Montréal
Colourful and eclectic, Montréal is a city of contrasts. Founded in 1642 by French settlers, Montréal is one of the largest and oldest cities in Canada. Among its many permanent attractions are Old Montréal 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. Montréal 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, Montréal 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 Montréal and the surrounding regions.
For more information on visiting the province of Québec, see >
Travelling to Montréal
By Air:
All international and domestic flights arrive at Montréal 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 Montréal Bus Central Station which is also connected to the metro/subway (Berri-UQAM station).
By Car:
Road access to Montréal 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 Montréal 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 Montréal and the province of Québec, including:
- Accessible restaurants, bars and clubs
- Accessible activities and travel itineraries
- Accessible hotels
- Accessible transportation
- 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, 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 insurance to pay for any medical costs you may incur in Canada.
Transportation in Montréal
The City of Montréal offers an extensive public transit system, including metro (subway) and buses. Single fare is $2.75 CAD. To see schedules and fare options, visit the STM – Société de transport de Montréal http://www.stm.info/index.htm. Taxis are plentiful and can be hailed from the street or at the airport, train and bus stations. Fares begin at $3.75 CAD. The fixed rate for taxis between Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport and downtown is $35 plus tip.
For accessible transport options, see below.
Accessible Transportation
The City of Montréal offers the following accessible transportation services, from the airport and in the city. When making arrangements, please ensure you inform them if you are travelling with an attendant or accompanying person:
FROM THE AIRPORT
Public Transit: The Montréal Transit Corporation (STM – Société de transport de Montréal) provides customized accessible shuttle service. Advance reservation is required. All information on procedures is available at: http://www.stm.info/English/t-adapte/a-index.htm. To reserve your ride, send an email to: transport.adapte@stm.info. The cost is $2.75 CAD per person per transfer. Be sure to mention that you are asking for a transfer from the airport and that you have an accompanying person, if this is the case.
- By phone: Call 3-7 days in advance to reserve your ride.
- By email: You may reserve a few months in advance.
Procedures are given on the website, but below are the steps that will be followed once you contact them:
- They will open a client file.
- They will provide you with a file number for all future communications with Customer Service.
- They will plan your first trip, if necessary, from your arrival point (airport, train or bus station) to your temporary residence (home, hotel).
- They will make arrangements, if needed, to mail you a copy of the User's Guide, which details the procedure for reservations and all related regulations.
Service Hours:
- Monday-Thursday: 06:30 – 00:30. Last drop-off is at 00:30.
- Friday: 06:30 – 01:30
- Saturday: 08:00 – 01:30
- Sunday: 08:00 – 00:30
Call Centre Hours (Tel: +1 514-280-8211): Monday-Friday: 06:00 – 21:30, Saturday & Sunday: 07:00 – 21:30
Adapted Taxis (upon availability): You may request an accessible taxi once you arrive at the airport, either from the taxi dispatcher or by calling directly 514-633-3019 to have more information. The flat rate is $35 CAD, tip not included, to go downtown. We do not suggest this option for late arrivals because very few accessible taxis are available at night.
IN THE CITY
Public Transit: In addition to the accessible shuttle service detailed above, the Montréal Transit Commission (STM – Société de transport de Montréal) also offers a limited number of low-floor buses on a large selection of city bus routes. See the STM website for a list of all applicable routes, schedules and information on procedures: http://www.stm.info/English/bus/a-usager-aps.htm. The price for a one-way ride is $2.75 CAD per person. Advance payment and exact change are required. (Different fares may apply depending of your transportation plans, including tourist passes, ticket strips, etc. See: http://www.stm.info/English/a-somm.htm.)
Adapted Taxis: The companies below offer their services 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, with just one hour’s notice. (NOTE: All transfers in the city only, not from the airport.)
- Taxi Para-Adapté: Tel.: 514-821-3355
- Taxi Rosemont: Tel: 514-255-2815
- Taxi Expert: Tel: 514-374-7171
- Taxi Excellence: Tel: 514-322-0909
- Taxi Diamond: Tel: 514-273-6331
Also:
- Taxi Van Medic: Tel: 514-739-9933 or 514-779-7767, Fax: 514-344-8073, Email: info@taxivanmedic.com. Call service: 06:00 – midnight. Reservation preferred by fax.
- Taxi Boisjoly: Tel.: 514-255-2815, Fax: 514-255-8687. Taxi service and call centre open: 06:00 – midnight. Call the day before to reserve your ride. If you fax your reservation, call before you send to make sure they receive it.
Languages
French is the official language of the Province of Québec. English is spoken among a significant minority of the population in and around Montréal, and can commonly be heard downtown and in most locations greeting visitors, including airports, hotels, tourist attractions, shops and restaurants.
Currency and Banking Facilities
Canadian currency is the dollar, which is divided into 100 cents. There are 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 1,000-dollar bills. One and two dollar bills have been replaced by coins often referred to as “loonies” (the bird on the $1 coin is a loon) and “toonies”, respectively. There is a foreign exchange booth at Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, at the Central Station and throughout the downtown core. Banks and automatic teller machines (ATM) can be found throughout the city.
Rental and Repair of Orthopedic Equipment
L’Institut de Réadaptation de Montréal
6300 Darlington, Montréal
Tel: +1 514-340-2085
treeves@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
www.irm.qc.ca
Maison Andre-Viger
6700 St-Denis Street, Montréal
Tel: +1 514-274-7560
Toll Free: 1-800-363-6703
www.andreviger.qc.ca
Medicus
5050 St-Laurent, Montréal
Tel: +1 514-275-3691
www.medicus.ca
Orthosport
4051 Ste-Catherine West, Westmount
Tel: +1 514-939-1702
www.a-orthosport.com
Pharmacie Brunet
Toll Free (North America only): +1-800-667-3296
www.brunet.ca
Groupe Jean-Coutu
Tel: +1 450-646-9760
www.jeancoutu.com
Montreal Map
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