A First Look at Your Student Life at Helicraft and in Montreal
Montreal...
French-speaking…
Montreal is the largest city in Quebec. It has a population of over 4 million, most of whom are French-speaking: it is the second-largest French-speaking city in the world after Paris. More than 140,000 French, Belgian, and Swiss people live there. You’ll feel right at home!
…but American…
The city has a very strong American feel to it, thanks to its proximity to the United States (about an hour’s drive). Skyscrapers, streets laid out in a grid pattern, fast-food joints on every corner, and the Jacques Cartier Bridge, which resembles the Golden Gate Bridge: you’ll feel like you’re in America right away!
…and open to the world.
Montreal is also a very cosmopolitan city. Its various neighborhoods reflect this through their architecture and are known as Chinatown, Little Italy, and Little Maghreb. You can hear people speaking all kinds of languages on the streets!
Just like its residents, Montreal is warm, multicultural, fun, and a delight to live in!
Quebecers are open-minded and very warm-hearted people. They have a real zest for life! In general, they expect people to interact with one another in a polite and respectful manner. It’s important to know that in Quebec, it’s very common to use the informal “tu” form of address. Here, most issues can be resolved with a simple smile and without raising one’s voice.
These low temperatures should be taken with a grain of salt, as the Canadian cold is quite different from the European winter. It’s very dry, so you’ll feel less cold in Montreal when it’s -15°C than you would in Paris when it’s 2°C.
It’s not widely known, but Montreal is also a city where summers last a full three months, with very pleasant temperatures. It’s a very lively city; residents get around mainly on foot and by bike.
Montreal offers plenty of opportunities; there are lots of things to do and see, all year round.
In winter, you can go snowshoeing in Mount Royal Park or ice skating at one of the city’s many outdoor rinks. The nearest ski resorts are a 45-minute drive away. There are also many winter festivals, such as the Fête des Neiges, the Montréal en Lumière festival, and Igloofest. Montreal hosts more than 40 festivals each year (including the International Festival, Just for Laughs, Festibière, and Comic-Con).
In the summer, you can enjoy one of the city’s many green spaces.
The municipal parks offer popular spots for relaxation and recreation—you’re even allowed to have a barbecue there! With public swimming pools, tennis courts, natural ponds, and bike paths, these parks are an integral part of Montreal life.
The city is perfect for physical activities: you can join a hockey, baseball, or soccer team, go cycling along the St. Lawrence River, hike on Mount Royal, go kitesurfing on the river, and more.On Sundays, you can sunbathe on Plage de l’Horloge in the Old Port, go shopping in Downtown, or take a stroll through Old Montreal.
Montreal is also home to several professional sports teams, such as the Montreal Impact (soccer), the Montreal Alouettes (American football), and, of course, the Montreal Canadiens (hockey). Several sporting events take place during the summer, such as the Rogers Cup (tennis) and the Canadian Grand Prix (Formula 1).
While studying at Helicraft, you’ll have the opportunity to work part-time, for 20 hours a week. It will be very easy for you to find a part-time job in Quebec to cover your daily living expenses. Your student visa allows you to do so, and this will be possible as long as your work schedule doesn’t conflict with your training program.
Budget – How much does a… cost?
Rent for a studio apartment
±1250$
Phone subscription
60$
Liter of gasoline
1,60$
Movie ticket
14$
Subway ticket
3,75$
Big Mac Menu
13,70$
A kilo of tomatoes
6,99$
A liter of milk
3,95$
Pack of pasta
2,99$
Camembert
11$
Restaurant for two
±110$
Cocktail
14$
Life at Helicraft
There is an excellent work environment at Helicraft.
Students are on campus Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., whether they have classes scheduled or not. They have access to comfortable study areas designed for independent work, and our instructors are always available to assist them with their studies.
Helicraft is a helicopter flight school, but above all, it’s one big family. Here, everyone knows each other and interacts on a daily basis: students, pilots, instructors, administrative staff, and even the president. This sense of togetherness is evident at mealtimes, when everyone eats at the same table, addresses each other informally, and chats together. At the end of the day, or on the weekends, we often get together for a drink or a barbecue to unwind and have a good time together.
We really value this atmosphere, and we regularly organize activities to foster a sense of community: soccer games, paintball, go-karting, outings, and more…
Student housing:
Helicraft offers its students 8 comfortable rooms. Check out some photos here. You’ll share an apartment with other students in your class, in modern accommodations and an ideal environment for learning.
Housing:
- Located 10 minutes from the school
- Fully furnished rooms
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Living room with a TV
- Patio
Rent includes:
- Internet
- Electricity
- Heating
- Hot water
Nearby services:
- Supermarkets
- Bar & Restaurant
- Gas station
- Gym
- Movies
- Bank
Here is a map of nearby services near Helicraft
Come study with us!
Helicraft is a private educational institution accredited by the Quebec Ministry of Education. If you are not a Canadian citizen, you will need a student visa to study at Helicraft.
See the application process below!
Any international student wishing to study in the Quebec City area must first obtain a CAQ (Certificate of Acceptance in Quebec). You can apply online via the website, immigration-quebec.
A fee of $100.00 applies for obtaining your CAQ. Once you have submitted your application, it will take approximately 4 to 6 weeks to receive your CAQ.
Once you have obtained your CAQ, you will need to apply for a study permit. This is the second step in obtaining your student visa, which will be issued to you at customs upon your arrival in Montreal.
This process is done online. You will need to create your application and submit various documents through this website: Citizenship and Immigration Canada – Study Permit Application.
Here, you will be charged a fee of $125.00 for the processing of your application by the Government of Canada.
The processing time for your application will again be 4 to 6 weeks. It is essential that you wait until you have received your study permit before arriving in Canada.
Once you’ve got your papers, it’ll be time to pack your bags for the big departure.
You may need to buy a few items to cope with the winter cold: a hat, gloves, high-top shoes, and a heavy coat are essential. Keep in mind that helicopter pilots work outdoors, no matter the weather!
Furthermore, since Canada is a country of wide-open spaces, most of our students quickly get a car to get around.
Although public transportation is available throughout the Montreal area, a used car will make your trips much easier and will be cheaper to buy than in Europe.
