Tips for new residents at Montreal (downtown)

How to enjoy winter?

- snowshoes and cross country skies: you can rent the equipment $10/day, $30/week at McGill gym. They also have 3-hour intro classes at ~$30 with rental included. The tracks are maintained Dec-March, it's free to go to one of "grand parcs" of Montreal. Including Mont Royal, right behind the school, or Angrignon park, La Fontaine etc... (You might want to consider joining McGill or Montreal Outdoor Club to find company)

- At these parks, also ice skating is free (on frozen lakes). Rental is optional.

- At Old port, there's quay, where you can skate with music and fireworks ($6 for rink)

- snowboarding, skiing through McGill snowboard club. $90/year membership, and all your skiing needs taken care of! (discounted lift ticket etc)

- you must buy snow boots. $50 or more, it will cost.

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Best grocery store

Marche Lobo - cheap, and they carry pesticide-free mushrooms from Quebec
http://www.yelp.ca/biz/marche-lobo-montreal

"SEGAL’s: Cheapest in the whole city. Not great for fresh produce (although it’s cheap), but everything else is a bargain price. Noisiest. Least clean. But the savings! Huge selection of packaged organic goods at amazing prices. 4001 St. Laurent, East side just south of Duluth. The sign just says “Epicerie”. Closed Sundays. 845-4716" or try this http://urbanhaven.ca/guides/groceries

metro, provigo etc, they all have different places, depending on which part of city.

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Pharmacy

the prices all differ, highest in downtown, and cheaper as you go further away.
Pharmaprix > Uniprix > Provigo
for the price and selection range.
I like provigo on Du Parc and Sherbrooke, the pharmacists are very caring, and spend time to answer your questions and recommend products (not blind recommendation, but with lots of explanations and specific details.)

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Conversion between US and Canada stores

K-mart, target <-> Zellers
all the cheap stuff you can buy.
target, hardward <-> Canadian tire.
you can fill up your house with stuff from Canadian tire easily.

Don't forget Dollar stores (Dollarama)

Bodyshop <-> Fruits and passion

Staples <-> Bureau en gros

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Piano - you can practice in music library.

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Viandal - they sell best meat, and deliver, if more than $20.
closed on Sunday. Call before 1pm for delivery on the same day.
phone 514-766-9906, 766-0100 fax 4692
550 ave de l'eglise, verdun, QC, H4G 2M4
viandalcharcuterie@bellnet.ca

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(follow me on http://jihyeseo.yelp.ca for other recommendations)

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Best dentist (for pgss plan)


Clinique Dentaire La Cité
Dr. Donald Collins
Place du Parc 300 Leo Pariseau Street, Suite 920, Montréal, QC, H2X 4B3
(514) 288-8531

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Permanent residency application (free service)
http://permanentresidency.ca/services

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