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> Requirements for Entering Canada (Passports and Visas)
> Currency
> Units of measure
> Taxes
> Tipping
> Safety
> Voltage
> Insurance
> Climate
> Languages
> How to Live in Harmony with Winter
Requirements for Entering Canada (Passports and Visas)
Visitors must hold a valid passport; a visa may be required in some cases. For more information about visas, please consult the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Web site at www.cic.gc.ca. You may also consult the nearest Canadian embassy, the consulate, a customs broker or your travel agent.
Currency
The legal currency is the Canadian dollar, which is divided into 100 cents. Bills are available in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars. Coins are available in denominations of 1, 5, 10 and 25 cents, plus 1 and 2 dollars. Canadian and US currencies are not at parity. US currency is accepted at most places with varying exchange rates.
Consult http://qc.finance.yahoo.com/currency for exchange rates.
To avoid any inconvenience, we recommend that visitors obtain Canadian currency at the official exchange rate at a financial institution or travel agency when they arrive.
Units of measure
Canada uses the metric system.
Taxes
The federal goods and services tax (GST) of 5% and the Quebec sales tax (QST) of 7.5% are added to all purchases. For more information, visit the Web sites of the Canada Revenue Agency and the Ministère du Revenu du Québec .
Tipping
In Canada, tips are not included on restaurant bills, but are left to the customer's discretion. A tip of 15% of the total cost before taxes is recommended. We suggest you do the same for taxis. Porters expect $1 CDN per bag.
Safety
The city of Québec is a small, welcoming and safe North American city. Québeckers have built a stable, peaceful society through their open, tolerant culture, with 400 years of incorporating influences from France and England, and now Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa. As in all large cities, caution should still be used in order to avoid falling victims to petty crime.
Voltage
In Canada, electricity is 110 volts, as in the rest of North America. Appliances from other countries outside North America require a power adaptor.
Insurance
The fees for the Congress do not include any provisions for the insurance of participants against personal injury, sickness, theft, or property damage. This also applies to any event held during the Congress period. Participants and accompanying persons are advised to arrange for any insurance they consider necessary. Neither the Organizing Committee nor the agencies or partners involved in the organization of the Congress assume any responsibility for loss, injury or damage to persons or belongings, whatever the cause may be.
Access to health care is costly for non-residents and we therefore recommend that participants arrange their own travel insurance (health and accident coverage). We also recommend that you arrange insurance for lost luggage and other incidents.
Climate
Québec's climate is humid continental. February is the middle of the Québec winter. Temperatures vary between -6° and -20° Celsius during the day.
Weather information: Environment Canada
Languages
The official languages of the Congress are French and English. A simultaneous interpretation service will be available in these two languages at all technical sessions, technical visits and plenary sessions.
How to Live in Harmony with Winter
Winter in Québec is great! To get the full experience of this harsh season, we strongly recommend that you dress warmly. The best way to ensure comfort is to dress in layers and remove them according to ambient temperature. It is preferable to avoid cotton and silk garments, which do not wick moisture away from skin.
It is also important to protect your extremities by wearing a hat and warm gloves. To avoid any unpleasantness, cover your hands before you go out (thus trapping the heat). Also, choose a good pair of boots. For warmth and stability, look for the following features:
Good insulation and waterproof construction
Thick, anti-skid soles
Low, wide heels
Not too heavy
Generally speaking, it is preferable to wear proper footwear to walk outside and bring a lighter pair of shoes to wear indoors.
With these few tips, you will be properly equipped to fully appreciate the beauty of Québec's winters!
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