Why choose Montréal? Where should we begin?!

Let's start with some interesting facts about Montréal:

• Montréal is the largest city in the Canadian province of Quebec.
• Montréal is the second-largest city in Canada.
• Montréal was initially called Ville-Marie (City of Mary). It was in 1775 that the city became known by its original name.
• The official language of Montréal, as defined by the city's charter, is French.
• Montréal is one of the five largest French-speaking cities in the world.
• In 2007, Forbes Magazine ranked Montréal as the 10^th cleanest city in the world.
• Montréal's population crossed the 1 million mark in 1950.
• Montréal hosted the Summer Olympics in 1976.
• Montréal is home to an "Underground City", a climate-controlled labyrinth of 2000 shops, spread over an area of 18 miles.
• In Montréal, the English speakers are known as Anglophones.
• After New York, Montréal has the highest number of restaurants, per capita, in North America.

Famous for its joie de vivre, Montréal has also acquired an international reputation for its innovative cuisine that combines flavors and influences from around the world, and for its major festivals every season that celebrate jazz, cinema, bright lights, humor, and even snow! Montréal is truly a city that never sleeps!

Montréal is a safe and clean city where the living is healthy. With its many skating rinks, ski trails and cycling paths, golf courses and even the majestic waters of the Saint Lawrence River in its backyard, Montréal is a haven for sports enthusiasts and nature lovers who can engage in their favorite activities year round.  Right in the heart of the city!

Come to Montréal and enjoy the charms of every season!

Cultural Life

Museums

Montréal has a vast network of museums, art galleries and exhibition centers, including the world-renowned Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, the Musée d'art contemporain, the Canadian Center for Architecture (CCA), the McCord Museum and the Saidye Bronfman Center.

The city is also home to a number of science museums. Many of them are located in the Olympic Park complex, including the Montreal Biodôme, the Insectarium, the Botanical Garden and the Planetarium.

Music

Music lovers couldn't ask for more in Montréal. The Montreal Symphony Orchestra has built a reputation as one of the world's foremost orchestras through its prestigious concert tours and first-rate recordings. The Opéra de Montréal is famous for its interpretations of the best-loved masterpieces from the operatic repertoire. And for a more intimate musical experience, lovers of classical music have the choice from an array of concerts year round by top-notch orchestras, such as the Orchestre de Musique Baroque and the Orchestre métropolitain.

The downtown area comes alive in summertime as Montrealers and visitors take to the streets for a variety of musical events, including the Montréal International Jazz Festival and the FrancoFolies.

Dance
The Montréal area is a true hub for innovation in contemporary and classical dance. Internationally recognized companies, such as the Grands Ballets canadiens, rub shoulders with avant-garde dance troupes the likes of La La La Human Steps, O Vertigo, the Margie Gillis Dance Company and the Fondation Jean-Pierre Perreault.

Cinema
Montréal boasts several major film festivals, such as the Montréal World Film Festival, the International Festival of Films on Art, the International Festival of New Cinema and New Media, the Festival du cinéma africain et créole and the Festival du film scientifique.

Cinema buffs can also take advantage of several cinema complexes that feature original productions from here and abroad. Repertory cinema and art films take center stage at the Cinémathèque québécoise and the Complexe Ex-Centris. Montréal is also the headquarters of the National Film Board of Canada (NFB).

Cost of Living

Quality of Life at an Affordable Price
One of Montréal's most valuable assets is its low cost of living. Compared to other major world metropolises, the cost of living in Montréal is among the lowest. Housing is readily available at competitive prices and purchasing power in the city is high.

Foreign workers who settle in Montréal may also benefit from these services. From a fiscal standpoint, they are entitled to the same personal exemptions that apply to Québec taxpayers, as well as to exemptions in respect of taxes paid abroad. In addition, foreign researchers and experts who conduct research and development in a company are entitled to a five-year tax holiday on provincial income taxes.

Sports and the Great Outdoors

Athletes and nature lovers alike have all they could wish for in Montréal. In summer, the region is transformed into an immense outdoor playground. With over 100 outdoor swimming pools and three public beaches, hundreds of miles of cycling and walking paths and an almost endless array of golf and tennis courses, some right in the heart of the city, not to mention the countless parks and wide-open green spaces, Montréal has something for all tastes and talents!

Just ten minutes from the downtown area, thrill seekers can take to the majestic waters of the Saint Lawrence River on an exhilarating rafting excursion or enjoy a relaxing cruise on a warm summer day. Living in Montréal also means getting the most from the many lakes and rivers a short drive from the city that provide an ideal backdrop for fishing, swimming or just taking a break.

In winter, many Montrealers lace up their skates and take part in good clean hockey fun on one of the city's many indoor skating rinks. Nature lovers enjoy hours of skating pleasure in the crisp, clean winter air on a frozen pond in their neighborhood park or under the magical lights at the Bonsecours Basin Skating Rink in the enchanting Old Port of Montréal. Ski and snowshoeing enthusiasts can take to the paths in Mount Royal Park or take advantage of 700 km (450 miles) of cross-country skiing and snowmobiling trails a mere two hours from the city.