Life in Trois-Rivières for Immigrants – Students, Workers Visitors

This article covers the perspective of life in Trois-Rivières.

Life in Trois-Rivières for immigrants in all as aspect is very interesting one. Trois-Rivières is a city with almost 400 years of history. Living here allows you to experience its cultural richness, economic dynamism, low cost and high standard of living, and beautiful outdoor. However, you also have to deal with linguistic challenges, extremely cold winters, and higher taxes.

The name Trois-Rivières, which means “three rivers, The city has always had a way with words and is considered “The Poetry Capital of Quebec.”
When it comes to cities in Quebec, Trois-Rivières is a very familiar name. This city has a lot to offer residents, and unsurprisingly, many look forward to living there.
In this article, we will explain in details what life in Trois-Rivières looks like for students, workers and visitors.

In this article

Where is Trois-Rivières?

Trois-Rivières is located halfway between Montréal and Québec City, Trois-Rivières is a vibrant harbour city, nestled between the St. Lawrence and Saint-Maurice rivers. North America’s second-oldest French-speaking city, it is justly proud of its historic quarter where museums, art galleries and boutiques celebrate over three hundred years of history.

What is the population of Trois-Rivières?

The population of Trois-Rivières was recorded at 134,413 in the 2016 Canadian Census, and was recorded at 131,338 in the 2020 census. This is a change in population of 3,075, which is a growth rate of 0.46%.

Weather in Trois-Rivières

Trois-Rivières has a humid continental climate, so it experiences all four seasons each year. However, the city is generally cold and snowy. Winters are long and springs and autumns are cool and short. Summers get warm, but hardly ever hot. The average Trois-Rivières summertime high is just 24 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, winter lows regularly reach 17.

Snow is frequent in Trois-Rivières, so you can expect snow cover from December through March. Precipitation can occur at any time of the year, but is most frequent during summer.
The freezing temperature of the winter means you’ll have to spend considerably more to keep your home warm during that season.

What is the language spoken in Trois-Rivières

If you’re thinking of living in Trois-Rivières, you must consider the language. Like every other city in the Quebec province, French is the dominant language, and most official and day-to-day interactions are in French. This means an inability to communicate in French will be a major challenge.

But you’ll find English-speaking schools, places, and people too. Regardless, this is also a great place to learn French by immersion. So, if you want to learn French and don’t mind the difficulties of the first few months when you can’t communicate fluently, this is a great place to start.

Educational system in Trois-Rivières

Three Rivers Academy is Trois-Rivières primary high school for English-speaking students. The Central Quebec School Board runs the city’s few English-speaking schools. Maurice Academy is its elementary school counterpart in the city.

The Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières is the city’s biggest post-secondary institution. It enrolls about 14,000 students each year. If you’re interested in applying there, you should know that it is primarily a French-speaking university and it even recommends on its official website that English-speaking students take a class in French immersion to adjust to its other classes.

Cost of living in Trois-Rivières

The cost of living in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, makes it one of the best places in Canada. Its housing costs are one of the cheapest in the country at about 75% lower than the national average. The overall cost of living here is also 29% below the national average.

Beyond all these, Trois-Rivières, Quebec boasts high-quality educational institutions with 28 elementary schools, seven high schools, two professional development centres, two colleges, and a university. There are also job opportunities in various sectors, and the standard of living here is quite excellent.

Transit in Trois-Rivières

Société de transport de Trois-Rivières provides the city with local bus service. Meanwhile, Via Rail provides intercity train routes to Trois-Rivières from Montreal and Quebec City.
Trois-Rivières’ most important roadway is the Laviolette Bridge because it is the only way for vehicles to cross the Saint Lawrence River between Montreal and Quebec City.
Trois-Rivières Airport is an airport of entry for the city, but it does not regularly provide outgoing flights and is not an international airport. The nearest international airport is Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport, which is 122 kilometres away.

How multicultural is Trois-Rivières? 

Trois-Rivières is an eclectic city that draws tourists by being an attractive stop between Montreal and Quebec City. Most of its attractions are located in the Old Town neighborhood. Boulevard des Forges is lined with the city’s trademark old architecture and contains a variety of shops, restaurants, clubs, and bars.

The Festival International de la Poésie is an international poetry festival that helps earn the city’s its distinction as the “Poetry Capital of Quebec.”

FestiVoix de Trois-Rivières is another popular festival held for 10 days in the summer. This music festival regularly draws over 300,000 visitors each year.
Choosing to live here means you get to enjoy the vibrant downtown district with its amazing bars and restaurant. The city is also host to several cultural events such as music festivals, art exhibitions, large-scale productions, cultural workshops, etc.

Fun things to do in Trois-Rivières

If you’re a lover of nature and the outdoor, living in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, will be an excellent experience for you. It offers nature to its residents on a platter of gold as it has St Lawrence and St-Maurice Rivers on its borders. Within the city, there are many gardens and close by is the La Mauricie, National Park. Live in Trois-Rivières for immigrants is beautiful here.

Still speaking of the outdoor, there’s no boring time for you if you enjoy outdoor activities. Living in Trois-Rivières, Quebec means you can enjoy fun and adventurous activities. It has more than thirty tennis courts and outdoor rinks with over 100km combined distance of bicycle paths, so residents who want to stay fit are in for a thrill.

There are golf courses minutes away from downtown, and you can spend some great time at the beach in Île Saint-Quentin. Also, Trois-Rivières hosts the car racing event, Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, every August.

Tax in Trois-Rivières

Trois-Rivières, Quebec might be a great place to live, but the Quebec province records high residential taxes, the highest in Canada. The tax rate for as little as CAD 31,000 annual net income is 23.39%, and if you’re one of those earning around CAD 500,000 annually, you might end up paying up to 48.87% in taxes.

The taxes don’t stop here; both the federal government and Quebec charge sales taxes. This double taxation also increases your tax burden as a resident.

Trois-Rivières Relocation Tips

  • You need to learn French if you wish to live in Trois-Rivières. About 96 percent of the population speaks it exclusively.
  • You can relocate through the Canadian Quebec Provincial Nominee Program.
  • Housing is very cheap in Trois-Rivières, so you can afford to shop around.
  • If you wish to fly out of Trois-Rivières, you’ll need to catch a flight from Quebec’s international airport rather than the local Trois-Rivières Airport.

Neighborhood in Trois-Rivières

Trois-Rivières gained several new neighborhoods when it merged with Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Sainte-Marthe-du-Cap, Saint-Louis-de-France, Trois-Rivières-Ouest, and Pointe-du-Lac. Each of these areas maintains a bit of their old cultural identities. The original city, now called Old Town, is now one of many neighborhoods with distinct cultures. For example, most of the architecture in Old Town is appropriately a century old.

Trois-Rivières is a francophone city, and since it is smaller than Montreal and Quebec, it does not regularly translate into English. French is the native tongue for 97 percent of the city, despite a few English immigrant communities.

Frequently Asked Question?

Are there stores where i can get wine and hard liquor in Trois-Rivières?

If you enjoy wines, hard liquors and spirits, you’ll have to go the extra mile to get them in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. By extra mile, we mean you have to go to an official Societe des Alcools du Québec (SAQ) store as they have a legal monopoly on wine and hard liquor sales. Of course, you can decide to switch to beer that’s readily available from general convenience stores all around Trois-Rivières, Quebec.

Is the weather in Trois-Rivières harsh?

Trois-Rivièresis notorious for its harsh winters, and this is something you have to expect when living in Trois-Rivières. For some people, winter is a good time, but it could be very uncomfortable for those with certain conditions. The cold temperature is not the only problem that comes with winter; there could also be storms that make transportation difficult and hazardous during this period.

Is It Worth Living or Moving to Trois-Rivières, Quebec?

When considering whether to move to a new city or live in a city, it’s impossible to find the perfect city. At best, it’s about choosing where will be convenient for you to live in. For Trois-Rivières, Quebec, it’s clear that many benefits come with living in this city.

Conclusion

Life in Trois-Rivières for immigrants is very peaceful and enjoyable. You can relocate to this beautiful city and enjoy all the opportunities it has to offer.