Greater Montreal

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 emplo...

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...

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 French...

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...

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 s...

Centre de la nature, urban parks, bike paths and winter activities in Laval.

The Centre de la nature, in the Saint Vincent de Paul sector, is Laval's largest urban park. It spans about 50 hectares with a lake, walking trails, picnic areas, a farm with animals, a greenhouse, and an outdoor climbing wall. In summer, you can rent paddle boats; in winter, the lake freezes into a skating rink. Entry is free, and parking too. Laval has over 200 neighbourhood parks. A few wort...

Everything you need to start life in Laval: city services, essential errands, neighbourhood landmarks.

Laval is Quebec's third largest city after Montreal and Quebec City, with over 440,000 residents. It sits on an island — île Jésus — directly north of Montreal, connected by several bridges. Laval is a modern city with large shopping centres like Carrefour Laval, schools, hospitals, and quick metro access to downtown Montreal. Laval City Hall is the main entry point for municipal services: perm...

How to use the STL bus network and the metro to get around Laval and into Montreal.

In Laval, public transit relies on two complementary networks. The STL, Société de transport de Laval, runs the local buses covering all of Laval. Montreal's metro — the orange line — has three stations in Laval that reach downtown Montreal in about twenty minutes. The OPUS card pays for all networks in Greater Montreal. The orange line crosses Laval with three stations: Cartier — near the brid...