
Accommodation for Newcomers in Saint-Laurent, Quebec
Accommodation for Newcomers in Saint-Laurent, Quebec
New immigrants arriving in Saint-Laurent, Quebec have a tough task ahead of them. It is the same around the world. When you land in a new country you have to do everything in one go, and this includes finding someplace to live in Saint-Laurent, Quebec.
Usually, accommodation for newcomers in Saint-Laurent, Quebec is done on a short-term basis. Once the newcomer and their family have a better idea of where they want to live in Saint-Laurent, Quebec then they’ll usually move a second or third time until they are finally settled. It is the same in Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada as in virtually every place in the world.
Saint-Laurent, Quebec is well known the world over for being extremely welcoming to new migrants to Canada. It’s a charming place with plenty or heritage. All newcomers to Saint-Laurent, Quebec need to know some of the culture and heritage.
Saint-Laurent (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃ lɔʁɑ̃]) is a borough of the city of Montreal, Canada, located in the northern part of the island. Although it is no longer an independent city, it is still commonly known as Ville Saint-Laurent (City of Saint-Laurent) or by its initials, VSL.
Saint-Laurent is the largest of Montreal’s boroughs by land area. Its population was 98,828 inhabitants in 2016.
The history of Saint-Laurent begins in the end of the 17th century with the settling of the lands given by Maisonneuve, first governor of Montreal, then by the Sulpicians, lords of Montreal’s island, to Jean Descarie. His three sons were the first to settle on the lands of Cote Saint-Laurent in 1687. After the signing of the Great Peace of Montreal in 1701, 19 other settlers joined them and built a chapel the next year.
On September 20, 1720, Saint-Laurent was founded as the Parish of Saint-Laurent. On March 3, 1722, its territory was defined, it then had 29 scattered dwellings. On August 10, 1735, a new church was erected next to the intersection of Montée Saint-Laurent (future Sainte-Croix boulevard) and Chemin de la Côte-Vertu. Its central location in the parish, halfway between the Côte Saint-Laurent and the Côte Notre-Dame, facilitating access, will become the heart of a village. Indeed, it was along Montée Saint-Laurent, the axis linking Ville-Marie to the North Shore, that the first businesses developed, notably inns and blacksmiths to serve travellers.
By 1740, all the lands administered by the Sulpicians were granted to settlers. 162 families lived there in 1765. After the cession of New France to Great Britain, Saint-Laurent experienced no population exodus and Scottish families joined the French Canadians. In 1825, the parish was the most populated on the Island of Montreal outside of those of the city of Montreal. It was then an agricultural village, market gardening being the specialty of the place.
In 1837, the church of Saint-Laurent, damaged by lightning in 1806, was rebuilt. On May 15 of the same year, Louis-Joseph Papineau made one of the most important speeches of his career there in front of his supporters gathered on the square.
The growth of the village began with the arrival of the Fathers of Sainte-Croix religious congregation in 1847. They built their Canadian headquarters around the church and then, in 1852, an educational establishment: the Industrial Academy. The prestigious reputation of this bilingual school, which took the name of Collège de Saint-Laurent, would make that of the village.
In 1885, the arrival of the Grand Trunk Railway between Saint-Laurent and Montreal attracted new industries complementing the exploitation of quarries which had been the main industry since 1860.
On February 27, 1893, the urbanized center of the parish obtained the status of city. There were then 225 houses for 1,225 inhabitants. During the 20th century, the parish was successively amputated of several territories, which would become the Town of Mount-Royal, Cartierville, as well as part of Dorval. The city of Saint-Laurent and the parish of Saint-Laurent will coexist until 1954 and the complete annexation of the latter.
In 1896, the Montreal Park and Island Railway Company tramway reached Saint-Laurent along the Grande-Allée-de-Florence (current Decarie Boulevard). The same year, at the instigation of the mayor and promoter Édouard Gohier, the city adopted an urban plan which grouped together the sectors of activity following the City Beautiful model. To attract Montreal families to the countryside, the establishment of certain polluting industries (slaughterhouses, distilleries, gasworks) was prohibited and the municipal territory was divided into deep plots bordered by wide tree-lined streets.
The city was modernized with the arrival of electric lighting in 1900 and a complete aqueduct system the following year. A town hall, which also served as a fire station, was built in 1912 on the site of the current Vieux-Saint-Laurent library. Ten years later, an hospital opened its doors.
On October 21, 1918, the Deux-Montagnes line of the Canadian Northern Railway, the first electrified railway line in Canada, directly linked Saint-Laurent to downtown Montreal. Three stations were built on the municipal territory: Vertu (renamed Montpellier), Monkland and Lazard (renamed Val-Royal then Bois-Franc), the terminus.
In 1911, an aerodrome, the Bois-Franc Field, was built west of the city. It became Cartierville airport. The aeronautical industry settled there in 1935 with the small factory of Noorduyn Aviation, joined in 1942 by that of Vickers which would become Canadair. It experienced considerable growth during World War II. Tens of thousands of workers took part in the war effort and a first residential suburb, the Norvick district (contraction of Noorduyn-vickers), was built on the model of garden cities to house some of them nearby.
After the war, Saint-Laurent experienced an unprecedented economic and demographic boom. While agriculture was gradually disappearing, the expanse of land available in the immediate vicinity of Dorval airport and the metropolitan and Décarie highways favored industrial development to such an extent that Saint-Laurent became the second industrial city in Quebec, behind Montreal. Alongside the factories, new suburbs structured for cars were developing to the north and west of the historic centre. The reconstruction, in 1957, of the Town Hall on new land to the west testifies to the displacement of the center of gravity of the city. In 1968, the College became the Cégep de Saint-Laurent. Two years later, an English-speaking public college opened its doors: Vanier College. In addition to bungalows, the 1960s and 1970s saw the construction of large modernist housing developments on the outskirts of the city.
Streetcars ceased to serve Saint-Laurent at the end of 1959 and were replaced by buses. On January 9, 1984, the metro replaced them with the opening of the Du Collège station. A second station, Côte-Vertu, opened at the end of 1986. Two more were then planned but did not see the light of day following the budgetary restrictions of the 1990s.
In the last decade of the 20th century, urban planning continued with projects inspired by new urbanism that gave pride of place to green spaces and bodies of water. An industrial park, Technoparc Montréal, was inaugurated in 1992 with the aim of attracting high-tech companies. Today, the Technoparc is Canada’s first science park. It is managed by the City of Montreal and brings together more than a hundred companies in the aeronautics, life sciences, pharmaceuticals and technology sectors.
In March 1988, the town hall launched a vast housing construction project: the New Saint-Laurent. The same year, the Bombardier group took advantage of the closure of Cartierville airport, which it owned, to propose its conversion into a residential area. Construction of the Bois-Franc district officially began on August 6, 1993, but sales being slower than expected, a golf course was built on unsold land in June 2002. The golf closed in November 2011 and construction resumed.
The City of Saint-Laurent or Ville Saint-Laurent was merged into the city of Montreal on January 1, 2002, by the Parti Québécois government. On June 20, 2004, the demerger forces lost a referendum on the issue of recreating Saint-Laurent as a city. While 75% of the turnout voted to demerge, this only represented 28.5% of the total eligible voting population, falling short of the requisite 35% as set by the province.
The construction of the Reseau Express Metropolitain will add five light rail stations to the borough in 2023, three of which will replace existing commuter train stations.
Saint-Laurent is one of Montreal’s outer boroughs located in the north central part of the island. It’s bordered by Pierrefonds-Roxboro to the west, Ahuntsic-Cartierville to the north and east, and Côte-des-Neiges and the Town of Mount-Royal to the south.
Saint-Laurent is home to many parks including the Bois-de-Liesse Nature Park.
Notable neighbourhoods include Bois-Franc, Vieux Saint-Laurent and Norgate.
In 2016 the immigrant population was 54 percent.
Saint-Laurent is the second-largest employment hub within the metropolitan region, after downtown Montréal.
Air Canada Centre, also known as La Rondelle (“The Puck” in French), is Air Canada’s headquarters, located on the grounds of Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport and in Saint-Laurent. In 1990 the airline announced that it was moving its headquarters from Downtown Montreal to the airport to cut costs.
In addition Air Transat’s headquarters and a regional office of Air Canada Jazz are in Saint-Laurent and on the grounds of Trudeau Airport. Before its dissolution Jetsgo was headquartered in Saint-Laurent.
Bombardier Aerospace has the Amphibious Aircraft Division in Saint-Laurent.
Norgate Shopping Centre (a strip mall) is the oldest shopping centre in Canada. It was built in Saint-Laurent in 1949, is still operational, and was refurbished in the 2010s.
From 1974 to 1979, General Motors Diesel Division buses were built in a plant in Saint-Laurent.
Decarie Hot Dog (French: Décarie Hot Dogs; founded 1969) is a greasy spoon diner counter restaurant and landmark located in Saint-Laurent.
Saint-Laurent is divided into two electoral districts:
Provincially Saint-Laurent is divided into two ridings:
Federally the entire borough corresponds exactly to the federal riding of Saint-Laurent.
Saint-Laurent has three fire stations and two police stations, one municipal court building, two libraries, the former City Hall (now the borough hall). There are two indoor hockey arenas, the municipal Raymond Bourque Arena, named after Raymond Bourque a former NHL player and Hockey Hall of Fame member and a Multipurpose Sports Complex. There is also the commercial Bonaventure’s Arena which has rinks available for rent.
Saint-Laurent is served by two metro stations, Du Collège and Côte-Vertu, the latter of which also serves as a major bus terminus. There are plans to extend the metro’s Orange line to the Bois-Franc REM station with a station at Poirier.
Three light metro stations from the Réseau express métropolitain, Bois-Franc, Du Ruisseau and Montpellier, are also located in Saint-Laurent.
Autoroutes include Autoroute 15 (Décarie Expressway), Autoroute 40 (Trans Canada), Autoroute 520, and Autoroute 13, and a secondary highway (Route 117).
in addition to major urban boulevards (Marcel-Laurin Boulevard, Henri Bourassa Boulevard, Cavendish Boulevard, Côte-Vertu Boulevard, Decarie Boulevard, Thimens Boulevard).
The former Cartierville Airport is no more, having been turned into a residential subdivision called Bois-Franc.
Part of Trudeau International Airport also lies within the territory of Saint-Laurent.
Saint-Laurent contains two CÉGEPs within its limits, one English (Vanier College) and one French (Cégep de Saint-Laurent). An art museum, the Saint-Laurent Museum of Art, is located on the campus of Cégep de Saint-Laurent, along with an indoor college hockey rink. Formerly, there was also a bowling alley on the campus.
The Commission scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys (CSMB) operates Francophone public schools.
The English Montreal School Board (EMSB) operates the following Anglophone public schools
Previously it housed a campus of the United Talmud Torahs of Montreal Jewish school.
Kativik School Board, which operates schools in Nunavik, has its main office here.
The Montreal Public Libraries Network operates the Vieux-Saint-Laurent Branch and the Du Boisé Branch in Saint-Laurent.
Saint-Laurent is twinned with:
Brochu, Johanne; Sokoloff, Beatrice (2001). Saint-Laurent : Du village à la ville (in French). Ville de Saint-Laurent. ISBN 2-9801472-2-2.
Most searches for immigration accommodation for newcomers in Saint-Laurent, Quebec begin with a search engine. Local papers in Saint-Laurent, Quebec may well be online and of course accommodation websites like Craigslist Saint-Laurent, Quebec and Book Direct and Save Saint-Laurent, Quebeccan be of great help.
Saint-Laurent, Quebec accommodation for newcomers varies greatly in cost depending on requirements and neighborhoods. Lots of new arrivals to Saint-Laurent, Quebec use BookDirectandSave.com to give them an indication of short-term rental process in Saint-Laurent, Quebec and also the option to book with confidence and security.
Once you decide to rent a property in Saint-Laurent, Quebec there are certain things specific to Saint-Laurent, Quebec to keep in mind. For example, make sure to agree on who pays for utilities such as electricity and water.
Property owners and landlords in Saint-Laurent, Quebec will usually require references and bank statements and not all individuals and families looking for newcomer accommodation in Saint-Laurent, Quebec have access to these so do make sure you locate some of the new immigrant services in Saint-Laurent, Quebec.
Rental housing is the most common housing option for new immigrants in Saint-Laurent, Quebec. With a huge range of rental properties available, including apartments, condos, and co-living spaces, new arrivals can easily find a rental property that meets their needs and budget.
Apartments in Saint-Laurent, Quebec are available in a variety of sizes and styles, from studios to multi-bedroom units. They can be found in a range of neighbourhoods from the downtown area to the more relaxed suburbs. Rent prices can vary greatly but expect to pay around CAD $1,800 to CAD $4,500 per month for an apartment in the centre of Saint-Laurent, Quebec.
Co-living options are increasingly popular for new immigrants in Saint-Laurent, Quebec, offering a more affordable and social living experience. They usually have private bedrooms and shared living spaces with added benefits like cleaning, internet and utilities included in the rent. Rent prices for co-living spaces in Saint-Laurent, Quebec start from CAD $1,500 per month.
When choosing a rental property make sure to consider the cost of living and the lease terms and conditions. Read the fine print on your lease documents as it is a contract you are signing so it is important you fully understand.
You can find even more detailed information about life in Saint-Laurent, Quebec here, places to go, things to do and how to get around in Saint-Laurent, Quebec.
Some newcomers arriving in Saint-Laurent, Quebec find it easier to take residence in a Saint-Laurent, Quebec hotel for a few weeks before finding something more permanent.
Long-term hotels in Saint-Laurent, Quebec offer affordable rates and flexible stay options for individuals and families who need a place to stay for a few weeks or months. You might find standard hotels in the area offer a few rooms at long-term rates to ensure they have a regular income. Ask around and always book direct with the hotel as they can give the best rate that way. The best way to book direct is with BookDirectandSave.com
Business Name | Rating | Categories | Phone Number | Address |
---|---|---|---|---|
Courtyard by Marriott Montreal Airport![]() | Hotels, Venues & Event Spaces | +15143395333 | 7000 Place Robert-Joncas, Montreal, QC H4M 2Z5, Canada | |
Residence Inn by Marriott Montreal Airport![]() | Hotels | +15143369333 | 6500 Place Robert-Joncas, Montreal, QC H4M 2Z5, Canada | |
Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Montreal-Dorval![]() | Hotels | +15146338243 | 1900 Trans-canada Highway, Dorval, QC H9P 2N4, Canada | |
Motel Idéal![]() | Hotels | +14506250773 | 379 Boulevard Curé-Labelle, Laval, QC H7L 3A3, Canada | |
Best Western Montreal Aeroport – Airport Hotel![]() | Hotels | +15147393391 | 6500 Chemin De La Cote-De-Liesse, Saint-Laurent, QC H4T 1E3, Canada | |
Hilton Garden Inn Montréal Airport![]() | Hotels | +15147885120 | 7800 de la Côte-de-Liesse Rd, Saint-Laurent, QC H4T 1E7, Canada | |
Econolodge Aeroport![]() | Hotels | +15147355702 | 6755 De La Cote-De-Liesse Ch, Saint-Laurent, QC H4T 1E5, Canada | |
Hôtel Ruby Foo’s![]() | Hotels, Venues & Event Spaces | +15147317701 | 7655 Boulevard Décarie, Montreal, QC H4P 2H2, Canada | |
DoubleTree by Hilton Pointe Claire Montreal Airport West![]() | Hotels, Venues & Event Spaces | +15146977110 | 6700 Autoroute Transcanadienne, Pointe-Claire, QC H9R 1C2, Canada | |
Days Inn![]() | Hotels | +15143322720 | 4545 Boulevard de la Côte-Vertu O, Saint-Laurent, QC H4S 1C8, Canada | |
Motel Pierre![]() | Hotels | +15143323060 | 2375 Boulevard Marcel-Laurin, Saint-Laurent, QC H4R 1K4, Canada | |
Courtyard Marriott Montréal West-Island / Baie d’Urfé![]() | Hotels | +15146748000 | 20000 Route Transcanadienne, Baie-d’Urfé, QC H9X 0B3, Canada | |
Hôtel Terrasse Royale![]() | Hotels | +15147396391 | 5225 Chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges, Montreal, QC H3T 1Y1, Canada | |
Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Laval![]() | Hotels | +14506870010 | 1961 Boulevard Cure-Labelle, Laval, QC H7T 1L4, Canada | |
Motel Rustik | Hotels | +14506913100 | 57 Saint-Jean-Baptiste Boul, Chateauguay, QC J6J 3H5, Canada | |
Le Selection Ile Des Soeurs![]() | Hotels | +15177676792 | 325 Chemin De La Pointe Sud, Verdun, QC H3E 0B1, Canada | |
Comfort Inn Montreal Aeroport![]() | Hotels | +15146976210 | 700 Boulevard Saint-Jean, Pointe-Claire, QC H9R 3K2, Canada | |
Manoir d’Youville![]() | Venues & Event Spaces, Hotels | +14506928291 | 498 Boulevard d’Youville, Châteauguay, QC J6J 5T9, Canada | |
Le Petit Hotel![]() | Hotels | +15149400360 | 168 Rue Saint-Paul O, Montreal, QC H2Y 2Z7, Canada | |
L’Hôtel Montréal![]() | Hotels | +15149850019 | 262 Rue Saint-Jacques W, Montreal, QC H2Y 1L9, Canada |
If you are looking for accommodation in another town or city in Canada, you can find it on our Canada Living Guide index page which has guides to finding housing in Canada as a newcomer in more than 700 cities and towns across the country.