当决定在蒙特利尔学习时，选择家居计划是你要作的第一个决定。
首先，你必须认识到参与蒙特利尔éalNo.1家居计划不会仅仅帮助你省钱，并且你将享受到加拿大人的热情好客，一间舒适的私人房间、品尝加拿大的家常烹饪，并且可以以经济的方式处理所遇到的每一件事!
你的东道主家庭意愿供应你同一可靠的和舒适的环境，帮助你迁入，饲料你，和照顾你．
此外、你将感觉到可靠、总是有方便的公共交通，并且最重要地、是以极其正直和尊敬态度对待。
和你知道吗 ? 下面详细介绍。WANT TO STUDY ENGLISH or FRENCH IN MONTREAL? WE CAN HELP YOU! CONTACT US FOR INFORMATION!
蒙特利尔
No.1家居计划设立这个站点的目的是：享受到蒙特利尔 No.1家居计划的服务，并且提供了一个解蒙特利尔市，帮助你生活、学习、参观和游玩的方式!
当决定在蒙特利尔学习时，选择家居计划是你要作的第一个决定。
首先，你必须认识到参与蒙特利尔éalNo.1家居计划不会仅仅帮助你省钱，并且你将享受到加拿大人的热情好客，一间舒适的私人房间、品尝加拿大的家常烹饪，并且可以以经济的方式处理所遇到的每一件事!
你的东道主家庭意愿供应你同一可靠的和舒适的环境，帮助你迁入，饲料你，和照顾你．
此外、你将感觉到可靠、总是有方便的公共交通，并且最重要地、是以极其正直和尊敬态度对待。
和你知道吗 ? 下面详细介绍。
蒙特利尔
No.1家居计划提供一些特殊的服务。 没有一旦不同语言版本有不符之处，以英文版为准。
蒙特利尔
No.1家居计划十分高兴可以提供解决你所遇到问题的所需的资料。
无论是关于取得健康保险、长途电话、，还是银行开户，或者是如何使用公交系统，蒙特利尔
No.1家居计划始终会给你帮助。
当驾临蒙特利尔时，等待你的将是一个充满大量实用信息包裹，包括一封欢迎信件、地图、学生优惠卷，，有效的交通票据，提供昼夜服务的电话号码，和许多其他的信息资料，所有这些都没有额外费用!
你也将收到你的个人的顾问的电话问候以保证你得到妥善的安排。
你甚至可以要求机场接送然后直接地退出你的家居计划!
如此众多人们选择在蒙特利尔学习的原因有很多。 这不仅仅因为蒙特利尔是世界上最安全的城市之一，而且它是现代与古老的结合，并且可以在世界上顶尖大学接受教育。 如果你仍然不能决定是否应当在加拿大接受教育，这里有非常有用的信息等着你。
当学生们在加拿大求学时，经常不了解具体怎么去做。
蒙特利尔 No.1家居计划就是解决这些问题的。 如果你不是加拿大公民或永久居民，而又希望在这里停留、学习，那你必须获得Québec Certificate of Acceptance( CAQ)和学生身份。短期的学习仅仅需要访问签证。 想要知道如何获得一个学生签证吗？ 在这里。 如果你要和加拿大大使馆联系，在这里! 如果你在蒙特利尔想知道和处可以办理这些事物，在这里查找！
每年，世界各处的学生把美丽的和国际化的蒙特利尔市当做他们研究和居住的第一选择。 为什么？ 好，这是很简单的理由。 蒙特利尔是加拿大的第二大城市，有人口的350万，和80个以上的种族。 
可以自豪地的说，它有加拿大最好的夜生活，大量的世界各种风味的餐厅提供众多的选择，有全年的活动，节日，并且可以到众多的博物馆，文化中心，历史建筑，教堂和市场游玩、参观。
我们怎能忘记购物!购物!购物!
蒙特利尔有庞大的地下城（30公里!），大部分的大型购物中心和地铁车站市中心区与之相互连接。 记住:你应当继续游览St-Catherine，St-Denis和St-Laurent这些繁华的街区！ 在中国城或意大利区中散步。 另外这里还有一个由法国人在1632创建的"老蒙特利尔"。 美丽的公园和运动设施可以提供全年的服务。蒙特利尔也有全世界的知名的实力雄厚的，十分规范的顶尖大学。 你可以赶上每年的职业曲棍球，足球，棒球或橄榄球比赛，看歌剧，电影或是在魁北克的丘陵上滑雪；这些是最重要的!
而易见，你可以四处游玩，蒙特利尔有安全的，方便的，低成本，并且非常迅速的公共交通系统。 不管是火车，地铁，还是公共汽车，都可以把你送到你想去的地方! 还有什么地方你可以游玩于一个现代化城市而在几小时后又访问乡村。 更值得一说的是距离渥太华，多伦多和纽约市只有几个小时的车程! 这里有许多原因造就蒙特利尔的学生比率在北美排第二! 想知道更多吗？请留意我们的服务；会让你在蒙特利尔感到温暖 !
没有!公寓在蒙特利尔是很昂贵的，即使你与其他人共享! 单独的房租可能超过$1000，并且不包括电费，电话，电视，因特网，洗衣和食物。 同时，通常要支付3个月押金! 那家具、打扫、整修、装饰的费用呢？ 更不用说为了得到一套公寓，你通常不得不承担至少一年的签名责任! 让我们比较∶
在那些学生们到达蒙特利尔以前家居计划是适应这个地方的最佳选择。
与其他的家居计划代理机构相比，蒙特利尔
No.1的独特之处是我们的
参加者将亲自参与家庭成员的选择。
为了保证这些新家庭的安全、可靠、清洁及方便，蒙特利尔
No.1家居计划建立了一套严格的审核办法。
这些传统的加拿大家庭十分清楚一个学生需要什么帮助。仅仅当所有条件都达到蒙特利尔
No.1家居计划相应部门的一致同意后，才能成为一个东道主家庭。
蒙特利尔 No.1家居计划是那些努力使同住人们的兴趣能尽量的保持一致的中介机构之一。 因此，参与的双方要填写必须的表格对各自进行详细的描述。 这个方法已经获得了极大的成功。 事实上，当这些学生重游蒙特利尔时，通常希望能够回到相同的东道主家庭! 现在注册吧!
抵达之前,一定要铭记在你和东道主之间是有着文化背景的差异。
大多数的加拿大人在白天外出工作。 加拿大的家庭经常互相协助，包括保持清洁、做饭和处理自己用过的东西。
每一个参与家居计划的家庭都将给你一种在家的感觉，我们希望你也能尽力去做相同的努力。
家居计划:
这是我们的最受欢迎的计划。
它包括一天三餐。
早餐可能包括鸡蛋、面包、麦片、咖啡和果汁；午餐包括三明治、水果、果汁和一顿丰盛的晚餐。
请记住这些家庭是友好的，他们始终愿意接纳这些学生。
在这些家庭里你会感到自由自在！
这个计划还包括参与这个家庭的社交活动。
不要忘记你的个人的顾问和活动计划!现在注册吧!
住宿和早餐计划∶ 早餐可能包括鸡蛋、面包、麦片、咖啡和果汁；午餐包括三明治、水果、果汁和一顿丰盛的晚餐。 这个计划还包括参与这个家庭的社交活动。 你甚至可以要求大居住在市中心!
住宿出租计划∶
这只是安排一个个人用房间。
它不是一个家居计划。
屋主将不会为你做任何事情，并且会限制你去厨房或更多地方。
这仅仅是针对那些独立性非常强的人。
我们的每个家居计划都意愿给你提供一把房间钥匙和一很清洁的个人房间及下列内容∶
＊你有一个独立的私人空间。
＊清洁的被褥。
＊碗柜。
＊学习的空间。
＊衣橱。
＊良好的照明。
家居计划也意愿帮住安置你的手提箱或其他随身行李。
如果那家庭拥有洗衣设备，你可以使用，无须额外费用。
你可以使用电话，除非你滥用了这个权利。 如果可以上网，你同样可以使用。
所有代理机构只有蒙特利尔
No.1家居计划提供私人顾问服务，他们都曾是
Concordia和
McGill大学的学生!
Robert Laliberte,蒙特利尔
家居计划的设计者，将一天24小时、一周7天通过电话为你服务。
这项服务将让每个学生感到这个城市的好客。
我们十分乐于为你服务，这不仅仅是可以给每个学生一个安全舒适的环境，同样我们感到有义务、有责任让每个学生熟悉蒙特利尔的环境、其他的人，并且在遇到任何问题时有所依靠。
蒙特利尔
No.1家居计划的办公地点靠近蒙特利尔的大学.
当驾临蒙特利尔时，等待你的将是一个充满大量实用信息的包裹，包括一封欢迎信件、地图、学生优惠卷，蒙特利尔No.1家居计划活动一览表，蒙特利尔No.1家居计划简讯，有效的交通票据，提供昼夜服务的电话号码，和许多其他的信息资料!
你也将收到你的个人的顾问的电话问候以保证你得到妥善的安排。
你甚至可以要求直接地退出你的家居计划!
个月，将安排不同的活动来满足大家的需要和兴趣。 通过参观博物馆、画廊、看电影、聚餐、滑雪等活动，了解加拿大，并且我们将会安排一些短途旅游如渥太华、魁北克! 我们将不断提出新的活动方式供你选择!
你会感到蒙特利尔是非常美好，蒙特利尔的人、历史、商业区和它的税收政策、移民政策，及所有和家居计划相关的一切。 想要和Robert建立联系吗？
E-mail! 想知道更多吗？行动吧。
我们之知道由于长时间的旅居国外所产生的忧虑.
这是由于你远离了你的朋友,你的家庭和父母亲的照顾,并且经常随着距离的渐远,我们的情感的越发的思念.
为此，蒙特利尔No.1家居计划认为我们必须建立一个温馨的环境；和我们支持照顾,给予你以力量和信心,
她的名字叫做June Wright. 更多的相关内容．
每个月，我们会寄出令你兴奋的活动计划、大量的信息资料及一份蒙特利尔
No.1家居计划简讯! 记住，所有这些是!免费的
（June 1，2006生效）
（７日-３餐/日，个人房间，筹办活动，社交活动，咨询服务，和更多。）
加元
1 星期 $210
4 星期 $840
3 月 $2520
（７日-2餐/日，个人房间，筹办活动，社交活动，咨询服务，和更多。）
加元
1
星期
$190
4 星期 $760
3 月 $2280
（７夜-早餐餐/日，个人房间，筹办活动，社交活动，咨询服务，和更多。）
1 星期 $150
3 月 $1800
（个人用房间-没有活动，没有咨询服务，没有家庭社交。）
1 月 $525
3 月 $1575
机场接送这是蒙特利尔
No.1家居计划提供的特殊服务。
我们将一天24小时，一周7天为你提供服务。
Trudeau-Dorval机场有出租车和公共汽车直达市中心，但不能直接送你到住处。
我们始终建议你接受我们的服务。 从
Trudeau-Dorval机场到蒙特利尔每个人收费75CAN 可以通过机场广播找到我!
请注意你应提前48小时通知我们，无论出现任何变化。
机场接送的费用是不可返还的。 无论出现任何变化，你必须拨打电话514-
924- 1761通知我们。
注册费
|
$1 |
(安置和管理费: 不可返还) |
加急费
|
$50 |
这是由于那些不能在一星期前提出申请而支付的额外费用. |
|
(Trudeau-Dorval 机场) |
$75 |
更多的信息. |
银行交易手续费
|
$15 |
|
蒙特利尔
No.1家居计划是如此受到欢迎的，因此你需要尽快注册。
你所做的仅仅是完成注册表后寄给我们。 你可以使用Money
Order或是Wire Transfer。
只有当收到注册表和注册费，家居计划才会开始实施。
这些必须在你抵达蒙特利尔之前完成。 很简单!
如果你已经在这儿，希望继续留在这里，你应当计划到期前3个星期通知我们。 非常高兴你继续和我们在一起，但由于有大量的申请者我们必需提前得到通知。 不用害怕；告诉我们你在想什么!
很容易。
你可以选择两种下面的方法，或者传真、email、邮寄。
为了使你方便，如果你停留少于12个星期，希望你能一次付款。
并且你应当在第十个星期支付余额。 请注意如果你不能及时支付你的费用，你将失去预约。
方式
1: Wire Transfers,是一个很方便的办法。 你可以在当地的银行办理。
帐号是：ROYAL
BANK of CANADA，Place
Portobello Branch，7250
Taschereau Blvd，Brossard，Québec，Canada，
J4W- 1M9∶
Institution∶
003；
Branch: 00541．Account#:
100-198-1；
（如果是美圆∶swift code:
ROYCCAT2
;
收款人∶
Montréal
Number 1 Homestay.
方式
2：在当地银行办理Money Order寄到蒙特利尔
No.1家居计划。 费用包括注册费、机场接送费、银行手续费及其他可能发生的费用
附上注册表。
§注册费是不可返还的。
§在到达之前取消注册：将扣除一个星期的费用及任何与此相关的银行手续费。
§一旦家居计划开始执行，应当提前一个月书面通知蒙特利尔 No.1家居计划，并且剩余的已付费用将被退还。
选择蒙特利尔
No.1家居计划将会成为你在这里的第一步
一旦不同语言版本有不符之处，以英文版为准。
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.
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!
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:
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:
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!
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
§ Trendy Montréal site: http://www.moremontreal.com/
§
Montréal’s Popular English Newspaper: http://www.montrealgazette.com/
§ Montréal’s Popular French Newspaper: www.lapresse.ca
§ Infotouriste Canada: www.infotouriste.ca/
§ Info Nightlife Montreal: www.infonightlife.ca/
§ Info Nightclub Montreal: www.infonightclub.ca/
§ Want to Learn more about Montréal? http://www.tourisme-montreal.org
§ Canada: Business: Employment: Consumer: http://strategis.ic.gc.ca
WANT TO STUDY ENGLISH or FRENCH IN MONTREAL? CONTACT US FOR ADVICE!
Return to top of page Return to Main Page
Montréal Number 1 Homestay
1242 Mackay, Suite 200
Montréal, Québec
Canada H3G 2H4
Tel: 514-932-9027 Fax: 514-932-9060
Email: info@montrealnumber1homestay.com
www.montrealnumber1homestay.com
In
case of discordance between the different language pages, the English page will
prevail.
This site is
managed by Robert I.
Roy-Laliberte
Page last revised 2006-05-16
Questions
or comments concerning this website? Please contact webmaster@MontrealNumber1Homestay.com
All
contents of this site are copyright©2001-2007 Montréal Number 1 Homestay
Support
a Clean Environment and a Healthy Canada!
