Question about Montreal and Canadian Thanksgiving

[anna08]

My DH belongs to a professional group that was planning a meeting in Montreal for October, but found out it is scheduled over the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday. Anyone have any opinions on whether this would be a difficult or expensive time to travel there from the US? Is it like the American holiday where flights are very expensive and businesses all close for the holiday? Thanks so much!

 

[glendalais]

While Thanksgiving is legally a holiday in Quebec, it isn't really celebrated all that much. In addition, Thanksgiving in Canada isn't the big, everyone-flies-home thing that it is south of the border. Crowds shouldn't be that much higher than any other holiday weekend.

Government offices, banks and the like will be closed. Stores may be open, but will probably be on reduced hours.

 

[Gigi22]

For most people Canadian Thanksgiving is usually not an extended holiday either. It is just a long (3 day) weekend. Some people might add a day off before or after, but that's about it.
The only crowding on transportation that you might encounter would be on inter-city ground transportation. College and university kids often travel home for Thanksgiving--Montreal has a couple of universities, so you will see some young folks on the move starting Thurs. and ending Mon. evening that weekend. Everything should be back to normal by the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.