TRAINING
Since 1985, the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ) is the sole institution recognized by the ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur (Ministry of Education and Higher Learning) to offer a training course for tourist guides in Montréal. Its Signature program “Guide touristique de Montréal/Montreal Tourist Guide ITHQ-Ville de Montréal” was established in collaboration with the APGT, local guiding agencies and Tourisme Montréal. It leads to the obtaining of an Attestation of College Studies (AEC), which grants its holder the right to obtain a license from the City of Montréal. The course is generally offered from October to May, every two (2) years.
This training program consists of 240 hours of lectures and guiding exercises spread across various fields such as history, physical geography, Montréal society (population, politics and economics), urban studies, architecture and public art. The content of the course is dispensed both in French and in English.
Bilingualism (French and English) is therefore a basic qualification for admission into the program and the knowledge of a third or fourth language is an asset. For each cohort, the twenty-four (24) best candidates are chosen by means of a selection process (including individual interviews), in which the main criteria are linked to the quality of communication, linguistic aptitude and the availabilities of aspiring guides.
The final evaluations in this program take the form of guided tours on foot and in a motorcoach, in which the guests are representatives of the Montréal tourist industry.
For more information on this program, please visit the ITHQ site
IMPROVEMENT
Our association promotes professional development, networking and sharing of information in a congenial and collaborative environment.
The APGT offers guides the opportunity to hone their knowledge of the city of Montréal. All throughout the year, we propose a great number of complements to our basic training: lectures, specialized tours, scouting trips, cultural activities, various classes and workshops, etc., all the while staying in tune with our members.
The majority of professors from the AEC program for Guide touristique de Montréal at the ITHQ are also active members of the APGT. Thanks to them, a close partnership developed between the ITHQ and the APGT Montréal. In 2015, the students of the course Techniques de guidage (Guiding techniques) invited more experienced guides from the APGT to 10 micro-tours, taking the form of guiding exercises followed by debriefings. This first experience was met with such success by our members and ITHQ graduates that it was renewed with 8 other micro-tours offered by aspiring guides in spring 2020.
