Orientation: On the St. Lawrence River, which flows from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, sits Île de Montréal. The city of Montréal, Que., Canada, divides itself into east and west, but what’s east to Montréalers is actually northeast, and west is southwest. This causes great confusion among visitors, who consult their maps and scratch their heads. If you put the St. Lawrence at your back and pretend you’re looking due north, the city’s directions snap into place. East meets west at Boulevard St-Laurent, and addresses going east (that is, northeast) from there end in the directional est; those going west (southwest) end in ouest.

Mont-Royal: The royal mountain isn’t much of a mountain. It may have been at one time, before a series of glaciers sanded it down to a mere nub of its former self. Still, it’s an honest 763 feet and commands a regal view of the city. This is partly because Montréalers, in their wisdom, use its elevation to limit the height of buildings in the downtown areas. Mont-Royal is a practical landmark: The city slides down its slopes until it hits the river. So, if you’re walking at an incline, you’re likely heading toward the Mont. Its perpetual visibility also will help you get oriented.

Register for the 2010 RI Convention in Montréal by 15 December to receive a special rate.