Moving to Montreal...
Just need some info about moving to Montreal...
N Posts: 1
Bonjour!
I've recently been thinking about making the move to Canada, with Montreal top of the list.
I've been living in Australia for almost 2 years now and feel the time has come to move on.
I've met a fair few Canadians during my travels and have to say they were a friendly and intelligent bunch.
So I've made the decision to make a new start there probably around July/August this year.
My questions are:
Working in IT (web/software development/management), will it be difficult to get work?
I have intermediate level French, but it's my aim to become fluent.
I've worked in IT for about 3 years now.
Also, I'm Irish and 25 years old. I'm guessing a visa should be easy to get?
What areas/neighborhoods do people recommend.
I'm basically looking for somewhere fairly central, easy for going out, etc.
I like French/European style architecture, so that would be a bonus!
Cheers,
Nigel Reply to this
I've recently been thinking about making the move to Canada, with Montreal top of the list.
I've been living in Australia for almost 2 years now and feel the time has come to move on.
I've met a fair few Canadians during my travels and have to say they were a friendly and intelligent bunch.
So I've made the decision to make a new start there probably around July/August this year.
My questions are:
Working in IT (web/software development/management), will it be difficult to get work?
I have intermediate level French, but it's my aim to become fluent.
I've worked in IT for about 3 years now.
Also, I'm Irish and 25 years old. I'm guessing a visa should be easy to get?
What areas/neighborhoods do people recommend.
I'm basically looking for somewhere fairly central, easy for going out, etc.
I like French/European style architecture, so that would be a bonus!
Cheers,
Nigel Reply to this
B Posts: 77
Hey Nigel:
Great choice. I haven't lived in Montreal for over 20 years, but I was born and raised there and get back a few times a year.
It should not be difficult to find work in IT in Montreal. It is one of the industries where not being fluent in French is usually not a handicap, but of course you should mention your aim to become fluent. I think a visa should be a formality - but get on it right away - it will take some time. Most of the IT type jobs in Montreal are located within easy access to the metro (subway) so you probably will need not live near where you work. You are likely to end up working somewhere west or northwest of downtown as that is where much of the IT work is done, but you may want to live in the centre-east area as rent is cheaper and the nightlife surrounds you. The predominantly English speaking bars and pubs downtown are centred around Crescent and Bishop streets. As you move east from there, the more French it gets, and the cheaper the rents get. Good luck. Reply to this
Great choice. I haven't lived in Montreal for over 20 years, but I was born and raised there and get back a few times a year.
It should not be difficult to find work in IT in Montreal. It is one of the industries where not being fluent in French is usually not a handicap, but of course you should mention your aim to become fluent. I think a visa should be a formality - but get on it right away - it will take some time. Most of the IT type jobs in Montreal are located within easy access to the metro (subway) so you probably will need not live near where you work. You are likely to end up working somewhere west or northwest of downtown as that is where much of the IT work is done, but you may want to live in the centre-east area as rent is cheaper and the nightlife surrounds you. The predominantly English speaking bars and pubs downtown are centred around Crescent and Bishop streets. As you move east from there, the more French it gets, and the cheaper the rents get. Good luck. Reply to this
B Posts: 76
Ah, Montreal. What a fantastic city.
Based on my friends who are completing their "before-30" checklists, it should be fairly easy to get IT work despite your non-fluency en francais.
I lived for several years in Montreal, and I lived mostly central. The areas I've lived: just west of the McGill campus (downtown or centre-ville), Quartier Latin and le Plateau.
I adored the Plateau...rents can be a bit pricey but there are still some good deals to be had. Many of the buildings are older with the post-card Montreal image of the spiraling staircase. I lived on Coloniale for a while, great street! Lots of students though! But if architecture is your thing, you'll love the Plateau.
I also lived near the corner of Amherst and Ontario, which is in the Quartier Latin...great option with groceries, a veggie market and bakery, several choices of buses and metro stops (Berri, Sherbrooke, Beaudry), close to St Denis and St Laurent (yay awesome restaurant's and great bars!)
Living closer to Cresent and Bishop is quite a bit more pricey, unless you decide to head towards NDG, which is a bit of a bus-ride or metro ride but some great deals for apartments can be found there.
I find that the further you get away from the McGill University campus, the cheaper the rents. A few years back there was a bit of a housing crisis and rental prices near the university went up dramatically.
July/August, eh? What an awesome time to be in Montreal. Fireworks, comedy fest, fringe fest, movie fest...so much fun!!! Reply to this
Based on my friends who are completing their "before-30" checklists, it should be fairly easy to get IT work despite your non-fluency en francais.
I lived for several years in Montreal, and I lived mostly central. The areas I've lived: just west of the McGill campus (downtown or centre-ville), Quartier Latin and le Plateau.
I adored the Plateau...rents can be a bit pricey but there are still some good deals to be had. Many of the buildings are older with the post-card Montreal image of the spiraling staircase. I lived on Coloniale for a while, great street! Lots of students though! But if architecture is your thing, you'll love the Plateau.
I also lived near the corner of Amherst and Ontario, which is in the Quartier Latin...great option with groceries, a veggie market and bakery, several choices of buses and metro stops (Berri, Sherbrooke, Beaudry), close to St Denis and St Laurent (yay awesome restaurant's and great bars!)
Living closer to Cresent and Bishop is quite a bit more pricey, unless you decide to head towards NDG, which is a bit of a bus-ride or metro ride but some great deals for apartments can be found there.
I find that the further you get away from the McGill University campus, the cheaper the rents. A few years back there was a bit of a housing crisis and rental prices near the university went up dramatically.
July/August, eh? What an awesome time to be in Montreal. Fireworks, comedy fest, fringe fest, movie fest...so much fun!!! Reply to this
N Posts: 1
I am also moving to Montreal in 2012. I am giving myself enough time to save money, learn french, and learn Canadian culture. It will be the greatest adventure of my life. I have lived in Florida, United States most of my life. I am ready for a change.
My career is IT..I have 15+ years experience, along with 18 computer/network certifications. I am wondering about work in Montreal, that is my biggest worry. For the past 7 years I have worked in Healthcare; I would like to continue working for hospitals if possible. Does anyone know what work is like for Healthcare IT people?
My career is IT..I have 15+ years experience, along with 18 computer/network certifications. I am wondering about work in Montreal, that is my biggest worry. For the past 7 years I have worked in Healthcare; I would like to continue working for hospitals if possible. Does anyone know what work is like for Healthcare IT people?
[Edited: 23:23 - MrNetTek ]
Reply to thisB Posts: 77
Generally IT jobs do not require that you are fluent in French (but always tell them that you are going to work on becoming fluent in French). But you may find that it is difficult to get a job in IT in most hospitals in Montreal if you are not fluent in French. Some hospitals are more English-speaking than others although they are all supposed to operate mainly in French. The more English speaking ones are The Royal Victoria (downtown), The Jewish General (central) and the Lakeshore General (in Pointe Claire - a western suburb). Good luck. Reply to this
N Posts: 1
I live in Montreal for 6 years now and I moved several times within different areas, Plateau Mont Royal is my favorite. Kinda hard to find decent moving companies around. I used these guys 3 times, really good and not too expensive Montreal Movers.
[Edited: 2011 May 16 23:53 - Phil Leblanc:199560 ]
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N Posts: 1