WELCOME to Valcartier
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WELCOME to Valcartier 1 877 844-6060 connexionFAC.ca/Valcartier 1 Newcomer’s Guide 2020 edition Inspired by the Esquimalt and Bagotville welcome guide Valcartier Family Centre (Valcartier MFRC) Address Building 93 P.O. Box 1000, Station Forces Courcelette (Quebec) G0A 4Z0 Business Hours Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 12 noon and 1 pm to 4:30 pm Contact us 418 844-6060 1 877 844-6060 CAFconnection.ca/Valcartier crfmv.com [email protected] Centre de la Famille Valcartier Centre de la Famille Valcartier Centre de la Famille Valcartier 2 1 877 844-6060 connexionFAC.ca/Valcartier SETTLING INTO MY Table of COMMUNITY 13 Automobile 14 contents Procedure for the transfer of drivers’ licences 14 Introduction 5 Vehicle Registration 14 Before leaving your base or your Winter tires 15 community: when to do what? 6 Gas prices 15 Road conditions 15 DISCOVER QUEBEC 7 Other modes of transportation in Geography and climate 7 Quebec City 15 Bus 15 Language 7 24-hour taxis 16 Carpooling 16 Pace of Life in the City 8 Airport 16 Train and bus stations 16 Facts and Statistics - Quebec City and the Province 8 Health care in Quebec City 17 Population 8 Health Insurance Card 17 A few facts about the province 8 Finding a Family Doctor 18 Pregnancy Follow-Ups 19 2nd Canadian Division Support Base Valcartier 9 Childhood Services 20 Family Allowances 20 Greater Quebec City Area 10 Daycare 21 Education System 22 Google Map at your service 11 English schools 22 A few websites of cities in the Greater Employment 24 Quebec area and its surroundings 12 Job search 24 Employment Insurance Benefits 24 Housing: Finding a place to live 13 Government Services 25 Housing agency 13 Canada Post 25 Housing 13 Taxes and income taxes 25 Rentals or apartments 13 SECTION 2 13 Service suppliers 25 Cable / telephone / internet 25 Electricity 25 Alternative heating methods 25 Useful telephone numbers 26 Conclusion 27 1 877 844-6060 connexionFAC.ca/Valcartier 3 Welcome The staff and volunteers of the Valcartier Family Centre would like to welcome you. The VFC is a non-profit community organization, which welcomes individuals and families and helps them from the time they join the military community until they return to the civilian community. At the heart of the military community, the Valcartier Family Centre recognizes the unique, active lifestyle of military families and tailors its services to them. We serve the whole Eastern Quebec region, from the Îles de la Madeleine (Magdalen Islands) to Trois-Rivières. Whether you are in the Canadian Army, the Royal Canadian Navy, the Royal Canadian Air Force, or Canadian Special Operations Forces, a reservist or if you recently released, we are here to serve you and your family! We can help you in your searches and work together with our partners in your region. You are unable to come to our office? Feel free to phone us or to ask for an online meeting at www.crfmv.com. The information contained in this document is only for information purposes. It is important to check it because the information may change after this guide is prepared. 4 1 877 844-6060 connexionFAC.ca/Valcartier Introduction For all relevant information about the Moving to a new community can be an Valcartier Family Centre, you can consult experience that is both exciting and stressful. our services guide, health care guide, our This document contains key information that activities program and all other activities will help you make the transition into your offered. new community. Please note that the guide is divided into two sections: Section 1: Discovering Quebec Do you want to learn more about the greater Quebec City area? This section contains some specific information, such as statistics about the greater Quebec City area. You will also find a brief section with the municipalities surrounding the Valcartier military base. A transfer requires many steps and good Section 2: Settling into My Community preparation. The following is a checklist Have you officially moved to your new to help you one step at a time. Do you residence, but you do not know how things and your loved ones have questions or work in the Quebec City area, e.g., the would you like to be guided toward the procedures to register your vehicle, obtain a right resources? The Valcartier Family driver’s licence and access to medical care? Centre offers you many services and tools You may find the answers to some of your to accompany you during your posting. questions in this section. Visit the postings section of our portal to find out about the activities, consult the documentation or make an appointment with our staff. 1 877 844-6060 connexionFAC.ca/Valcartier 5 Before leaving your base or your community: when to do what? Before leaving your base or your community, there are many actions to take. We have developed a table indicating the best time to take these actions to ease the transition and have a smoother move. More What to do Ideal time to do it information Do research on facilities, e.g., school, As soon as you think you daycare, health care, etc. will be posted Sign up for the newsletter, Facebook When you receive the group: MFRC, city, recreation, posting message community Sign up your children for daycare During your house-hunting Section 2: trip (HHT) or arriving at Daycare destination Sign up your children at school During your house-hunting Section 2 : trip (HHT) or arriving at Education and destination training Apply for family allowances As soon as you arrive Section 2 : Family allowances Ask for Employment Insurance From the reception of your Section 2 : benefits record of employment Employment Inspect the safety of your vehicle As soon as you arrive Section 2 : Automobile Obtain a Quebec Driver’s licence and As soon as you arrive Section 2 : register your vehicle at the Société de Automobile l’Assurance Automobile du Québec Ask for a Quebec health insurance As soon as you arrive Section 2 : card Health care in Quebec City 6 1 877 844-6060 connexionFAC.ca/Valcartier SECTION 1 DISCOVER QUEBEC Geography and climate Language Québec (Quebec City) is the National Even though the main language of Quebec Capital of Quebec. There are many sectors, City is French, you can hear other languages which allows you to find the perfect place in various areas. If your first language is to live. English, there are a few primary/secondary In Quebec, there are four well-defined schools and one English public CEGEP. seasons: winter, spring, summer and fall. The There are also Anglophone organizations, temperatures during a year vary between such as Voice of English-speaking Quebec 30°C and -20°C. Winters are cold with lots (VEQ). In Quebec City, it is recommended of snow. Appropriate clothing such as a very to learn French to have access to most of warm coat, winter pants and all the winter the city’s services. However, it is common to accessories (boots, hats, scarves, mittens, meet service providers or people from the and neck warmers) is necessary to prepare community who are bilingual or who know for cold temperatures which can drop to basic English; you just need to speak slowly. -35°C. In the spring, when the snow melts, there can be floods in the flood zones Second-language courses (French and (caused by abundant precipitations and/or if English) are offered by the VFC. the snow melts quickly). Summers may be hot and humid. The Greater Quebec area There is a government program for is a paradise for summer sports enthusiasts French immersion language courses with (cyclists, hikers, motorcyclists) and winter the possibility of grants. If you need sports enthusiasts (skiing, snowshoes, more information, or would like to apply, snowmobiles). Moreover, there is a wide refer to the VFC’s employment support range of activities such as: Village Vacances and education program. Valcartier, Galeries de la Capitale (indoor amusement park), aquarium, museums, and pick-your-own: apples, pumpkins, blueberries, strawberries. Québec is a diversified, colourful city that is worth a visit in the fall to see the impressive fall colours of the trees. 1 877 844-6060 connexionFAC.ca/Valcartier 7 Pace of Life in the City Facts and Statistics - Quebec City is a unique, dynamic city, Quebec City and the Province which offers all types of activities and services in the downtown area and various Population municipalities. During the summer months, • Population: In July 2016, Quebec City there are various festivals and outdoor had a population of 531,902 and the activities. To find moments of relaxation metropolitan community population and a peaceful pace of life, there are many was 807,200. nature trails and bike paths. To learn • Average age: 44 years old about the various activities or services in • Language: French (85.5% of the Quebec your municipality, consult their website or population) Facebook page. In addition, St.-Jean-Baptiste Day is a big celebration on the Plains of A few facts about the province Abraham (also in some municipalities), and it • Legal age of majority: age 18 is a statutory holiday for Quebecers. • Alcohol is legal at the age of majority and marijuana at age 21. https://www.ville.quebec.qc.ca • The Tobacco Control Act: : legal Facebook : Ville de Québec age (age 18) is required to purchase tobacco products. It is prohibited to See your city’s attractions on Facebook smoke in public places and workplaces, (section 2) and at a distance of less than nine metres from establishments. The Family Centre provides many family • Distracted driving: It is illegal to use activities throughout the year: one’s cellphone or other devices when driving.