SOME NOTES OF INTEREST

1. Canadian Currency
2. Refund for goods and services tax
3. Bus and Metro (subway) network
4. Highly recommended and free
5. Travel to Montréal by air
6. Travel to Canada by US citizens
7. Travel to Montréal from the USA by automobile
8. Authentic Canadian Souvenirs
9. Conference map
10. Hospitality suite

1. In Canada the distances and currency are metric:

   1 mile = 1.61 kilometers (km) = 1610 meters (m) or 1 km = 0.62 mile
   
   

   $ 1.00 US = $ 1.55 CDN or $ 1.00 CDN = $ 0.64 US (currency converter)

2. As a non-resident visitor, you can claim a refund for goods and services tax (GST) and the harmonized sales tax (HST) you paid on eligible goods and/or short term accommodation while visiting Canada.
   
   A non-resident visitor qualifies for a tax refund if the following conditions are met:

   you are not a resident of Canada;
   

   you purchased eligible goods, short term accommodation or both;
   

   you paid GST/HST on these purchases;
   

   you have original receipts (see Proof of export)
   

   the total of your purchase amounts (before taxes) for eligible goods and
   accommodation must be at least CDN$ 200;
   

   each individual receipt for eligible goods shows a minimum total purchase amount (before taxes) of CDN$ 50;
   
   

   http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/tax/nonresidents/visitors/tax-e.html
   
   

   As a non-resident business traveller to Canada, you can claim a refund for the Goods and Services Tax and Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST), as well as provincial sales tax in the province of Quebec (TVQ), you pay on eligible short-term accommodation.
   
   

   http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/tax/nonresidents/visitors/voyage-e.html
   
   

3. Unlimited access to the Montreal bus and metro (subway) network is available to visitors who purchase a tourist card:
   
   

   cost for 1 day: $ 7.00 CDN ($ 4.50 US)
   
   

   cost for 3 consecutive days: $ 14.00 CDN ($ 9.00 US)
   
   

   http://www.stcum.qc.ca/English/info/a-cartet.htm

4. Highly recommended and free:

   1. Take an evening stroll along St. Catherine Street from St. Denis Street to Atwater Avenue and back.
      
      
   2. Take an evening stroll along St. Denis Street from René Lévesque Street to Sherbrooke Street and back.
      
      
   3. Take an evening stroll along Crescent Street from St. Catherine Street to Sherbrooke Street and back.
      
      
   4. Take an evening stroll through Place Jacques Cartier, Old Port and St. Paul Street in Old Montreal.
      
      
   5. Observe the fireworks display from the Old Port or Jacques Cartier Bridge on
      
      Saturday, July 13 at 10 P.M. (presented by Canada) and
      
      Wednesday, July 17 at 10 P.M. (presented by the USA).
      
      

5. Travel to Montréal by air

   Montréal is served by two international airports: Dorval and Mirabel. Dorval is used for all domestic and international commercial flights to Montréal; Mirabel is used for charter flights.
   
   Passengers on international flights will clear immigration and customs at the Dorval airport.
   
   Montréal hotels can be reached from Dorval airport by taxi (about $30 CDN) or by airport bus which offers shuttle service into town. The shuttle from Dorval runs about every half hour and stops at Le Centre Sheraton, the Marriott, Le Reine Elizabeth, and the Voyageur terminal. It costs $11 CDN one way or $19.75 CDN for round-trip.
   
   Canadian currency can be purchased at the airport excahnge bureau in the international arrivals lobby or in any of the numerous currency exchange offices in downtown Montréal. Banks also provide currency exchange services.

6. Travel to Canada by US citizens

   Please make sure that you carry proper documents for entering Canada:
   
   (1) valid passport or (2) original of US birth certificate together with a photo I.D.

7. Travel to Montréal from the USA by automobile

   Visitors will most likely arrive to the US-Canada border crossing on one of the South-North Interstate Expressways:
   
   I-81 (through Syracuse, NY)
   I-87 (through Albany, NY)
   I-89 (through Burlington, VT)
   I-91 (through St. Johnsbury, VT)
   
   I-81 North
   
   I-81 North ends on the US-Canada (New York-Ontario) border where it runs into the HWY 401.

   1. Take HWY 401 EAST to the Ontario-Quebec border (160 km) where it becomes Autoroute 20.
   2. Take Autoroute 20 EST to Montréal (90 km). Stay on the Autoroute 20 EST and enter the Montréal island through municipalities Dorion, Pincourt, and Ile Perrot. Continue past Dorval airport to HWY 720 EST.
   3. Take HWY 720 EST to the Rue de la Montagne exit.
   4. Take the Rue de la Montagne exit, then Rue de la Montagne NORD to Rue St-Antoine.
   5. Turn right on Rue St-Antoine and continue for about 1/4 mile to the "Palais des Congrès" convention center. All AAPM hotels are in the vicinity of the convention center. Find your hotel, check-in, and park the car for the duration of your stay.

   I-87 North
   
   I-87 North ends on the US-Canada (New York-Quebec) border where it becomes Autoroute 15.

   1. Take Autoroute 15 NORD and enter the Montréal Island over the Pont (Bridge) Champlain across the St-Lawrence river (Fleuve St-Laurent).
   2. Immediately after crossing the Champlain bridge take the Downtown (Centre-Ville) exit, i.e., Autoroute 10 OUEST.
   3. Stay on Autoroute 10 OUEST till its end (about 1 mile) and continue on Rue University through 3 traffic lights.
   4. At the third traffic light turn right on Rue St-Antoine and continue to the "Palais des Congrès" convention center (about 1/5 mile). All AAPM hotels are in the vicinity of the convention center. Find your hotel, check-in, and park the car for the duration of your stay.

   I-89 North
   
   I-89 North becomes HWY 133 at the US-Canada (Vermont-Quebec) border

   1. Stay on HWY 133 until you reach Autoroute 35.
   2. Take Autoroute 35 to Autoroute 10.
   3. Take Autoroute 10 OUEST and enter the Montréal island over the Pont (Bridge) Champlain.
   4. After crossing the Champlain bridge stay on Autoroute 10 OUEST until it ends and continues as Rue University.
   5. Stay on Rue University through two traffic lights and turn right at the third light.
   6. You are now on Rue St-Antoine and you will reach the "Palais des Congrès" convention within (about 1/5 mile). All AAPM hotels are in the vicinity of the convention center. Find your hotel, check-in, and park the car for the duration of your stay.

   I-91 North
   
   I-91 North becomes Autoroute 55 on the US-Canada (Vermont-Quebec) border

   1. Take Autoroute 55 NORD to Autoroute 10.
   2. Take Autoroute 10 OUEST and enter the Montréal island over the Pont (Bridge) Champlain.
   3. After crossing the Champlain bridge stay on Autoroute 10 OUEST until it ends and continues as Rue University.
   4. Stay on Rue University through two traffic lights and turn right at the third light.
   5. You are now on Rue St-Antoine and you will reach the "Palais des Congrès" convention within (about 1/5 mile). All AAPM hotels are in the vicinity of the convention center. Find your hotel, check-in, and park the car for the duration of your stay.

   
   
   
   

8. Authentic Canadian Souvenirs
   
   The most durable and authentic Canadian Souvenirs are sculptures carved in stone or wood. The carvings are available in various specialized galeries in Old Montreal and Downtown Montreal. They are not cheap, and their price depends on the artist and the size of the sculpture, however, they provide lasting enjoyment to owners and turn into family heirlooms for future generations.
   
   
   
   
   
   1. Inuit (Eskimo) sculptures (carved in soapstone).
      
      Examples:
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
   2. Iroquois (Indian) Sculptures (carved in steatite)
      
      Examples:
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
   3. Wood carvings from Quebec
      
      Examples:
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
9. Conference map to:
   
   
   
   1. Montreal AAPM/COMP hotels
   2. Conference registration at the Palais des congrès (Viger Hall; entrance at 201 rue Viger)
   3. Basilica Notre Dame (110 rue Notre Dame Ouest) for the "Evening out" event on July 16, 2002 at 6:15 P.M.
   
   download map here
   
   
   
10. Hospitality Suite for companions will be located at the Palais des congrès in Room 510 A/C. Enter through the Palais main entrance on rue deBleury and take two escalators up to level 5. A tour desk operated by Maestro Plus will be located in front of the Hospitality suite to offer on site registration for AAPM tours. Opening hours for the hospitality suitte will be:
    
    12 Noon - 5:00PM Saturday, July 13.
    8:00AM - 5:00PM Sunday,Monday,Tuesday
    8:00AM - 11:00AM Wednesday, July 17.