Greater Montreal
50 guides · 6 cities — All the VIEAUQC guides for living in Greater Montreal. Covers Montréal, Laval, Longueuil, Terrebonne, Brossard, Repentigny.
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Job-Search Help in Laval
The free services that support newcomers in their job search in Laval — Perspective Carrière, the CIL, Services Québec.
Laval · Work
June 12, 2026
Registering Your Child for School in Longueuil
The CSS Marie-Victorin, the Riverside School Board, and how to register your child for the school year.
Longueuil · Education
May 15, 2026
Free Activities in Montréal: Outings, Culture and Nature Without Spending
Parks, free museums, festivals, libraries, pools — a practical guide to the best free activities in Montréal for families and newcomers.
June 17, 2026
Registering Your Child for School in Terrebonne
The Centre de services scolaire des Affluents and how to register your child for the school year.
Terrebonne · Education
May 15, 2026
BCITI Brossard Resident Card Guide
Learn how to get your resident card to access libraries, leisure activities, and city digital services.
Brossard · Services
May 15, 2026
Registering Your Child for School in Repentigny
The CSS des Affluents and how to register your child in Repentigny.
Repentigny · Education
May 15, 2026
Free Help for Newcomers in Montreal
PROMIS and the YMCA — two organizations offering free support to newcomers in Montreal.
Montréal · Resources
May 16, 2026
Montréal
See all (21)Free Activities in Montréal: Outings, Culture and Nature Without Spending
Parks, free museums, festivals, libraries, pools — a practical guide to the best free activities in Montréal for families and newcomers.
Montréal has a well established reputation as a cultural, festive city — and much of what the city offers at its best is entirely free . The parks are magnificent and open to all. Summer festivals attract millions of visitors, and the vast majority of shows cost nothing. Museums open their doors for free on certain days. Outdoor pools and skating rinks are often municipal and low cost or free. ...
Daily life|Montreal|June 17, 2026
Free Help for Newcomers in Montreal
PROMIS and the YMCA — two organizations offering free support to newcomers in Montreal.
In Montreal, community organizations support newcomers — free of charge : No specific immigration status required No fees : these services are funded for you Human guidance , often available in several languages The right time to contact them: as soon as you arrive This guide presents two solid organizations: PROMIS and the YMCA . PROMIS — Promotion intégration société nouvelle — has supported ...
Resources|Montreal|May 16, 2026
Free Job-Search Help in Montréal: Where to Go by Profile
Specialized job-search organizations in Montréal by profile — newcomers, anglophones, women, professionals — and who to contact first.
In Montreal, several organizations offer professional and entirely free job search help. The catch is that not all of them serve the same audience . Picking the right one from the start saves you weeks: an internationally trained professional doesn't need the same support as a woman returning to the workforce after an extended break. This guide groups them by specialty: Newcomers and immigrants...
Work|Montreal|June 12, 2026
Laundromats in Montréal
How to use a laundromat in Montréal — finding the nearest one, prices, machine operation, tips for delicate clothes, and alternatives if your apartment has its own washer.
Many apartments in Montréal — particularly duplexes and triplexes in older neighbourhoods — have no washer or dryer inside the apartment itself. Coin operated laundromats ( buanderies or laveries automatiques ) are very common in Montréal — found in virtually every neighbourhood. Typical hours: 7 am – 10 or 11 pm; some are open 24 hours . Step by step laundromat use: 1. Arrive with your laundry...
Daily life|Montreal|June 17, 2026
Summer Heat and Heat Waves in Montréal: How to Prepare
Surviving summer heat waves in Montréal — free cooling sites, financial aid, signs of heat stroke and practical advice for new residents.
A heat wave is officially declared in Montréal when the temperature reaches 33°C for at least two consecutive days , with a night above 20°C. An apartment without air conditioning can quickly exceed 40°C — dangerous for vulnerable people. In 2010, a heat wave caused more than 280 deaths in Quebec. Since then, free protective resources have been put in place — you just need to know about them. D...
Health|Montreal|June 17, 2026
Laval
See all (8)Job-Search Help in Laval
The free services that support newcomers in their job search in Laval — Perspective Carrière, the CIL, Services Québec.
Finding a job in Laval when you come from elsewhere means relearning local codes: résumé , interview, network, recognition of your experience. Good news: free services support newcomers at every step. Service type Organization Specialty For whom Professional integration Immigration focused NPO Credential recognition, skilled employment Recent immigrants General placement Carrefour jeunesse empl...
Work|Laval|June 12, 2026
Free French Classes in Laval
Where to learn French for free in Laval — Francisation Québec, Carrefour d'intercultures, Collège Montmorency — and how to register.
In Laval, French opens doors: work, children's school, services, social life. And you don't have to pay to learn it: the state funds free courses for all levels, and Laval organizations offer friendly practice. Pathway Program Paid? Intensity For whom Government Francisation Québec (MIFI) Yes (if eligible) Full time or part time Permanent + eligible temporary immigrants School board School boar...
Education|Laval|June 12, 2026
Registering Your Child for School in Laval
The Laval school centre, Sir Wilfrid Laurier English board, and how to register your child for the school year.
In Quebec, public school is free and mandatory from age 6 to 16 . In Laval, two school networks share the territory. The Centre de services scolaire de Laval (CSS de Laval) runs all the French public schools — it's the default network for the vast majority of families. The Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board runs the English public schools, but access is restricted by law. The Charter of the Frenc...
Education|Laval|May 15, 2026
Finding Housing in Laval
Laval's neighbourhoods, rental market, and what to know before signing a lease in Quebec's second-largest city.
Laval is divided into six main sectors: Chomedey — the densest and most diverse, near the bridge to Montreal Sainte Rose — popular for its family homes and historic centre Vimont and Auteuil — more residential, near highway 440 Pont Viau and Laval des Rapides — next to Cartier metro Sainte Dorothée and Laval Ouest — quieter and wooded Duvernay and Saint Vincent de Paul — in the east, traditiona...
Housing|Laval|June 18, 2026
Newcomer Support Organizations in Laval, by Need
The free organizations that welcome and support newcomers in Laval — settlement, French, employment — and where to start.
Settling in a new city is heavy: paperwork, housing, French, work, children's school. Good news: in Laval, organizations funded by the Ministère de l'Immigration welcome immigrants for free and support them at every stage. These services are free, confidential, and open regardless of status in many cases. This guide presents Laval's main organizations, by type of need . For general welcome and ...
Resources|Laval|June 12, 2026
Longueuil
See all (6)Registering Your Child for School in Longueuil
The CSS Marie-Victorin, the Riverside School Board, and how to register your child for the school year.
In Quebec, public school is free and mandatory from 6 to 16 . In Longueuil, two school networks share the territory. The Centre de services scolaire Marie Victorin runs the French public schools. The Riverside School Board runs the English public schools, several of which are in Greenfield Park . The Charter of the French Language — often called Bill 101 — restricts access to English public sch...
Education|Longueuil|May 15, 2026
Finding Housing in Longueuil
Longueuil's boroughs, the rental market, and what to know before signing a lease.
Longueuil has three boroughs with distinct characters: Vieux Longueuil — historic centre, densely populated, near the metro Saint Hubert — more suburban and residential, home to the regional airport Greenfield Park — quieter, predominantly English speaking Budget roughly $1,100 to $1,400 per month for a 4½. The Vieux Longueuil , near the metro, is the priciest. Saint Hubert and Greenfield Park ...
Housing|Longueuil|June 18, 2026
Newcomer Support Organizations in Longueuil, by Need
The free organizations welcoming newcomers in Longueuil and the South Shore — settlement, French, integration — and how to start.
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. Carrefour le Moutier has supported immigrants in their settlement and integration steps for decades. On the settlement side,...
Resources|Longueuil|June 12, 2026
First Steps in Longueuil
City services, essential errands and neighbourhood landmarks for starting life in Longueuil.
Longueuil is one of Quebec's largest cities, with about 250,000 residents . Located on the South Shore of Montreal, directly across from downtown, it's connected to Montreal by the Jacques Cartier bridge and the yellow metro line . Longueuil includes several historic boroughs: Vieux Longueuil , Saint Hubert , and Greenfield Park , each with its own character. Longueuil City Hall handles municip...
First steps|Longueuil|June 19, 2026
Public Transit in Longueuil
The RTL, the metro yellow line, and the OPUS card — everything for getting around Longueuil.
The RTL, or Réseau de transport de Longueuil , is the bus operator for the Longueuil agglomeration. It serves Longueuil , Brossard , Saint Lambert , Boucherville and Saint Bruno de Montarville . More than 80 routes cover the territory, with high frequency at rush hour. Montreal's metro yellow line crosses the river and ends at Longueuil–Université de Sherbrooke station. It is the only direct me...
Daily life|Longueuil|May 15, 2026
Terrebonne
See all (5)Registering Your Child for School in Terrebonne
The Centre de services scolaire des Affluents and how to register your child for the school year.
In Quebec, public school is free and mandatory from 6 to 16 . The Centre de services scolaire des Affluents runs the French public schools. English schools fall under the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board , but access is limited by law. The Charter of the French Language — Bill 101 — restricts access to English school. Generally, one of the parents must have received their elementary education i...
Education|Terrebonne|May 15, 2026
Île-des-Moulins, Parks and Leisure in Terrebonne
The Île-des-Moulins historic site, urban parks and outdoor activities in Terrebonne.
The Île des Moulins is a national historic site at the heart of Terrebonne. Built on an island in the Rivière des Mille Îles , it groups five 18th and 19th century buildings, including a flour mill , a sawmill , a bakery and a seigneurial office. Access is free ; exhibitions and events run during summer. Vieux Terrebonne is the heritage district surrounding the Île des Moulins. You'll find ance...
Culture & leisure|Terrebonne|May 15, 2026
Finding Housing in Terrebonne
Terrebonne's sectors, the rental market, and the standard Quebec lease.
Terrebonne has three main sectors with distinct profiles . The table compares vibe , exo Mascouche train access and family profile . The choice depends on your lifestyle and your proximity to the train or highway . Central Terrebonne is ideal for car free commuters . Lachenaie suits two car families . La Plaine attracts those wanting calm and space . Sector Vibe exo Mascouche train Profile Terr...
Housing|Terrebonne|June 18, 2026
First Steps in Terrebonne
City services, essentials and landmarks for settling in Terrebonne.
Terrebonne is a city in the Lanaudière region, north of Montreal, with over 120,000 residents . It includes several sectors: Terrebonne (including Vieux Terrebonne ), Lachenaie , and La Plaine . The city offers a suburban lifestyle, with a lively historic centre and quick access to highways 40 and 640 . Before getting into municipal service details, here's an overview of the three main sectors ...
First steps|Terrebonne|May 15, 2026
Transit in Terrebonne: exo Mascouche and OPUS
How to use the exo Mascouche train line and local buses to get around Terrebonne and into Montreal.
Terrebonne is served by exo, Greater Montreal's regional train and bus network. The Mascouche train line connects Terrebonne to downtown Montreal in about one hour , with a stop at Central Station . exo also runs several bus routes covering Terrebonne and the north shore. The Mascouche line serves several stations in the area: Terrebonne , Mascouche and Sainte Thérèse . Each station has free pa...
Daily life|Terrebonne|May 15, 2026
Brossard
See all (5)BCITI Brossard Resident Card Guide
Learn how to get your resident card to access libraries, leisure activities, and city digital services.
The BCITI card is a digital or physical resident card. It is free and mandatory to register for leisure activities and borrow books from the library. You can create your profile online at brossard.ca or via the BCITI+ app. If you prefer, you can go in person to City Hall or the Georgette Lepage library. To validate your account, you must provide proof of residence such as a Hydro Québec bill or...
Services|Brossard|May 15, 2026
Library and Leisure Activities in Brossard
Everything you can do with your BCITI card: borrow books, sign up for workshops, access free city activities.
The Georgette Lepage library is one of the best entry points to discover Brossard. All services are free for residents: book and film loans, internet access, French language workshops, computer stations, study rooms. You'll also meet your first neighbours there. The Georgette Lepage library is located at 7855 avenue San Francisco , next to City Hall. It is usually open Monday to Saturday , and ...
Culture & leisure|Brossard|May 15, 2026
Registering Your Child for School in Brossard
The school system in Brossard, how to register your child, and what you need to know about welcome classes for newcomer students.
In Quebec, public school is free and mandatory from age 6 to 16 . In Brossard, two school networks share the territory. The Centre de services scolaire Marie Victorin runs the French public schools — it's the default network for the vast majority of families. The Riverside School Board runs the English public schools, but access is restricted by law. The Charter of the French Language — often c...
Education|Brossard|June 18, 2026
Parks and Outdoor Activities in Brossard
Parc de la Cité, bike paths, skating and sports — how to enjoy Brossard's green spaces year-round.
Parc de la Cité is Brossard's largest municipal park. It spans nearly 100 hectares , with a large lake, walking trails, bike paths, picnic areas, children's play structures, and an outdoor amphitheatre. This is where the city hosts its summer festivals , free concerts and fireworks . Entry is free and there is no parking fee. Brossard has more than 100 neighbourhood parks . A few worth explorin...
Culture & leisure|Brossard|May 15, 2026
Getting Around Brossard: REM, RTL and OPUS
How to use the REM light metro, RTL buses and the OPUS card to get around Brossard and into Montreal.
In Brossard, three transit networks work together. The REM is the light metro linking Brossard to downtown Montreal in about 18 minutes . The RTL runs the local buses in Brossard and Longueuil. The OPUS card lets you pay on both networks and across the entire metropolitan system. The REM opened in 2023 . In Brossard, three stations connect you to the network: Brossard , Du Quartier and Panama ....
Daily life|Brossard|May 15, 2026
Repentigny
See all (5)Registering Your Child for School in Repentigny
The CSS des Affluents and how to register your child in Repentigny.
In Quebec, public school is free and mandatory from age 6 to 16 . The Centre de services scolaire des Affluents runs the French public schools, serving both the Repentigny and Le Gardeur sectors. English schools fall under the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board . The Charter of the French Language — Bill 101 — restricts access to English school. Generally, one parent must have received the majori...
Education|Repentigny|May 15, 2026
Finding Housing in Repentigny
Repentigny's sectors, the rental market, and the standard Quebec lease.
Repentigny has two main sectors: Repentigny — historic and denser sector, near the river Le Gardeur — more suburban, large family homes Budget on average $950 to $1,250 per month for a 4½. Single family rental homes are rare — most residents are homeowners. In Quebec, every lease uses the official form from the Tribunal administratif du logement. The standard rental period runs July 1 to June 3...
Housing|Repentigny|June 18, 2026
Parks, Leisure and Culture in Repentigny
The Centre culturel Desjardins, Cité du sport, parks and activities in Repentigny.
Repentigny has about 86,000 residents (2021 census) — projected 90,000+ . A city with a remarkable cultural life for its size. The Centre d'art Diane Dufresne (opened November 2015 ) is the main hall for exhibitions and cultural programming : 1,365 m² Exhibition hall for contemporary art Multifunctional hall for shows Cultural mediation room Teaching area Annual programming: exhibitions, concer...
Culture & leisure|Repentigny|June 27, 2026
First Steps in Repentigny
City services, essentials and landmarks for settling in Repentigny.
Repentigny is a city in the Lanaudière region, east of Montreal, with about 86,000 residents (2021 census) and a projection around 90,000 . It comprises two main sectors: Repentigny , the historic sector near the river, and Le Gardeur , more suburban with large family homes. Located at the confluence of the Saint Laurent river and the L'Assomption river , it offers a family friendly setting wit...
First steps|Repentigny|June 27, 2026
Public Transit in Repentigny: exo and OPUS
The exo buses and options for getting to Montreal from Repentigny.
Repentigny is served by exo, Greater Montreal's regional train and bus network. In Repentigny, service is mainly provided by express bus lines connecting the city to Radisson metro in east end Montreal, in about 30 minutes at rush hour. Several express and local bus routes serve Repentigny. Express buses to Montreal leave from several park and ride lots , notably at exit 22 of Highway 40. Check...
Daily life|Repentigny|May 15, 2026
Guides specific to your city
198 guides across 7 regions — pick yours:
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First Steps in Quebec
Your first steps after arrival — housing, SIN, banking, phone.
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Paperwork Simplified
Documents, official cards, government formalities.
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Work & Career
Finding a job, Quebec-style résumé, French interviews.
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Daily Life
Transport, local services, health, everyday life.
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Local Resources
Communities, welcome services, neighborhood resources.
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Greater Montreal is the entry point for most newcomers to Quebec. The region covers Montreal, the metropolis, and its ring: Laval to the north, Longueuil and Brossard on the South Shore, Terrebonne and Repentigny in the northern crown. It has the largest job market in the province, the densest public-transit network — metro, REM, exo commuter trains — and the widest choice of housing, from downtown to family suburbs. This section gathers the bilingual guides for settling in Greater Montreal: finding housing and signing a lease, getting around with the OPUS card, registering children for school and accessing healthcare. Whether you are drawn to the energy of Montreal or the calm of the suburbs, you will find the steps explained one at a time, city by city.