an orchard of more than 850 apple trees Borough of Greenfield Park main and a historic mill. You’ll come to rejuvenate Tel :. 450-463-7045 centers / sites / yourself both in summer and winter. No Borough of Saint-Hubert fields accommodation on site. Activities: U-pick Tel :. 450-463-7065 apples (end of August to mid-October), hiking, Borough of Vieux-Longueuil discovery activities, tours, skiing, snow hiking, Tel :. 450-463-7085 downhill skiing to the Ski Mont-Saint-Bruno You may contact each of the boroughs directly station northwest of the park. to find out about the establishments and their schedules. The South Shore offers numerous PARC NATIONAL green spaces and convenient places for sports DES ÎLES-DE-BOUCHERVILLE activities, supervised or not. 55, île Sainte-Marguerite, Boucherville 450-928-5088 | Reservations Sepaq : 1 800-665-6527 www .sepaq c. om/pq/bou/fr/ Open all year, from 8 a.m. to sunset (in February and March, the gate is closed at 4:30 p.m.). Daily access fee: adult $3.50, children $1.50, free for children 5 years and younger. Group and family rates available. Welcome station: discovery 118 Living in Montréal Becoming a Permanent Resident

Permanent residency ...... p .12 2 How to apply? ...... p .12 3 Where to send your application? . . . . . p .124 Medical examiniation ...... p .124 Visa and permanent resident card . . . . .p .12 7 Contact us ...... p .12 8 123 We can help you! must have lived in Canada for at least Becoming a If you are a temporary worker currently three years (1,095 days, consecutive employed in the Greater Montréal region, our or not) over the last four years before permanent team of professionals can help you with your submitting the application. Children do application for permanent residency. not need to satisfy this requirement.

resident Our services are free and include: The process has two main stages: ➔➔ Information sessions; ➔➔ Personalized coaching; ➔➔ Selection by Québec; How to apply ➔➔ Assistance with compiling a complete ➔➔ Admission by Canada. for permanent application file. residency? Selection Please contact us and we will be glad to help You must file an application for a Certificat de you with your application for permanent sélection du Québec (CSQ) accompanied by residency. supporting documents, with the ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles du Québec (MICC), according to one of the Becoming a permanent resident is a wise following programs: professional and personal decision.

P eRMANENT This status gives you and your family members 1. The Programme de l’expérience residency the same rights as Canadian citizens, with the québécoise (PEQ) exception of the right to vote and the Canadian This is a quick and simplified procedure for passport. those who: ➔➔ hold a work permit; Holders of work permits can begin the process ➔➔ have been employed in Québec for 12 in Montréal. months at a technical, professional or managerial level; The benefits ➔➔ have at least a basic intermediate knowledge of spoken French. 1. You no longer have to get work permits renewed. 2. Selection criteria [1] If you work outside Canada for a 2. As its name suggests, this is a permanent If you do not qualify for the PEQ, your Canadian company or its subsidiary or to status. Once obtained, there is no other application will be assessed using a points a foreign client of a Canadian company, step required to continue to live in Canada. system based on five main criteria: you are considered a Canadian resident The only requirement for maintaining this ➔➔ education; for the purposes of this residency status is to reside in Canada for two years ➔➔ experience; requirement. (730 days, consecutive or not) within a ➔➔ age; period of five years1. ➔➔ knowledge of French and English; 3. The applicant’s spouse and dependent ➔➔ time spent in Québec. children also obtain permanent resident status. Admission 4. Permanent residents have the same Once you have obtained the Certificat de rights as Canadian citizens. They may Sélection du Québec (CSQ), you must file a live, work and study anywhere in Canada, visa request for permanent residence with under the same conditions as citizens. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). 5. This status facilitates access to credit, including mortgages insured by Canada You must complete various forms and provide Mortgage and Housing Corporation supporting documents, such as a criminal (CMHC) for the purchase of a residence. record extract from all countries where you 6. Only permanent residents can apply for lived for more than six months since the age Canadian citizenship. To do this, they of 18. 122 Becoming a permanent resident 125 Whre e to At a Canada Visa Office (CVO) located abroad in M oNTREAL International send your a Canadian embassy or consulate. facilitates the establishment application? of strategic talents in You can choose to send it to the CVO serving Greater Montréal your country of citizenship or the Consulate General in Buffalo, who is authorized to process applications from foreign residents temporarily in Canada. SHE LETS GENES DO THE TALKING C oNSULATE General of Canada Les Affaires | October 17, 2009, p.13 Immigration Section by Nathalie Vallerand C aTALINA 3000 HSBC Center Lopez-Correa Buffalo, New York Catalina Lopez-Correa, originally from Age: 41 14203-2884 Colombia, has worked in prestigious laboratories Title: vice-president États-Unis in Great Britain, Iceland and the United Company: Genome Québec States, but she dreamed of living in Montréal. Recruited a year ago by Génome Québec, she is A physician with a doctorate in Medical You must undergo a medical examination by a vice-president, scientific affairs. A great catch for human genetics, she coordinates examiniation doctor certified by Immigration Canada. There Québec! all genomic research in Québec are about 15 in Montréal and you can find an The researcher has kept her eye on Canada from up-to-date list at www.cic.gc.ca/dmp-md/ afar for a long time because she considers it a medecins.aspx. The examination consists of progressive country. «The proximity of wide open the following: spaces attracted me a lot. In the United States, I felt a gap between my values and those of this ➔➔ Complete medical examination for persons country.» In 2007, she visited Montréal and fell of all ages; in love. ➔➔ Chest X-ray report results for those 11 and A doctor, Catalina Lopez-Correa has a older; master’s degree in human genetics from the ➔➔ Urinalysis for anyone aged five years or University Paris VII - Pasteur Institute and more; a PhD in medical biosciences from the Catholic ➔➔ Syphilis serology for anyone 15 years or University of Louvain, Belgium. Before her more; arrival in Québec, she was senior scientist at the « I wish to thank ➔➔ HIV testing for for applicants aged 15 and pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly in the United older and for children who have received States. you for the good blood transfusions or blood products, as Her research has focused on links between genetic well as for children whose mothers are HIV mutations and disease. The genetic variations services which you positive. explain why some individuals are more likely to suffer from diseases. They also determine drug provided to Mrs Catalina response. Doctors certified by Citizenship and CARTaGENE, Génome Québec’s largest project, Lopez-Correa. Your Immigration Canada aims to establish a bank of biological samples and List updated in March 2010 for the Montréal area a database on the health of Québecers. Some contribution to her 20,000 Québecers were invited to participate in Laval | Nicolas Karellis the study. coming to Génome 3828 rue Notre Dame, Québec, H7V 1R9 Genomics is a crucial area, according to the 450-682-6688 scientist. «The social and economic impacts will Québec is really English / French / Greek be significant in several sectors.» As vice-president of Génome Québec, Catalina appreciated. » Montreal | Gabriel Munoz Lopez-Correa defines programs, participates in Clinique médicale Luso, 1 Mont-Royal est, Québec, H2T 1N4 decisions on prioritizing projects, and meets with Pierre Francoeur, 514-849-2391 researchers on a daily basis. Happiness... and Human resources director, English / French / Spanish in Montréal! Génome Québec 124 Becoming a permanent resident 127 « We wanted Montreal | Mario Bejerman Montréal | Michel Girard 1 Mont-Royal Est, Québec, H2T 1N4 Clinique de médecine familiale Mont Carmel you to know that English / French / Italian / Spanish 933 Boul. René Levesque, Québec, H2L 4S4 514-282-9197 we received our Montreal | G M Tremblay English / French 850- 2155 rue Guy, Québec, H3H 2L9 | 514-931-0801 permanent residency English / French Montréal | Sylvia Yankova Centre médical La Plazza cards! And we Montreal | Doina Nica-Danes 6700 De la Côte-Des Neiges Suite 125, 2155 rue Guy, bureau 850, Québec, H3H 2L9 | 514-931-0801 Québec, H3S 2B2 | 514-342-2941 especially wanted to English / French / Italian / Romanian Bulgarian / English / French / Portuguese / Russian thank you for all your Montréal | Victor Abikhzer Montréal | Stefan Cajal 5950 Côte des Neiges, Suite 350, Québec, H3S 1Z8 | 514-733-9192 Clinique de médecine industrielle et préventive du Québec, hard work on our Arabic / English / French / Hebrew / Spanish 850-2155 rue Guy, Québec, H3H 2L9 514-931-0801 behalf; needless to Montréal | Wanda Brzezinski English / French / Romanian Westmount Square Medical Centre say without your help 1 Westmount Square, Pavilion A, Suite C-550, Québec, H3Z 2P9 Pierrefonds | Jean Dzineku 514-934-2334 / 514-596-4141 12774 blvd Gouin Ouest, Québec, H8Z 1W5 | 514-684-3884 the entire process English / French / Polish / Russian Arabic / English / Ewe / French would have been Montréal | Charles Chocron Pierrefonds | Magdi Kayal Source Unique, 5910 Cotes Des Neiges, Suite 230, Québec, H3S 1Z5 12774 blvd Gouin Ouest, Québec, H8Z 1W5 far more difficult. » 514-739-1662 514-684-8460 Arabic / English / French / Portuguese / Spanish Arabic / English / French

Jamil Ragep Montréal | Dong Ky La St Eustache | Jean Jacques Legare Professor and Canada Research Chair 2100 rue Frontenac, Québec, H2K 2Z3 | 514-527-9428 Polyclinique St-Eustache, 75 rue Grignon, Québec, J7P 4J2 McGill university Cantonese / English / French / Mandarin / Vietnamese 450-472-0116 English / French Montréal | Gregorio Zlotnik 1600 Boul. Henri-Bourassa Ouest, Suite 420, Québec, H3M 3E2 514-337-0432 Following the health and criminal records check, Vsai and English / French / Italian / Portuguese / Spanish / Yiddish you must send your passport to the Canadian permanent authorities who processed your request resident card Montréal | Albert Prossin (normally the Canadian Consulate in Buffalo) for Clinique Médicale Métro Médic, a period of 15 days. 1538 Sherbrooke Ouest, Suite 100, Québec, H3G 1L5 | 514-932-2122 Warning! English / French Once you have received your passport and This wallet-sized laminated card permanent resident visa, you must validate your is required afterwards for all Montréal | Fernando Donoso new status. This validation can be done at: permanent residents of Canada Clinique Luso, 1 ave Mont Royal Est, Québec, H2T 1N4 | 514-849-2391 who wish to return to Canada English / French / Portuguese / Spanish ➔➔ The CIC office, by appointment only, at 1010, aboard a commercial carrier rue Saint-Antoine West, in Montréal; (airplane, boat, train or bus). Montréal | Marcel Pigeon ➔➔ A Canadian border crossing, when travelling Groupe Sante Medisys Inc., by car; 500 rue Sherbrooke Ouest, suite 1100, Québec, H3A 3C6 ➔➔ At a Canadian airport if you plan to travel 514-499-2772 | English / French outside of Canada.

Montréal | Andreas Giannakis The immigration officer will begin the process 7200 Hutchison, Suite 303, Québec, H3N 1Z2 | 514-278-8877 for issuing the permanent resident card, which English / French / Greek you will receive within 30 days. 126 Becoming a permanent resident Costs The ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles du Québec and Citizenship and Immigration Canada charge fees for processing the file and issuing the visa:

Principal applicant Spouse Child Selection (Québec) 390 $ 150 $ 150 $ Admission (Canada) 1040 $ 1040 $ 150 $

These costs, to which are added costs for medical and criminal records checks, are collected by the governments of Québec and Canada.

Assistance services provided by Montréal International are free. We’re here to help you! Processing time Montréal International (MI) provides businesses and foreign In general, it takes eight to ten months to obtain workers in Greater Montréal with specialized advice to help permanent resident status for an applicant skilled labour settle in the region. already working in Québec. The services offered by the International Mobility team aim to: Contact us! For help in obtaining your permanent residency, please contact us: ➔➔Inform and advise companies, institutions and international organizations about the procedure for hiring skilled foreign Montréal International 380, rue Saint-Antoine Ouest, bureau 8000 workers Montréal (Québec) H2Y 3X7 ➔➔Provide these workers with assistance in obtaining official Telephone : 514 987-9309 documents such as visas, work permits, study permits, Fax : 514 288-6299 applications for visa extensions, etc. [email protected] ➔➔Support workers’ spouses through a customized www.residencepermanente.ca counselling service to help them integrate socially and professionally ➔➔Facilitate and streamline the process of obtaining permanent residency « This is to let you know, that I have ‘immigrated’ to Canada To fulfill this mandate, MI works closely with several partners, yesterday and became a permanent resident. I wanted to take including Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), Service the opportunity to say a big ‘Thank you’ to everybody who Canada and the ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles du Québec (MICC – Department of Immigration and helped me in the past 12 months or so… It made the whole Cultural Communities). process a lot easier and more understandable. Once more thanks a lot and with my best regards. »

Olivier MEIER Project Manager, IATA 128 www.montrealinternational.com

Grâce à ARIANNE Relocalisation Canada et à «son équipe très compétente et expérimentée, nous avons trouvé une très belle maison, de bonnes écoles pour nos enfants et nous avons été parfaitement guidés dans les méandres administratifs locaux ! Avec les excellents services d’ARIANNE, notre transition de l’Europe vers le Canada fut facile et agréable. Cette aide fut essentielle et nous nous sommes parfaitement bien intégrés à Montréal. Merci ! Dr Tarik Möröy, » Président et directeur scientifique, IRCM

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