Montréal
Number 1 Homestay has created this site to inform both local and international
students about everything there is to know about Montréal, specifically for
studying, touring, visiting, and enjoying Montréal Number 1 Homestay’s
Services! WANT
TO STUDY ENGLISH or FRENCH IN MONTREAL? CONTACT US!
Why
Choose Montréal Number 1 Homestay?
Choosing
Homestay is the first logical decision to make when deciding to study in
Montréal. Staying with Montréal
Number 1 Homestay will not only help you save money, but you will
enjoy the warm hospitality of a Canadian Family, the comforts of a private room,
explore Canadian home cooking, and live close to where everything is
happening! Your Host Family will provide you with a safe and comfortable
environment, help you settle in, feed you, and care for you.
Furthermore, you will always feel safe, always have walking access to public
transportation, and most importantly, be treated with the utmost integrity
and respect. And do you know
what? There's more.
Montréal
Number 1 Homestay offers something special. Something that no other Homestay agency
offers; Quite
simply, the staff at Montréal Number 1 Homestay have years of hands-on
experience, both as students, travelers, activity coordinators, and Homestay
families. They have even been
educated at some of Montréal’s top schools! They know what is going on! 
More
specifically, they are available for you 24-hours/7 days a week should
you require any assistance.
They
are continuously organizing awesome activities for all of Montréal Number 1
Homestay students, and are always working very close with
the City of Montréal
and all its facilities! The top schools all recommend Montréal Number 1 Homestay as
a great choice for accommodation and integration into the Montréal scene. And wait, there’s more…
Montréal
Number 1 Homestay will also be more than glad to help you with any problems you
many have by supplying any information you require. Whether it is about obtaining health
insurance, making long distance telephone calls, renewing you Visa,
how to open a Bank
Account, or how to use the subway system,
Montréal Number 1 Homestay will always be there for you.
You
will receive a call from your Personal
Counselor to ensure that you are well settled and already enjoying
yourself. You can even request
Airport
Pickup, and be dropped off at your Homestay directly!
Why
Study in Montréal?
There
are many reasons why Montréal enjoys a very large student population. Not only is Montréal one of the safest
Metropolitan cities in the world, but also it is a perfect mix of modern and
old, and simply enjoys the international right to declare that it has some of
the greatest educational institutes in the world. If you are still not sure why you should
study in Canada, check out this very informative guide for
international students. Click here
for more information. Students
often don’t know the proper steps of what they must do in order to study in
Canada. So we’ll help you.
That
is what Montréal Number 1 Homestay is here for. For
example, if you are not a Canadian citizen or
permanent resident and wish to study for more than one session, you must
apply for two or more sessions in order to obtain a Québec Certificate of
Acceptance (CAQ) and a Student Authorization. Students wishing to study for one
session need only apply for a visitor's visa. Want to know how to
obtain a Student VISA? Go
here. If you want to
contact a Canadian Embassy near your
area, simply click here!
Why is Everyone Choosing Montréal as their Number One City?
Year after year,
students from all over the world are choosing the beautiful and international
city of Montréal as their number one place to study and live in the world. Why, you may ask? Well, the reason is simple. Montréal is the second largest city in
Canada with a population of 3.5 million, with more than 80 different ethnic
groups represented. Proudly, it has the best nightlife in
Canada, offers the greatest choice of International cuisine with its massive
selection of restaurants, has year-round activities, festivals, events, and
continuous visits can be made to museums, cultural centers, historical
buildings, churches and markets.
We
must not forget the Shopping! Shopping! Shopping! Montréal has the greatest of Underground
Cities (30 kilometers!), all connecting to major shopping malls and
subway stations downtown. Remember
that you can continue your explorations on the vibrant streets of St-Catherine,
St-Denis and
Boulevard Saint--Laurent! Take a walk through
China Town or
Little Italy. On top of all that, there is an “Old Montréal”
(founded by the French in 1632).
Beautiful parks and sports facilities can be accessed year round.
Montréal also has some of the strongest, most reputable and up to date
universities worldwide. You can even catch a professional
hockey, football, baseball or soccer game year round, visit the opera, the
ski-hills of Québec or one of the busiest movie theatres in North America;
The
Paramount!
Obviously, you can get around
Montréal easily via its safe, reliable, low cost, and very speedy
Public
Transportation system.
Be it train, metro (subway), or bus, you will always get to where you
want to go! Where else can you
explore a modern city and then visit the countryside a few hours away. Also worth mentioning is the fact that
Ottawa, Toronto and New York City are all just a few hours’ drive away! There are lots of reasons why Montréal
has the second most students per capita in North America! Want to know more? Check out our
article; THERE’S MUCH TO KEEP YOU WARM IN MONTRÉAL!
No!
Apartments in Montréal tend to be very expensive, even if you share it
with someone else! The rent alone
can cost over CAN $1000, and that does not include electricity, telephone, TV,
Internet, washing of clothes, and most importantly - food. Also, there is usually a three-month up
front deposit! What about the cost
of furniture, cleaning, renovation and decoration? Not to mention that in order to get an
apartment, you usually have to sign for a minimum of one year! Compare here! What if you shared an apartment or
lived alone? Check out the many
differences between renting an apartment and experiencing
homestay!
The
Homestay program is one of the most popular accommodations that students select
before they arrive in Montréal.
What is unique about Montréal Number 1 Homestay compared to other
Homestay agencies is that each one of our Homestay Families are interviewed
in person before they are selected.
Their homes must also pass a strict guideline that Montréal Number
1 Homestay has created in order to really be assured and guaranteed that the
family and home is very safe, secure, clean, and the Homestay be accessible
to public transportation. Our
families have traditional Canadian values, and clearly understand what
taking care of a student entails.
Only after every criterion is met does the Homestay Department at
Montréal Number 1 Homestay unanimously approve the Host Families.
Montréal
Number 1 Homestay is one of the only agencies that also make the effort to
match the interests of the student with those of the families. For that reason, both the students and
Host Families complete the necessary forms that help describe them very
well. This program has been a great
success. In fact, students who
return to Montréal usually request that they stay with the same Host
Family! Complete the
Registration Form Now!
Before
arriving, it is important to remember that there is a cultural difference
between you and your host family.
Most Canadians work outside of the home during the day. Canadian families often support each
other in most matters, including keeping the house clean, preparing the
meals, and putting things away after they have been used. Every family in the Homestay Program
will make sure that you feel at home, and we hope that you will exert the same
effort.
HOMESTAY
PLAN: This
is our most popular plan. It
includes 3 (three)
or 2 (two) meals per day.
Breakfast may include eggs, toast, cereal, coffee and juice; a packed
lunch (sandwich, fruit, juice); and a cooked meal in the evening. Please remember that Host Families are
flexible, and are always willing to accommodate the student. Feel free to make suggestions to your
Host Family! This program also
includes social and conversation time with the family. And don’t forget about your
Personal Counselor.
Register
now!
BED
& BREAKFAST PLAN: This
plan includes breakfast that may include eggs, toast, cereal, coffee and
juice. This program also includes
social and conversation time with the family. You can even ask about our student
residence in the heart of downtown!
ROOM
RENTAL PLAN: It is important to realize that this
arrangement is just a private room.
It is not
a Homestay. Hosts are not obligated to spend time
with the student, and there is limited access to the kitchen, if at all. The room rental plan is selectively for
very independent students.
What are you getting?
Each one of our
Homestay programs will offer you a key to the house and a very clean and
private room including the following:
§
A closed door to ensure your privacy.
§
A clean bed with clean sheets.
§
A closet with hangers.
§
A desk and chair and/or place for quiet study.
§
Drawers for clothing.
§
Good
lighting.
The
Homestay will also offer to store your suitcases and any other large items that
you may bring with you. You can
also use the laundry facilities at no extra cost if the family owns
them. Your family will also allow
you personal access to the telephone, so long as this right is not
abused. The same applies for the
usage of the Internet, if it is available.
We
really enjoy this part of our business, because not only is it our objective to
place each and every one of our students in a safe, comfortable, and exciting
environment, we also believe it to be our duty to create and run an extensive
counseling program to ensure that students familiarize themselves with Montréal,
their surroundings, other students, and that they feel they can rely on us to
answer any questions that they might have.
Montréal Number 1 Homestay will inform you on very useful topics including
tipping, taxes, internet, holidays, post offices, and all kinds of tourist
info. It helps tremendously to
know that Montréal Number 1 Homestay works very closely with the larger
universities in Montréal!
Every
month, based on the demand from students, a new set of activities can be organized specifically to meet the students’
desires and interests. Students
are
integrated into Canadian society via visits to museums, movies, art galleries,
dinners, night clubs, parks, ski trips, hikes in the country and Montréal Number
1 Homestays cool day trips to places including Ottawa, Québec City and
Mont-Tremblant! Activities are
always optional and Montréal number 1 Homestay is always looking forward to new
suggestions and requests!
Robert
knows Montréal very well, including the trendy spots, Montréal’s history, the
greatest shopping and hanging out spots, taxation issues, immigration issues,
your Homestay Families, and all other aspects involved with your Homestay. Want to reach Robert?
Simply e-mail him! Want to know more about him?
Check Out His Bio.
We all know the anxieties and
concerns that arise when traveling to another country, particularly for a longer
period of time. It is natural to
miss your friends, your family, and most importantly, the motherly figure that
so many of us enjoy and often fail to realize our emotional dependence and
attachment until we are separated by land and sea.
For this reason, we at Montréal Number 1 Homestay believe to be quite
essential to have available such a motherly figure; and we find our support,
strength and wisdom in such a person, namely June Wright.
Find out more about her, or simply e-mail
her with any questions or concerns that you may have!
(Rates
Effective June 1, 2006)
Homestay
Fees Full-Board (3 meals.)
(7
days –3 meals/day, private room, organized activities, lots of family social
time, counseling, and much
more.)
CAN$
1
week
$210
4
weeks
$840
3
months
$2520
Homestay
Fees Half-Board (2 meals.)
(7
days –2 meals/day, private room, organized activities, lots of family social
time, counseling, and much
more.)
CAN$
1
week
$190
4
weeks
$760
3
months
$2280
Bed &
Breakfast
(7 nights –breakfast, private
room, organized activities, lots of family social time, counseling, and much
more.)
CAN$
1
week
$150
4
weeks
$600
3
months
$1800
Room Rental
(Private
room –no activities, no counseling, no family social time, no meals.)
CAN$
This
is a special service offered by Montréal Number 1 Homestay. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, a driver
can await you at the airport and drive you directly to your Homestay. There are taxis and buses that run from
Dorval Airport to Downtown Montréal, but they will not necessarily direct you to
your Homestay. We always recommend
that you take advantage of our Airport Pick-Up and Drop-Off Service for your
peace of mind. The cost is $75 CAN
per person from Dorval Airport in Montréal. Sign me up for Airport
Pickup! Please note that it is
the responsibility of the student to provide all flight information at least
48 hours prior to arrival and to notify Montréal Number 1 Homestay of
any changes that may arise, be they delays, cancellations, missing of flights or
re-schedules. The airport pick-up
fee is non-refundable and is valid only for the time and date the student has
supplied Montréal Number 1 Homestay, as the driver must be compensated for his
expenses. The emergency number
that you must call when flight changes occur is 514-932-9027.
CAN$
|
|
$125 |
Placement
and Administration Fee: non-refundable |
Late
Booking Fee |
$50
|
This
charge is only for those that register less than 1 week before their
intended Homestay arrival date. |
|
Airport
Pick-up
1
(Trudeau/Dorval
Airport) |
$75
|
Picked up at airport and dropped
off at Homestay! |
|
|
$15 |
Responsibility
of the student if paying by bank wire transfer.
|
Montréal
Number 1 Homestay is so popular that spaces can be limited; therefore you should
register as soon as possible. All
you have to do is fill out the Registration Form and send it addressed to
Montréal Number 1 Homestay.
You may either enclose an International
Money Order, or send a Wire
Transfer. Only when your registration fee and
registration form are received will you be placed with a Homestay. It is also very important to note that
fees must be paid prior to arriving in Montréal. It is that easy!
Once
you are already here, and you wish to extend your stay, it is very important
that you please let Montréal Number 1 Homestay know at least 4 weeks before your
scheduled departure. We love to
have students extend their stay with us, but we need to know ahead of time
because of the large demand for Homestay.
Don’t by shy; let us know what you are thinking!
This
part is easy. All you have to do is
choose one of our 2 options below, and attach, fax, email, or mail the
Registration Form to Montréal Number 1 Homestay. For you convenience, you are only
required to pay the full amount if you are staying 12 weeks or less. You will be billed in the
10th week for any remaining balance. Please note that should you not pay your
fees on time, you may lose your reservation.
Option
1: Wire
Transfers
This
is by far the easiest method of payment.
This can be done from most local banks in your country. Simply have the money wired to the
following coordinates: ROYAL BANK of CANADA, Place Portobello Branch, 7250
Taschereau Blvd, Brossard,
Québec, Canada, J4W 1M9;
Institution:
003;
Branch: 00541; Account #:
100-198-1
swift code:
ROYCCAT2;
Beneficiary:
Montréal
Number 1 Homestay.
Once
again, it is very important to remember to include the Bank
Transfer Fee,
the Registration
Fee,
the Airport Pick-Up
Fee,
and any other
fees.
Option
2:
International Money Order This
can be obtained at your local bank and should be made out to Montréal Number 1
Homestay. Please make sure that you
have added up the total amount, including
the
Homestay,
B&B,
or RR
fees with the Registration
Fee, any Bank
Transfer Fee, Airport Pick-Up
Fee, and/or any other
fees. Simply attach it to
the
Registration form and send it addressed to
Montréal Number 1 Homestay.
Still
have some questions, inquire by e-mail or simply call
Montréal Number 1 Homestay at 514-932-9027.
§
Registration fees are non-refundable.
§
For cancellations prior
to arrival: a full refund will be granted less 1 month, unless an official
document is issued proving refusal of visa or CAQ.
§
Once in Homestay, and you wish to leave early or cancel the remaining time, a
1-month written notice to Montréal Number 1 Homestay is required, and the
remaining balance will be refunded to you.
Staying
with Montréal Number 1 Homestay will be your first step in the right
direction!
If
you have a warm household and a private room, and you want to welcome an
international student into your home, simply fill out our
Host Family
Application Form and send it to Montréal Number 1 Homestay. We will call you to arrange a suitable
time to visit your home.
Want more information first? Go here!
For
further information, we would be more than happy to answer any questions or
comments that you may have. Simply
call us at 514-932-9027, or send an E-mail to Robert Laliberte,
Director of Programming.
Want
to know what the 5-day weather forecast is for Montréal? Check this out:
5-day
forecast for Montreal!
No
matter in which season you choose to arrive, there is plenty to do, and plenty
to see. Montréal summers are always
packed with events, festivals, water parks, hikes, swims, and roller-blading. Autumn leaves time for
site seeing. The mixture of
reds, yellows, oranges, and greens make great postcards, and even greater
memories. Enjoy the trek to the
north, the autumn celebrations, and the great food.
Winter
was simply created for Montréal.
Why not go skiing, snow shoeing, skating, ice fishing, or walk arm in arm
with a friend down the beautiful lighted street of McGill College? Or simply stay home in front of a warm
fire, with a cup of your favorite tea, and study or watch a movie. Alas, summer in Montréal. There just isn’t a better place to be in
the world! At last, spring is the
season that celebrates life.
Montréal comes alive with the outdoor cafés and beautiful flora and
fauna. Why not even take a trip to
Ottawa and see the beautiful Tulip
Festival?
Summer:
(June-August)
There
is so much to do in Montréal during the summer that you really have to plan
carefully when deciding what to bring.
With the sun high
in the sky until late evening, the romantic outdoor terraces; the crowds of
people walking by; and with the Fireworks
lighting up the sky, everyone is glad to be in Montréal. Spend the day roaming the beauty
of
Parc Jean-Drapeau. Stay long enough to experience the
Festival
International de Jazz de Montréal, the Just for Laughs
Festival, the Dragon Boat
Festival, the Nuits d’Afrique Festival of
African Culture, the Montréal
Fringe Festival, and the International Fireworks
Competition. You
might even have a great picnic while listening to the free bongo jam sessions
every Sunday on Mont-Royal. Why not
spend a day at LaRonde,
Montréal’s famous
amusement park? Remember that the days in Montréal are very
warm in the summer, as are the evenings, but there are days when the temperature
might be a little breezy.
Temperature:
20C to 33C (Hot and Humid)
Activities:
Swimming, sailing, baseball, basketball, tennis, bicycling,
white water rafting, water park, roller blading, canoeing, Beach!, nightclubs, picnics, and lots and lots of walking.
Items
to remember to bring:
Bathing suit,
sunglasses, running shoes, hat, sun-tan lotion, large beach towel, walking
shoes, sweater and pants for those cool evenings, plus the usual stuff.
Autumn: (September-November)
Fall
is my favorite time of year.
The colors are very beautiful, and the
temperature is cool, dry, and very comfortable. You have to make time to see the
International Festival of New Dance, or catch some great films at the Festival of New Cinema and
the World Film
Festival. You will spend
many days enjoying the terraces, the parks, and the autumn festivals. You have to try hiking, mountain biking,
or horse back riding.
Fit in time for traditional Apple
Picking in Québec! Just
before October ends, Montréal welcomes Halloween! Don’t miss it! Check out the scary Horror Fest! Autumn is a time to dress in layers,
because the days can begin cool, turn out hot, and finish very cool; perhaps you
can even enjoy sitting in front of a fireplace and tell ghost stories!
Temperature:
11C to 27C (Dry, Cool, and Warm!)
Activities:
Hiking, football, roller blading, bicycling, bird watching,
nightclubs,
picnics, apple picking, horseback riding, and still lots and lots of
walking!
Items
to remember to bring:
Warm jacket, warm
pants, sweaters, (hiking) boots, sunglasses and running
shoes, walking shoes, usual stuff.
Winter:
(December-March)
Be
prepared, be very very prepared.
Montréal’s winters are indeed the world’s most beautiful and certainly
very sunny, but you must be dressed for the cold weather.
It can get windy, therefore making it
very important to dress in layers.
You can enjoy the days skiing, snowboarding or tobogganing. Make time to skate at the Old Port and then take
a sleigh rides through Old Montréal;
see the beautiful Christmas lights that decorate the city. Catch Québec City’s Carnaval de
Québec, or play on the ice sculptures at
the Botanical
Gardens. Finish off
February with Montréal’s own Fête des Neiges (Winter
Festival). With all these festivals to enjoy outside, you
must be aware that there is much more to bring than you would in summer, spring,
and fall. And hey, if you don’t
bring this stuff with you, there are lots of inexpensive places you can buy warm
clothing; used or new, as long as you have it to keep you warm!
Temperature:
-15C to –5C (Wind can make it feel colder.)
Activities:
Skiing, skating, sledding, sleigh rides, outdoor festivals, nightclubs,
hockey, still more walking.
Items
to remember to bring:
Warm boots, very
warm coat, lots of pants, thick socks, scarf, gloves, hat,
sweaters, turtle necks, sunglasses, usual stuff.
Spring:
(April-May)
Montréal
celebrates life in the spring.
Everyone shakes off the winter and prepares for the warmer times and
enjoys a cup of fine Québec Maple Syrup at the Cabane à
Sucre.
You know it is spring when cyclists fly
past you and around the city during the Tour de L’Ile. There is the Vues D’Afrique, a festival
celebrating Afric
an and Caribbean culture. Ah, the Montréal
Chamber Music Festival and the
Montréal Symphony Orchestra are
always a treat to the music lover.
Watch out for the only Formula One race in North America; the Air Canada Grand Prix. A trip to Canada’s capital, Ottawa
to see the Tulip Festival is
always a favorite of Montréal Number 1 Homestay! Join our group and explore! You must also try to take a boat ride on
the St-Lawrence River
in the Bateau-Mouche! Maybe you prefer to read; well, don’t
miss the International
Literary Festival in April.
Remember, the weather is nice and mild; it can be rainy and cool, so
prepare for both types of weather. It is important here
to dress in layers, as the days can be very
sunny and warm and then very cool and cloudy. Rain is nice to see, from the inside, so prepare for that as
well. And don’t forget that when
the snow melts, it gets wet everywhere, so the bottom of your pants can get
dirty!
Temperature:
5C to 24C (It rains, it suns, it clouds, and it winds!)
Activities:
Walking, exploring, nightclubs, site seeing, bicycle riding, bird
watching, outdoor cafés, the Ottawa
Tulip Festival and still lots and lots of walking.
Items
to remember to bring:
Shoe-boots, warm
jacket, sweaters, sunglasses, walking shoes, gloves, umbrella, lots of pants,
running shoes.
When
you arrive to Montréal, you will probably begin noticing the many languages that
are spoken. The most common
languages heard in Montréal are English and French. For that reason, Montréal is the perfect
place to trialingualize Why
not learn both languages? Click
here to read a couple of words and phrases to start you off. Montréal Number 1 Homestay strongly
recommends that you purchase a travel phrase book and dictionary, the better
ones (in our opinion being those of Berlitz.)
Population: with more than
3.5 million inhabitants, greater Montréal is North America's 15th largest
metropolitan area and the second largest in Canada.
Area: approximately
193 sq. mi. (500 km2) on the Island of
Montréal and two smaller islands.
Elevation: 103 feet (32
meters) above sea level. Mount
Royal's elevation is 763 feet (233 meters) above sea level.
Time
Zone: Check out the
Map of Canada and it’s
Time Zones Here! Eastern
Standard Time (3 hours ahead of Vancouver, 5 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time,
14 hours behind Tokyo!)
High-Tech: The launch of
the Cité du Multimedia has brought new life. More than 80 businesses, both small
and large, have moved in, bringing with them 8,000 jobs. More than one million
square feet of property has been redeveloped. Check this out!
Cité du
Multimédia.
Bilingualism: Half of the
population speaks French and English fluently; making it one of the most
bilingual cities in the world, and nearly 20 percent of Montréal population has
a mother tongue other than English or French!
Silent and
Clean: Montréal's
Subway runs
on rubber tires, making for a smoother and quieter ride than other subway train
systems.
Montréal
Number 1 Homestay: Still the coolest Homestay in
Montréal!
What
Crime? The
crime rate has dropped considerably on the MUC territory over the past 10 years.
For a second consecutive year, crime was down by 5% compared with 1997 and by
28,6 % compared to 1991. Montréal
enjoys one of the lowest crime rates in the world for a metropolitan city. This fact making Montréal a very safe
and enjoyable city for the thousands of students who study here!
Ah, the
News: There are four
daily newspapers serving the Montréal region, three in French:
La Presse, Le Devoir and Le Journal de Montréal and one in
English:
The Gazette
-- one of the oldest newspapers in North America.
Travelers from all over
the world agree about one thing: Montréal is one of the most stimulating cities
in the world, simply oozing with culture.
It is a city of the senses that must be seen, heard, touched, tasted and
smelt. From its cobble-stoned lanes to looming glass and steel skyscrapers, the
city is the very essence of Old World French blended effortlessly with North
American innovation. Where else can you ski in the morning, sip café-au-lait in
an airy bistro for the afternoon, then go for Japanese Sushi before heading
to the Latin
Quarter for red wine and smoky blue-note jazz? 
There are simply lots to do in
Montréal! Did you ever think that
you could spend a whole day shopping underground? Check out why Montréal is called the
Underground
City.
Did
you know that you could find out exactly where you are going in Montréal by
simply typing in the location?
Check out this really
Amazing
Map of Montréal! From a
bird’s eye view, to a cross street, it is all there; perfect for the exploring
tourist!
Why not even take a trip to
Ottawa and see the beautiful Tulip
Festival?
Montréal Number 1 Homestay always takes a trip to see this most
extraordinary event! Why not even
go to New York for the weekend? The
cost is low, and can be arranged last minute. Who knows, you might see many of your
favorite Hollywood stars!
Little Hollywood! 
Speaking of celebrities, did you know that Montréal boasts
a huge filming industry?
Hollywood Actors are visiting the city all the time, including Ben
Affleck, Bruce Willis, John Auny, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Nicolas Cage, John Travolta,
Eddie Murphy, Angelina Jolie, Alec Baldwin, Denzel Washington and Paul Newman
all visit Montréal to film movies such as
The Day After Tomorrow, Time Line, Battle Field Earth, Sum of All Fears, The Bone Collector,
Snake Eyes and the Red Violin to name a few. When you come to Montréal, you are bound
to spot a few celebs! Whether it is baseball, football, hockey, soccer, horse
racing, or ballooning, Montréal has it all. It is really is an awesome place to
visit, live, and enjoy!
Old
Montréal: Early
inhabitants of the Montréal area lived in the Huron village of Hochelaga. Jacques
Cartier encountered the village in 1535. He became the first European to set
eyes on the area, which he later called Montréal, or Mount Royal, named after
the Mountain of
volcanic origin that rises 200 meters from the center of the island.
Jeanne Mance and Paul
Chomedey Sieur de Maisonneuve officially founded the city of Montréal in
1642. Strategically located on the
shores of the
St. Lawrence
Seaway, it soon established itself as a prosperous trade center. Montréal served as the point of entry
for explorers venturing into the interior of the "new" continent. This continued
even after the British captured the city from the French in 1760. The Americans
also occupied Montréal on two occasions -- once during the
American
Revolution for eight months, and then again during the War of 1812.
Modern
Montréal: Today,
Montréal is a large, cosmopolitan city with a
population of approximately 3.5 million people, two-thirds of which
are French-speaking. After Paris, Montréal is the second largest French-speaking
city in the world. The remaining population is a mixture of people with Irish,
Italian, Jewish, Korean, Latin America, Japanese, Eastern European, Chinese,
Vietnamese, Arabic, Haitian and Jamaican origin. Many visitors say Montréal is
much more than a city. There seems to be a whole way of living that is different
from other Canadian cities. Montréalers call it "joie de vivre" or "joy of life"
and it is just something they exude. The convergence in Montréal of cultures,
history, attitudes and languages makes for a vibrant, exciting, dynamic urban
atmosphere with the refinement and style of Europe.
A hip British magazine is
confirming Montréal's stylish, trendsetter reputation; something most Canadians
already know and admit. In its
January 2001 issue, Wallpaper magazine declared Montréal
one of the top 10 best cities in the world! The only other North
American city to make the list was Seattle. Montréal is our London, our Paris, and
our New York. And it is routinely recognized as such. Not just by us, but by the
world.
Whether
it's North American modernity or European chic you're after, Montréal has both.
As well as culture, nightlife and restaurants, Montréal has some remarkable
attractions. Below are just a handful of the many places and events you don't
want to miss. So, in celebration of our 'international big-league' city, here's
a quick guide to help you plan a visit to Montréal. Bonnes Vacances! What are you waiting for? Join the family at Montréal Number 1
Homestay! Register
now!
What
about all those awesome places that you should never miss? Also, find out about Montréal’s secret
spots!
Currency
The
unit of currency is the Canadian dollar. Coins are in denominations of 1,
5, 10 and 25 cents, and $1 (a large gold-colored coin) and $2 (a large
bimetallic coin). Bills in $5 (blue), $10 (purple) and $20 (green) are in common
circulation and you can get $50s (red) and $100s (brown) from banks, though not
from automatic teller machines (ATMs). Some stores are cautious about accepting
bills larger than $20 because of counterfeits.
Stores
in tourist zones are usually happy to accept U.S. currency and will often
post the exchange rate they are offering. Normally this will be a few percentage
points less than the bank rate. Major travelers' cheques are accepted in places
that accept credit cards, but are not universally accepted as cash.
VISA
and MasterCard
Most
stores and restaurants accept VISA and MasterCard and often accept American
Express. You usually get the most favorable exchange rate by using your credit
card. Most ATMs are networked to Cirrus and Interac and accept major credit
cards if you have a PIN number to enter into the machine.
Currency
Exchange Centers
There
are currency exchange centers throughout the downtown area (Check out
Ste-Catherine Street!). They either charge a fee or take a couple of percentage
points off the exchange rate for their services. Banks can usually handle U.S.
funds without any problem but may not be prepared to handle other currencies.
Bank branches are usually open from 10 a.m. till 3 p.m. during the week,
often with extended hours on Thursday or Friday, but it must be noted that all
Canadian banks have reduced the number of their branches in recent years and, in
some cases, reduced the hours of existing branches.
Taxes
Most
goods and services in Québec are subject to two taxes, a federal Goods and
Services Tax of 7% (GST, usually listed as TPS on receipts) and a provincial
sales tax of 7.5% (TVQ on receipts). Books are not provincially taxed, and most
groceries are not taxed at all unless something counts as ready-to-eat.
Non-residents
may reclaim the sales taxes
they have paid on some goods and services, so you're advised to keep your bills
and receipts. You can get copies of the necessary forms at customs, tourist
information centers, hotels and some department stores. For more information, check out how you can save
here.
Tipping
A
tip of 15% is customarily left for waiters and waitresses at the table,
calculated on the pre-tax total of your bill. It will not be calculated for you,
and you are free to leave more or less than this if circumstances warrant. In
bars, the tip is handed over immediately as you pay for each drink or round.
Taxi drivers also normally get a tip of 15%.
Store
Opening Hours
In
general, stores are open from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, from 9
a.m. till 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. Saturdays,
and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m..
There are exceptions: many large pharmacies, some grocery stores and some
bookstores stay open late all week, and some smaller boutiques may open their
doors later in the morning. If you are uncertain about a store's hours it is
wise to phone ahead.
Postal
services
Main
post offices are open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. There are
also numerous postal counters in convenience stores which may have other
schedules. Downtown post
offices: Downstairs from Guy-Metro Station: 1250 University (just south of Ste-Catherine): 3575
Avenue du Parc: 900 de la Gauchetière Street West: 1250 Ste-Catherine Street
Est.
Within Canada letters (up to 30 g) cost 51 cents. To the U.S., letters are 89 cents and
elsewhere 149 cents. There is no postcard rate - a postcard counts as a
letter. Other rates can be looked
up on the Canada Post
Website.
Internet
Montréal
has a range of Internet cafés and business centers with terminals - please consult our list.
Holidays
Legal
holidays in 2005:
January 1: New Year's Day
March 25: Good Friday March 27: Easter March 28: Easter Monday May 23: Victoria Day
June 24: St-Jean-Baptiste/Fête Nationale (Québec national day) July 1: Canada
Day (also, widely, moving day) September 5: Labor Day October 10: Thanksgiving
November 11: Veterans’ Day December 25: Christmas December 26: Boxing Day
(Shopping!)
Some
stores open on holidays, although Christmas is all but universally a closing
day. Boxing Day, Dec. 26, is commonly given as a holiday, as is January 2.
Easter Monday seems to be declining in importance. Government offices still
close on Remembrance Day, November 11, on which services honoring war veterans
are held in various parts of town and a minute of silence is traditionally
observed at 11 a.m.
Other
Holidays:
Montréalers
also observe Valentine's Day (February 14)
, Mother's Day (May 8), Father's Day (June 19) and Halloween (October 31), although these are not legal
holidays. Depending on their origins, Montréalers might also celebrate Jewish
holidays, the Asian lunar New Year, or various other national holidays.
Moving
Day and Vacation:
Montréal
has a long-standing tradition of ending residential leases on June 30. As a
result, July 1 is moving day for a significant percentage of tenants in the
city. The last two weeks of July are the construction holiday, and many other
unionized workers take these two weeks off as well.
Public
Transit
Montréal has an excellent public
transit system, the STCUM (Société des Transports de la Communauté Urbaine de
Montréal) consisting of a subway system (see map), 140 bus
routes (20 all-night routes), and two major commuter train lines. Telephone A-U-T-O-B-U-S for information
about getting around on the system or check the STCUM website. Maps and information about the
system are available in every Metro station.
The
metro lines shut down around 12:30 a.m., after which the system shifts over to
night bus lines until around 5:30 a.m.
A
monthly pass
giving full access to the system costs $63.00 CAN. You can also purchase a 1 week pass at
$18.50 or $11.50 for 6 tickets. One ticket costs $2.50 CAN. Bus drivers
do not make change and do not sell tickets, but all metro stations have ticket
booths and some convenience stores sell tickets and passes.
If
you're using tickets or paying in cash, it's important to get a transfer, which will
permit you to change from metro to bus or from bus to bus. You do not need a transfer to exit the
metro system as you do in London or Paris - it's only needed if you want to be
able to connect to a bus from the metro system.
People
who are not Montréal residents don't qualify for seniors' reductions or student
fares.
Tourist
centers
The
main tourist information center in Montréal is located near the corner of Peel
and Ste-Catherine at 1001, rue du square Dorchester (corner Metcalfe), metro
Peel, 514-873-2015. It is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the summer,
and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from September till June.
STUDY
ENGLISH IN MONTREAL! PLEASE CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION
Check
out these cool links!
§
Immigration Canada:
www.cic.gc.ca/
§
Foreign Students Guide:
www.studyincanada.com/english/index.asp
§
Want to see Montréal Live?
Go here:
http://www.montrealcam.com/
§
How about great Maps of Montréal? www.ville.Montreal.qc.ca/mtlcarte
§
Mexico/Canada/USA Virtual Museum: www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Landscapes/index.html
§
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