Montreal
Colourful
and eclectic, Montreal is a city of contrasts. Founded in 1642 by
French settlers, Montreal is one of the largest and oldest cities in
Canada. Among its many permanent attractions are Old Montreal and the
Old Port as well as the underground city (a vast underground network of
offices and boutiques hidden below the streets, sidewalks and buildings
downtown), the Biodôme and the Casino de Montréal. Montreal also boasts
museums of renown and historical churches, as well as many cycling
paths and green spaces.
Festivals
and international events are a major part of summer activities in the
city. With over 11 million tourists every year and almost 150,000
students enrolled in its four universities, Montreal offers an
exciting, safe and accessible location for visitors and residents
alike. For more information, visit Tourism Montréal:
Québec
The
largest of the Canadian provinces, Québec offers an impressive
selection of national and provincial parks showcasing its vast natural
heritage. Additionally, Québec is rich in history, from its beginnings
as New France during times of European colonization. The walled
old town of Quebec City, the provincial capital, is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. The official language is French; English is also
commonly heard in Montreal and the surrounding regions.
For more information on visiting the province of Québec, see >
Traveling to Montreal
By Air:
All
international and domestic flights arrive at Montreal at Pierre Elliott
Trudeau International Airport (airport code: YUL; formerly Dorval
Airport), situated 25 minutes from the city centre. The airport offers
a shuttle service to downtown ($14 CAD). Taxis to downtown are also
readily available at a fixed rate of $35 CAD + tip.
By Train/Bus:
Montréal's
Central Train Station (Gare centrale), with connections from New York
and Washington, is also a major stop for domestic trains from eastern
or western Canada. The downtown station is located in the heart of the
city, with easy access to hotels and the Palais des Congrès/Convention
Centre. For information on schedules and fares for travellers from the
United States, visit Amtrak. If travelling from other Canadian cities, consult schedules at ViaRail.
Bus travellers arrive right downtown at the Montreal Bus Central
Station which is also connected to the metro/subway (Berri-UQAM
station).
By Car:
Road
access to Montreal is clearly indicated on signs from all directions.
The New York State Thruway (I-87) becomes Route 15, and U.S. I-89
becomes two-lane Route 133, which joins Highway 10 to Montréal. From
I-91 in Massachusetts, highways 55 and 10 lead to Montréal. Visitors
coming to Montreal from eastern or western Canada use highways 20 and
40. Québec speed limits are in kilometres (100 kmh equals approximately
62 mph). Gasoline is sold in litres (3 3/4 litres equals 1 U.S. gallon).
Travellers with Special Needs
Do you have special travel needs? Kéroul offers information for travel in Montreal and the province of Québec, including:
- Accessible restaurants, bars and clubs
- Accessible activities and travel itineraries
- Accessible hotels
- Accessible transportation
- Cultural travel Links for travel in the rest of Canada and other countries
Customs and Immigration for International and US Flights
Passengers
arriving on flights originating outside of Canada must clear Canadian
Inspection Services. On the aircraft, the flight crew will distribute
the Travellers' Customs Declaration Card. Complete it before passing
through customs. After leaving the plane, follow the crowd into the
Customs Hall. All visitors will need a passport. (See also Visas
below.)
Visas
All
participants must have a valid passport and/or an appropriate travel
document to enter Canada. Some participants may also require a visa.
Visas are the responsibility of individual delegates, and must be
obtained before coming to arrival in Canada.
If you are travelling through the USA, you may also require an American
visa. Please verify with your travel agent. If you require a visa, it
is strongly recommended that, you apply at least two months in advance
to ensure you receive your visa in time for travel. To obtain a visa
application form, visit the nearest Canadian Embassy, High Commission
or Consulate or get the application form online from Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
As of August 2007, citizens of the following countries and specific
regions do NOT need a visa for travel to or transit in Canada:
Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados,
Belgium, Botswana, Brunei, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Holy See, Iceland, Ireland, Israel (National Passport
holders only), Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico,
Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea,
Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint
Vincent, San Marino, Singapore, Solomon Islands,
Spain, Swaziland,
Sweden, Slovenia, Switzerland, Thailand , United Kingdom (including British
Overseas citizens), United States (including permanent residents in
possession of their alien registration card or other official
documentation) and Western Samoa
For more information on what is needed to come to Canada, visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada. General information for visitors to Canada who are participating in an international event is also available from the Canada Border Services Agency.
Letters of Invitation
Visas
are the responsibility of individual participants, including all
contact with Canadian visa offices, application forms and any fees to
be paid. To support your visa application to Canada, the Conference is
happy to supply a letter of invitation. You must request this letter
from the Conference Secretariat – JPdL. If a letter is required for
your visa application (see also Visas above), please note that only
original letters are accepted by Canadian embassies. The Conference has
informed Citizenship and Immigration Canada of the 13th Biennial
Conference of the International Society for Augmentative and
Alternative Communication and the expected international participation.
The Conference does not have the authority to act on behalf on
individuals in obtaining visas.
Health Costs
Canada
does not pay for hospital or medical services for visitors. Make sure
you have health tips about insurance to pay for any medical costs you may incur in
Canada. |
