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Montreal is the second largest city in Canada and the largest city in the province of Quebec. Originally called Ville-Marie (City of Mary), the city had come to be known as Montréal, a name derived from Mont Royal (literally Royal Mountain), the name of the three-head hill at the heart of the city. Formerly the metropolis of Canada, it is the second largest French speaking city in the Western world, after Paris. Montreal is ranked as the 15th-largest metropolitan area in Northern America and 77th in the world.

Huron, Algonquin, and Iroquois tribes historically inhabited the Montreal area for over eight thousand years. The French explorer Jacques Cartier has been suggested to be the first known European explorer to reach the area when he arrived at the village of Hochelaga on the Island of Montreal on October 2, 1535.

The city‘s international status was cemented by Expo ‘67 and the Summer Olympics in 1976. Montreal is today an important centre of commerce, industry, culture, finance, and world affairs. Montreal industries include aerospace, electronic goods, pharmaceuticals, printed goods, software engineering, telecommunications, textile and apparel manufacturing, tobacco and transportation. The service sector is also strong and includes civil, mechanical and process engineering, finance, higher education, and research and development.

In 2002, Montreal ranked as 4th largest centre in North America in terms of aerospace jobs. The coldest month of the year is January which has a daily average temperature of −10.4 °C (13 °F). The plaza on Place des Arts is the home of the most important events during several musical festivals, including the Montreal International Jazz Festival and Montreal Francofolies, a festival of French-speaking song artists.

Montreal‘s night life is particularly dynamic. The most active neighborhoods then are rue St-Laurent, Downtown (Crescent Street, Sainte-Catherine Street), Quartier Latin (Saint Denis Street), and Plateau Mont-Royal. The city is increasingly becoming known for its mainstream rave festivals such as the Black and Blue Festival attracting thousands of ravers to the city every Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, as well as the Bal en Blanc held every Easter Sunday, also attracting over 15,000 attendees every year.

Restaurants in Montreal are particularly rich of the contributions from the different cultural communities that live in the city. Jewish culture has contributed two of Montreal‘s most distinctive dishes, smoked meat sandwiches and Montreal style bagels. The biggest sport following in Montreal clearly belongs to hockey – and the city is famous for its hockey-hungry fans.

Montreal

GO THERE FOR

The Food – Unforgettable culinary experiences reign supreme. With award-winning restaurants dotting the city, Vancouver restaurants place great emphasis on the freshest ingredients from the surrounding wilds and Pacific Ocean. The cuisine has an abundance of taste and character with influences ranging from Asia to France.

Diversity – Vancouver is a destination that offers some of the most diverse activities in the world. Overwhelmingly family friendly, there is something to suit every age group. And, being surrounded by sea, forest and mountains, there is no end to the number of outdoor activities and sports to try.


DON’T MISS

Capilano Suspension Bridge - Built in 1889, Capilano Suspension Bridge is 450 feet long and breathtakingly dangled 230 feet above Capilano Canyon. Creaking and swaying (yet astonishingly strong), this remarkable display of architecture takes you into the forest, just minutes away from the city centre.

Grouse Mountain - Escape to the slopes in just 15 minutes from Downtown Vancouver on a one-mile gondola ride up Grouse Mountain. The ‘Peak of Vancouver’ offers a host of outdoor activities including skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, snowshoeing and paragliding. Once there, you’ll also find shopping, entertainment and award-winning dining facilities.

Vancouver Lookout - On the corner of West Hastings and Seymour Street, this truly spectacular observation deck and orientation centre offers a picture-perfect view from high atop Harbor Centre Tower. A 360? view sweeps across the Lower Mainland, from the mountains in the north to the valleys in the south.

Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival - If you’re in Vancouver in the summer, be sure to get tickets to Bard on the Beach in Vanier Park. This fantastic annual festival takes place from June to September, presenting a range of Shakespeare plays and special events in a beautiful setting on the waterfront.


BASICS

Country Code: +1
City Code: 604/778
Emergency Services: 911
Directory Enquiries: 411
Electricity: 120V/60Hz; 2-blade plug
Language: English
Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Exchange Rate: GBP 1 = CAD 1.63; CAD 1 = GBP 0.61
Time: PST (UTC – 8); Second Sunday March – First Sunday November PDT (UTC -7)
Population: Metro - 2,116,581
Vancouver International Airport
604 207 7077
www.yvr.ca


GETTING AROUND

SkyTrain and SeaBus – Vancouver offers a fast and efficient transit system for transportation within the city and to the suburbs. The SkyTrain operates everyday and every two to five minutes. The SeaBus is the Vancouver Ferry and connects Vancouver to the North Shore (travel time is twelve minutes).


WHEN TO GO

Vancouver’s Marine West Coast climate ensures that temperatures are never excessively cold or hot, winter lows average 0.9°C/34?F and summer highs average 21°C/70?F. Summers are much drier in comparison to the wet winter months that often feature snowfall. Due to the topography of the area, the amount of precipitation varies throughout the city. The weather is ideal for a summer vacation or winter skiing, although many ski resorts like Whistler remain open all year round.

Public Holidays:
1st January – New Year’s Day
Variable – Good Friday
Variable – Easter Monday
Monday on or Before 24th May – Victoria Day
1st July – Canada Day
First Monday August – British Columbia Day
First Monday September – Labour Day
Second Monday October – Thanksgiving
11th November - Remembrance
25th December – Christmas Day