Montréal Welcomes International Organizations

Montréal Welcomes International Organizations

03 Montréal welcomes the world Gateway to North America, major port, world capital of civil aviation, crossroads of cultures, Montréal is a world-class city. Ω Montréal is home to some 70 international organizations, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Ω Thanks to its wide selection of meeting and lodging facilities, Montréal is one of North America s top three locations for international meetings with New York and Washington, D.C. Located in the heart of the city, the Palais des Congrès de Montréal (Montréal s international convention centre), can accommodate more than 30,000 people; not only does it offer leading-edge facilities and services, but it also features a coaching program to foster eco-responsible event hosting. Tourisme Montréal, the agency responsible for promoting tourism in the metropolitan area, provides a wide range of dynamic services for all types of event planning. Ω The Quartier international de Montréal is a prestigious urban area in the centre of the city that offers an exceptional environment. A showcase of Montréalers talent for design, architecture and planning, the Quartier international hosts the majority of international organizations based in Montréal. Ω In recognition of its creativity, Montréal has earned the coveted UNESCO City of Design designation. Mr. RAYMOND BENJAMIN, Secretary General, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO): ICAO has been in Montréal for more than 60 years. We are an international organization and Montréal has a great deal to offer us. It is a multicultural city that is home to more than 80 nationalities, and boasts an inventive and diversified gastronomic scene. It is also a safe city that offers a remarkable quality of life and affordable living costs. All of these factors, coupled with the strong support of Montréal, explain why ICAO holds the city in high esteem.

05 A city with a human dimension A cultural mosaic Located at the cultural and geographic crossroads of Europe and North America, Montréal is a cosmopolitan city that is open to the world. Hailing from the four corners of the world, the city s communities weave a unique, multicultural and multilingual tapestry. Montréal is a place where diversity is front and centre. No matter who you are or where you are from, this is a place where you feel at home. A MULTILINGUAL CITY More than half of the Montréal population is bilingual equally at ease in English and French and close to one in five Montréalers are fluent in at least three languages. There are close to 80 languages spoken in all. A CITY OF HIGH KNOWLEDGE Montréal s international character is also reflected in its academic community: the city s four universities two English and two French are home to the country s largest population of foreign students. Foreign students who choose to study in Montréal benefit from some of the most competitive tuition fees in North America. Moreover, they have access to a variety of tools designed specifically to help them pursue their studies. Those who choose to remain in Montréal after their studies may obtain assistance to apply for permanent residence status. Mr. DAVID HOWMAN, Director General, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA): Montréal offers an ideal living and working environment for WADA and its employees. Our staff comes from many countries, and Montréal offers them a particularly welcoming multiculturalism. In addition, Canada hosts the Laval anti-doping laboratory, which benefits from a top-level international reputation in the fight against doping. This is why in 2002 WADA chose Montréal for its headquarters.

07 An exceptional environment for international organizations Located in the heart of one of the world s most politically and economically stable countries, Montréal is a prime location for international organizations. k A hub between Europe and North America, the metropolitan region offers easy access to major North American centres and to Europe s main cities. k Montréal s qualified, talented and creative human capital is testament to its world-class higher education network. Québec s metropolis is home to 11 higher education institutions including four major universities and is one of the few cities on the planet that boasts two or more universities that are ranked among the QS World University Rankings 2010 world s top 200 universities. Moreover, close to one in two Montréalers has a college or university degree, and the region is home to the largest pool of graduate degree holders in Canada. k Montréal is recognized for its top-notch expertise, particularly in the fields of aerospace, life sciences, information and communications technology, and clean technologies. These high-end clusters are supported by the presence of world-class businesses in Montréal. AFFORDABILITY Synonymous with high quality and extremely competitive costs, Montréal is known for: Ω Competitive salaries for international organizations Along with a very affordable cost of living, labour and salary expenses in Montréal are very competitive when compared with cities in other OECD member countries. Ω High purchasing power for employees Montréalers average purchasing power is among the best in the world. Ω Attractively-priced office space Compared with other urban centres in Canada, the United States and Europe, Montréal offers a wealth of office space at attractive prices in the centre of the city and adjacent business districts. Ω Affordable business travel Staying in Montréal is more accessible than in most major US or European cities. Québec s metropolis offers highly attractive hotel rates. DID YOU KNOW THAT MCGILL UNIVERSITY HAS RANKED 19 th GLOBALLY IN THE QS* WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS, AND IS RATED FIRST IN CANADA? THE UNIVERSITÉ DE MONTRÉAL IS THE ONLY FRANCOPHONE UNIVERSITY IN CANADA AND QUÉBEC TO BE AMONG THE TOP 200 UNIVERSITIES IN THE WORLD. Source: Quacquarelli Symonds, Times Higher Education.

09 Outstanding quality of life Thanks to its affordable housing and daycare costs, as well as its tuition fees that are among the lowest in North America, Montréal offers an opportunity to live in an excellent-quality urban environment at a very reasonable cost. k Montréal is known as a safe city where one can move around day and at night with peace of mind. k A vibrant and creative centre, Montréal is home to a lively cultural scene. Bursting with vitality, the city s entertainment venues offer fans of music, dance, theatre and cinema an exciting range of options. k Montréal is one of the world capitals of fine dining. Reflecting its multicultural identity, the city s rich culinary mosaic has something for every palate and every budget. k Urban and green spaces extend from the foot of Montréal s mountain, Mount Royal, to the shores of the Saint Lawrence River. It is easy to get around by car, public transit, walking or BIXI the city s public bike rental service. k There is no shortage of leisure, sporting and outdoor activities throughout the Montréal region in every season. MONTRÉAL, A CENTRE OF CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION A true cultural metropolis, Montréal is known for its rich and diverse cultural community boasting highly creative and innovative talent. Ω Montréal offers a vibrant and active cultural scene. A wide range of shows, ranging from classical to avant-garde, are presented every night. Ω A prime venue for art lovers, the city is home to a vast network of art galleries and museums. Ω Montréal is a year-long festival city, featuring a huge range of events: jazz, local and international music, literature, comedy, film, theatre, fine dining, science, fireworks, circus arts the choice is endless. Each year, hundreds of events feature thousands of artists from every sphere and millions of spectators from all over the world enjoy indoor and outdoor events in a unique safe, relaxed and friendly atmosphere. DID YOU KNOW THAT MONTRÉAL HAS BEEN NAMED THE SECOND- HAPPIEST PLACE IN THE WORLD BY THE LONELY PLANET TRAVEL GUIDE? Ms. PAULA MIRAGLIA, Director General, International Centre for the Prevention of Crime (ICPC): For an international organization, Montréal is a cosmopolitan and vibrant city that offers all the advantages of the largest international cities, and more. The city s advantages include a wide variety of cultural events, green spaces and its bilingualism. Living and working in Montréal is an extraordinary opportunity. What is more, there is no better way for the ICPC to exemplify its mission than by establishing itself in a city that offers a safe and harmonious environment!

10 10 Montréal Welcomes International Organizations 11 Montréal International: a key partner for international organizations SOLID AND LONG-LASTING SUPPORT Montréal International s Vice Presidency for International Organizations provides a wide range of services to International Organizations (IOs) wishing to locate in Montréal, develop and grow in the city. Ω Financial support IOs that choose to locate their headquarters in Montréal may be eligible for financial contributions from the Fonds de développement international de Montréal [International Development Fund of Montréal] (FODIM) when they meet certain criteria, such as: w Legal status as an international organization w Multilateral workforce, governance, mandate and programs w An appropriate operating structure w Adequate levels of financing (a minimum of 50% of which must come from non-canadian sources) w A commitment to create at least five permanent full-time jobs in the Montréal region Montréal International is a public-private partnership between the Governments of Canada and Québec, the City of Montréal and the Montréal business community. Its mission is two-fold: to contribute to the economic development of Greater Montréal and enhance its international status, notably by attracting headquarters of governmental and non-governmental international organizations (IOs). Ω Strategic consulting Exploration, site evaluation, recruiting, start-up and implementation. Ω Long-term support Support in developing and maintaining governmental, institutional and non-governmental networks. Ω International mobility Customized services provided free of charge to facilitate hiring of foreign workers, obtaining work permits or permanent residency, as well as professional integration of spouses in Montréal. DID YOU KNOW THAT MORE THAN 30 IOS IN MONTRÉAL HAVE RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM MONTRÉAL INTER- NATIONAL SINCE IT WAS CREATED IN 1996? Ms. NOEMÍ PÉREZ Executive Director, Finance Alliance for Sustainable Trade (FAST): Montréal International has been a key player in our organization s establishment and development in Montréal. MI s experts have been extremely helpful and thanks to them, our move to this vibrant city went quickly and smoothly. We felt at home right away and were able to quickly build working relationships with other local and international organizations. Ms. SHASHI CAAN President, International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI): One of eight UNESCO Cities of Design, Montréal is the top-ranking member of UNESCO s Creative Cities Network in North America. It is no accident that the secretariats of IFI and IDA (International Design Alliance) are located in Montréal.

MONTRÉAL INTERNATIONAL 380 St. Antoine Street West Suite 8000 Montréal (Québec) Canada, H2Y 3X7 Telephone: + 1 514 987 8191 Fax: + 1 514 987 1948 oi@montrealinternational.com montrealinternational.com Design: Brigade Photos: Luc Robitaille pages 04, 06, 08 Quartier des spectacles, Stéphan Poulin page 02 Montréal International wishes to thank its partners for their financial support: the Government of Canada, the Government of Québec, the City of Montréal and private companies.