ICMPC 8, Evanston, IL, 2004. Photo courtesy of Scott Lipscomb.

DISCLAIMER: SMPC will not be responsible for theft or loss of personal property of conference participants. Keep your stuff with you at all times.

Without negating the above disclaimer, however, we will undertake to provide a SECURE LUGGAGE STORAGE AREA on FRIDAY AUG 3 MORNING from 8:30 - 12 noon. All luggage must be reclaimed at noon. Any items remaining past 12:15 p.m. will be taken to the Main Security Office of the Hall building in the ground floor lobby NE corner. If you won't have time to go back to your hotel before travelling, this service is for you. We will have a team of two volunteer workers keeping watch over the luggage storage area.

Important Info: As of Jan 8, 2007, all passengers including US and Canadian citizens are required to present a valid passport when travelling by air between Canada and the US. Additional information on Canada-US border regulations available from Canada Border Services Agency:

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca

Each person who registers for SMPC 2007 is responsible for having the proper, complete documentation and proof of citizenship which is needed in order to enter into Canada and to return home.

Travel:

By air: Flights to Montreal arrive in Pierre Elliott Trudeau airport (formerly Dorval airport), in the north-west sector of the city. Car rentals, taxis, limos, shuttle buses and city buses are all available. Information on the airport's website.

By train: Trains arrive in downtown Montreal at the Gare Centrale. Taxis are easily available. The Gare connects to metro stop Bonaventure and to Montreal's famous "underground city" network of shops, restaurants, etc.

By bus: Bus connections arrive in the Station Centrale at Berri and DeMaisonneuve. Taxis and metro connection (metro stop Berri-UQaM).

By car: From points west in Canada, via the 401 to Highway 20 or 40: from points east, by the 20 or 40.

From the US: from NY the I-87 becomes Quebec route 15; the I-89 becomes 2-lane route 133 which connects to the Eastern Townships Autoroute, Highway 10, which goes west to Montreal. From Massachusetts, I-91 and highways 55 and 10 all lead to Montreal.

Speed limits: please note that Canada uses kilometres and a speed limit of 100 k, about 62 mph. Gas is sold in litres; there are 3.75 litres to 1 US gallon.

Visitor Information

Tourisme Montreal

Quebec Tourism

Canadian Tourism Commission

Taxes and Tips in Canada

There is a hotel room tax of 3% charged on accommodations, before any other tax is levied. After that there are both Federal and Provincial taxes.

Federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 6% (in Quebec, the acronym on the bill may read TPS--this does NOT mean "tips"!) In Quebec, a provincial tax (TVQ) of 7.5% is also added. If you wish to tip in appreciation of service, you have to add that yourself, calculating on the base rate of the bill before taxes.

Language in Montreal

Montreal is a very cosmopolitan city with many languages. The current myth that everyone speaks only French is just that--a myth. Almost everyone who has dealings with the public is able to speak English--taxi drivers, hotel counter people, restaurant workers--and certainly everybody at Concordia, which is an English-language university . In addition, many Montrealers speak Greek, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Ukrainian, German, a variety of Chinese languages, Arabic, and many other tongues. It is worth it to be able to say, "je suis touriste, parlez-vous anglais?" as well as "oui", "non". "excusez moi", and "merci". But you can get by in English so don't be shy.

Getting around in Montreal

An online map of the Montreal metro lines is available at:

http://www.stm.info/English/metro/a-mapmet.htm

Montreal is a fairly compact city. The downtown, and "old Montreal", are both areas that can be walked in easily, and are pretty safe at all hours. To get between neighbourhoods that are slightly further apart, there is a transit system--three metro lines and many buses. Wheelchair accessibility to the metro and buses is not very good though. (We are working on it...) Taxis abound in the downtown core. Here are some taxi company numbers:

Champlain: (514) 273-2435
Coop: (514) 725-9885
Diamond: (514) 273-6331

Ten-digit Dialing in Montreal

You have probably already noticed from the taxi listings: when placing phone calls in Montreal you must dial the local regional code first, then the 7 digit number. The regional codes in the area are:

Island of Montreal: 514
Suburbs (south shore, Laval) 450

The Registration Desk will have a phone number which will be printed on your name tags. This number will be posted on the website once available, as well. Please let your family, friends and colleagues back home know that in an emergency, if they can not reach you on your cell phone or through your hotel, they can place a call to the Registration Desk number and we will try to locate you in sessions rooms.

Health Services in Montreal

Many hotels have a nurse or a first-aid room, and a doctor on call. Just call the front desk. There are also clinics close to Concordia, and the Montreal General Hospital is straight up Guy Street (becomes the Cote des Neiges as it crawls uphill along the skirts of the mountain). There will be more information in the registration packages, giving you the precise names, addresses, and opening hours of clinics and pharmacies. There is a Jean Coutu pharmacy open til midnight on Ste-Catherine Street not far from Concordia, and a 24 hour pharmacy further north in town.

It is worth it to take some travel insurance to cover the costs should you have any health needs while in Canada. Those who lack an active Quebec Medicare Card (Carte Soleil) have to pay for services and seek reimbursement through the insurers. Quebec has reciprocal agreements with other Canadian provinces (you still have to pay first and get reimbursed), but out-of-country visitors are well advised to carry insurance.

A Word about WEATHER in Montreal

Summer in Montreal is hot and humid. The sessions venue has AC but the streets do not. Bring light airy clothing. Of course, we occasionally also get a sudden drop in temperature. Or drenching rain. Even mini-tornadoes (very mini) although not downtown...! In short, bring layers, a small choice of footware, and a smile.

Water

Montreal's local water is of excellent quality. There are lots of drinking fountains in the conference venue (Hall building). We do not plan to provide boxes of plastic water bottles, in an effort to protect the environment. There will be pitchers of cold water and biodegradable, compostable drinking cups for all speakers.

Swimming

Do you like to swim? Hey, in the summer, who doesn't!! Here is some pool information:

Le Nouvel Hotel has a nice pool, and Maritime Plaza has a small pool as well.

The YWCA at the corner of Rene-Levesque and Crescent, 3 short blocks E of the Maritime Plaza, has quite a lovely indoor pool. MIXED swim times are 8:30 - 9:30 a.m., M - F.
Women-only free swims 7 - 8:30 M - F: lap swims 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. T Th, to 7:30 p.m. on M W F.

The Hotel de la Montagne has a roof top pool and bar which is the talk of the town. It is free as long as you buy drinks. It is very small--holds only 57 swimmers--and most people don't swim much. Be ready for topless bathers.

For family-oriented swimming in the open air:

The Royal Victoria Hospital: North of Pine Ave between University and Peel. Parking in the hospital lots ($$$) or on the street ($$): a pool on the flanks of the mountain, behind the Allan Memorial and Ross pavilions. There is an entrance fee--$4 or $5--and there is sometimes a line-up. Once you get in, the pool is lovely, surrounded by deck and lawns, with a good diving board, old-fashioned wooden lounge chairs with big broad arms, and views of the mountain and the city below.

The Westmount Pool: in the southwest corner of Westmount park, Sherbrooke Street West near Lansdowne. Bus 24. Street parking. Pool entrance costs $4/day. A big pool with a spacious deck. Tented snack area (bring your own food), moms and kids, adjacent teen centre, huge park next door with play equipment, ornamental creek, ducks, library.

The Laurier Pool: In a park at Laurier and Christoph Coulombe, east of St. Denis Street. Free entry during the week, a small fee Sat/Sun. A big pool with diving boards. Surrounded by trees--almost always a choice of sun or shade on the deck. At sunset, you can do laps and watch the sun go down right to the horizon.