The Montréal of a Montrealer
Currency
Entering Canada (passport and visa)
Getting to the Conference
Spoken and Official Languages
Official Carrier
Weather
Safety
Currency Exchange
Tax Refunds
Health and Personal Insurance
Gratuities
Units of Measure
Voltage


The Montréal of a Montrealer
Montréal in January, a city that still sizzles even though the wintry atmosphere might suggest otherwise.  You won’t need a huge winter wardrobe to enjoy many of the attractions available.  Downtown Montréal is designed to be explored in a unique way - what we call the underground city.  Miles of underground passages and subway connections link you to a diversified array of events and destinations.

From your hotel you can shop in a dozen shopping plazas, visit museums and galleries, attend concerts or NHL hockey games, wine and dine in an astounding choice of restaurants and bars, all without donning a winter coat and boots.  Montréal and dining out are almost synonymous.  On your restaurant excursions, you may choose from haute cuisine to exotic ethnic fare, but no trip to Montréal is complete without a sampling of smoked meat at Schwarz’s or Ben’s or bagels from the Saint-Viateur Bagel Factory.

For those wanting a little outdoor winter adventure the Montréal Botanical Gardens can be magical in its snowy covering.  Or play Zhivago and Lara in a horse drawn sled in the Old Port with its cobblestone streets and historic architecture.  Thrill to a toboggan ride and skating at Beaver Lake in wonderful Mount Royal Park designed by Olmstead, the landscaper of other urban gems such as Central Park in New York City.  Skating sounds like fun but the cold doesn’t – try the indoor rink at the Bell Amphitheater, a short underground walk away from the Queen Elizabeth (skates and lockers can be rented).

Whatever your interests, Montréal will offer you an experience unlike any other city in North America, and present it with a style and savoir faire that is part of its distinctly bilingual and multicultural context.

Geraldine Mickie, from the Bed & Breakfast The Grove on Coursol / Le Bosquet Coursol
geraldinemickie@sympatico.ca

Currency
Exchange rates for currencies such as the U.S. dollar and euro are generally quite favorable.
Click here for currency rates ($, ¤, ,¥, £),

Entering Canada (passport and visa)
For more information about entry requirements, please visit www.travelcanada.ca

Getting to the Conference
An international city, Montréal is easy to travel to from anywhere in the world, and the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth hotel is conveniently located for all modes of transportation.

Major airlines across the globe, fly to Montréal, which is only an hour and a half from New York, two hours from Chicago, and six hours from London.

Travelers from the American Northeast may want to consider traveling by train, bus, or car.

	Plane		Taxis ($34 CDN), limousines ($47.70 CDN). A shuttle (Aérobus — $12.50 one-way) service operates between Pierre-Elliott Trudeau International Airport and the major downtown hotels, including Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth. www.admtl.com
	Train		The hotel hosting the conference as part of the same complex as Montréal’s Central Station (trains from Québec City, Ottawa, Toronto, New York and Washington).
	Bus		Montréal’s downtown bus terminal is connected to Berri-UQAM subway station, a few stops away from the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth at the Bonaventure station.
	Car		In Québec, speed limits are indicated in kilometers (100 km/h equals about 62 mpg). Gas is sold by the liter (3-liters equals one U.S. gallon).

Spoken and Official Languages
French is the main language spoken in Montréal, although it is common for people to answer English speakers in their own language. Montréal’s cultural fabric makes it a place where the main European and Asian languages can also be heard.

Official Carrier
Air Canada has been designated as the official carrier for cPMP 2005. Special rates are available for delegates and may be obtained by calling the convention services of the compagny. Please mention cPMP 2005 code number CV053586: Air Canada (code CV053586): from inside Canada, call 1 800 361-7585. From outside Canada, call your travel agent.

Weather
Although the hotel complex and downtown underground network protects visitors from inclement weather, winter is an unmistakable presence in Montréal in January. The average temperature varies between between –20° Celsius( –4°F) at night and 0° Celsius (32 F) during the day.

Snow and cold weather are an integral part of winter, but the fresh air and crystal clear light reflecting off the snow are magical. A good number of Québec painters have captured the sparkling beauty of Québec winters. The climate is generally dry and not as uncomfortable as that in many regions of Europe and the Eastern United States. And nothing is more energizing than awalk in the brisk air before a cup of coffee, a glass of mulled wine, or a whiskey (without ice).

The secret to fully appreciating Montréal winters is simple—dress warmly. Be sure to bring your coat, boots, hats, scarves, and gloves. Better still, buy your winter clothing and accessories here! You won’t find a better selection anywhere else: Montrealers have become masters in the art of dressing both warmly and elegantly.

Weather information :
Weather forecasts — Environment Canada
Weather in the media

Safety
Montréal has been spared the unfortunate incidents of recent years. It is a big North American city that is clean, safe, and beautiful. Montrealers have built social harmony through their open and tolerant culture, the result of 400 years of settlement by immigrants from France and England, and all over Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Africa. As in all big cities, caution is nonetheless recommended to avoid being the victim of petty crime.




Currency Exchange
Legal tender here is the Canadian dollar, which divides into 100 cents. Bills come in the following denominations: 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars. The coins in use come in the following denominations: 1, 5, 10, 25 cents, as well as one and two dollars. Canadian and American dollars are not at par. American currency is accepted in most establishments at a variable exchange rate.

To avoid problems, it is recommended that visitors obtain Canadian currency at the official exchange rate at a bank or travel agency on arrival. You may consult the following Website to obtain the current exchange rate.

Tax Refunds
The 7% Federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) and 7.5% Québec Sales Tax (QST) are added to all purchases. Non-residents may claim a GST refund. Tax reimbursement forms from Canada Customs will be available upon arrival at the registration desk. For more information, visit the Visitor Rebate Program Web page on the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency Website at http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/menu-f.html.

Health and Personal Insurance
The conference organizers cannot accept liability for injuries or losses arising from accidents or other situations during or as a consequence of the conference. Access to Canada’s health care services are very costly for non-residents, so attendees are advised to arrange health and accident insurance prior to traveling to the conference. Lost luggage or travel disruption insurance is also recommended.

Gratuities
In Canada, gratuities are not included in restaurant bills, but are left to the discretion of the customer. It is customary to leave a gratuity of 15% of the total cost before taxes are added to the bill. This same policy applies to taxi fares. Porters expect $1 CDN per suitcase.

Units of Measure
Canada uses the metric system.

Voltage
Electricity in Canada, as in the rest of North America, is 110-volt direct or alternating current. All non-North American appliances require an adapter for both the current and the plug.