Welcome to your new city!
Bienvenue 脿 Montr茅al! By deciding to come to 看片视频, you鈥檒l not only be attending one of the best universities in the world, you'll also be living in one of its most amazing cities!
It's easy to fall in love with the city, but we know you're wondering about the basic about life in Montreal and at 看片视频. Here are some Montreal basics, with more information about life on campus below.
Language
French is the primary language used on signs, in public service establishments, and in businesses. In many regions of Montreal, English is widely spoken, and most information is available bilingually. You might want to download a translation app on your phone, especially if you plan to venture outside of downtown Montreal.
To help you integrate into Montreal鈥檚 bilingual culture, 看片视频 provides various French-language resources:
- 惭肠骋颈濒濒鈥檚 French Language Centre (FLC) offers French as a Second Language courses to registered students!
- Another fun way to learn French at 看片视频 is to take a , or
- a PGSS if you are a graduate student.
Montreal Winter
Montreal is one of the coldest cities in North America, where winter temperatures can reach -30 degrees Celsius (-22 degrees Fahrenheit) with wind chill. Snowfalls generally begin in November, and can occasionally last into April.
While you can move around areas of downtown via the , you will need warm winter clothing, including a winter coat, a knitted winter cap (called a tuque), winter gloves, and waterproof winter boots.
Getting Around
Public transit
The (STM) is Montr茅al鈥檚 m茅tro (subway) and bus operator. The network is well integrated, has tips on , and is easily navigable through the where you can plan your route and even .
For information on public transit in the greater Montr茅al area: , , .
The best option to save money on public transit is by buying a rechargeable STM OPUS card 鈥 and being a student makes these eco-travel options even more budget friendly with , designed with students in mind, to be the length of one semester.
Fares are charged by ride, not by distance, so if you are buying tickets, there is a for each journey. Tickets can be purchased from or at metro stations from station agents or from one of the STM vending machines. Purchase of tickets on buses (exact change required) can be done at the machine upon boarding. You must hold on to your ticket in order to .
Biking
Montr茅al has an ever expanding bike path network, making biking an affordable, eco-friendly and efficient way to get around the city. And if you are running low on energy 鈥 you can on the m茅tro and some buses. Maps and tools for biking can be found through , and
You can also use , a bike-sharing program from April 15 to November 15 with and available. To get a bike, simply pay for a or join up for a or , ride the bike to your desired destination and drop it off at the closest docking station found through .
All 看片视频 community members can benefit from a .听
Macdonald Campus offers self-serve bikes听that 看片视频 students can borrow for up to 4 hours at a time (available 7 days/week during the warmer months, for free!). Drop by the to check out a bike.
Taxi
Wearing a mask is required while in a taxi. If the public transit routes or schedules don't suit your needs, you can always hail a taxi on most major streets. Alternatively, give them a call and they'll pick you up. Major taxi services include:
DOWNTOWN | MAC CAMPUS |
---|---|
: 514-485-8585 | : 514-636-6666 |
: 514-273-6331 | Lachine Taxi: 514-637-7011 |
: 514-667-8960 | 听 |
Uber
Uber is also available in Montreal, and they offer pickup from the airport.
Grocery Stores
Most grocery stores now offer online grocery delivery services for under $10鈥攎ake sure you have a credit card on hand! A few grocery stores near our campuses offer special bargains for students:
3575 Parc Ave., Suite 5100 (in La Cit茅)
(10% discount for students on Mondays)
3421 Parc Ave.
(10% discount for students on Mondays)
Montreal neighborhoods are also filled with epiceries (smaller grocery stores), offering fresh produce and other staples. Produce is often cheaper and fresher at the epiceries, but prepared or dry goods may be more expensive than a major supermarket.
Macdonald Campus area:
33 Saint-Pierre St. (walking distance from campus)
90 Rue Morgan (Baie-D'Urf茅)
(10% discount for students on Mondays.听 For students living in residence, a free shuttle bus is available Monday evenings to take you there and back!)
听
For a list of affordable places to get groceries and other money-saving tips, check out the Cheap Sheet from Scholarships & Student Aid!
Service Providers
If you're looking for information about mobile, phone, or internet providers in your area, you can find a complete list of providers available in Montreal here.
Welcome to your new campus!
惭肠骋颈濒濒鈥檚 beautiful downtown and Macdonald campuses are full of historic buildings and expansive green spaces! Here are some tips to help you enjoy your time:
Campus Space
Downtown Campus
惭肠骋颈濒濒鈥檚 provides a symbolic and physical link from Montreal鈥檚 urban core to the green of Parc Mont-Royal! Some highlights include:
- The Y-intersection: This focal point is the symbolic centre of campus, allowing a great perspective on the campus and its surroundings.
- Lower Field: This is one of the largest green spaces in downtown Montreal, making it an ideal place to relax, hold activities or play a game of frisbee!
- Roddick Gates: These iconic gates mark the entrance to the campus from Sherbrooke St. and downtown.
- Milton Gates: The lesser known sister of the Roddick Gates, this entrance at the intersection of Milton Street and University Street leads right to a set of stairs taking you directly up to the Arts Building!
- McTavish Street: This street is a centre for student services and activities, housing the Service Point, the SSMU鈥檚 University Centre, and plenty of places to sit and enjoy the scenery.
Macdonald Campus
惭肠骋颈濒濒鈥檚 Macdonald Campus will enchant you with its abundance of green space (650 hectares!), a working farm, and a riverfront location in the picturesque village of Ste. Anne de Bellevue. You can easily get there by shuttle bus or . Our must-sees:
- McEwan and Watson Fields: Enjoy a picnic under the trees, a game of volleyball on the sand court, or relax in the gazebo.
- : Paddle out onto the waters of lac St Louis, or simply take in the spectacular views 鈥 just a short walk from your classroom! (closed for the summer 2024 season)
- Morgan Arboretum: Canada鈥檚 largest arboretum with an extensive trail network to enjoy all year long.
- Mac Farm: A fully operational dairy farm, right here on campus.
- Mac Market: The place to stock up on campus-grown fruits and vegetables.
Book a campus tour and check out our campus maps to learn your way around! You can also visit our downtown campus virtually, via or via an听.听
Land Acknowledgement: 看片视频 University is on land which has long served as a site of meeting and exchange amongst Indigenous peoples, including the Haudenosaunee and Anishinabeg nations. We acknowledge and thank the diverse Indigenous peoples whose presence marks this territory on which peoples of the world now gather.
Moving Around 看片视频
Accessibility
For information about accessible spaces and routes on campus, visit Student Accessibility & Achievement's Accessibility webpage.听
The 鈥淧edestrian Zone鈥?
The entire downtown Lower Campus, including McTavish Street, is a pedestrian zone. Before 11:00am, however, you鈥檙e bound to see some trucks making delivery, so stay alert!
Biking
Downtown Lower Campus as well as McTavish St. are Walk-Bike Zones, meaning cyclists must dismount and walk their bikes through campus or park their bikes at one of the racks provided.
In recent years, 看片视频 has doubled the number of short-term use bicycle rack spaces, encouraging the community to cycle to campus! Make sure to use these official racks, and please avoid securing bikes to trees or other University infrastructure.
Driving
Vehicular access and parking on the downtown campus is significantly restricted.
Vehicle circulation on the Lower Campus is limited to emergency, delivery, service, and certain construction vehicles, as well as those used by persons with disabilities or limited mobility. Emergency vehicles are permitted at all times.
The Milton entrance, located at the corner of Milton Street and University Street, is the main entrance for all authorized vehicles to enter campus. For information on where to park downtown, please contact Parking Services.
Macdonald campus, being outside of the city center, has multiple lots with more available spaces. Parking passes are available to students at an affordable annual rate, as well as daily passes. For more information, visit the Macdonald Campus Parking page.听
Shuttle
If you need to travel between the downtown and Macdonald campuses, 看片视频 offers a free shuttle bus that operates year-round.听
Lockers
You may want to consider getting a locker in your Faculty building, as you may find it handy to have a secure spot to leave your books, coat, boots, etc.听Lockers are available on both the Downtown and Macdonald campuses. Inquire with your Faculty or School student association for more information on locker locations and prices.听