Montreal sets up free Wi-fi access spots across city

Montreal has set up nine free Wi-fi access spots across the city to bridge the digital divide and provide a range of social services to the disadvantaged.

“The challenges of the digital divide — long present before the pandemic — have become more pronounced with the current crisis,” Mayor Valérie Plante said in a statement on Saturday.

“Access to the internet and com- puters, as well as digital literacy, are now necessary to access essen- tial services and participate fully in our democracy. With the access spots we are innovating to allow the most vulnerable populations to have access to the internet ... to work, to do their shopping, or to educate themselves, while respecting the guidelines of public health.”

The access sites are located in community centres and other municipal buildings. They are in addition to free internet that is already available in the public libraries run by the city. Some of the access points will provide psycho-social support, telemedicine, educational assistance and help to find a job.

■ Here are the Wi-fi access spots: The Centre communautaire Multi-ethnique de Montréal-nord, 11121 Salk Ave., Suite 103, Bureau 5A. ■ Maison culturelle et communautaire de Montréal-nord, 12004 Rolland Blvd.

■ Verdun borough hall, 4555 Verdun St.

■ Centre communautaire Elgar, 260 Elgar St.

■ Centre communautaire Marcel-Marcel-Giroux, 4501 Bannantyne Ave.

■ Quai 5160 — Maison de la culture de Verdun, 5160 Lasalle Blvd.

■ Ville-marie Chalet of Toussaint-louverture Park, 127 de Maisonneuve Blvd. E.

■ Centre communautaire de loisirs Ste-catherine d'alexandrie, 1700 Atateken St.

■ Centre Jean-claude-malépart, 2633 Ontario St. E.