Travel to Montreal

From the airport

Montreal's major airport is the Trudeau International Airport to the west of the city. From there, you can take a taxi ($40+) or bus to get downtown. The 747 bus runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and goes directly from the airport to several stops in the city center. The fare of $10 pays for your trip (~30-40 mins), and is valid for the next 24 hours. You will see the vending machines in the airport. You can also pay with exact change on the bus. To go straight to McGill, get off at Union Street (stop #6).

By train

Montreal's main train station, Gare Centrale, is located below the Queen Elizabeth Hotel on the corner of René-Lévesque and Mansfield. It also has an entrance at 895 de la Gauchetière ouest. The station is the major terminus for Canada's VIA Rail trains from Halifax, Toronto, Ottawa, Québec and the Gaspé, as well as U.S. Amtrak trains from Washington and New York. It also provides easy access to the city's subway (the Metro), as it is situated at the Bonaventure station (on the Orange Line of the Metro).

From the train station, a 5-minute taxi ride $9+ will take you to McGill University. To walk to the campus:

• Head north through the underground shopping concourse of Place Ville Marie;
• Exit at Cathcart and McGill College Avenue;
• Follow McGill College Avenue north three blocks to Sherbrooke Street;
• Cross the street at McGill's Roddick Gates;
• Turn right and walk a block and a half to arrive at the Schulich School of Music.

By bus

The terminal for major bus lines is the Gare d'autocars de Montréal, located at 505 de Maisonneuve est, corner of Berri.

From the Gare d'autocars de Montréal you can take a taxi to the University (approximately 10-15$ CDN, plus tip) or take the Metro (subway), as the Berri-UQAM station is connected to the bus terminal. McGill University is located at McGill metro station on the Green Line.

By car

There is no on-site parking for the public at McGill's Schulich School of Music. Metered street parking is available in the downtown core. For information about getting a McGill University parking permit, visit the McGill Parking website. However, it may be best to leave your car at home if you can avoid it. Montreal has many one way streets and traffic customs you may be unfamiliar with. All street signs will be in French.

Lodging around McGill University

Nearby hotels 

We hope you enjoy your stay in Montreal and we can recommend the following hotels within a few blocks of the conference:

• Hilton
• L'Appartement Hotel (rooms with kitchenettes)
• Parc Suites (rooms with kitchenettes)
• Delta

Other options

You may also enjoy one of the many bed and breakfast establishments in Montreal. For the adventurous and gregarious, Montreal has hundreds of potential AirBnB hosts, hostels, and a strong couchsurfing community.

Transport in the city

Bike Share

Bixi is a public bicycle sharing program originating in Montreal. A day pass costs $5, a three-day pass costs $14. Bikes can be checked out at 30 minute intervals and returned to any of the hundreds of parking spots in the city. After returning, you can pick up another bike in a few minutes. 

Metro

Public transportation in the city is handled by the Société de transport de Montréal (STM). Fares:

• $3.25 for one trip; $6.00 for two.
• Unlimited evening pass (6:00pm-5:00am): $5.00.
• Day pass: $10.00.
• 3-day pass: $18.00.
• Unlimited weekend pass: $13.75.

If you are arriving from the airport on the 747 bus, you will already possess a 24 hour day pass.

Conference venue

The conference will take place on the downtown campus of McGill University, at the Schulich School of Music. The School is located on Sherbrooke St. West, between Aylmer and University streets.

Elizabeth Wirth Music Building

Most events will take place at 527 Sherbrooke St. West (Elizabeth Wirth Music Building). This building houses:

• The Marvin Duchow Music Library
• The Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology (CIRMMT)
• Tanna Schulich Hall (one of the concert venues)
• The Multimedia Room (a 7,000 cubic-metre sound-isolated space)
• Sound Recording studios and labs
• The Wirth Opera Studio
• Academic and administrative offices

It's a wheelchair accessible building, located on the northwest corner of Sherbrooke St. West / Aylmer St.

Strathcona Music Building

Pollack Hall, one of the conference concert venues, is located at 555 Sherbrooke St. West (Strathcona Music Building).

There is a statue of Queen Victoria on the front steps of the building, and it is next door to the Elizabeth Wirth Music Building. When inside, you can walk from one building to the other through a passerelle.