Services

Find a cell phone provider, bank, and more

Moving to a new city involves more than just hunting down a place to live — you may need to find a bank, a daycare service or even your neighborhood post office. Our mini-guide can't possibly list the thousands of service providers that dot the city, but it's a good place to start.

Banking

Once you arrive in Montreal, you may want to set up a local bank account near either the Downtown or Macdonald campus (see more information below). Most banks offer student accounts, but make sure to ask bank representatives about service fees, transaction quotas, free services (i.e. internet and phone banking), credit card options, and any other information you'll need to make the best decision about where to open your account. 


Near the Downtown campus

All of the banks listed below are within walking distance of McGill’s downtown campus. The Royal Bank has several ATMs (Automated Teller Machines) located on campus and the Scotia Bank has an ATM in the Students' Society's Shatner University Centre on McTavish Street (open during building operating hours).  To learn more about the various student bank plans, click on each bank’s link below.

Bank of Montreal
Bank of Nova Scotia
National Bank of Canada
Royal Bank
TD Bank

CIBC
Tangerine

Near the Macdonald Campus

The Bank of Montreal and the National Bank of Canada have branches located in the vicinity of the Macdonald Campus, and the Royal Bank has an ATM machine in Laird Hall, a residence on Macdonald campus.

For more information on banking options near the Macdonald campus, consult the list of branches below:

  • CIBC
    An ATM is available on the campus of John Abbott College.
  • National Bank
    An ATM is available near campus located at 33, Saint-Pierre, Ste-Anne-De-Bellevue
  • Royal Bank
    An ATM is available directly on campus in the Department of Bioresource Engineering.

Cell Phone

Before purchasing a cell phone, check out SSMU Marketplace, as students are often looking to sell their old cell phones or transfer their contracts. This can help you both find an inexpensive phone and avoid costly activation charges.

Cell phone companies such as Bell Mobility, Rogers, TELUS, Fido, Koodo and Virgin Mobile offer cell phone coverage across Montreal.

The Phone Booth is a store that offers phones and plans from different companies. They can advise you on the best plan to take according to your needs and usage.

Internet

Internet: you can try living without it (as a McGill student, you'll have free high-speed wifi on campus), but if you prefer to stay connected at home too, here are some local Internet providers you can turn to. Prices and availability of options may vary depending on where you live.

Bell
Cogeco
Rogers
Videotron
Bravo Telecom
Virgin

Apartment Insurance

Living off-campus and thinking about insuring your valuables? Thanks to a plan negotiated by the McGill Alumni Association, McGill students benefit from preferential insurance rates offered by the TD Insurance Meloche Monnex program. To learn more about student insurance premiums, contact them through their website or by phone at 1-877-536-7755.

Daycare

Most Quebec daycares are subsidized by the government and only cost $8.05 per day. Space is limited however, and applicants for subsidized childcare are often placed on waiting lists, so be sure to make daycare inquiries as soon as possible. Learn more about Quebec’s daycare system .
 
If you are not eligible for subsidized daycare or are having difficulty securing a place for your child, private daycares are also available throughout the city.

McGill-affiliated childcare services

  • McGill Childcare Centre
    This centre accepts children who are between 4 months and 5 years old. Parents must be full-time McGill students, staff members and/or faculty. Visit their website for more information.
  • SSMU Daycare
    Operated by the Students' Society of McGill University, this centre cares for children between 18 months and 5 years old, and first priority is given to the children of undergraduate students. Children of graduate students, staff and faculty members may be accepted if the needs of undergraduate students have been met.
  • Macdonald Campus Daycare
    This service accommodates the children of students enrolled in classes on the Macdonald Campus. For more information, call 514-505-3770.

Family Resources Coordinator

The Family Resources Coordinator assist students with family responsibilities (planning to have children, with children, caring for a dependent) via information, referrals, support, workshops, activities, research, and advocacy.

Call 514-398-5645 or family.coordinator [at] mcgill.ca (send an email).
link to website

 

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