New to Montreal?

A website that’s extremely helpful in regards to moving to Montreal and McGill: https://www.simplifymcgill.com/

There are two parts to this website: Navigate McGill and the Unofficial McGill Guides. The first part will try to help you go through the massive amount of information McGill has for its students and find what is relevant for you. The second part consists of a set of guides written by current McGill students, those will allow you to get tips and learn from others’ experiences before you.

This website was made by the Students of S!MVO. S!MVO is an organization seeking to improve McGill University one project at a time by bringing fresh solutions to students. Its mission is to improve the student life experience at McGill.

Public transportation

  • Apps and Maps: Use these to plan your trips on the go!
    • Google Maps
    • The Transit App
  • STM
    • Metros and buses in Montreal.
    • The fee is $3.25 whenever you take the bus or metro, and its valid for two hours.
    • Click here for information
    • You can pay using credit, debit or cash at STM machines inside stations, but if you get on the bus you can only pay with coins.
    • For McGill:
      • Get off at Metro McGill if you’re going to buildings near Rue University (Chemistry, Physics, Engineering)
      • Get off at Metro Peel if you’re going to upper campus buildings on Peel, like McIntyre, or Stewart Biology
    • Montreal’s metro system has 4 color-coded lines that run from around 5:30am to between 12:30-1:30am depending on the day of the week and the stop/direction. If you go to this page and click on a given stop you can find out what time the last train leaves and what bus routes that stop connects to.
    • Montreal’s bus system has four main types of routes.
      • #10-250 – Local & 10-Minutes Max Networks The Local buses are the average buses that run on a given few streets. A green stopwatch denotes the 10-Minutes Max buses. They are the busiest buses on the local network and run at a frequency maximum of 10 minutes.
      • #300s – All Night Network A grey crescent moon denotes the All Night buses and they run after the local buses stop.
      • #400s – Express Network Three pink “motion lines” denote the Express buses and they are limited-stop routes.
      • #700s – Shuttles A purple greater-than sign denotes the Shuttle buses and they serve special routes.
    • The 747
      • This is an alternative to taking an uber or cab to the airport. It’s the only bus that takes you directly there. It costs $10 for a day pass, which you can buy at any STM machine but if you don’t, you can ONLY pay on the bus with change. No cash!
  • Bixi - Biking
    • Montreal is a super bike friendly city, and if you don’t have a bike, Bixi is perfect for you.
    • Bixi is a bike-sharing system. You take one, and then drop it off at any station near your destination. To see how it works: https://www.bixi.com/en/how-it-works (READ BEFORE USING, there are some very important things in there!)
      • How it works: during the warmer months (April—October), bixi stations are put around Montreal. You pay at the station, take a bike, and drop the bike off at a station near your destination.
      • The first time you rent a Bixi, you use a credit card. When you pay, $100 will be taken as a guarantee that you return the bike, and it will be retured to you 2-3 business days later. You will also be charged $5 for a 24 hour use.
    • Until the end of the season, McGill community members are eligible for a 10% discount toward annual memberships for the BIXI bike-share program for 2017.
      • To obtain the 10% discount for your annual BIXI membership for the 2017 season, please visit the BIXI - McGill University web page.
      • Enter MCGILL22 in the text box under Program code, then click on VERIFY.
    • Memberships
      • There exist four types of BIXI memberships:
      • 89$ for an annual membership or 80.10$ with applied McGill Discount.
      • 55$ for a 90-day membership
      • 30$ for a 30-day membership
      • 5$ for a 24h membership
    • It is important to take note that with a membership only 30 (for 24h membership) or 45 minutes (for other 3 memberships) of biking are included. If you bike over the allocated time, additional fees are applied.
    • Short trips
      • You can also Buy Short-term Access from the pay station at any BIXI station.
      • 2.95$ for a one-way (30 minutes or less)
      • 5$ for a 24h membership
      • 14$ for a 3-day membership
  • AMT
    • Trains to the suburbs of Montreal (West Island, North shore, South shore)
    • Fees vary according to how far you are going. Locations are set according to Zones, and the farther you go, the more expensive.
    • Downtown trains leave from Vendome, Lucien L’allier, and Gare Centrale depending on which direction you’re going.
    • https://www.amt.qc.ca/en
    • For McGill:
      • Get off at Gare Vendome and take the metro to Peel/McGill
      • Get off at Gare Centrale or Lucien L’allier and walk to McGill.
  • OPUS card
    • If you commute, then you should get an OPUS card!
    • As a student from 18-25 years old, it costs:
      • $50 a month for buses and metro unlimited access
      • $197 for four months for buses and metro unlimited access
    • To get an OPUS card:
      • To get student discounts (to pay $50 instead of $80 a month) you need a registered photo ID OPUS card.
      • In order to get an OPUS card you need to:
        • Complete the application. You DO NOT need to get the portion that says, “Students aged 16 and over must ask their educational institution…” filled out by McGill.
        • Previously, you needed to print a proof of enrollment letter, however this is no longer necessary. From now on, only electronic proof of school attendance (tablets, smart phones, computer) will be accepted. At the STM photo studio, students will have to access their school’s portal and show the proof to the employee. If the student doesn't have an electronic device, a tablet will be available for use.
        • Go to the STM photo studio. Beware, there will be long lines at the beginning of the school year.
        • Bring the application, $15 IN CASH for the card, and proof of your age (any photo ID).
        • *Alternatively, the STM comes to McGill for two days each fall. It is the same process but you don't have to go to the studio. For more information about OPUS cards, and to see what dates the STM is coming to McGill click here. If your OPUS card is lost or stolen call the STM. When you get a new card any fares that were on your old card at the time you called will be transferred to your new card. There is a federal tax credit for using public transit, so make sure to keep all your receipts!

Grocery stores

  • Mizan
    • 1695 Boulevard de Maisonneuve O, Montréal, QC H3H 1J6
    • Think of it as your local Arab dep.. Located in the Concordia area, this small supermarket is either a short walk for anyone downtown or a few metro rides away if you live slightly outside the downtown area (Plateau etc.). You’ll find it stocking lots of Arabic foods and snacks that you’re used to buying back home along with local products, a halal butcher shop and many Palestinian products whose profits actually go back to Palestinian producers
  • Adonis
    • 2173 Saint Catherine O., Montreal, QC H3H 1M9
    • A large Arabic supermarket with many branches throughout the city, the closest of which in the downtown area is at Atwater, right next to the Alexis Nihon mall. You’ll find a great selection of fruits and vegetables, a butcher shop, cheese, spices and olives. Basically, it’ll remind you of supermarkets back home.
  • Marché Lobo
    • 3509 Av du Parc, Montréal, QC H2X 2H8
    • Marche lobo is probably the closest Arab store to the on-campus McGill residences. If you’re in New Residence, Carrefour Sherbrooke, La Citadelle and Royal Victoria College, this place is only a few steps away.
  • IGA
    • Various locations
    • One of the largest supermarket chains across the city, you’ll find many of these sprinkled throughout the city and it’s considered one of the cheaper options according to many sources.
  • Provigo
    • A larger supermarket along the size of IGA, it’s also the closest to the majority of on-campus McGill residences. It used to have a 10% for students on certain days of the week, but that has slowly started to change, so we’re unsure what the latest offer they have for students these days.
  • Your local depanneur
    • You can always rely on them for whatever you need. In the downtown area, they’re rare and can actually be overpriced. If you’re outside the downtown area, then you’re in luck because you’ll get to experience the cheapness and convenience of these small stores
  • Metro
    • Your typcial grocery store, has a large variety but is also on the pricier side. Various locations downtown
    • Online flyer: http://www.metro.ca/flyer/index.en.html

Pharmacies nearby McGill

  • Crescent pharmacy
    • 455 Rue Sherbrooke O, Montréal, QC H3A 1B7
    • (514) 849-6019
  • Jean Coutu
    • Various locations in Montreal
    • Locations closest to McGill
      • 677 Rue Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC H3B 5K4
        • Mon-Tue: 8am-7pm, Wed-Fri: 8am-9pm, Sat: 10am-7pm, Sun: 11am-5:30pm
        • (514) 289-0800
      • 305 Rue Sherbrooke O, Montréal, QC H2X 1X9
        • Open 24 hours, 7 days/week
        • (514) 285-2646
      • 980 Rue Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC H3B 1E5
        • Mon-Fri: 8am-10pm, Sat: 9am-10pm, Sun: 10am-9pm
        • (514) 866-7791
      • R1.67, 687 Avenue des Pins, Montréal, QC H3A 1A1
        • Mon-Fri: 8:30am-6pm, Sat: 10am-2pm, Sun: Closed
        • (514) 284-7006
  • Pharmaprix
    • Various locations in Montreal
    • Locations closest to Mcgill:
      • 1120 Saint-Catherine St Ouest, H3B 1H4
        • 514-398-9759
      • 1500 Saint-Catherine St. W, Montreal, QC H3G 1S8
        • (514) 933-4744
      • 1538 Sherbrooke St. W. jr1, Montreal, QC H3G 1L5
        • (514) 935-1558
  • Doctors, clinics and other resources
    • The McGill clinic is usually very overwhelmed, so for anything make sure to call first thing in the morning (7am), especially if you have an emergency. They offer a wide variety of resources and can refer you to other hospitals and clinics in Montreal if need be. The most important thing is to call in advance as wait times are extremely long.
    • McGill has a very useful website for finding off-campus clinics and services:
      • https://www.mcgill.ca/studenthealth/see-doctor/offcampus
      • Most resources listed here, in addition to others, can be found via the link above
    • Listening and referral services
      • Info-santé
        • To speak with a nurse for non-urgent health issues
        • Dial 811 (open 24/7)
        • http://sante.gouv.qc.ca/en/systeme-sante-en-bref/info-sante-8-1-1/
      • Face à Face
        • A listening intervention service
        • Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm, (514) 934-4546
        • Trained volunteers in active listening for discussing difficulties you may be experiencing. They offer:
          • Support for the homeless, or those at risk of becoming homeless
          • Help finding housing resources
          • Counselling services and support groups
      • McGill Nightline
        • Everyday 6pm-3am - (514) 398-6246
        • McGill students trained in active listening, also knowledgeable of services available in and around Montreal. They offer to listen to your stories or whatever is on your mind at the time.
    • Sexual assault
      • Speak with a nurse at the student health clinic for your healthcare options (https://www.mcgill.ca/studenthealth/)
      • Listening and support services
        • Sexual Assault Center of McGill Students’ Society
          • 3480 McTavish, Montreal, QC H3A 1X9, McGill University at B-27 in the Shatner Building Basement
          • Mon-Fri 12pm-12am: (514) 398-8500
          • www.sacomss.org
        • Montreal Sexual Assault Center
          • 1801 Boulevard de Maisonneuve Ouest, 3rd floor Montreal, QC H3H 1J9
          • General Inquiries for Hospital (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm): (514) 934-0354
          • Crisis Line (Bilingual French/English, open 24/7): (514) 934-4504
          • http://www.cvasm.org/
    • Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Resources
      • Head and Hands (for women)
        • 5833, Rue Sherbrooke West
        • Mon-Thurs: 10am-9:30pm, Fri: 10am-5pm. Call: (514) 481-0277
        • STI Drop-In Appointments: Tuesday & Thursday’s 4:45pm-9:30pm (Random draw, 10 people served, must arrive before 5pm)
        • http://headandhands.ca/

Mental health resources

  • Moving to a new city, country, or transitioning from being in high school to university, can put a lot of pressure on your mental health. When you don’t take care of yourself, your whole university experience becomes a whole lot harder. So we encourage you to take a look at these resources and take advantage of them:
    • For various resources in Quebec: https://www.santemontreal.qc.ca/en/public/health-a-z/mental-health/
    • Crisis Centres:
      • They serve as a gateway to crisis services and help people deal with their situation and recover their balance. The services are available 24/7 at the crisis centres and include consultation, evaluation, referral, follow-up and temporary accommodation.
      • L'Appoint - 514 351-6661
      • Association Iris - 514 381-8026
      • L'Autre Maison - 514-768-7225
      • Montreal West Island Crisis Centre - 514-684-6160
      • Équipe mobile de crise Résolution (formely l'Entremise) - 514-351-9592
      • Tracom - 514-483-3033
      • Le Transit - 514 282-7753
      • UPS-Justice—responds to cases involving adults with mental health problems who have committed or are about to commit a criminal act.
    • Psychiatric emergencies
      • (FR) Depressed Anonymous
        • Phone line and weekly sessions for persons suffering from depression
        • 514-278-2130
      • Ordre de psychologues du Quebec
        • Confidential listening service for people in distress, available 24/7
        • 514-935-1101
    • Counselling and therapy
      • Website has various resources where you can find clinics and various forms of support (for mothers, families, students, etc) depending on the case.
      • http://amiquebec.org/therapy/
    • The Montreal Center for Anxiety and Depression:
      • Offers services for children and adolescents, adults, and families.
      • http://www.helpforanxietydepression.com/
    • RIVO
      • RIVO offers free counselling for refugees and asylum seekers to overcome the consequence of violence suffered abroad, including victims of torture.
      • They offer counselling and rehabillitation services in Arabic
      • http://www.rivo-resilience.org/
    • Websites with useful resources
      • Mental Health Daily: Useful stories and links related to global mental health
      • Global Mental Health-Map (GMH-Map) Collaborative project which compiles and shares important resources for global mental health
      • Institute of Psychiatry (KCL) audio feeds Includes links to public lectures, debates and events at the Institute of Psychiatry, including the on-going Maudsley Debates series
      • PsychCentral Offers mental health material (mental health websites, newsgroups, and mailing lists) and information about online support groups for people with mental disorders
      • World Health Organization - mental health Provides information on WHO programmes, projects and resources on mental health
      • World Health Organization Resources for the Prevention and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders Provides resources for the prevention and treatment of Substance Use Disorders
      • In2mental health Provides information from and between mental health workers, NGO's, institutes, and others who are interested in improving mental health in low-and-middle income countries

Religious services

  • Montreal is a very diverse city, and houses a variety of different religious services available to you, both throughout the city and at McGill:
  • McGill Office of Religious and Spiritual Life - Offers Atheist, Buddhist, Catholic, Orthodox, Gnostic, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Protestant, Skish and Universalist liaisons. (http://www.mcgill.ca/morsl/)
  • Otherwise a simple google search will lead you to your preferred place of worship.

Finding an Apartment

  • Apartment complexes are where most McGill students live, followed by townhouses.
  • Most McGill students live in the Milton-Parc area (Rue University to Rue Parc), the Golden square mile (Rue Peel to Rue Guy), or Plateau Mont Royal.
  • To find apartments, we highly recommend you read this guide first as there are many different things to consider and think about, such as roommates, landlords, and prices. (https://www.simplifymcgill.com/apartment-hunting)

Legal Services and Assistance

  • If you ever find yourself in need of legal assistance, whether it’s for a charge, or for immigration/visa related questions, then you should definitely seek the help that’s available to you at McGill and in Montreal.
  • he Legal Information Clinic of McGill (http://licm.mcgill.ca/legal-information-clinic/), located on the first floor of the Brown building, is a non-profit, student-run, free legal information service. They can refer you to various legal guides in Montreal, and give you information, but not legal advice as they are not certified to do so.
  • If you’re receiving income support from the government you may get free consultations at the Bar Of Montreal, otherwise be aware that their legal services aren’t free. (https://www.barreaudemontreal.qc.ca/en/public/legal-aid)
  • Assistance aux Femmes provides legal aid for immigrant women/victims of domestic violence as well as being a shelter. They will help you retrieve items from a previous spouse, meet with a counsellor, set up a bank account, and provide a shelter until you can support yourself
  • Pro-bono legal clinics
    • Pro Bono Students Canada at McGill University (514-398-3855)
    • Pro Bono Quebec (514-954-3434)
    • Barreau's Lawyer Referral Service of Montreal (514-866-2490) This is a free service. Serves as a 'matching' program and will find a lawyer to suit a client's needs and budget.

Arabic restaurants

  • Fast food
    • Arouche—1600 Boulevard de Maisonneuve
    • Baghdadi—1624 Lincoln Avenue
    • Saj Mahal—1448 Rue St Mathieu
    • Basha—various locations
    • Amir—various locations
    • Shawermaz—1206 Rue Peel
    • Boustan—various locations
    • Falafel Avenue—2020 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa
    • Boucherie abu Elias—733 Boulevard de la Cote Vertu
    • Falafel abou Hanna—4660 Boulevard des Sources
    • Al Taib—2002 Rue Mackay
  • restaurants
    • Downtown/Plateau
      • Damas—5210 Avenue du Parc
      • Petit Alep—191 Rue Jean-Talon Est
      • Garage Beirut—1238 Rue Mackay
      • Kaza Maza—4629 Avenue du Parc
      • Trip de Bouffe—277 Avenue Mont Royal Est
    • Farther out
      • Bab Sharqi—255 Rue Deslauriers, H4N 1W2
      • Beroya—3455 Boulevard Saint-Martin Ouest , H7T 1A2
      • Zyara—9140 Boulevard Leduc #205, J4Y 0L2
      • Lylac—1625 Boulevard Marcel-Laurin, H4R 0B7