2024 Reunion at French Canada – Information

IITK 65-70 Batch 2024 Reunion: September 8-12, 2024

Celebrating 59 years of Friendship

Montreal   –   Quebec City   –   Ottawa

Team Canada has prepared a 5 night and 6 day, tri-city Canadian adventure to get a taste of the two cultures in Canada: Montreal, which is a mix of French and English (Anglo, as they say over here in Canada), Quebec City – largely French, and Ottawa – largely Anglo, with some French. Just across the Ottawa river is Gatineau (formerly Hull). You can consider the Ottawa river as the Canadian equivalent of the English Channel!

Details are being finalized, but the following should give a good idea of what we are planning.

Day 1 – Sunday, September 8

  • A bus will be chartered for the entire duration. This will take away the burden of driving to the three cities, as well as intra-city tours etc.
  • The bus departs from Ottawa for Quebec City at 9 am. For batchmates arriving in Ottawa, bus will pick them up from the airport and then head to Montreal airport to pick up Montreal arrivals. Please plan to be at Montreal airport (Pierre Elliott Trudeau airport in the Dorval suburb) for 12:30 -1:00 pm.
  • If you are coming to Montreal, it is recommended you come the day before and check in at a hotel near Montreal airport (more details on a recommended hotel later). If you miss the bus then you must make your own arrangement to get to Quebec City (bus, train or air) – sorry! We hope to be in Quebec City by 4 pm for check-in.
  • Check-in at Hotel Must in Quebec City
  • Dinner in Adda room from 7:30 pm

 

Day 2 – Monday, September 9

  • Morning tour of Quebec City and Old Quebec City
  • Lunch
  • Afternoon tour of The Citadel
  • Dinner at French restaurant from 7 pm
  • More on Quebec City:  

Quebec City – likely the most charming city in Canada: https://www.quebec–cite.com/en

 

Day 3 – Tuesday, September 10

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY–SA–NC

  • Morning tour of Montmorency Falls and Ste-Anne-de-Beaupre Shrine
  • Get packed lunch
  • Drive to Montreal
  • Check in at the Sandman Hotel in Montreal around 3:30
  • Evening sightseeing tour of Montreal (2 hours)
  • Dinner at Restaurant

Day 4 – Wednesday, September 11

Passport MTL – 3 Attractions

  • Morning tour of Montreal (4 hours)
  • Dosa lunch
  • If time permits, visit the Biodome
  • Evening banquet and entertainment

More on Montreal:

Montreal – a throbbing metropolis which emits great vibes, and a dream-come-true of food-lovers:

 

Day 5 – Thursday, September 12

  • Drive to Ottawa after breakfast
  • Morning sightseeing ByWard Market and Parliament Buildings

 

Day 6 – Friday, September 13:

  • Breakfast and check out.
  • Say Good Byes.

Sightseeing Plan

Quebec City

  • Walking tour of Old Quebec, the only walled city in North America with 400 years of actionpacked history! A UNESCO World Heritage site with fine old buildings, winding streets and many picturesque places.
  • National Assembly and Parliament Hill of Quebec
  • Battlefields Park: Important historic battleground which decided the composition of modern Canada.
  • Château Frontenac
  • Notre-Dame-de-Québec basilica and Place d’Armes in Quebec City.
  • Place Royale, the cradle of French civilization in North America
  • Old Lower Town along the St. Lawrence river-front
  • Citadel – a major enabler in the famous battle of the Plains of Abraham.
  • The Cote-de-Beaupre region
  • Mont-Ste-Anne
  • A historic road known as Route de la Nouvelle-France that revels in treasures including root cellars and over a thousand ancestral homes
  • The world-famous Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré shrine, the oldest pilgrimage site in North America, with its commemorative chapel, Stations of the Cross and renowned basilica.
  • Parc-de-la-Chute-Montmorency: the most spectacular falls in Quebec, one and a half times higher than Niagara Falls! We will enjoy an outstanding view from the suspended bridge overlooking the St. Lawrence River!

 

Montreal

  • The Old Port of Montreal
  • Old Montreal
  • Place d’Armes
  • Notre Dame Street
  • City Hall
  • de La Commune Street
  • Jean Drapeau Park (photo stops)
  • Mont Royal Park (photo stop) for a view of the Olympic Stadium
  • Beaver Lake (stop)
  • St Joseph’s Oratory
  • Dorchester Square
  • Mary Queen of the World Cathedral
  • The International Neighborhood
  • Quartiers des Spectacles
  • Habitat 67
  • Biodome
  • The Atwater or Jean Tour Market * depending on interests and more

The sequences and stops of above will depend on start and finish location, time of day and week.  These are currently being worked out.

Due to time constraints, the attractions listed below will be covered only from the bus (no stops):

 

  • Place d’Armes Square with every period of Montreal’s architecture in one place and spectacular lights
  • Sulpician Priests Seminary (Oldest building in Canada 1600s)
  • Place Royale, the birth place of French Montreal
  • Outside of the Notre Dame Basilica (weekend evenings book Aura by Moment Factory)
  • St James Street (the Wall Street of Canada till the 1950s, also used as movie set)
  • St Paul’s Street with its galleries, restaurants, bakeries, boutiques, bars and cobbled stones
  • Hotel de Ville (City Hall)
  • Château de Ramsey with a French garden
  • Maison Pierre de Calvet where Benjamin Franklin stayed

Ottawa

We have very limited time in Ottawa.  Sightseeing will include the following attractions.  Details are currently being worked out.

  • ByWard market
  • Parliament of Canada
  • Canadian Museum of History
  • Drive along the Canal (Col By Driveway) to Dow’s Lake

If there are sights you would absolutely like to see, or things you want to do that are not listed in this itinerary, please let us know and we will try to accommodate.

See you at the Montreal Reunion!

 

Team Canada