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General Information

We are looking forward to seeing you in Montreal for the MAF 2025 Conference!

We invite you to visit this website regularly, as more information becomes available.

In the meantime, here are some tips & tools to better prepare for your stay in Montreal:

Venue

Mont Royal Center  
2200 Mansfield St  
Montréal, Qc  
H3A 3R8, Canada

https://centremontroyal.com/

CMR

Language

French and English are Canada's two official languages. French is the predominant language in the province of Québec. However, most, if not all, banks, hotels, airline offices, shops, and key visitor attractions have multilingual staff.

The official language of the congress is English. All abstract submissions and presentations must be in English. Simultaneous translation will not be available.

Visa & Letter of Invitation

Some participants may require a visa to enter Canada. For more information click here.

Upon request, the secretariat of the MAF 2025 Conference will send an invitation letter. This letter is meant only to verify the name, dates, location and purpose of the conference to obtain a visa or travel funds. This letter is in no way a commitment to the participant on the part of the organizing committee.

Insurance

The Conference Secretariat and organizers cannot be held liable for personal accidents, loss of or damage to private property of the congress participants and accompanying persons, either during, or directly arising from the MAF 2025 Conference. Participants should make their own arrangements for health and travel insurance.

Visitors are not covered by Canadian health insurance plans. Check with your personal medical plan before leaving your home country to ensure you have adequate travel insurance.

Clothing & Weather

The dress code for the congress is informal for all occasions.

The average temperatures in Montreal during the month of August are generally between 17°C at night and 26°C during the day.

Village
Raphaël Thibodeau

Currency, Banking, ATM & Credit Cards

The currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD).

Foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks and at foreign currency exchange offices either at the Airport or at other locations throughout the city.

Bank debit or credit cards are the most convenient means of getting cash at the many Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs). ATMs are spread throughout the city and accept cards with the Interac, Plus, and Cirrus networks. Most are in operation 24 hours a day/7 days a week.

Most businesses accept U.S. currency and traveler’s cheque, as well as major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express).

Sales Taxes

There is a 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST) in effect in Canada and a Provincial Sales Tax (PST) of 9.975% in the Province of Québec, for a combined tax rate of 14.975%. These taxes are applicable to most items and are not refundable. An additional 3,5% is also applicable on hotel accommodation. 

Electricity

The electrical current is the same as in the United States: 110 volts AC at 60Hz. Adapters are required for electrical devices from other countries.

Time Zone

Montréal is in the Eastern Standard Time Zone (EST) (UTC-05:00). Eastern Daylight Saving Time (EDST) (UTC-04:00) is in effect from March to November.

Useful Links & Maps

Montréal’s official Web site and the official tourist site of the government of Québec contain up-to-date tourist information, including information about public transportation and maps.

www.tourisme-montreal.com

www.quebecoriginal.com

Strategic Location

Montréal is easy to reach by plane, car or train. It is about an hour-and-a-half by plane from New York, Detroit or Toronto.

By Plane

The Pierre Ellliott Trudeau International Airport is 20 km from the city centre.  It is used by more than 14.8 million passengers every year travelling to and from North American, South American and European destinations.

Travel is convenient, with direct flights from Paris, Ottawa, Toronto, and all major U.S. East-coast cities: Boston, Detroit, New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.

There are many flights from U.S. cities and from all major Canadian cities, as well as numerous departures every day from many countries with only one connection. 

Airport Transfers

The Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport is 20 km from the centre of the city. Public transportation is available. 

The 747 bus service runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, between the Montréal-Trudeau airport and the central bus station (Gare d'autocars de Montréal - Berri-UQAM métro station). The bus fare is CAD 11$ and can be purchased via the Chrono or Transit apps at the airport or cash with exact change (no paper bills) in the bus. The closest stop from the venue is the Mansfield bus stop. 

Taxi fare from the airport to the city centre is a flat fee of $49,45 CA (5:00AM-11:00PM) or $56,70 CA (11:00PM-5:00AM). Major credit cards are accepted.

Travel time may vary between 45 to 60 minutes, depending on traffic conditions.

Airlines

Air Canada 
Reservations: +1 888 247 2262  
Information: +1 888 422 7533

Porter Airlines
Reservations: +1 888 619 8622

United Airlines 
Reservations: +1 800 538 2929 (International) / +1 800 864 8331 (Domestic)

WestJet 
Reservations: +1 888 937 8538 (1 888 WESTJET)

US Airways
Reservations: +1 888 240 4770

American Airlines   
Reservations: +1 800 433 7300

Delta
Reservations: +1 800 241 4141 (International) / +1 800 221 1212 (Domestic)

Air Transat 
Reservations: +1 866 255 4871

By Train

The Montréal train station serves the downtown area. Via Rail Canada offers daily service between Toronto, Ottawa, and Québec City. 

By Bus

The Montréal main bus terminal is about 2 km from the Mount Royal Center. The Orléans Express Network serves many cities and there are many connections to Montréal from many cities.

By Car

Highway 20 (autoroute Jean-Lesage) runs along the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, and Highway 40 (autoroute Félix-Leclerc) is the north shore access to the city. For delegates from northeastern U.S., or eastern and central Canada, car travel is a viable option. The province’s 4,500-km highway network is among the most developed in Canada and links Montréal to the rest of Canada and the United States.

Parking

Mount Royal Center offers access to a large underground parking lot. Accessible via Metcalfe Street, the indoor parking has a daily rate of CAD 20$/day (in 2024).

Street parking spaces may be purchased on the street parking terminals or on the P$ Service Mobile app. The hourly rate for street parking varies across areas but is set at 4,25$/hour in most of the city centre. The Agence de mobilité durable Montréal's website offers more information on street parking and municipal parking lots

Other parking options may be compared on Parkopedia's website.

Montréal public transit

The Mount Royal Center offers underground access to the Peel metro station Monday-Friday from 7am to 7pm. The station can be accessed from the street outside of this schedule. 

The city of Montréal and the Société de Transport de Montréal (STM) offer a variety of public transit options on the island. 

  • Metro and bus itineraries may be researched on STM's website and the buses' geolocation are available in real time on the Chrono and Transit apps. 
  • The location of the bike stations and the number of bikes available at each station in real time may be researched on the BIXI website and on the BIXI app.

Taxis

Taxi Diamond  
Tel.: 514 273 6331  
Website : https://taxidiamond.com/particulier/commande-taxi

Taxi Coop Montréal  
Tel.: 514 667 8960  
Website : reservations@taxi-coop.com

Taxi Champlain  
Tel.: 514 271 1111  
Website : directors@taxichamplain.qc.ca

Drug Regulation

On October 17, 2018, the Cannabis Act and a number of supporting regulations and ministerial orders came into force, legalizing and strictly regulating the sale, possession and production of cannabis in Canada. Please note that despite this new law, it is illegal to enter or leave Canada in possession of cannabis or products derived from cannabis.