1. Settling in Longueuil with free help
Longueuil and the South Shore welcome many newcomers, and organizations funded by the Ministère de l'Immigration are there to support them for free: paperwork, housing, French, social and professional integration. No need to figure it all out alone or pay for everything.
2. Carrefour le Moutier: welcome and French
Carrefour le Moutier has supported immigrants in their settlement and integration steps for decades. It offers free French conversation workshops — morning, afternoon or evening — to practise and improve your French, plus pairing with a volunteer who knows French well. The team can also direct you to the right resource for your situation — health, violence, housing, and more.
3. Maison Internationale de la Rive-Sud (MIRS)
The Maison Internationale de la Rive-Sud (MIRS) supports newcomers, immigrants and refugees in their social and professional integration in Quebec. With Carrefour le Moutier, it's one of the pillars of welcome in Longueuil. Depending on your need — general welcome, French, employment, support for women or families — one of these organizations can take you on or steer you.
4. Where to start
Pick a first organization — Carrefour le Moutier or MIRS — and call to book an appointment, saying you're newly arrived. Bring your immigration documents. If unsure, call 211: free, confidential, in over 200 languages.
5. Frequently asked questions
Here are the most common questions about newcomer help in Longueuil: is it free, is it confidential, and are French classes offered.
Are French classes offered in Longueuil?
Yes. Carrefour le Moutier offers free French conversation workshops at several times of day, and the Ministère funds part-time French courses in the region. Ask the organization or check Francisation Québec for the official courses.
Is it confidential?
Yes. Working with a welcome organization is confidential and has no effect on your immigration file. It's a safe place to explain your situation and get oriented, whatever your status.
6. Official sources
To find and contact these organizations, see:
7. See also
These related guides may be useful:
- Community organizations in Quebec — the province-wide picture.
- Your first-week checklist in Quebec — the essentials on arrival.
- Free Francisation Québec courses — formal French courses.
Author's Note: on the South Shore, one call to Carrefour le Moutier or MIRS is enough to stop moving blind. These teams know Longueuil inside out and often speak your language. Come early, come as you are.
