Emigrating to Montreal
Montreal, known as the City of Festivals, is a unique spot in North America. It blends new world urbanity with European-style romantic charm and a Gallic sense of joie de vivre (joy to live), evident in the city's many pavement cafés and its dynamic nightlife. If you move to Montreal, one of the first ways you might like to get to know the city is by taking a ride in a horse-drawn calèche along the cobbled streets of Old Montreal near the St. Lawrence River around Mount Royal, the city's most famous landmark.
All year and every year, Montreal hosts over 40 festivals ranging from the traditional to the wildly avant-garde. Jazz, laughter, food and snow are just four of the many reasons residents take to the streets, theatres and clubs and party for weeks on end.
French and English are both recognised as official languages in Canada, but there are 53 other native languages spoken by visitors and residents in Montreal. If you make any effort to communicate in French, whether you are successful or not, your efforts will be appreciated.
Most of Canada has four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. The temperature is measured in degrees Celsius (C). Spring is generally cold but sunny. In summer the temperature often soars above 30oC during the July heat waves, though the average temperature is 26oC. Autumn is arguably Montreal's loveliest season; it is very colourful, with an average temperature of 13oC in October. Montreal is reputed for its cold, snowy winters with annual snowfall averaging 200 cm (78.7 inches). In January, the mercury hovers around -10oC or even lower! But don't worry; there is a vast network of underground pedestrian passages ensuring you aren’t exposed too much if you are sensitive to the cold.
Living in the City
The Greater Montreal area has always been a haven for people renting apartments, since it offers a wide range of prices and architectural styles. Housing prices are quite affordable in Montreal compared to other major Canadian cities and it's easier to find housing in Montreal than in Toronto, Calgary or Vancouver. On the island of Montreal, the most popular areas include:
- City Centre - mostly comprised of apartments ranging from inexpensive to luxurious.
- Old Montreal - mostly upmarket lofts in old historic buildings, this is considered one of the most interesting parts of Montreal.
- Plateau Mont-Royal - apartments in a mostly French-speaking area of the city, within walking distance of plenty of nice restaurants and cafés.
- Westmount - multi-storey houses which tend to be expensive.
- Ahuntsic - a nice family area with houses and compounds. Close to parks, schools etc.
- West Island (Dollard Des Ormeaux [DDO], Dorval, Pierrefonds and Lakeshore areas) – with many local amenities and services, these areas are suitable for families and feature many townhouses.
If you are interested in renting a particular property, you will be required to complete a preliminary application and a letter of employment indicating salary, status and length of employment. In addition, you may also be required to provide your Social Insurance Number for credit reference.
Getting around
While driving in Montreal is easy and handy, it is not your only option for getting around. Montreal has one of the finest public transport systems in Canada. Within the city you can travel by taxi, commuter train, metro (subway), bus, bicycle and on foot through the vast network of underground passageways.
If you pay cash to ride the STM, have the exact fare; drivers don't sell fares or give change. It's less expensive and more convenient to buy tickets or tokens than to pay cash for every trip. You can buy these at any subway station or a store displaying the Ticket Agent sign.
If you do choose to drive in Montreal, as a new resident with a valid driver's licence from another country you can drive for up to 60 days before you'll be required to get a Canadian licence. This can be obtained from the SAAQ (Provincial Government Ministry).